[pct-l] finalized total pack weight (hopefully)

Wed Apr 6 13:41:34 CDT 2011

Sorry John, I didnt want to say you were out of shape(I dont know
you),im just nervous that some young hikers might get the wrong
idea,that the weight of there pack is some sort of savior. Being in
trail shape at the start could take away some of that weight problem
for most,thats my real point. Ive hiked with lite and giant loads,and
to tell you the truth,I always had a great time no matter the weight.
Ive came home with lots of supplys before,and I never regretted having
to haul the load,but I dont mind punishment either,im so dang use to
it. Keep on lightening that load,and if you got too much lightweight
gear on the trail,hook me up! Hike On.

On 4/6/11, John Abela <pacificcresttrail2011 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hey Mike,
>
> I hear ya, I really do.
>
> If, however, I just sat around all day every day doing nothing but
> screwing with gear I would say an "amen" to you - but your barking up
> the wrong tree.
>
> For over a year I have spent at least 4 days a week on-trail somewhere
> here in California. I am out there pounding the miles, not just
> sitting around with a scale calculating grams ;)
>
> Just got in about 30 minutes ago from an overnighter and heading out
> Friday for a 4-day trip on the Lost Coast Trail... wanna go :-)
>
> John
>
>
> On Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 10:54 AM, Mike Chapman <altathunder76 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>> Call it what you want,but its total pack weight that matters,and if
>> its enough for your backcountry skills to keep you alive. If I had the
>> time,effort,and money to do that,and talk about it all year,id be out
>> of shape! My advise,throw away your dam scale,and man up brother!(it
>> seems your always weighing s#!+) Jardine is jardine,be your own
>> hiker,pack weight is only part of the battle my friend. Dont take this
>> as a negative,HYOH and Hike On.
>>
>> On 4/6/11, John Abela <pacificcresttrail2011 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hey Ate,
>>>
>>> We do them the same ;)
>>>
>>> I just happen to wear my cap's all day long - thus they are listed as
>>> daily wear. I rarely find a time when I am so hot that I have to
>>> really start pealing the layers off, and even than, I almost never go
>>> short sleeve. Lots more logic of wearing long sleeve shirts in the
>>> Mojave than going short sleeve. Granted the PC3's might be a bit of
>>> overkill for Silverwood through KM. I spent 20 years in Victorville
>>> (and a few years in Big Bear) so I have enough understanding of what
>>> the weather there is like. But anyway, yeah, we both do thing same
>>> way, I just probably approach cloth layering differently.
>>>
>>> I calculate my water bottle weight into the overall weight of my
>>> 'water' because it is just the way I have always done it. My food bag
>>> is also included in the weight of my food, again, just how I have
>>> always done it.
>>>
>>> If we are just a few pounds different I would suspect the main
>>> differences would probably be the backpack and tent setup. Hard to
>>> beat an 8oz backpack and a 12oz tent (with bug insert). In the end the
>>> food will be the main factor for me. I plan to buy most of my food
>>> along the way (for the PCT at least) and therein will result in some
>>> seriously different weights after each town.
>>>
>>> John
>>>
>>> On Tue, Apr 5, 2011 at 11:15 PM, Ate Tuna <atetuna at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> I do my calculations somewhat differently.  Things like the Capilene and
>>>> gloves would go in the pack weight since it wouldn't be worn most of the
>>>> day.  I'd also include the weight of the water bottles and food bag.
>>>>  Even
>>>> with those changes, your base weight is still a few pounds below mine.
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Apr 5, 2011 at 10:41 PM, John Abela
>>>> <pacificcresttrail2011 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> > On Tue, Apr 5, 2011 at 9:11 PM, giniajim <jplynch at crosslink.net>
>>>>> > wrote:
>>>>> > Very good.  Could you share what comprises your base pack weight.
>>>>> > I'm struggling to get mine below 10 lbs and could use all the help
>>>>> > out
>>>>> > there.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks and sorry for not providing a link...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0As-hvbUBJ_X_dHJXU3ZDb2VlOElUczlWS3JaUmNtNGc&hl=en&authkey=CLCE2LAO
>>>>>
>>>>> Once that page loads, on the bottom click the "Primary Setup" tab.
>>>>>
>>>>> I was actually 7 oz off on one item - so I am actually at a BPW of 6.17
>>>>> lbs.
>>>>>
>>>>> You will probably see a few things on there that make no sense (gasp)
>>>>> but as I see it, at this pack weight, I am allowed a thing or two that
>>>>> does not make sense ;)
>>>>>
>>>>> What I would probably ditch if I *really* cared for XUL would be the:
>>>>> pad, pillow, balaclava, umbrella, sealskinz - and than I would add in
>>>>> a GG pad at 1.8 - which would mean I could save 29.8 ounces.
>>>>>
>>>>> For me I figure I could have either: (1) a 4.8 BPW and suffer a bit,
>>>>> or I could have (2) a 6.1 BWP and have a few luxuries and extra core
>>>>> temperature items.
>>>>>
>>>>> I carry the NeoAir because it is awesome, and I carry the pillow
>>>>> because I honestly believe that sleep is probably the most important
>>>>> aspect of life and it helps me sleep beyond what I ever expected and
>>>>> beyond just stuffing a stuff sack with clothing (odd, I know...
>>>>> probably physiological), the balaclava I could probably do without for
>>>>> 80% of the trip, the umbrella is (as has been repeatedly discussed) an
>>>>> item well worth having, and the sealskinz are not for keeping my feet
>>>>> dry but rather to help me keep my frostbitten toes warm on cold days -
>>>>> something I learned from a triple crowner a couple years ago. Could I
>>>>> do away with these five items... sure... but we all face a mental
>>>>> point where there is a line between safe and unsafe, and I tend to
>>>>> think that the most unsafe thing I can face on-trail is weather that
>>>>> turns really bad and me being without the right gear. For me, the
>>>>> balaclava and sealskinz might weigh 10 ounces, but they provide me
>>>>> with that peace-of-mind that keeps me in a good state of mind. I know
>>>>> that with them I can get down into the 10-20(f) temps and stay safe.
>>>>> Obviously the neoair and pillow and umbrella are nothing more than
>>>>> pure one-hundred-percent luxury items.
>>>>>
>>>>> And, I do realize that my food is not going to weigh exactly the same
>>>>> amount, day after day... so the numbers I listed there are what they
>>>>> typically are for when I do local hikes.
>>>>>
>>>>> John
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> 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/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> John B. Abela
>>> www.RedwoodOutdoors.Com
>>>
>>> In God's wildness lies the hope of the world - the great fresh
>>> unblighted, unredeemed wilderness. The galling harness of civilization
>>> drops off, and wounds heal ere we are aware. ~ John Muir
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 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/
>>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
> John B. Abela
> www.RedwoodOutdoors.Com
>
> In God's wildness lies the hope of the world - the great fresh
> unblighted, unredeemed wilderness. The galling harness of civilization
> drops off, and wounds heal ere we are aware. ~ John Muir
>