[pct-l] Backpacks, which size is best?

Scott Williams baidarker at gmail.com
Thu Jan 21 22:50:50 CST 2016 

Live sick with giardia instead of carrying a few extra ounces?  Sounds like
some expert!  I know lots of folks who don't need to filter and never get
sick over many years of hiking.  They probably carry the parasite and have
lived with it for years with no problem, but for those of us who have
suffered from giardia, that's just not an option.  I filter and carry a
full dose of flagyl just in case.  Kudos and more power too ya if you don't
need to.   But once you know you get it, filter your water.  It's a nasty
bug.  Or, one of many bugs out there that is and it's very quickly knocked
out by flagyl.  At least every time I've used flagyl, it's been just a
matter of a few hours to massive relief.  On the other hand, I've met
several people over the years who nearly died from not getting treated and
trying to tough it out and keep hiking, only to find themselves getting
weaker and weaker over time and eventually in one case needing a medevac,
in another, making it off trail in terrible misery.  Dr's gave them flagyl
and bang, it's over.

Shroomer


On Thu, Jan 21, 2016 at 11:20 AM, <jcil000-hiker at yahoo.com> wrote:

> There is another concept in packing:
> Small packs encourage a hiker to take only the absolute necessities.Large
> packs encourage the hiker to take more than he really needs.
> I think the first thought should be what gear do you feel you need
> basedupon the time of year and weather and whether or not you're hiking as
> an ultra-light, or light weight, or moderate, or... gasp ... old school.
> Readingwhat others have done via blogs, etc, is the first step to
> visualizing what you need.But the best method is experience. Without
> backpacking experience of some kind,you have little idea of what works and
> what doesn't . Asking what others are doingis only a start.
> You commonly hear people say that they reduced pack weight by cutting
> offexcess strap materials, cutting toothbrush handles, dehydrating
> toothpaste intolittle dots. And thats all fine and dandy. But if you're
> already overweight in body mass by 30 pounds, you can forget all that other
> stuff and lose weight. Losing30 pounds in body weight (or whatever excess
> poundage you have) is far morepractical that attempting to hike
> "ultra-light" and find  yourself in need of gear atcritical moments. And
> losing weight isn't as hard as it seems. I highly recommenda free app
> called "MyFitnessPal." Look into it. Dieters who use such documentationof
> their daily calories, etc, have been proven to be more successful.
> Whatever you do, don't do as one "expert" bonehead I met did. He boastedof
> never using a water filter nor carrying one. He admitted he had chronic
> parasiteproblems (giardia, I think). And there he was. Encouraging others
> to be chronicallysick like himself. Yeah. Being chronically sick was better
> than packing a water filter.And he was the "expert" giving lectures for
> hiking the AT trail back east.
>
>
>
>
>       From: "pct-l-request at backcountry.net" <pct-l-request at backcountry.net
> >
>  To: pct-l at backcountry.net
>  Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2016 10:00 AM
>  Subject: Pct-L Digest, Vol 97, Issue 17
>
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> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Re: New monument ? (Rob Langsdorf)
>   2. Re: New monument ? (Rob Langsdorf)
>   3. Backpack (Mike Garland)
>   4. Backpack (Dan C. aka Thumper)
>   5. Re: Backpack (Drew Smith)
>   6. Re: Big Bear to Acton Section Hike (Nobohiker)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2016 00:12:15 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Rob Langsdorf <sdscpcts at yahoo.com>
> To: Stephen Clark <rowriver at gmail.com>, Brian Watt <bwatt at 1fifoto.com>
> Cc: pct-l <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] New monument ?
> Message-ID:
>     <222854140.8411980.1453335135284.JavaMail.yahoo at mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> I remember attending the dedication ceremony for the monument in 1988.
> Hard to believe it has been so many years.
>  ? ? ? Mataguay Connector Rob
>
>       From: Stephen Clark <rowriver at gmail.com>
>  To: Brian Watt <bwatt at 1fifoto.com>
> Cc: pct-l <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>  Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2016 5:49 PM
>  Subject: Re: [pct-l] New monument ?
>
> Thanks for sharing this link Brian... The Southern Terminus Monument was
> seriously in bad shape...
>
> On Tue, Jan 12, 2016 at 5:41 PM, Brian Watt <bwatt at 1fifoto.com> wrote:
>
> > Brian,
> >
> > See:
> > http://www.pcta.org/2016/a-new-monument-at-the-southern-terminus-36888/
> >
> > Bri/Tartan
> >
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2016 00:12:15 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Rob Langsdorf <sdscpcts at yahoo.com>
> To: Stephen Clark <rowriver at gmail.com>, Brian Watt <bwatt at 1fifoto.com>
> Cc: pct-l <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] New monument ?
> Message-ID:
>     <222854140.8411980.1453335135284.JavaMail.yahoo at mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> I remember attending the dedication ceremony for the monument in 1988.
> Hard to believe it has been so many years.
>  ? ? ? Mataguay Connector Rob
>
>       From: Stephen Clark <rowriver at gmail.com>
>  To: Brian Watt <bwatt at 1fifoto.com>
> Cc: pct-l <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>  Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2016 5:49 PM
>  Subject: Re: [pct-l] New monument ?
>
> Thanks for sharing this link Brian... The Southern Terminus Monument was
> seriously in bad shape...
>
> On Tue, Jan 12, 2016 at 5:41 PM, Brian Watt <bwatt at 1fifoto.com> wrote:
>
> > Brian,
> >
> > See:
> > http://www.pcta.org/2016/a-new-monument-at-the-southern-terminus-36888/
> >
> > Bri/Tartan
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2016 20:50:56 -0600
> From: Mike Garland <mikegarland1957 at icloud.com>
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] Backpack
> Message-ID: <D1F03BDC-B869-44EA-B5B8-CFEA6477839E at icloud.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> What size backpacks is the average pack in ltrs.
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2016 19:28:37 -0800
> From: "Dan C. aka Thumper" <dofdear at cox.net>
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net, mikegarland1957 at icloud.com
> Subject: [pct-l] Backpack
> Message-ID: <20160120222837.G5G8E.222513.imail at fed1rmwml214>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> Okay Mike but first you'd need to define what 'average' means.  There are
> literally hundreds of different packs used on the PCT.  Probably the best
> suggestion is to select your pack after you've selected most of your gear
> thereby fitting the pack to you and your stuff.
>
> Thumper
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2016 03:53:14 +0000
> From: Drew Smith <jdrewsmith at gmail.com>
> To: Mike Garland <mikegarland1957 at icloud.com>, pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Backpack
> Message-ID:
>     <CAFiWH3hS2pLUyyKwU8p7b-8=A44Z1Qj_jth+dTJk=jUtyW=5Jw at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> I think 50-60 L is typical. This is actually a bit more volume than you
> usually need, but there are a few stretches of long water or food carries.
> On Wed, Jan 20, 2016 at 7:51 PM Mike Garland <mikegarland1957 at icloud.com>
> wrote:
>
> > What size backpacks is the average pack in ltrs.
> >
> > Sent from my iPad
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2016 22:45:42 -0800
> From: Nobohiker <nobohiker at gmail.com>
> To: Dennis Washer <africa2008 at aol.com>
> Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Big Bear to Acton Section Hike
> Message-ID: <23ED0C82-88A0-48E2-AB7F-41CD02927228 at gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=us-ascii
>
> Dennis,
>
> When I ended my section hike in Big Bear, I picked up a one way rental for
> a reasonable rate at the Hertz Airport location. Note that rental car
> companies increased their rates for one way rentals lately, so this might
> be on the expensive side.
>
> Regarding Acton, I just ended a section hike in November there and took an
> Uber back to my car. For you, I recommend to depart from Burbank Airport
> instead of ONT since it is way closer and should be a ~$40 ride. Note that
> there is no cell coverage down in the canyon, place your call ~2 Miles
> ahead and then walk down.
>
> What also worked for me in the past:
> - Airport shuttle (be prepared for strange looks when you have yourself
> dropped off in the middle of nowhere)
> - hired a driver on one of these mini-job websites
> - Lyft
> - received AMAZING help from local trail angel
>
> Note that these are not the cheapest options, but the fastest since my
> goal is to section hike the trail with the least amount of vacation days ;-)
>
> Happy Trails!
>
> Section Hiker Rick
>
> > On Jan 17, 2016, at 10:55 AM, Dennis Washer <africa2008 at aol.com> wrote:
> >
> > I originally posted a note in Sept with plans to go from Ziggy and
> Bear's place to Acton in May, but the ongoing fire closure north of I-10
> forces a change of plans. I received a response from Johanna, Angelica, and
> van Velze, and Ben. So now the dates and places have changed: fly into
> Ontario April 27, start hiking from Big Bear trail crossing, go to Acton
> KOA, and fly out of Ontario on May 14.
> > Any suggestions including rent a car, to getting to and from trail? Ben,
> the Google maps didn't offer a lot of help for public transport.
> > Thanks for any help!
> >
> > Sent from my iPad
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