In August 2003, I tried to hike 500 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail through the High Sierra in California – in 30 days.
Here's how I reduced my pack weight ...
The single most important piece of equipment I bought never went on the trail with me: an inexpensive digital scale! Weighing everything to the nearest gram is quite important. Manufacturers weights are averages (or exaggerations), and after you modify your equipment, you need to weight it again.
Modify your equipment – every gram counts! There's no gear police that will swoop down after you remove the straps, logos, cords, belts, and other doodads that you don't need. You might even add something, but think long and hard. Be brave and cut that hole that makes something work better. Weight and function are far more important than appearance.
On my first weekend trip, I used old equipment (some very old). That gear worked OK, but was over 25 pounds base weight.
Piece by piece I bought lighter versions of my old gear.
After a couple more weekend trips trying the new gear, I was still over my target base weight, and several items didn't work well.
Time to re-think everything from the ground up. Back to Ray Jardine's books and the Internet.
Lightweight backpacking requires new skills, not just lighter equipment and book learning, so I tried new equipment on my training trips.
On one trip, I used a poncho as a tarp, which failed miserably – too small for me. I switched to a Tarptent Virga with sewn in floor, about the same weight as a tarp plus ground sheet plus poles (I don't use hiking poles). Unfortunately, on a training trip with that tent, a tick snuck under the unsealed entrance. I got bit and infected with staph, and had to end the trip early. I used that tent for the PCT, since in the High Sierra, ticks are not a big problem.
On the same trip, my gas cartridge seal leaked, and I soon had an empty cartridge, a smelly pack, and no way to cook. I switched to an Esbit Pocket Stove with Esbit tablets, slightly modified. Much simpler, lighter, and more reliable.
All the training trips taught me which equipment worked, didn't work, or needed modification. I made many other equipment changes, large and small, based on those experiences.
For my final training trip, I used exactly the equipment I planned to use for the PCT – I didn't want any surprises in the High Sierra.
My base weight was higher than I wanted, but I didn't have enough time to reduce it any further.
Final Equipment List – Weights are from my digital scale.
Since the PCT trip, I've reduced my base weight by a couple of pounds, based on more experience.
Next – the trip
For my final training trip, I used exactly the equipment I planned to use for the PCT – I didn't want any surprises in the High Sierra.
My base weight was higher than I wanted, but I didn't have enough time to reduce it any further.
Final Equipment List – Weights are from my digital scale.
| Carried | |
| Ounces | Description |
| 31.2 | Granite Gear Vapor Trail pack, after trimming |
| 26.0 | Western Mountaineering Megalite 30°F sleeping bag |
| 8.2 | ThermaRest Z-rest pad, after trimming |
| 24.9 | Tarptent Virga with floor |
| 3.5 | Esbit stove + windscreen |
| 0.7 | Lighter |
| 5.5 | Snow Peak Ti Solo cook set |
| 0.6 | Lexan spoon |
| 0.5 | Scrub pad, mesh sack |
| 1.4 | Soap, 1 oz in squeeze bottle |
| 1.4 | Antiseptic hand gel, 1 oz in bottle |
| 3.4 | Water bottle 2x1.5L |
| 3.2 | AquaMira water treatment |
| 37.0 | Bearikade Expedition canister |
| 1.1 | Black Diamond headlamp |
| 0.3 | Spare battery, fits headlamp and camera |
| 4.5 | Sunscreen |
| 3.0 | Bug repellent (3M Ultrathon) |
| 0.6 | Toothbrush |
| 1.7 | Toilet paper in plastic bag |
| 2.0 | Trowel |
| 1.4 | Pack towel |
| 9.6 | First aid kit |
| 3.8 | Whistle, mirror, tape, matches, firestarter |
| 1.1 | Chouinard sewing kit |
| 4.0 | Stuff sacks |
| 4.1 | Maps |
| 1.6 | Drivers license, credit cards, cash |
| 5.4 | Olympus Stylus Epic film camera |
| 2.0 | Film, 2 rolls |
| 0.3 | Comb |
| 2.5 | Cord to hang food |
| 2.3 | Trash compactor bag |
| 3.5 | Journal, pencil |
| 9.8 | Silnylon poncho |
| 8.7 | REI fleece top |
| 7.1 | REI polypro tights |
| 5.6 | Montane Lightspeed jacket |
| 3.4 | Montane Featherlite pants |
| 5.0 | Socks, 2 pair |
| 1.3 | Clear glasses |
| 1.3 | Glasses case |
| 0.8 | Reading glasses |
| 1.3 | Glasses case |
| 1.4 | Fleece gloves |
| 1.5 | Fleece hat |
| 1.1 | Bandanna |
| 250.6 | Total Ounces Carried |
| 15.7 | Total Pounds Carried |
| Worn | |
| 4.0 | Tilley hat |
| 1.3 | Sunglasses |
| 8.5 | REI MTS T-shirt |
| 1.9 | Suunto Vector watch |
| 7.1 | Patagonia Baggies shorts |
| 2.5 | Socks |
| 4.0 | Orthotics |
| 29.8 | Asics Gel-Eagle Trail II shoes |
| 59.1 | Total Ounces Worn |
| 3.7 | Total Pounds Worn |
Since the PCT trip, I've reduced my base weight by a couple of pounds, based on more experience.
Next – the trip
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