[pct-l] On the Dangers of the UL Mentality

[giniajim]

John Muir was the consummate ultra-lighter, but he was also *very* well prepared to live in the wilderness.  
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: CHUCK CHELIN 
  To: Amanda L Silvestri 
  Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net 
  Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 10:18 AM
  Subject: Re: [pct-l] On the Dangers of the UL Mentality


  Good morning, Shepherd,

  Actually, “ultra-lite” trekking has been with us through the millennia, much
  longer than “traditional” – read “heavy” – trekking.  Take a look at any of
  the primitive peoples of the world.  They are likely to undertake
  significant journeys – for a variety of reasons – equipped only with
  sandals, a minimal garment of some type, a weapon or subsistence tool, and a
  small pouch or packet about their waist or neck.  Odds are good that much of
  the content of that little pouch is more for the sustenance of their souls
  rather than the sustenance of their bodies.  Possibly they could say one
  thing that none of us can say, “I’m not ultra-lite, I’m carrying everything
  I own.”



  “Heavy” hiking became popular in the ‘60s and early ‘70s when for social and
  political reasons many young adults decided to go back to nature and begin
  backpacking.  Not having any experience or background of doing so -- but
  having money -- they went to their local outfitter and said, in effect,
  “Here I am.  Have your way with me.”  Manufacturers and marketers responded
  to the opportunity with a cornucopia of necessities, all of which got heaped
  on the pack frames of willing participants.



  All the while in this period the undercurrent of ultra-liteizm remained
  strong among a devoted few.  Ultra-lite didn’t get much press at the time
  because the money was to be made satisfying the “heavies”.  Few books
  mentioned ultra-lite options because readers wanted to learn about “modern”
  methods.  There was no communicating internet underground of ultra-lite
  enthusiasts as we have today, but in the ‘90s Jardine struck a nerve at the
  right time and place to create a high profile for methods that had been
  around for a long time, and for that he deserves great credit.



  So yes, there are lots of “old” ultra-lite sayings.



  Steel-Eye

  Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

  http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

  http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09


  On Fri, May 7, 2010 at 10:25 AM, Amanda L Silvestri <aslive at sbcglobal.net>wrote:

  > Steeleye
  >
  > I didn't know that there were any "OLD" ultra-lite saying. :)
  >
  > Shepherd
  > _______________________________________________
  > Pct-l mailing list
  > Pct-l at backcountry.net
  > To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
  > http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
  >
  > List Archives:
  > http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
  >
  _______________________________________________
  Pct-l mailing list
  Pct-l at backcountry.net
  To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
  http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l

  List Archives:
  http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/