Lenghtly Resupply?

[Tipi Walter]

I am not an ultralighter by any stretch, in fact I have more in common with Norman Clyde and his 90 pound packs than with anyone, but it all seems to be a question of this: Are we living out or passing thru? Bag nights are bag nights however and in whatever way we camp, but my theory is this: The lighter our load the more we move and so this follow-up question should be asked: What's the longest stretch an ultralighter has stayed out without resupply for food?

My winter weighted pack of 70 pounds can take me close to 18 days without interruption and this includes 32 oz of white gas, several heavy books, a large Expedition Thermarest and a 4 season tent along with the usual cold weather clothing. (PS Norman Clyde lived and backpacked in the Sierra Nevadas for most of his life and did so when packboards and trump lines were favored. He carried several pairs of boots, a small library of books and various cast iron skillets and pots).

Anyway, what is the longest you can stay out(in the winter)and still be considered ultralight?

[vipahman]

Anyway, what is the longest you can stay out(in the winter)and still be considered ultralight?
I don't think you should confuse the term ultralight with the duration of a trip, be it weekend or expedition. Ultralight is a philosophy of packing lightly and/or with ultralight items. While the duration of your trip does increase weight, generally speaking, the tent, bag and pad are still the same. The pack would get bigger due to the additional food and clothes needed.

That said, my winter setup weighs 28 lbs except food/fuel/water:-
- 10 lbs 4500ci-pack/4s-tent/0-bag/pads.
- 4 lbs clothes/cooking/hygiene.
- 3 lbs compass/guides/headlamp/camera/poles
- 11 lbs layered clothes/hat/gloves/shoes/gaitors/snowshoes

Food/fuel/water varies based on the length of the trip. And while I love to read, I will never carry books on the trail. Hope this helps.

[bugbomb]

There's a thread over at backpackinglight.com that currently addresses the problems of long trips without resupply with ultralight gear/techniques. The thread creator appears to be planning a 20 day hike in northern Alaska, 40 miles per day, no resupply, no support. Should be good.

Also, check Golite's site - Coup did an unsupported, no resupply Colorado Trail thru-hike in something right around 20 days. Obviously, he did it to show off his company's ultralight gear.

What kind of daily mileage do you usually plan to cover with your 70 pound pack? I think that is the main advantage of a lighter load - the ability to see more scenery.

Ben

[Tipi Walter]

What kind of daily mileage do you usually plan to cover with your 70 pound pack? I think that is the main advantage of a lighter load - the ability to see more scenery.

Ben

Actually, my main consideration is in roaming an area for a set length of time, say 10 to 14 days, and generally averaging about 9 miles per day. I surely can't make a lot of miles with the gear I like to carry but 40 miles per day? Forget about it. To me, being someplace is just as valued as getting someplace(in the woods, of course), and so mileage is not something I pay a whole lot of attention to.

[Tipi Walter]

But hey! I'll check out backpackinglight.com to see what they carry for a long trip(and how much food).

[bugbomb]

Tipi,

Don't worry - I totally hear where you are coming from! I agree - it's more about time spent in the wild than anything else. I think that you'll find more "big miles" guys out in the west - there are just more miles out here, and you can hike for 10-14 days in one direction without running into anyone, even if you are covering serious ground. In the open country of the high Rockies, I could cover 20+ miles per day without feeling rushed or like I'm missing anything. But closer to home, below treeline, without the huge spaces, I feel like I'm just pushing through a tunnel if I try to go that far that fast.

9 miles a day sounds pretty grueling to me with 70 pounds! I'm impressed. Like you seem to suggest, it's all about what you're after.

Just a comment - I think you'll find that most ultralighters don't feel that they need any extra gear for a long trip. In fact, possibly the opposite...

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/680/index.html

As far as food - that's the main topic of the initial thread I referred to. These guys are pretty scientific about the whole thing... moreso than I would be :).

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/2273/index.html

Ben

[Vi+]

Tipi Walter,

You asked, “What's the longest stretch an ultralighter has stayed out without resupply for food?”

Vipahman made the proper distinction, “.. you should(n’t) confuse the term ultralight with the duration of a trip ...”

I’m glad to read your elaboration, “... my main consideration is in roaming an area for a set length of time ... being someplace is just as valued as getting someplace ... mileage is not something I pay a whole lot of attention to.”

The vast majority of hikers I’ve spoken with, who were planning a Thru-Hike, spoke of their desire to appreciate nature. I meet a surprisingly large proportion of hikers wearing sunglasses in the shady tunnel, listening to earphones, and staring at the ground as they walk along. At some point some of these hikers changed, and "appreciation of nature" evolved into an athletic event.

Having recorded and watched much of the ‘06 Olympics, I’m moved to say there’s nothing wrong with the athleticism of hiking. Hikers who begin their hike with the goal of achieving distance have a simpler goal, they accomplish this by maintaining their motion in the correct direction.

I’ve wondered, if I really knew and understood everything there was to know about a single blade of grass whether everything else about nature and biology would be a relatively simple extension of logic.

You may get more out of “roaming an area” than you would hiking the whole trail.

[The Solemates]

the longest ive been out was for 17 days in Alaska, but it certainly wasnt ultralight. i had about 50 pounds at the start, somewheres around 30 at the end.

[fiddlehead]

I don't know what is considered ultralight but i don't carry anything i don't need and believe i have the most lightest equipment made (almost, my go-lite breeze pack is now 6 years old and probably not the lightest anymore)
Anyway, i started the JMT with 12 days food. Keep in mind that this was not in the middle of a thru-hike when hikers will eat a lot more than when they start. and it is also before i got sick of Ramen noodles and carried a pack for lunch everyday.
But, if you're talking the AT, you don't have to carry near that much as there is resupply almost every few days with the exception of the wilderness in Maine. Use your head, not your body.