New record for me!

[Buffalo Skipper]

Impressive 10-K! But I gotta ask, do now feel you are in the ranks of the ultra-light?

I understand the no-cook dilemma, at least in concept. Have you given any thought to using certain dehyrdrated meals which do not require hot water? Some dehydrated foods will re-hydrate with water at room temp, it just may take longer. Try out what you may like before hand to determine which may or may not work and how long it takes to rehyrdate. You could add the water sometime after lunch and then it will be ready for dinner. May lighten your load a little; trial and error may figure it out.

[10-K]

Well, if I really wanted to be UL I'd leave the dri-ducks poncho and use the Gatewood Cape for raingear too so I've still got room to go. I just don't like the idea of getting soaked while I'm putting up my shelter if it's pouring down rain when I stop hiking.

Totally agree about the food - I've been kinda slack getting ready for this trip and didn't take the time to experiment with dehydrated meals that would be good cold. But, I am looking forward to taking a hunk of cheese - I've never done that before either.

[Buffalo Skipper]

...But, I am looking forward to taking a hunk of cheese - I've never done that before either.

MMMMMMM! Cheese!!!! You are tempting me to look more closeley myself at stoveless options.

[10-K]

MMMMMMM! Cheese!!!! You are tempting me to look more closeley myself at stoveless options.

Even better - I traded one of those heavy 7 oz. packets of chicken for a box of fully cooked bacon. Never took bacon either but I bet a bacon and cheese wrap will be pretty good.

[Buffalo Skipper]

Even better - I traded one of those heavy 7 oz. packets of chicken for a box of fully cooked bacon. Never took bacon either but I bet a bacon and cheese wrap will be pretty good.

Oh my!!! Cheese and Bacon?!?!
Methinks a new way of thinking about food may be in order.

Have a great trek. Can't wait to read the trip report.

[Bearpaw]

Glad to see you're taking your Montbell bag 10-K. I woke up last week just south of Dennis Cove at 41 degrees. I thought 10-K will be awfully uncomfortable if he just takes a bag liner like you had mentioned at one point.

[Raul Perez]

I do have a #1 buzz cut...

Man up and bic it!

[Slo-go'en]

That's pretty darn good 10-K, about half of what I can do for a fully equiped short term summer hike here in NH or Maine.

My minimum base weight is about 10 pounds. Some of that extra weight is due to the fact it is much cooler here then farther south, so need some warmer clothing. The rest of it is that I'm having trouble justifying spending yet another 2 or 300 bucks on even lighter gear to shave off maybe 2 pounds.

Here's my 10 pound gear list:

Pack - REI UL 45 (A little bigger than needed, but actually lighter than my smaller day pack!)
Bag -lafuma 800 fill down bag, 40 degree - at 2 pounds, a bit heavy for the warmth, but packs small and was cheap.
Silk liner to augment bag, just in case. Bag is getting more than a few seasons old and has lost loft and feathers.
Pad - Full length Neo-air
Shelter - 6MD Lunna solo

Clothing:
Cabela's Dry-Plus rain/wind jacket
spare T-shirt
Light wool/poly/nylon blend shirt
Light thermal long sleeve shirt
silk long johns
light gloves, bennie cap
1 spare bandana
Stuff sack for clothes

Pack cover
Food bag - no cook food.
Cheap digi camara
MP3 player and ear buds.
Head lamp
TP
Head bug net
Tooth brush/tooth paste
Small pocket knife, carried in pants pocket.
20 oz plastic soda bottle for water. We have pleanty of good water around here, so I don't bother with treating or filtering.

[STICK]

Very nice pack list indeed! I agree with garlic, leaving stuff behind is key. My gear list is still heavier than yours, but I realize that I am at the point to where saving weight will consist of leaving some things behind! (Of course there are still ways for me to lighten some stuff too...)

Anyway, thanks for posting this! Hope that you have a great time on the trail! (This also makes me want to try to get out there again solo...)

[10-K]

Thanks...

I realized this afternoon that I left TP and hand sanitizer off my list but it is included in the weight.

For another 2.1 oz I could swap the Gatewood Cape and groundcloth for my cuben LH Solo. I could compensate for that by taking a Clif Bar out of my already too heavy food bag. I will likely make this change.

[Wags]

that's a great pack weight man. i'm sure you feel great at the end of even long days. bravo for having the testicular fortitude to be able to leave so much stuff at home and only that the essentials.

[WingedMonkey]

You can buy an Ace bandage when you get to Franklin.

[Slo-go'en]

For another 2.1 oz I could swap the Gatewood Cape and groundcloth for my cuben LH Solo. I could compensate for that by taking a Clif Bar out of my already too heavy food bag. I will likely make this change.

Good idea. I also have a Gatewood cape, but with the addition of the OR bug bivy I use with it (got to have bug protection), it weighs more than the Lunna solo tent. I could get the serenity net insert for the cape which would be lighter then the OR bug bivy, but I find it is really cramped and would rather use the full sized tent for the elbow room.

[Kerosene]

You can buy an Ace bandage when you get to Franklin.

In a pinch you can use duct tape for that Ace bandage...although you might want to "shave" before you stick it on!

[1azarus]

hey 10K, if that's my driducks poncho, i'm honored! me... off to maine in a couple of days. can't wait.

Great pack list -- congrats!!! i agree that the only rational lighter would be in the food compartment.

i hope you are well.

[10-K]

hey 10K, if that's my driducks poncho, i'm honored! me... off to maine in a couple of days. can't wait.

Great pack list -- congrats!!! i agree that the only rational lighter would be in the food compartment.

i hope you are well.

Hey - thanks! I'm loving the Dri-ducks poncho. It's a great piece of gear - perfect for those late afternoon thunderbursts.

Where to in ME?

[Trailbender]

Yeah...but have you started using ultra-light techniques to clip your nails and therefore save valuable grams?

I got pretty good at using a tiny pocketknife to trim my fingernails. I use a pair of toenail clippers at home, though, don't need both, toenail clippers work better than fingernail clippers anyways.

I do have a #1 buzz cut...

Hair weighs an average of 8oz for 3 feet. My hair is fairly short right now, but I am growing it out again. I, personally, will take the benefits of long hair over weight savings.

That's the amount of food I would carry for a 100-mile hike, though it would usually take me 4 days, especially starting right out. You probably got it about right.

You're probably right about stoveless being heavier for this short-term hike. Where stoveless really shines is on a longer term hike and you no longer have to think about fuel. It's also great where there's limited water and you're camping in dry areas. Presumably that's not the case on this trail. Stoveless will also give you a little more time on trail every day, which might help on this trip.

My new setup is 3 esbit tabs, and mostly cold food. If it is a nice day, and firestarting would be fairly easy(nice to moderate weather) I'll build a fire. It heats my water and keeps my skills sharp. I build small fires, about 2 fistfuls of marker sized sticks, to boil 0.5L water, did this for 3 weeks on my thru. I don't even carry the esbit tab stove any more, I can use 3 rocks with a tab under it. Mostly, though, I am going to get used to eating cold food.

[moytoy]

Cubin packs are over rated. I'm thinking you are ready for a cubin bindle 10K.

[LDog]

Ha! 10K's new trail name is Bindlestiff!

[moytoy]

Ha! 10K's new trail name is Bindlestiff!

The best equipped bindlestiff I ever saw!