backpacking question..two of them. - Page 2

Superman · 02-11-2009, 03:43 PM

I'm really in a hurry so I will be back, but backpacking is something I have started to get back into after about a thirty-year hiatus. Backpacks (loaded) are MUCH lighter than they used to be. Indeed, there is a popular, and increasingly popular, method called "ultralight" backpacking. A friend showed me his backpack, shelter, sleeping back, tool and first aid kits, stove, fuel, clothes, etc. recently. Everything he needs except "consumables" like water and food. You won't believe this, but it's true. His gear weighs 7.5 lbs. No, I am not kidding.

You purify your water on site. You won't want to carry it all. Indeed, if you go backpacking with a 60-lb pack, you will weigh less than forty lbs the next time. And then the next time you will be much closer to 30. Sixty pounds is not fun. The experience is MUCH more enjoyable if you lighten up, and you will meet many backpackers whose packs weigh less than half of yours.

One final note. Today's high-tech undergarments are terrific. A savvy packpacker takes not a single stitch of cotton into the woods.

vash · vash's Garage

i was told there is no water up there.

gassy · 02-11-2009, 04:47 PM

what'cha gonna do if you bag something? Deer weigh a lot, even dressed.

Mr.Puff · 02-11-2009, 04:54 PM

I just bring a water filter. For food I eat: beef jerky, granola bars, and trail mix. My pack includes: an axe, food, water bottle, binoculars, map, a compass, the water filter, lightweight tent and footprint (with rainfly if it is going to be raining), lightweight sleeping bag (appropriate for the climate), high power LED flashlight (a Fenix), a lantern (slow burn candle type w/ LED built into the base), rope, waterproof matches, knife, tiny first aid kit, poop shovel with toilet paper in the handle, a compact lightweight jacket, and an extra pair of socks. Oh yes, if it is bear or mountain lion country I also have a handgun.

Tishabet · 02-11-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vash

i was told there is no water up there.

How far is the walk in?

There are very few areas that really have no water... If you haven't done so already, I'd recommend checking out a USGS map of the area to see if that gives you any leads.

If you really have no other options, packing in 50lbs of water per man is possible, just sounds like a pain in the a$$. Of course, I once carried a watermelon and two pints of ice cream 15 miles or so to surprise a group of teenagers who were three days into a 5 day backpacking trip... but I was younger and stupider (and more fit!) in those days. Plus I was dating the girl who was guiding the group

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Hmm didnt realize there were so many backpackers on the board. We should put together a pelican trek sometime.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tishabet

How far is the walk in?

There are very few areas that really have no water... If you haven't done so already, I'd recommend checking out a USGS map of the area to see if that gives you any leads.

If you really have no other options, packing in 50lbs of water per man is possible, just sounds like a pain in the a$$. Of course, I once carried a watermelon and two pints of ice cream 15 miles or so to surprise a group of teenagers who were three days into a 5 day backpacking trip... but I was younger and stupider (and more fit!) in those days. Plus I was dating the girl who was guiding the group

Philmont?

VINMAN · 02-11-2009, 07:02 PM

Is there snow up there now? If there is , theres your water. lightweight pot and stove, and your all set.

tiwebber · 02-11-2009, 09:06 PM

Hiked the west coast trail last year (45 miles long I think). Starting out my pack was about 50#. In the morning of day 2 I found a 10# practice weight at the bottom of my bag! That was a first. Weight did not include water which is in abundant supply. Katadyn filters are great. Slow to get water but awesome. We filtered water with that thing all through mexico without any sickness.

Tishabet · 02-12-2009, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Philmont?

I never did get to Philmont, but my older brother did. I was definitely a Scout though... got my Eagle (as did my brother), went to the national Jamboree in '97 as the SPL for the Boston area troop, etc. Many, many 50 milers under my belt

Did you get to Philmont?

71T Targa · 02-12-2009, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tishabet

As a rule of thumb, you're going to be pretty unhappy carrying more than 1/3 of your body weight. You guys referencing 80lb packs are masochists.

That is 1/3 of my body weight...

scottmandue · 02-12-2009, 09:09 AM

Can't you kill a deer and drink the blood?

9dreizig · 02-12-2009, 09:18 AM

Vash, when we have to pack an animal out in AK, we normally de-bone it and throw the meat in the backpack, and everything else gets put in a sack and tied to the outside of the pack. Not sure this is legal in CA so you might want to check it out ( there may be meat on bone laws)...

jyl · jyl's Garage

3 day camp in rugged country

backpack 45-50 lbs this is w/ 1980s era technology and one person carrying everything incl tent. Maybe a little bit lighter w/ the latest gear. Also lighter if sharing load w/ others.

water depends on heat but in not-real-hot weather, 2 qts/day is minimal. That will cook the freeze-dried food and give you just enough to drink. Not to "wash" - washing will be scraping pots clean and the occasional moistened towlette. Since only 3 day camp, take extra, and use trip to figure out your own water needs.

Edit - geez, I read the thread and see others are saying 2 gallons of water per day per person! That is way more than minimal needs, in my backpacking experience anyway. Unless you're sweating a river in 100F heat. (Go look up medical recommendations for how much water a human should drink, and realize those are already excessive.) And way more than you can carry, 8.6 lbs x 2 x 3 = 52 lbs of just water.

If you are nervous about it, I say, hydrate a lot in the days before the trip, then bring 3 qts/day per day per person, and figure out how much you personally need. And no "washing", for heaven's sake.

jyl · jyl's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by vash

ok, more info.

we need to get to the top of this mountian...super secret spot for archery stuff. zero water up there for humans. we want to blast up there, and bring water. two guys, backpack just the water and drop it off. then go back for the rest of the camp equipment. then crush the water bladders and pack everything out. two trips to build a drop camp of sorts. looking at the topos, it will be hell.

Unless you plan to carry a lot of "stuff", I don't think you need to make two trips.

Starting tommorrow, you and your buddy should log exactly how much liquid (water, coffee, beer, soda, anything) you drink per day, for a few days. That'll give you a baseline. Add however much water you need for the freeze dried meals. Then increase by some amount to account for the extertion - like by 1/3X, not by 2X. That's your minimal water need. Add 0.00001 oz/day for "washing" and up to 1 qt/day for safety.

Also, consider skipping the tent, instead bringing a large but lightweight tarp and enough cord to hang it up in some trees. Weather and bugs permitting.

Langers · 02-12-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

ok, more info.

we need to get to the top of this mountian...super secret spot for archery stuff.
zero water up there for humans. we want to blast up there, and bring water. two guys,
backpack just the water and drop it off. then
go back for the rest of the camp equipment.

then crush the water bladders and pack everything out. two trips to build a drop camp
of sorts. looking at the topos, it will be
hell.

Can't you just fly everything in on a helicopter?

scottmandue · 02-12-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Langers

Can't you just fly everything in on a helicopter?

Is there anyplace near by that rents pack horses?

(if horses are even allowed in the area)

There is a place up in the redwood forest that does that.

Burnin' oil · 02-12-2009, 11:11 AM

And, if you use pack horses, you can drink their urine. Not as good as bovine, but acceptable.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tishabet

I never did get to Philmont, but my older brother did. I was definitely a Scout though... got my Eagle (as did my brother), went to the national Jamboree in '97 as the SPL for the Boston area troop, etc. Many, many 50 milers under my belt

Did you get to Philmont?

Yes I did philmont 2 summers ago. It was a life changing experience and something I will never forget. I am working on my eagle project right now and will most definitely finish in time unless the new scout master manages to screw me over like he is trying to do to one of my friends.

Superman · 02-12-2009, 01:33 PM

I'm tellin' ya. Lots of folks these days with 25-lb packs, including everything, for a week. Not winter of course, but 50-lb packs are not necessary these days.

I use the famed "pepsi-can" alcohol stove, but my friend uses the Esbit tablets because of the weight. For him, stove and fuel for a week probably don't weigh six ounces. The legs unzip from his pants, making shorts. One pair of socks are washed each day and dried in a mesh pocket on the outside of his pack. Same with underwear. Polyester, basically. So....his entire wardrobe doesn't weigh a pound. Besides what he wears while hiking, probably doesn't weigh five ounces. Et cetera.

I'm learning. As I say, at least half the backpackers you will see up there are "light" or "ultralight" folks. That means their full backpacks weigh no more than half what yours will likely weigh. You can tell by looking at them.