[pct-l] Average Pack Weight on PCT

[Vicky Mattson]

I started last year with traditional backpack gear with a few concessions
to ultralight practices.  By CA section E I had traded my Lowa Pack for a
gossamer gear and my 6 lb 3 season tent to a 3 lb Big Agnes Fly creek ( I
hike with my son and husband so the shelter works out to about 1 lb each)
 It was expensive to downsize on the trail.  I felt like I had everything I
needed at about 9 - 10 lbs.  Including a hefty First Aid kit and a kitchen.

On Thu, Apr 26, 2012 at 2:33 AM, Eric Lee <saintgimp at hotmail.com> wrote:

> J Rviet wrote:
> >
> I'm curious what the average pack weight is for PCT thru-hikers. Base
> weight
> mostly.
> >
>
> The hard-core ultralight people tend to run about 6-10 pounds, the
> lightweight people tend to run 11-16-ish, but there are a whole lot of
> people who thru-hike with heavier packweights than that.  I'm surprised
> every year when I meet thru-hikers in Oregon and Washington carrying packs
> that are much heavier than I would ever want to carry, but there they are,
> trucking along and having a good time.
>
> As other people have said, you should reduce your packweight as much as
> reasonably possible but don't go below the limit of safety determined by
> your current level of skill and experience.  15 pounds base weight is
> actually a very respectable number and I guess would put you firmly in the
> average category, or probably even better than average.
>
> I like to think of it like this: as you reduce your pack weight, the wear
> and tear on your body is reduced and your likelihood of making it to the
> other end of the trail goes up. However, as you continue to reduce pack
> weight, at some point you will pass the magic optimum point and your
> likelihood of finishing your thru-hike actually starts to go down.  After
> all, hiking gearless and naked isn't going to get you very far, right?
> Imagine a bell curve here.
>
> But here's the trick - that magic optimum point is *different for
> everyone*.
> Mine is pretty much at about 14 pounds.  That allows me to carry everything
> I need to keep body and soul together in any reasonably-foreseen
> circumstance without wasting energy on anything I'm not likely to need.
> Yeah, I could go lighter, but I don't want to.  I like the gear that I've
> got and I know how to use it to maximum effect.  Peace of mind is another
> valuable thru-hiking tool.
>
> Eric
>
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-- 
Vicky Mattson   740-818-6737
vickyandjay.blogspot.com