For 20 years my pack weighed 50+ pounds for a typical three day/two night summer trip. Back then I would usually hike with a group for a few miles off trail to our favorite spot along Dinkey Creek (below the lakes) and day hike up and down the canyon or up to Dinkey Dome. When it was time to replace my old boy scout era external frame pack (the nylon bag was disintegrating) I started checking out some lighter options.
Last summer my pack weighed 18 pounds with a 7 day resupply at Muir Trail Ranch. This doesn't include water (there is plenty of water along the JMT, I usually averaged about a 1/2 liter). I tried to go as light as possible while still staying safe, comfortable and dry. I had a complete first aid/repair kit, SPOT II, warm down jacket, 20 degree sleeping bag/quilt, inflatable sleeping pad and rain gear.
I carried some homemade gear including a cuben fiber internal frame backpack modelled after a Gossamer Gear Gorilla (11 oz), pack cover (0.5 oz), 20 degree quilt (17.5 oz), bivy (3.9 oz), windshirt (2.8 oz), cuben fiber rain parka (2 oz) and rain chaps/pants (0.8 oz). It was mid September so I used a Zpacks cuben fiber tarp (3.5 oz) for shelter, Kookabay inflatable sleeping pad (5.5 oz) and xl inflateable pillow (2.2 oz).
For anyone interested in more details here's a link to my JMT gear list:
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When hiking with my wife this summer I carried 20 pounds for a four day/three night trip. That included a Big Sky Evo 2 person double wall free standing tent, food for both of us and Neo-Air sleeping pads.
Going lightweight made all the difference while going up the big passess.
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