[pct-l] a lurker no longer

[jmertes@gte.net (John Mertes)]

>
>
>We're slowly replacing all of our old heavy gear that we've spent
>the last 6 years amassing (no pun intended) with lightweight gear.  Took a
>test hike last fall around Mt. Hood with lightweight packs and we were
>amazed at the difference.  Where before I would try to "tough it out" with
>heavy loads, now we were stopping to look at flowers, and noticing the
>peacefulness of the mountain without all the heavy breathing that
>accompanies heavy packs <g>. 
>

    Just remember -- the difference between a novice backpacker and an 
experienced backpacker is that a
novice stops to catch his breath and an experienced one stops to enjoy 
the view. <g>