[pct-l] Sleeping bag exchange

[John Abela]

Hello Mike,

I did not see your message come across the list otherwise I would have
responded sooner.

About a year ago as I was working my way down from being a UL to a SUL
hiker I began to consider each and every little thing I could do to
save myself as much weight as possible along the PCT. I am not just
talking about whether I should use a solo tent or a two person tent
for extra room, but rather the gram-weenie kind of things such as
"should I take a 3l platty or can I get away with a 2l platty and two
plastic bottles" - and than to take that even further, "in what areas
can I ditch the platty and just carry two water bottles". All in a
quest to save, what, maybe 4 ounces.

Anyway, one of the ideas that hit me was something along the lines of:

"ok, we know the big-three are the big-three, but what can I do to
reduce the big three down into, perhaps, the "lighter three", if
you'll allow me such."

At that time I had a tent that was 34 ounces. Now I have a tent that
is 10.8 ounces.
At that time I had a backpack that was 36 ounces. Now I have a
backpack that is 6.1 ounces.
At that time I had a sleeping bag that was 39 ounces. Now I have one
sleeping bag that is 24 ounces (30f), another that is 31 ounces (20f),
plus a summer quilt that is 9.87 ounces (40f bag).  [yes, I try very
hard not to think about how much money I have tied up in sleeping
gear]

So anyway, the whole concept of "bag bouncing" was just an idea to try
to reduce some pack weight. The rational was "If I can save an extra 7
ounces, that is another 1/4 of a liter of water that I could carry for
the hotter sections (which is where I might need it the most) and
still maintain a near constant weight."

I think, to be realistic, the whole idea is (and maybe should be
nothing more than) a concept idea on a mental level. Just another step
in helping a person consider whether they gear that they have is the
right gear for them on whatever the given trail is that they are
planning to hike.

I personally think it is really risky to be bouncing ahead what is
potentially your most important piece of non perishable gear in your
backpack. As much as I would like to, and am planning to, hike the PCT
with a 5 pound base pack weight, at the end of the day (and the start
of the trail) I will not put my hike at risk over 7 ounces for a
warmer sleeping bag.

I hope this gives some insight into where I was coming from in regards
to this matter.

John B. Abela
RedwoodOutdoors.Com


On Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 10:42 AM, CHUCK CHELIN <steeleye at wildblue.net> wrote:
> Good morning, Mike,
>
> Normally, I – and most hikers – use the same bag throughout the entire
> 3-state hike -- many because that's the only bag they own.  Trading sleeping
> bags is probably not a primary strategy, but it’s something to keep in mind
> if shipments are being made anyway, and/or if opportunity presents.  For
> example, in ’07 I had to get off the trail for a while at Reno to address a
> medical problem -- gross hematuria.  While at home I decided to use a
> lighter bag from Reno up to Timberline Lodge before changing back to the
> heaver bag.  That was an easy choice because I live 20 miles from Timberline
> where I would visit home and take a zero-day anyway.
>
> Gear of similar weight is regularly swapped on and off the trail -- things
> like bear ‘cans, crampons, ice axes, etc. -- so if a shipment(s) is being
> made anyway a bag could be included at little additional cost.  Besides, ask
> an ultra-lite hiker if they would spend $5 -- i.e. 2 beers worth -- of
> postage to avoid having to carry an additional pound for about 700 miles and
> you may find more bag-swappers.
>
> Steel-Eye
>
> -Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965
>
> -http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
>
> -http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09
>
>
> On Wed, Jul 27, 2011 at 11:04 PM, Mike Jurasius <syntectonics at yahoo.com>wrote:
>
>> Steeleye....yes, I was referring to the thread about swapping say a 15F
>>  bag for a 30F. I don't recall the specifics, only the weight difference of
>> a pound. I think I'd be hesitant about shipping expensive items if it's just
>> to save a pound. I would be apt to dump other things first. I'm planning my
>> first through hike for 2013 and want to absorb every idea I can before
>> making final decisions on gear and logistics. Bouncing sleeping bags to save
>> a pound seemed costly.  What does this typically cost?
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
>>
>>
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