[pct-l] Newbie questions from Uncle Billy

[Stephen]

Nobody is going to sneer at you.  If they do they have thier own issues.
If you are open to trying different things and saving weight if possible 
some of us would probably enjoy trying to convince you that chopping as much 
weight as possible really does increase hiking enjoyment.
And that's the issue for some folks.  Section hiking probably depends more 
on daily mileages you expect or want to cover.  Are you doing it for the 
hiking or also hanging out in camp in cool places.  Me I hike from can see 
to can't.  It is all about hiking, period, so the more I can chop weight and 
still sleep comfortably and keep myself fed the more I'll enjoy the hiking. 
When I go out with my camera kit the focus is very different and thus so is 
the style by which I get where I want to shoot film, more retro.  I've got 
confused because I like the hiking so much that I've carried my camera gear 
all over hell's half acre and suffered a lot of foot pain because of it and 
been so blown that making nice images is almost impossible.  So now I try 
and differentiate between what I intend if possible.  Last year after a hard 
crosscountry camera outing I grabbed my light gear and headed back into the 
high country carrying only about 16 lbs for a couple nights.  Wow what a 
difference.  Not only was the walking so much more enjoyable, but the images 
I made with a light toy camera were better than the high end field camera 
kit weighing 8 lbs.
But honestly I don't recall anyone sneering at me whether suffering along 
with my frame pack and tripod etc or with my little approach pack and light 
trail running shoes.  It's all good.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Thoms" <wthomsjr at comcast.net>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 10:34 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Newbie questions from Uncle Billy


With my only High Sierra multi-day experience a rapturous week in Yosemite I
am planning a PCT section hike this year.  My Yosemite hike pack (REI UL 30
- 3lbs) weighed nearly 30 lbs fully loaded with two 1.5L water bags and
filter, a week's food, bear canister, Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight tent
mini-bungee corded to the pack- almost 4 lbs with poles, stakes, & fly but
roomy for one and big enough for two, 2 ½ lb 20 degree down bag, pad, etc. I
also carried trekking poles.  The only item I would have left behind was a
down jacket that I hardly used. Questions: Will I be sneered at by the
ultralight hikers?  And should spend the $$ to shed some weight?  I like my
tent and I don't like bugs.

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