[pct-l] Back to the Future: Ultralight

[Scott Williams]

Nothing new under the sun!  Muir didn't carry much more than his pockets
full of dried bread and a bed roll either.  Seems once we started
"backpacking" lots of gear was devised to be sold and we all bought it in
the 50s and 60s, which is why our packs weighed 50 and 60 lbs.  And my
first old WWII surplus, wooden framed Army rook sack sure wasn't UL by any
means either.  When I started changing things out and lightening things up
after reading Jardine's PCT Handbook, I thought I was looking forward, who
knew it was simply a return to what had been.

Thanks Gail,

Shroomer

On Fri, Nov 7, 2014 at 9:08 PM, Gail Van Velzer <vanvelzer at charter.net>
wrote:

> Very interesting!
> Gail
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rod Belshee" <rbelshee at hotmail.com>
> To: "PCT-L" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Friday, November 07, 2014 9:06 PM
> Subject: [pct-l] Back to the Future: Ultralight
>
>
> > We all learned that Ultralight was a new concept pioneered by Ray Jardine
> > a
> > couple of decades ago. Before that backpackers carried enormous 45-70
> > pound
> > packs, right?
> >
> > Here's a quote from Clinton Clarke in 1940, promoting The Desert Trail (a
> > completed 475 mile stretch at the southern end of proposed Pacific Crest
> > Trail).
> >
> > "The trip may be made with backpack or with pack animals. For those who
> > prefer the former method it is surprising how much food and bedding can
> be
> > stowed in a knapsack that weighs only 15 or 18 pounds. ... Experienced
> > hikers with packs that weigh less than 30 pounds have remained on the
> > trails
> > away from all sources of food supply for 10 days without hardship."  --
> > Clinton Clarke, "They follow the trails with a pack on their backs", The
> > Desert Magazine, April 1940, page 25.
> >
> > Indeed photos show early proponents on the trail with just a bedroll
> > strung
> > over a shoulder, food tucked inside. Only later did gear become such an
> > necessity.
> >
> > Steady ('04)
> >
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