[pct-l] What pack weight?

[randy_forsland at hotmail.com (Randy Forsland)]

As long as the big 3 are of reasonable weight (pack,tent,sleeping bag), it
will be easy to adjust your base weight along the trail. So, go ahead, take
everything that you think you will need..you'll quickly be able to sort the
neccessities from the fluff during the first week. All of the "just in case
stuff" can be shipped home.  My rule of thumb has been..if I haven't used it
in three days...send it home...rain/wind jacket/fleece excluded..but all of
the other junk that seems to creep into your pack are fair game...the 3rd
pair of socks, the 2nd pair of shorts, the 10-in-1 utility tool, books,
sandals, etc...

Even Hatchett John managed to trim his monsterous load down after a couple
hundred miles...it doesn't take long to realize what is and what isn't worth
lugging up hills..I think his base weight was 45-50 lbs (not including food
and H20)...But by the time he hit Big Bear City, he was down to about 20-25
lbs....He still carried his hatchet and throwing knives, but he lost the
Rambo knife, 7 piece cookset, corkscrew,hair drier and other junk...

My base pack weight varied from about 9.5 lbs thru the desert to maybe 12 in
the Sierras...after Tahoe, it settled in at about 11...

In most of my previous section(300-400 miles) hikes, I had kind of fought
against the ultra lightweight philosophy,..I carried a base of about
25-30lbs and consequently found that I had to take a fair amount of breaks
just to rest the shoulders and back..I was constantly looking for suitable
boulders along the trail that would allow me to sit down and take the weight
off of my shoulders.I never had to do that on last years trip...in fact, I
usually left the pack on when I took my rest/water breaks..unless I was
breaking for a meal..I am definitely sold on the lightweight method...no
more 6 lb packs and 5 lb tents for me. There is no real reason for your Big
3 to weigh in at over 5-6 lbs combined..

But don't fret too much over it..this is a journey...you will learn so much
along the way and can always change gear to fit your needs..

Redwood
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "AsABat" <AsABat@4Jeffrey.Net>


> My thoughts:
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joseph Niemiec"
>
> > I have another one.  what pack weight did most of yall have?  It looks
> like
> > my base pack weight is coming to about 20-21lbs...
>
> You will find a wide variety here, but I'd guess the average is around 12
> lbs or so. Some more, some as little as 8 lbs.
>