[at-l] Base Pack Weight

[greyowl at rcn.com (greyowl@xxxxxxx)]

This has been a recent topic of discussion and I thought that 
I would put in my  $0.02 in on the subject.  But First-losing 
weight is a wonderful idea as your feet and knees well enjoy 
it immensely.  You will notice the difference in these two 
areas.  Unfortunately one still carries a backpack and it 
puts pressure on the shoulders, back and hips.  Losing wiegh 
doesn't help these areas.  Recently I started doing crunches 
(i want to go from a bear keg bely to a six pack) and 
discovered that I was also strengthing my back.  I was having 
less back pain.

Back in the sixities I carried a pack the would have been 
best described as a ruck sack.  Ruck sacks can be vewry 
comfortable and carried one on day hikes for most of the 80's 
and early nineties (it died in 1994).   But I put in it 
approximately 40 lbs (I weight about about 140).  Then came 
the aluminum external frame packs that were heavier, but one 
could carry more weight.  I was up to sixity pounds.  Being 
young and in good shape it did not bother me at all.  Of 
course our big mile days were around 10 miles.

I still carry an old Jansport external frame back.  I like 
the idea of being able to carry stuff lashed to the frame.  
In winter I carry a 7 lb tent and a 5 lb sleeping bag, but my 
total weigth is less than 35 lbs with three days of food (I 
usually hike for only 3-4 days).  In summer I don't carry a 
sleepin bag or a tent (I use a tarp) and with 5 days of food 
I am under 30 lbs.  I am looking at a number of back packs 
for future hiking that are a lot ligther.

Here is the trick.  What are you comfortable with?  Sparky, 
for instance is in great shape and he can carry heavier loads 
than I can.  This is great.  On longer hikes, especially if 
one is doing big miles, a lighter load will make the hiking 
easier.  Look at your equipment list carefully.  I always 
look at posted equipment lists and question why people carry 
some of the things that they do and why they don't carry 
other things.  For instance the pepsi can stoves are all the 
rage, but in the late fall, winter, and early spring give me 
a white gas stove.  If you have someone with hypothermia you 
want hot liquids fast and something that will generate a lot 
of heat to help warm an individual up.

So what is trhe bottom line.  Get the equipmen, use it and 
see how you like it.  Can it fit in your pack?  can you carry 
the weight?  is it something that is a luxury and you really 
don't need it? do you have a good first aid kit? and so on.  
In the end the only person that is going to have to live out 
of your pack and carry your pack is you so you better darn 
will be comfortable with it.

Grey Owl