Written by John Swart – From April 6, 2014 – Questions (two or three, to be inexact) have been pouring in regarding what the heck will I be carrying on my hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. My first inclination is to say I’ll be wearing a speedo and carrying a spear, but that’s a bit inaccurate.
So there is base weight and fully provisioned weight (with food and water) to consider. My goal is to have a base weight in the low 20 lbs range and stay under 30 lbs with vitals and water. There is a large ultra-light crowd who would consider these numbers as coming from the dark ages of backpacking. But what can I say; I’m certainly no techie at this. Guess I foster somewhat of a pack mule mentality.
The basics I’ll be packing are as follows:
- tent (30 oz with poles and stakes)
- sleeping bag (about 2 lbs)
- inflatable sleeping mat (about 30 oz)
- alcohol stove (a small can with holes and a small aluminum wind guard)
- small titanium pot (very light)
- a few utensils
- one small blade knife
- very basic toiletries (e.g., toothbrush, razor, nail clippers, etc)
- basic first aid (neosporin, band-aids, “Vitamin I” (as in ibuprofen)
- headlamp
Then there’s the sartorial issue. Essential duds are these:
- hiking shorts
- 2 short-sleeved or sleeveless shirts
- long (light-weight) undies
- a few long-sleeved shirts
- light vest
- ultra light, warm jacket
- rain jacket and rain pants
- light, long pants
- 2 pairs of socks
- camp shoes (light slip-ons)
- hat
- doo rag/bandana
Of course, anything cotton is strictly verboten or sheer foolishness at best, as it retains dampness, is less breathable and, overall, is just not cool.
I’ll be toting an assortment of electronics as well:
- Samsung Galaxy tablet (to blog on)
- solar charger
- battery pack
- a super neat, new Moto X phone (for photos and video)
The tablet and charger are winging their way to me as I write, and frankly, they have me a bit sweated up over weight and functioning issues.
A further complication is the 600 miles of desert at the start of the trail (trial by fire, I would say). I will need to carry roughly 6 liters of agua which I’m told is around 12 lbs. Hopefully, I won’t end up throwing a yard sale in the desert.
I’ll give further updates as the kickoff approaches, which by the way, is slated for April 16th. I leave Asheville on April 15th, spend the night in San Diego, then hike 21 miles the next day (to the first water source, I’m told).
There’s much more to talk about but must get to the gym to build my carrying muscles.