High Sierra Topix

The last few times I have met PCT'rs, they have all been without a canister. One guy told me it was pretty much an accepted weight saving tactic, and a risk most are willing to take. I am obviously resentful, but the truth is that I think the canister rule is meant as a fool-proof policy, and that smart backpackers who know counterbalance skills and pick their campsites wisely can safely get by without one. Consider the fact that in yellowstone, grizzly country, cannisters arent required.

I have never been asked by a ranger on the trail to show my canister (although I have been asked to show a permit a couple times).

I'm only an "aspiring ultralighter", having used their insights and ideas to pare a lot of weight out of my kit. Carrying 30-40lb puts me out of the true UL league, but it's sure better than what I used to do.

One of the boat anchors I can't do without is the BearVault. Although it's the lightest bear canister I can afford, it adds about 2lb to the food weight. However, since mine has been gnawed, batted and moved about by Yogi Bear, I reckon the weight is well worth it. Having lost food to Yogi and Boo Boo at Donahue Pass, I understand the alternative...

I just finished Rae Lakes loop with entry/exit at Onion Valley (~50 mi). We planned for 4 days. My pack was right at 30lbs fully loaded and my hiking buddy's pack was 40lbs. I'm very thankful for the lighter weight and looking to trim even more - it really makes the difference on climbs and distance. When I see a 50+lb pack on the trail I feel for the person (although when I see someone carrying in an ice chest (really!) I have a different response).

I haven't done anything extreme to get the weight down, and, yes I do carry a bear cannister. I use a Bear Vault 450 which will hold about 3 days of food (if necessary, I carry the first day's food outside the BV 450). I also have a BV500 which will hold more food at a slight size/weight penalty.

Here's where the big weight savings come from:

Bag: REI Sub Kilo (too warm most of the time)
Pad: Exped Synmat UL (LUXURY at the cost of lung power) & Exped air pillow (awesome)
Tent: Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 (not this year's lighter model) with footprint
Pack: Osprey Exos 58 (its a tight fit, but everything goes inside - no danglies) & Gregory raincover
Water Treatment: Sawyer Squeeze water filter & Osprey 3.0 bladder (the 30lbs includes 3 liters!)
Cooking gear: Snowpeak Litemax stove & GSI Outdoors Halulite Cookset
(generally) packed clothing: Patagonia sunshirt, Montbell down sweater, GoLite rain jacket, extra coolmax tshirt, running shorts, extra underwear, extra socks
(generally) worn clothing: REI convertable pants, coolmax tshirt, floppy hat, Merrell Ventilator boots

I have a good medical kit I assembled myself. It's probably more complete than those you'd find prepackaged but not particularly light.

I do make sure to minimize the extras and really think hard about whether I'll use something. I pack more food than I'll need (NLT 2500 cal/day). And I do carry a camera with a Joby tripod.

They key is to go light when you replace your gear piece by piece. Make a list, research those items with good customer feedback (read the reviews to make sure the item will work for you), and then wait for the sales in the fall/winter.

Don't most thru-hikers on the JMT-PCT rely on lockers? I seem to remember that popular way stations in Seki "reserve" lockers for thru-hiker use. Looking at the map though there are LONG gaps between Woods Creek Crossing and Lake Edison and then again from Lake Edison to Devils Postpile. I also wonder why there is a box at Shadow Lake if there's no camping? If that one's no use it leaves a long gap between the Postpile and Tuolomne?

On the subject of "lightweight". It's pretty easy to put together a comprehensive and safe gear list that; minus food and fuel, comes in at 10lb or less. If you're planning for every possible accident you might as well stay home.

Cloudlesssky: Were you affected by the fire???

I would say "thank you" to someone carrying an ice chest, and camp nearby where I could watch the nightly raid!!

jessegooddog wrote:$195 for the small bearikade....crazy for a plastic cylinder!!

The Bearikade is made of carbon fiber and aluminum, not plastic.

jessegooddog wrote:One person, one night - I really need very little as the first day's food need not go into the canister.

Some people probably think my short trip small pack doesn't contain a bear canister when it does. You can put other things in a bear canister besides food.

Cloudlessly: You can fill that synmat with an inflator made from a thin 13 gal kitchen trash can liner. The ones with the drawstring weigh a little more but add some substance to the open end when you're "catching" air. Put a @ 3x3 piece of duct tape on the bottom and cut a small X just big enough to pull over the fill valve. I also put a narrow velcro "strap" around that to hold it tight and reinforce. Fill the bag with air and squeeze it into the synmat. Lots easier and faster than blowing and also no moisture to condense in the mat. Avg lung capacity is 6 liters or 1.5 gal. A half full trash bag is 4 x that. Can get a little tricky the last little bit when/if you want the mat really tight full. Hard to hold tension on the bag and close the valve, so top it off with your lungs if you need to.

Sorry for the thread drift.

jessegooddog wrote:Cloudlesssky: Were you affected by the fire???

Fortunately we came through Woods Creek after it was opened again. The burn area was about 2 mi beyond Upper Paradise Valley and extended for 1-1.5 miles.

Still several smoldering spots (and some minor flames as well). I've never been in a recent burn area, and at one particular point I was worried it might spark up again and I waited to make sure my hiking partner cleared the area.

The pro's didn't seem concerned though. It looked like they were breaking camp at Castle Domes Meadow (helo shuttling in and out).

Ska-T wrote:

jessegooddog wrote:$195 for the small bearikade....crazy for a plastic cylinder!!

The Bearikade is made of carbon fiber and aluminum, not plastic.

Now I feel really stupid....

obxcola wrote:Cloudlessly: You can fill that synmat with an inflator made from a thin 13 gal kitchen trash can liner. The ones with the drawstring weigh a little more but add some substance to the open end when you're "catching" air. Put a @ 3x3 piece of duct tape on the bottom and cut a small X just big enough to pull over the fill valve. I also put a narrow velcro "strap" around that to hold it tight and reinforce. Fill the bag with air and squeeze it into the synmat. Lots easier and faster than blowing and also no moisture to condense in the mat. Avg lung capacity is 6 liters or 1.5 gal. A half full trash bag is 4 x that. Can get a little tricky the last little bit when/if you want the mat really tight full. Hard to hold tension on the bag and close the valve, so top it off with your lungs if you need to.

Sorry for the thread drift.

Buy the pump. weighs a whole ounce, seriously and packs in the sack with the mat.