Lightweight Seminar Notes 1/28/04

John Hartman, Larry Ridenour, 1/28/04

WPFI Backpacking Seminar: Pack Light = More Fun

References

Jardine, Beyond Backpacking, Links at www.softwareunderstanding.com/backpacking, biofilm.eps.montana.edu/~backpacking/commentary/19991006_ultra-vs-light.htm, GoLite Catalog

Why Go Light?

Enjoyment! Comfort, Long Distance Hiking, Partner's Threshold, Reduce/Rehab Accidents/Injuries, Longevity, New Challenge, Satisfaction, Closer to Nature, Encourages Skills, Fashion, Competition...

Trip Variables

Sharing, Shelters, Resupply, Cities, Airports, Fuel, Remoteness, Distances, Number of Days, Terrain, Insects, Water, Trees, Temperatures, Rain, Sun, Wind, Trail Conditions...

Advantages of Going Light

Walking Comfort, Speed, Distance, Joyful Walking, Simplicity, Less Stress, Less Work...

Feedback Loops, E.g. Speed/distance/effort =>food; Pack weight, size, belt; Footwear

Disadvantages of Going Light

Camp Comfort, Survivability, Redundancy, Durability, Emergency Equipment...

Advantages or Disadvantages? Cost Safety Security Flexibility...

Why Would Anyone Carry Unnecessary Weight?

Fear of X, Uninformed, Peer Influence, Tradition, Contentment, Change Effort/Risk, Advertising, Acquisitiveness, Love Objects, Attic Syndrome, Training, Macho, Nature as Adversary...

Psychology and Strategies for Lightening Up

Try It, You'll Like It! E.g. Load Swapping
Support Groups, On and Off Trail - Including Us

Weighing - See Below
Get Other People To Carry Luxuries, Backups, Emergency Equipment...
Start With Tame Trips - E.g. Shelters, Familiarity, Limited Exposure...
Incrementalism
Just Experimenting
Day Pack + Sleeping Bag + ?
Cut to Bare Minimum - Then Add Luxuries
Buy A Small Pack
Ten Pound Rules
Replace Old Love With New Toys/Love
Be Fashion Leader. Be Lightest.
Easier Than Losing Body Weight?

Enjoyment!

When In Doubt Leave It Out! (Idea from Margolis, Walking Europe from Top to Bottom:...)

What you take you have to carry.
What you don’t need, don’t bring.
What you don’t bring and do need, you can borrow.
What you don’t bring and do need and can’t borrow, you can improvise.
What you don’t bring and do need and can’t borrow or improvise, you can do without!
What you can do without you don't need.
It’s only for a few days.

Weighing With Good Scale Is Essential!
Why Weigh?

Objective Truth, Objects As Weight, Discipline, Changes, Reinforcement, Satisfaction...

Do Ounces and Toothbrush Handles Count? Yes and Yes!

OK to chop equipment, repackage food... Psychology

Standard and Lightweight Solo Backpacking

		Skin Out	In Pack	Worn/Other	Water
Standard	Max	33.1 lb + 2.4 lb/day	27.5 lb + 2.4 lb/day	5.6 lb	2.5 lb
	Avg	31.6 lb + 1.2 lb/day	26.0 lb + 1.2 lb/day		1 lb
	Min	30.6 lb	25.0 lb
Lightweight	Max	13.4 lb + 2 lb/day	10.8 lb + 2 lb/day	2.6 lb	1 lb
	Avg	12.9 lb + 1 lb/day	10.3 lb + 1 lb/day		.5 lb
	Min	12.4 lb	9.8 lb
Saved		18.2 lb + ?	15.2 lb + ?	3.0 lb

Food, fuel and other supplies are all included in /day.

Priorities For Losing Weight

	In Pack				Worn/Other
	Accmdns	Equipment	Personal	Clothes	Clothes	Footwear	Poles, etc.
Standard	14.6 lb	3.7 lb	1.7 lb	4.9 lb	1.2 lb	2.4 lb	2.1 lb
Lightweight	4.4 lb	1.6 lb	1.0 lb	2.8 lb	0.9 lb	1.6 lb	0.1 lb
Saved	*10.2 lb*	2.1 lb	.7 lb	2.1 lb	.3 lb	.8 lb	2.0 lb

Standard Pack Items

Accommodations	Equipment	Personal	Clothes (*=Worn)	*Poles, etc. Not In Pack
Pack 75 Tent 80 30 F Bag 38 Therm-A-Rest Pad 32 Ground Sheet 9	Water Filter 12 Nalgene Bottles 6 MSR Stove 14 Foil Wind Screen 2 Cookset 11 Sierra Cup, Spoon 5 Knife 3 Bag, Biner, Cord 7	Emergency and Spares: First Aid, Space Bag, Fire Starting... 12 Office: Maps, Compass, Lights, Notebook, Wallet... 6 Toiletries 5 Headlight 4	Boots 36 Rain Parka 22 Rain Pants 18 Fleece Jacket 17 Warm Hats, Gloves 8 Long Poly Tee 5 Short Poly Tee 5 Convertible Pants 5+6 Underwear 4 Socks, Liners 4 Socks 3 Sun Hat 1	Trekking Poles 18 Camera/Binoculars 16
14.6 lb = 234 oz	3.7 lb = 60 oz	1.7 lb = 27 oz	8.4 = 134(79+19+36)	2.1 lb = 34 oz
30.6 lb total = 25.0 lb in pack + 5.6 lb worn

Lightweight Pack Items

Accommodations	Equipment	Personal	Clothes (*=Worn)	*Poles, etc. Not In Pack
GoLite Breeze Pack 13 Tarp, Pegs 19 30 F Down Bag 26 RidgeRest Pad 9 Tyvek Sheet 4	Filter Bottle 7 Gatorade Bottle 1 Giga Stove 5 Foil Wind Screen 2 Titanium Pot 4 Plastic Cup, Spoon 1 Knife 1 Bag, Biner, Cord 4	Emergency and Spares: First Aid, Space Bag, Fire Starting... 8 Office: Maps, Compass, LED Lights, Notebook, Wallet... 4 Toiletries 3 Ion Headlight 1	Trail RunnngShoes* 26 Rain Parka 10 Rain Pants 5 Light Fleece Top 9 Warm Hats, Gloves 6 Long Poly Tee 5 Short Poly Tee 5 Baggies Shorts 5 Light Poly Bottoms 6 Socks, Liners 4 Socks 3 Sun Hat 1	Mini Monocular 1
4.4 lb = 71 oz	1.6 lb = 25 oz	1.0 lb = 16 oz	5.3 lb=85(45+14+26)	0.1 lb = *1 oz
12.4 lb total = 9.8 lb in pack + 2.6 lb worn

Your Pack Items

Accommodations	Equipment	Personal	Clothes (*=Worn)	*Poles, etc. Not In Pack