Would 20lb. pack be enough for No. Maine? [Archive] - WhiteBlaze

Shutterbug

04-12-2009, 12:27

Would a 20lb. pack be big enough to carry enough food through the long desolate stretch through No. Maine?

TY

Most people take six to eight days through the 100 Mile Wilderness, but one can resupply at Whitehouse Landing (some complain at the expense). A few people also arrange for Boarstone to place a cache of food in the middle of the wilderness.

If you don't resupply in the wilderness, a 20 lb pack probably won't be big enough. The last time I hiked the 100 Mile Wilderness, my pack was about 35 lbs.

kayak karl

04-12-2009, 12:27

Would a 20lb. pack be big enough to carry enough food through the long desolate stretch through No. Maine?

TY
is the food included in that 20#? water?

Phoenix7

04-12-2009, 13:41

Thanks for the replies. Food would be included in the 20lb. pack, but water would be carried externally.

Engine

04-12-2009, 16:08

Thanks for the replies. Food would be included in the 20lb. pack, but water would be carried externally.

Solo, my packs weighs 10.5 pounds without food and water. Figure 1.5 pounds of food per day for 7 days (planning to pig out at the other end) and 4 pounds for water. My total would be around 25 pounds at its highest, but I would probably only carry 2 pounds of water at a time so figure 23 pounds on day 1 and down to 20 including water by day 3.

YMMV :)

Phoenix7

04-12-2009, 18:49

kayak karl

04-12-2009, 19:13

Thanks a lot for the replies. I think I may go with a larger pack but still adopt an ultralight attitude. Also I want to bring a camera so that will be more weight too. I think I'll use the ultralight pack for shorter trips and go with a bigger pack for long ones, but still go as ultralight as possible. At 41 I'll give my knees somewhat of a break.

i think i lost you somewhere? packs are in cubic in's, not lbs? or is your PACK only rated at 20# of weight max. sounds like a day pack. which pack do you have? im no expert on UL:)
i used a Go-Lite Pinnacle 29 oz. for the winter. it is a light pack but holds 4400 cu. in's. i use the Katahdin Equinox pack 20 oz., 3350 cu. in. the other 3 seasons. Both can carry 35#. more then that they feel like a ruck sack:)

sticks&stones

04-12-2009, 19:49

20lbs of what?

YoungMoose

04-12-2009, 19:58

i think that it depends. If your willing to re supply and white house landing i think its fine. if you dont want to resupply there get a bigger pack

Turtlehiker

04-12-2009, 20:35

Heck I carried 20lbs of food through the 100 mile Wilderness and I thought that was pretty good! My pack weight was 34lbs at the start with 2 liters of water. After I realized how much water was always around I only carried 1 liter. Walking out to Abol Bridge with a 14lb pack was nice!

Phoenix7

04-12-2009, 20:38

i think i lost you somewhere? packs are in cubic in's, not lbs? or is your PACK only rated at 20# of weight max. sounds like a day pack. which pack do you have? im no expert on UL:)
i used a Go-Lite Pinnacle 29 oz. for the winter. it is a light pack but holds 4400 cu. in's. i use the Katahdin Equinox pack 20 oz., 3350 cu. in. the other 3 seasons. Both can carry 35#. more then that they feel like a ruck sack:)

Karl, it's a Granite Gear rucksack, probably somewhere around 3,000 cu. in., but only rated at 20 lb.

bigcranky

04-12-2009, 20:51

I was just thinking that -- with the way I eat, my food bag would be about 20 pounds for that stretch.

Wolf - 23000

04-13-2009, 14:41

Would a 20lb. pack be big enough to carry enough food through the long desolate stretch through No. Maine?

TY

I know I'm a little out dated with the newest gear but 20 pounds is more than enough to hike any place on the AT and most places in the US. The equipment has been around for at least 20 years and if you invest in some ok gear you won't have any problems.

Wolf

Phoenix7

04-13-2009, 16:18

I suppose if I loaded up with freeze-dried foods it could work. I'm actually thinking of going with a bigger pack. Want to have a decent camera and want to tote something like a tarptent instead of just a tarp. All those creepies on the ground:eek:

TD55

04-13-2009, 16:42

Whatever you decide, you will save some lbs. if you resupply at WHL, prices be damed!!!

dloome

04-13-2009, 21:10

Would a 20lb. pack be big enough to carry enough food through the long desolate stretch through No. Maine?

TY

WAIT. HOLD EVERYTHING. There's a long, desolate stretch in Maine?! How'd I miss that one?

If your question is: "Could someone hike the 100 M.W. with a pack weighing 20# including gear and food?"

...I would say certainly, but this would probably be on the lower end of the scale. Most people would take about 7 days to hike it, and assuming @1.5# of food a day, your base weight (pack weight w/o food and water) would need to be around 10 pounds. Hard to get down to 10# without knowing what you're doing. After many, many long distance hikes I still carry about 8.

I would say this to you: Don't set arbitrary weight goals for yourself. Carry what you need, keep it simple, ask for gear advice where you can. Whiteblaze and Backpackinglight are good resources. Study other hikers gear lists. If your pack weighs more than 20#, remember that you'll be eating food as you go, and a couple days down the trail it may be a more reasonable weight.

bigcranky

04-13-2009, 22:41

I would say this to you: Don't set arbitrary weight goals for yourself.

I don't think it was an arbitrary goal -- IIRC his pack will handle only 20 pounds before it maxes out. (Frameless ruck.)

My feeling is that the 100 mile wilderness is more of a challenge for a sobo hiker than a nobo (yeah, duh, right?) and 7 days would be 14+ mpd. That's pushing it for a lot of hikers right out of the gate. Not having hiked Maine yet, I can't compare it to the southern half, but I don't recommend 14+ days for nobo starters, either. (And they can resupply in 30 miles.)

Several folks have mentioned being able to resupply in the middle. Sounds like something to consider.

Wolf - 23000

04-25-2009, 05:33

BLEACH,

Your smoking something - what I don't know. I was carrying less than 8 pound of gear on my first thru-hike and that was 20 years ago. The equipment has sense improved a lot making it extremely easy to hike even the 100 miles in Maine with less than 20 pounds including food and water.

I agree everyone should carry what they need - but at the same time this is also the ultralight form. Everyone here should be a little bit above the rookie stage - carrying 10 pound of gear at most or less.

Wolf

WAIT. HOLD EVERYTHING. There's a long, desolate stretch in Maine?! How'd I miss that one?

If your question is: "Could someone hike the 100 M.W. with a pack weighing 20# including gear and food?"

...I would say certainly, but this would probably be on the lower end of the scale. Most people would take about 7 days to hike it, and assuming @1.5# of food a day, your base weight (pack weight w/o food and water) would need to be around 10 pounds. Hard to get down to 10# without knowing what you're doing. After many, many long distance hikes I still carry about 8.

I would say this to you: Don't set arbitrary weight goals for yourself. Carry what you need, keep it simple, ask for gear advice where you can. Whiteblaze and Backpackinglight are good resources. Study other hikers gear lists. If your pack weighs more than 20#, remember that you'll be eating food as you go, and a couple days down the trail it may be a more reasonable weight.

garlic08

04-25-2009, 12:38

Yes, it's possible. My pack weight in '08 never exceeded 20# with food and water, and I did several 100+ mile stretches to avoid getting off trail, like at the White House Landing. For 100 miles, I'd carry 8# of food and in Maine, there's no reason to ever carry more than 2# of water (at least there wasn't in '08, a wet year). If your base weight is 10# or less, you're set. And if you're at that base weight, you should be able to hike 100 miles in less than 5 days.

Phoenix7

04-25-2009, 15:10

I think what I'd do is carry 2 qts. of water in totes on straps, and get a fanny pack (facing forward) to carry another 1 1/2 qts. That way there's no water weight in the pack. Carry freezed dried foods and only resupply at WHL if necessary. I think it might work.

George

04-25-2009, 15:20

20lbs is only a little more than 1 case of beer, that is not enough for trail days much less the 100 mile wilderness 2 cases would be an absolute minimum

Phoenix7

04-25-2009, 16:36

The thing is with a 20lb. pack I could run through several sections of the 100MW. I ran track for 6 years and cross-country for 5, so with a light enough pack it's no sweat for me to beat-feet through some sections and cut down on the days spent through there.

Nina

04-25-2009, 17:45

squirl tastes pretty good if you soak it in salt water for at least an hour b4 you cook it

hikingtime

05-29-2009, 17:55

BLEACH,

Your smoking something - what I don't know. I was carrying less than 8 pound of gear on my first thru-hike and that was 20 years ago.

Wolf

I have to call BS on this one. Please list this ultralite gear that was available 20 years ago that only you knew about.

Snowleopard

05-29-2009, 19:27

I have to call BS on this one. Please list this ultralite gear that was available 20 years ago that only you knew about.:-?
From Horace Kephart, 'Camping and Woodcraft', 1917:
Tent (silk) 13 oz.
Poles 15 oz (nowadays replace with trekking poles).
Pegs 10 oz
Ground sheet 10 oz
Ground blanket 8 oz
Down Quilt 20 oz
Cooking kit 16 oz.
Sub Total 6lb 4 oz. Commercially then for bicyclists.
To that add:
Wool sweater or shirt 16 oz.
Extra socks 4 oz
Tooth brush, etc. 3 oz
Waterproof canvas rucksack 21"x22" 12 oz Good for 15 lb.
Canteen 1 qt aluminum 11 oz.
Sub Total 2 lb 2 oz.
Total 8 lb 6 oz.

Ultralight gear has been around a long time. :)

hikingtime

05-29-2009, 20:15

Snowleopard

05-29-2009, 20:44

I thought Horace's summer gear list was 18 pounds. Also, some of the essentials are missing from your list, like rain gear, compass, first aid kit and a pair of pants or shorts. Horace dressed his own game, so you would need to add a gun and a knife. He said "In the depth of winter, moose or caribou hide is warmest." I wonder how many pounds a caribou parka would be? How many pounds was the axe Horace carried?
I love that book!! This list is not his gear, but is mostly gear for English bicycle tourers. "18 pounds" Pretty good memory, hikingtime. With the book in front of me: '18 lb 3 oz'. Probably for his conditions this equipment would be too light. For the AT I think it could work.
His tomahawk was 12 oz. I did eventually find a tomahawk that was pretty light but probably not as good. I don't think a rifle or heavy duty knife is suitable for the AT -- 90 years ago it would have been.

Adding in some omitted items to 1917 Ultra Light gear list:
Rain cape 1 lb 5 oz.
Fly dope in oiler 2 oz.
Talcum powder in waterproof bag 1 oz
Toilet paper 1 oz
First aid kit 5 oz.
Spare matches in tin box 2 oz
Electric flasher 5 oz
Mosquito net 4 oz.
Sub total 2 lb 9 oz
Total from previous post 8 lb 6 oz.
Grand total 10 lb 15 oz.
Still not bad for 1917.
Probably the least adequate piece of gear is the rucksack; I think too much weight and it wouldn't be very comfortable.

"how many pounds a caribou parka would be?" Lots!

If you're familiar with it, I'm going to make a silnylon Royce tent when I get time. I did a semi-successful version 20 years ago.
--Walter

Alaskanhkr23

05-29-2009, 20:58

Alaskanhkr23

05-29-2009, 20:59

Seriously Asking-

bigcranky

05-29-2009, 21:22

I'm wondering what you guys have in your packs that makes it a total of 8 to 15 pounds all together? I can understand maybe like 19 to 22 pounds with all that i use-but Danm how do you get that low? with out leaving home even the simplest comfort.

Define "simplest comfort." I have a full size Thermarest pad, a nice down sleeping bag, a real pack with a frame and all, plenty of clothing, rain gear, etc., and my three-season pack weight (no food) is 13 pounds and change. If I were willing to sleep on a 3/4-length ccf pad and use a poncho tarp as shelter and rain gear, and give up my comfy camp shoes, that drops to 10+ pounds (but that's beyond my definition of "simple comforts.")

Everyone's definition of comfort is different. Me, I like to eat, so my starting pack is usually around 25-30 pounds with food and water. But I eat it back down with each passing day.

bigcranky

05-29-2009, 21:24

If you mean total with food and water, then 8-15 pounds is pretty light. I usually have a 10-pound food bag for a 5-day section. But there are hikers who successfully hike with five pounds of gear and clothing, so it can be done (with plenty of experience and careful testing.)

Snowleopard

05-29-2009, 21:35

I'm still working on it. I think I can get under 15 lb, maybe eventually under 12, but the trick is to do it without breaking the bank. Garlic08 has done it:
http://www.trailjournals.com/gear.cfm?trailname=6620
also check out http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/display_forum.html?forum=37 (http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/display_forum.html?forum=37)
for some of the more extreme gear lists (the forum there is good also).

Some of the tricks: light sleeping bag or quilt ($$$ if it's cold).
Once you get your weight down low enough you can use a really light pack.
Tarp ($) or light tarptent ($$) or really light tent ($$).

Alaskanhkr23

05-29-2009, 21:49

Shutterbug

05-30-2009, 02:27

Yeah,the heaviest thing i have is my Tent-4 person,It was 30 dollars,Which is cheap but it weighs a ton. I was going to make a thread about tents but i can just ask here---- What is a good 1 to 2 person tent,That is cheap,light,and i can lay compfy in. i'm 6 foot 3 inches

One thing you will learn about hiking -- "cheap" and "light" don't go together.

Consider a bivy -- http://www.rei.com/product/731431

Matteroo

05-30-2009, 04:33

a 20lb pack is way too heavy. what is the internal suspension made of cast iron?? and the buckles and snaps and zippers all steel? you want your pack to weight 3lbs max.. and thats really not too ultra-light. probably more like .75-2lbs for ultra-light.

bullseye

05-30-2009, 11:11

I'm wondering what you guys have in your packs that makes it a total of 8 to 15 pounds all together? I can understand maybe like 19 to 22 pounds with all that i use-but Danm how do you get that low? with out leaving home even the simplest comfort.

When you start getting into the realm of 8# or less you also get into the realm of forgetting about some of the simplest comforts. No camp chairs or 4 man wally world tents. As your backcountry skills improve you find that your confidence level increases and you need less gear to perform the same operations. I have hiked sub 5 and am planning a sub 3 or 4# hike at some point this year. That includes shelter, stove, and sleeping gear. When you start with a 3.5 ounce pack and 4.5 ounce tarp you can see how that wouldn't be out of the question. It doesn't happen overnght, but with some determination it's certainly possible.

Here's a pic on Wildcat with a sub 10# setup:

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/7/0/6/8/4cCarterNotchfromsummitofWildcatA_thumb.jpeg (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=15389&c=member&imageuser=7068)

Notice that includes a cannister stove, crocs, and an inflatable pad. That's about as far as my idea of simplest comforts goes anyway.

garlic08

05-30-2009, 13:26

One thing you will learn about hiking -- "cheap" and "light" don't go together.

Sometimes, certainly for the sleeping bag, not not necessarily always. A new Tarptent Contrail, 24 oz, is $200. A new MSR Hubba, 2 lb 9 oz, is $350 MSRP. Gossamer Gear G-4 pack, 16 oz, costs $135. ULA Catalyst, 47 oz, costs $235. A Z-rest pad weighs 11 oz, costs $35, regular thermarest weighs 2 lbs 12 oz, costs $65. A pepsi can stove costs nothing, weighs a few grams and you can't beat that.

So I don't get why I always hear how much it costs to lighten up. One hiker told me her outfitter said it would cost an extra $100 to drop every pound, or $1000 to loose 10 pounds from her pack! Where do they get this stuff? Maybe they're extrapolating based on the best down sleeping bags, which are very expensive.

I got my Marmot Helium bag (MSRP $350 or so) for $160 on Steep'n'Cheap, so you can get good deals. My entire AT kit, 8# total, cost about $500. It doesn't need to be expensive.

bullseye

05-30-2009, 14:49

Sometimes, certainly for the sleeping bag, not not necessarily always. A new Tarptent Contrail, 24 oz, is $200. A new MSR Hubba, 2 lb 9 oz, is $350 MSRP. Gossamer Gear G-4 pack, 16 oz, costs $135. ULA Catalyst, 47 oz, costs $235. A Z-rest pad weighs 11 oz, costs $35, regular thermarest weighs 2 lbs 12 oz, costs $65. A pepsi can stove costs nothing, weighs a few grams and you can't beat that.

So I don't get why I always hear how much it costs to lighten up. One hiker told me her outfitter said it would cost an extra $100 to drop every pound, or $1000 to loose 10 pounds from her pack! Where do they get this stuff? Maybe they're extrapolating based on the best down sleeping bags, which are very expensive.

I got my Marmot Helium bag (MSRP $350 or so) for $160 on Steep'n'Cheap, so you can get good deals. My entire AT kit, 8# total, cost about $500. It doesn't need to be expensive.

I agree. The problem with most UL hikers is they become gear junkies (nothing wrong with that, just sayin'). Instead of looking for simple answers or trying to make gear themselves most folks are willing to shell out $$$$$ for gear. It's always the newest and shiniest. $100.00 a pound is to convince you you're not pissin' your money away.;) If you have the bucks and don't want to be bothered there's nothing wrong with that. Plenty of stores will be willing to help you out. But if you're on a budget and aren't afraid to try, there's plenty of gear to be made or had cheap. The phrase "necessity is the mother of invention" applies here. There's a great deal of satisfaction to be had when a piece of gear you made yourself actually does what it's supposed to. Also, if there's a dent or crooked seem it just doesn't seem to matter:D.

It would be cool if all the do it yourself projects on the web could be had in one place:-?. Looks like another project......

Snowleopard

05-30-2009, 15:01

... But if you're on a budget and aren't afraid to try, there's plenty of gear to be made or had cheap. The phrase "necessity is the mother of invention" applies here. There's a great deal of satisfaction to be had when a piece of gear you made yourself actually does what it's supposed to. Also, if there's a dent or crooked seem it just doesn't seem to matter:D.

It would be cool if all the do it yourself projects on the web could be had in one place:-?. Looks like another project......
Yes. I admit to being a gear junky but also like the idea of making it myself or finding it cheap.
The first woman to thruhike did it "wearing Keds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keds_%28shoes%29) sneakers and carrying an army blanket, a raincoat, and a plastic shower curtain which she carried in a homemade bag slung over one shoulder".
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/atf/cf/%7BB8A229E6-1CDC-41B7-A615-2D5911950E45%7D/GATEWOOD.jpg