High Sierra Topix

I never weighed a full pack, but in summer for a full Muir Trail with kids and cameras, it usually is about 55 pounds full with 8 days worth of food and fuel, about 40-45 pounds without the consumables, of which 6-7 pounds are camera gear. For winter multi-day trips it probably goes up to 65 pounds or more. I don't really get all anal about the final weight, since I first and foremost bring what I need to bring. However, on each item I do bring, I constantly look for alternates that save some weight and still do the job. That's how I ended up with four different stoves and three different down jackets and two sleeping bags and two backpacks and 4 different sets of boots, three ground pads, etc

I suppose I have 15 more years before my body will complain about the weight. Until then, I plan to do as many big trips that require big loads as I can possibly fit into my vacation schedule. If I ever should try the PCT, that would probably be the first time I would actively go for the UL setup.

On my recent 6 day trip to the Kern River, I carried about 37 pounds, including water and food. A couple of pounds of fishing gear, about a pound for camera stuff, and one paperback book included. If I know I am going to be walking most of the time, no layover days, only fishing in the morning or late afternoon, I cut down my fishing gear, and usually regret it.

One of my goals has been to get my pack weight down to about 1/8th of my body weight. I weigh in at about 200 lbs, so 1/8th of my body weight is about 25 lbs. A 25 lbs pack for me is really nice. The 25 lbs included fuel, food, and 1 liter of water.

This is a photo of me from about a week ago:


Important gear components:
Backpack: Golite Pinnacle, Medium (33oz)
Sleeping bag: Western Mountaineering Summerlite, 32F rating (19oz)
Pad: NeoAir 3/4 length (13oz)
Stove: Caldera Cone with 10-12 stove and MSR Titan Kettle (12oz?) -- need to re-weigh this.
Shelter: Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape (11 oz) + Ti stakes (3 oz)

Camping at 10,500 feet:


My stove system:


The view from my camp site:


HJ

Too much! But so far, I don't care...

Daypack with camera gear...25 pounds

Backpack with camera gear...45-50 pounds

(including water...2 quarts and one pint...and food.)

On my recent 7 day trip to Kern River, I started with 37 lbs which included a liter of water, bear canister, 7 days food, and about 3 pounds of fishing and camera gear. I am always tweaking to save a little weight, but I don't think I will ever get down to 1/8 of body weight for a trip. And I pack to enjoy myself in my own way. How many days was your trip, Jim?

I looked at the Pinnacle, but I just did not think it had the support for 35 pound and > loads. I use the Go-Lite Odyssey, Lg size, and I have carried it with a large bear can and 12 days of food. I have beat it up pretty good the last several years, and my top lid unraveled on my last trip. So I am going to buy a Go-Lite Quest, which is about 6 ounces lighter, and basically the same pack without the bottom compartment. Then I can use that for shorter trips, and interchange the top lid when I need the extra volume provided by the Odyssey for a longer trip.

Regards, nice pics. Is that the Mt. San Gorgonio trail you are on? I climbed it about 30 years ago.

Currently about 10-11lbs baseweight for a typical sunny summer Sierra weekend. Looking to switch to a quilt will shave 3/4 of a lb. Maybe switch packs to a HMG Windrider. Pulled the aluminum stay out of my ULA Circuit for a trip this weekend to see if I actually notice a difference.

My pack typically weighs 28 to 45 pounds depending on the number of days (2 to 6 days are my range for backpacking trips) and the conditions.

That 45 pound pack in the early season when I have to carry snow gear and warmer clothing is tough, but it makes the 30 pound pack feel great later in the season.

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:

http://seatosummitultralight.blogspot.c ... -list.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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.

hikerchick395 wrote:Too much! But so far, I don't care...

Daypack with camera gear...25 pounds

Backpack with camera gear...45-50 pounds

(including water...2 quarts and one pint...and food.)

hehe - my packs are 7 pounds and 6 pounds respectively - when empty

when loaded, I carry between 38 and 40 pounds before food and water in summer, about 10-15 pounds more in winter, depending on the mode of transport.

I do care about reducing pack weight where I can, but I have spent enough time on the mountain to know that **** happens, and my gear is usually dialed in to deal with those worst case scenario events. I've had my share of "once in 20 year storms" to learn the hard way what works and what doesn't.

I must say 40 pounds before food and water, for the summer, is on the heavy side. I too have spent a lot of time in the mountains in foul weather, and also in the Rockies, with really foul weather. I regularly do long trips, up to 30 days at a stretch. I often camp at 11,000 to 12,000 feet elevation. So I do not feel I am "sandbagging" conditions.

I do see more weight if you add lots of fishing gear, climbing gear, camera gear or electronic gagets, other optional "fun stuff" or optional "comfort" stuff. Nothing "wrong" per se with this "style" of backpacking. I have had 40 pound base weight myself, when I have done alpine technical climbing in the Sierra. But for simple backpacking, I personally find I enjoy it more with a lighter pack. But saying that you "need" 40 pounds just to deal with Sierra weather June through Sept, or to be comfortable in foul weather, even when it snows, is what I disagree with.

I have settled into the "light" catagory. My total "base weight" on my back including the pack, crocks, bear can, camera and 10F deg sleeping bag is about 20 pounds. (I do not count my hiking shirt, pants, hat, shoes and trekking poles since they are never on my back - they all total about 5 pounds). I doubt I will ever get to the ultra-light catagory (they regularly have a 10-12 pound base weight).