[pct-l] Followup Backpack Question

[wohlken at geaugaparkdistrict.org (SW)]

Hello again everyone--

I've received so much great information from everyone since my last question regarding backpacks that I think it will take me weeks to follow through on all the suggestions--but that is what it's all about :-).  Anyway, I have a follow-up question that I think I already know the answer to, but I am curious to see how you all feel about this issue.  This centers around a debate raging right now between my trail partner and myself.  Her stance is that this long trek is in effect an expedition, and as such we should carry packs (albeit, all with ultralight gear and using as light of a pack as we can find) with a cu. in. range of 4800-5500 (especially to handle all the food and water during times that we won't be able to re-supply).  I, on the other hand, feel that as long as we are going as light a possible, that also includes bringing only the basics--and thus, in theory, we should not need that much capacity.  I don't really know what the perfect capacity would be, but I would say that a 2000 cu. in. pack wouldn't be out of the question--with a 4800 cu. in. pack being the absolute largest capacity that I would even consider at this point.  Thoughts?

Thanks again to everyone who has been so generous.  You all are making me feel like we can actually pull this little adventure off :-) !

Shane