RE: [pct-l] Pack capacity for PCT truhike

[Svein Eriksen <svein.eriksen@Braathens.no>]

I used a 3000+ pack on the PCT. The same on the AT. It's extendable to
maybe 3500 (actually 60 liters) by raising the lid. I also have two
small mesh sidepockets. I carried 25+ pounds (with ice axe), including a
tent (Bibler I-tent), a 20 degree (Feather Friends) bag and a full
length thermarest. Also normal cooking gear (Pot and a MSR).

Worked fine for me, although getting 8+ days of food and 6 quarts of
water inside took some work (always carry everything inside). That was
the most I ever carried on the PCT (actually needed only 7 days of
food).

I also pack my stuff very compact. Most people (carrying the same as me)
probably would be more happy with a slightly larger pack, but if you're
going ultralight the 2600+ is probably enough. The size of your sleeping
bag is very important!

Getting the pack to be more square. Assume you're thinking about it
being kind of "barrel-formed" if you stuff it hard. That's always a
problem even with internal frame packs. You can either stuff it less
hard or trying to find a configuration that will keep it square. That's
what I do. My pack has a frame, but it's very weak. I put my sleepingbag
+ clothes (in a stuffsack) horizontally in the bottom, the thremarest
vertical beside it, the tent on top of the thermarest. The food bag
takes the rest of the pack. Then I add the (few) other items were they
fit. All the main items have a fairly well-defined shape though, and
helps the pack in keeping it's form.

Svein


	-----Original Message-----
	From:	Joanne Lennox [SMTP:goforth@cio.net]
	Sent:	26. januar 1999 21:07
	To:	pct-mailing list
	Subject:	[pct-l] Pack capacity for PCT truhike


	Emergency request: how big a pack( capacity or size) did you PCT
thruhikers
	use and need.

	I just finished the last seam on my pack and it looks enormous.
At this
	point I can take in the side seams to alter the depth of the
pack (front to
	back).

	I had put my stuff in a box, measured the box and figured that I
needed
	that plus capacity for at least 6 quarts water and 5 days of
food:
			base equipment space =2200cu in
			5 days of food                 = 660 cu in
			6quarts of water              = 480 cu in	
					total      =3340 cu in

	Now I wasn't really careful about the stuff I put in the box (
some of the
	items that I will take are not gotten or made yet), but I
approximated with
	the same things that I have carried for years.  And I did not
load the box
	like TR loads his bear cannister, I figured it was an
approximation and a
	little space was necessary for those few times that I would have
more than
	5 days of food to carry.

	I then did some calculations and found out that a pack that
measured 9
	wide, 29 inches tall, and l3 inches across would give me 3340 cu
in.

	At this point I looked at a lot of boxes, folded some paper,
measured 6
	packs that I already have, make sketches, designed a bigger pack
and one
	that tapered and then smaller, than bigger, than smaller, and
finally in
	frustration just decided to make the 9 x29x13 (with no extension
at the
	top, I figured I could tie on an extra stuff sack at the top for
the few
	times that I needed bigger capacity)

	As I say, when finally sewed up the last seam and loaded the
thing, it
	seems enormous, but the capacity is not that far off.  It
becomes awkward
	without some internal stays because the pack simply "rounds" and
the weight
	becomes distributed fairly far from your back and therefore the
center of
	gravity is quite a ways from your body.  This puts a lot of
strain on the
	back and other joints.

	Consequently I am thinking about cutting down the sides two
inches which
	will give me a pack capacitty of 2639 cu inches.  And I really
wonder it
	that will be enough.

	I am also considering various ways the thing can be loaded to
make it more
	"square".  Any suggestions?

	I still like my old kelty, which is much lighter than the
internal frame
	packs and should be fine for the trail, and which sits itself up
for
	loading and you can shift around underneath, and wear ALL the
weight on
	your hips. 

	ALL COMMENTS WELCOME

	At some Peace
	Goforth
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