[pct-l] Pack Weight

[Bighummel@aol.com]

I beg to differ with FallingWater on pack weight.  A small person who weighs 
only 100 lbs. will have small shoes and small socks and small shirts and 
little gloves and a small sleeping bag (or quilt) and a small tent or tarp 
and wear small shoes and their pack won't have to be so big to hold all of 
this small stuff and they won't eat much so their food won't weigh so much.  
So their stuff will only add up to a proportionate amount of weight for their 
size.  

In contrast, I eat a large amount, wear size 14 shoes, my socks, shirt, 
underwear, pants, sleeping bag, etc.  are all extra large for my extra large 
body!  I need a larger pack to carry all of this extra large stuff and it 
will cumulatively weigh a significant amount more than the smaller person's 
stuff.  

Granted it may not be a one-to-one relationship.  So maybe it should be a 
lesser percentage for larger people since the weight of tents, ground covers, 
stove, Band-Aids and bourbon will be constant.

I believe the rule of thumb was meant as a guide to how much is the MAXIMUM 
weight that an individual can carry over a long distance, not the weight 
recommended to carry.  The MINIMUM weight that an individual can/should carry 
is the subject of this ultra light discussion.  All I'm pointing out is that 
the minimum for you may not be the minimum that I can attain, under even the 
most stringent Jardinian conditions.

Hike your own hike 
and carry bourbon with you wherever you go!

Best regards,

Greg "Strider" Hummel
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