[pct-l] Base weight Sect Hike Cascades

[dude at fastmail.ca (dude)]

purusing over the list you provided, I can see a few spots where you 
can save weight:
1.  ditch the headlamp in favor of a Photon light, which weighs about 
0.1 oz.  that will save the entire weight of the headlamp.

2.  get a lighter sleeping bag (you shouldn't need a 15 degree bag in 
the summer in the cascades unless you sleep really cold).  If you want 
to really lighten you load, you can find really good 30 degree bags 
these days that weigh well under 2lbs.  Several manufacturers are 
making sub-2 lb bags: Western Mountaineering, Feathered Friends, 
Marmot, Sierra Designs, Nunatak.  If you go with a down blanket, you 
can get one that is under 1lb.

3.  You mentioned that kitchen stuff was heavy...  If you don;t already 
have a Titanium cook-pot, go get one.  they are less than half the 
weight of aluminum pots.  If you have a bowl or plate in addition to 
the cookpot, ditch it and just eat out of the pot.  If you carry a fork 
and spoon, ditch the fork and cut the handle of the spoon in half.  If 
you carry a scrubber to clean the pot, ditch that and use sand along 
the trail as an abrasive (don;t do this if your pot has a teflon 
coating).  

4.  Aquamira - ditch the bottle and put the tablets in a tiny ziplock 
bag.

5.  I dunno what a Big Agnes sleeping pad is, but if it weighs more 
than 5.7 oz, then ditch it and get a 3/4 length ridge rest.  you can 
save even more weight by cutting the pad to fit the length of your 
shoulders to your hips.  YOu can further cut the weight by making the 
pad as narrow as you can and still be comfortable.

6.  I am fairly certain that your first aid kit is too heavy by "ultra-
light" standards.  My first aid kit weighs 2.0 oz and also includes my 
lighter and some duct tape.

7.  Try an carry the smallest container possible for fuel, sunscreen, 
deet.  You can buy tiny little plastic sqeeze bottles at REI and 
transplant these substances into a smaller bottle.  If you reallt want 
to save weight, dicth the deet unless you are certain that the 
mosquitoes will be really bad.

8.  One way to save weight and not spend a fortune on a new tent is to 
use a tarp instead.  Its not an easy transition for some people, so 
don't even bother if you are not sure that you will be comfortable with 
a tarp.

good luck.

peace,
dude



> Getting ready for my Southbound section Hike between Smith Pass and
> Timberline Lodge.  370 miles in two weeks starting Aug 23rd and ending
> Sept 7th.  This is my first longer than a weekend solo hike and my
> first hike leaning towards ultra light.  My baseweight is down to just
> under 17 lbs - including pack (Golite Race), tent (Eureka Solitair),
> 15 degree sleeping bag (Big Agnes), pad (Big Agnes), stove, headlamp,
> Frogtoggs, 1st aid kit, and kitchen and disposables - like fuel,
> sunscreen, deet, aqua mira.  I then have in reality close to 3 lbs in
> camara gear so it brings it closer to 20.  Only place that I could
> skimp with out costing two arms and a leg would be in my kitchen.  Was
> hoping to get it closer to 15 but I guess not this trip.  Did notice
> that some of the advertised weight are bogus or missleading.  For
> instance my tent claims to by 2    9 but that is without stakes and
> strings and bag.  And the .9 is 9/10 of a lbs but the package makes it
> look like 9 oz.  O well eve ryone needs to make a buck.
> 
> Duane - Shutterbug
> 
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