[at-l] What to think?

[nealb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (William Neal)]

I would never start anyone with ultra-light.  Most ultra-lights get that way
after experiencing "Too much".  On the other side, if someone starts
ultra-light, they may get burnt on backwoods hiking because they do not
carry enough (or so they feel after getting cold, hungry, etc.).  Better to
allow them to get what they want and point out obvious "too muches" -- like
portable TVs, computers, gas fired grills (I saw one; a small one, but a gas
fired grill), and other such non-essentials.  And point out why they do not
make sense: You can cook just as much on a ZIP and a ZIP will not weigh you
down as much when you have to tote everything in and out.

William, The "Have I got the Kitchen Sink" Turtle

PS	Someone persuaded me to go ultra-light.  I did not, but I did leave
behind a tarp that was a bit too much.  Only it rained and rained and
rained...  I thought God had forgotten his promise about never drowning the
world again.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim and/or Ginny Owen [mailto:spiriteagle99@hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2003 10:27 PM
To: bleederguy@earthlink.net
Cc: at-l@backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [at-l] What to think?


Beau wrote:
>My daughter's future husband is visiting me in Vermont and we are having a
>discussion on whether he should buy ultra-light equipment or start more
>conventional and work his way down with experience.
>His experience he has walked the British Isles "end to end", he is from
>Wales, in Greece and the Alps but it's all village to village.  He has no
>overnight on the trail experience.
>I think he should just go ultra from the get go.  Reasoning is; if the
>other stuff were not available, he would never miss it.  He has real good
>mental hike experience and does not need a comfort trip.
>The other side of the coin says he has No Real Backpacking Experience.  He
>needs to pay his dues. What do think?


Beau -
Lighter is better.  Just not "too light".  Jardine style might not be the
best way to start, but a lightweight pack, tent, sleeping bag and "maybe" an
alcohol stove aren't too extreme. And not much more expensive than what used
to be called "conventional."   That stuff was too heavy then - and it's
still too heavy.  Actually, I've got some of that stuff in the basement -
anyone interested in a 5# 5* bag?

Yeah - that's what I thought.

Sleeping bag - make sure he gets Dryloft or some equivalent.  It's worth the
extra weight.

Hang in there, my friend -
Jim


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