RE: [pct-l] tents...

["Reynolds, WT" <reynolds@ilan.com>]

Ron-
Interesting analysis. 
1-My Stephenson tent is never wet on the inside because I simply close it
before packing. It is, however, wet on the outside as is the rain fly on a
conventional tent. Since I often pack my tent wet. I estimate about 1/2
pound of water weight gain.
2-I think a Stephenson 2RS, a four season tent, is 10 degrees warmer than a
standard tent and probably more than that versus a tarp. However, since
everybody seems to use a 20 degree bag I can't say this fact really adds to
weight gain.
3-There are bug nets that cover a seeping bag to be had for less than a
pound. They could easily be setup under a tarp and would provide better bug
protection than the average tent.

My analysis from the trail diaries of Roan Moak [you know this guy?]

In the early going Ron hiked probably double the miles he should wiping out
his feet. The result was a long rest break. In the end he wound up behind
the pace a mature, intelligent hiker would have maintained. Ron walked too
far for two important reasons:
1-He set unrealistic goals
2-His camp was uncomfortable
These reasons worked together. Ron's early thruhike was a sprint between
trail stops. To be comfortable Ron needed to reach a certain destination for
the night. Ron never seemed to be able to say "I'll walk 10 miles today and
stop" His sparse camp was unexciting, even boreing. In a couple of instances
Ron first made the decision to stop after a reasonable distance, then
started again out of boredom and hiked another 15 miles. Interestingly, Ron,
whose problem was obvious to anyone reading his journals, couldn't figure
out what he was doing wrong. His feet were falling apart but he never slowed
down, only stopped when they were absolutely too bad to continue.

Ron would have done better carrying a traditional pack with a big heavy
COMFORTABLE tent, a nice camp chair and a good book. He would have then have
been forced to lug his 40-50 pound water-filled pack up the trail 7 to 10
miles and STOP and ENJOY the rest of the day. Because RON had a comfortable
camp he would stop anywhere after his alotted 7-10 mile journey, set up camp
and lounge in his chair and read his book. Of course no one recognixed him
as a thruhiker. Who ever heard of a thruhiker reading his book at 3PM...in a
camp chair?????

Up the Lagunas, over the desert and up San Jacquinto Ron would go passing
other thruhikers who were temporarly on the bench with bad feet or broken
muscles....a lonely journey because everyone would sprint past Ron, racing
from hospital to hospital. Alas even Mad Monte deserted him. At the top of
the famed Fuller Ridge, RON amazingly stops at 11AM because this is the last
campsite down the ridge.

At the Burger Joint at Cajon Pass, Ron shed his heavy pack, replacing it
with a light, not-ultralight, pack. Naturally he keeps his book and chair.
Kicking up his miles to 10-15, Ron traverses the San Gabriels then thru the
Mojave to the majistic Sierra. Arriving a Kennedy Meadows two weeks after
everybody left, Ron simply walks over passes that two weeks ago really
needed crampons. Because Ron is now only making 12-16 miles per day, Ron
must resupply at Cottonwood, Kearsarge and Edison lake but with steady
progress reaches Tolumne Meadows fit and in good shape.

Now donning his ultralight pack, his trusty tarp and his homemade purse
[nothing that small should be called a pack]he slips on his running shoes
and picks up his daily mileage to 20........and strolls into Manning
confidently

-----Original Message-----
From: Ronald Moak [mailto:ronm@fallingwater.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2000 8:46 AM