37.8 lbs for 5 days....

[Jayboflavin04]

Well I am pretty disappointed. I packed up everything including food and H20 for 5 days. 37.8lbs. Thought I was gonna be round 30! I figure since I am new I will "foot" the wght and keep a tight inventory! I must say that my Aether 70 carries it quite comfortably though.

On the lighter side......I leave on friday WOOT WOOOT!!! SO PUMPED....My first backpacking trip in 15yrs.

Wanna thank everyone for answering my stoopid questions. Hope to see and meet alot of thrus. We hit Allens gap Sunday mornin!!!

[bigcranky]

One's pack is always heavier than planned. As you eat your food, the pack weight will go down. On your next trip, you'll know what you used and what you didn't use, and adjust your packing list accordingly.

Have a great hike.

[Tipi Walter]

Well I am pretty disappointed. I packed up everything including food and H20 for 5 days. 37.8lbs. Thought I was gonna be round 30! I figure since I am new I will "foot" the wght and keep a tight inventory! I must say that my Aether 70 carries it quite comfortably though.

On the lighter side......I leave on friday WOOT WOOOT!!! SO PUMPED....My first backpacking trip in 15yrs.

Wanna thank everyone for answering my stoopid questions. Hope to see and meet alot of thrus. We hit Allens gap Sunday mornin!!!

Getting out is always exciting(hence the dancing bananas)and I feel for you. I just got back from a 12 day trip and had to get back to placate the women but it's time to square up the gear for the next trip and figure out my food choices. Anyway, don't worry about the weight. It's not about the weight. To me it's about getting out and staying out, not so much about the weight.

[Summit]

I'm guessing you'll find you are taking too much food . . . happens often, especially those who don't hike often (or it's been a long time). The other thing I picked up on, reading between the lines of your post, is carrying 'H2O!' With experience, this time of year, you should have to carry very little, if any, water. Check your trail data and maps and only carry water if it's several miles between sources. Most all sources should be flowing in early spring. I might carry a swig or two as a reward for topping out a long ascent, but that's about it. Just tank up (internally) at the water sources.

[Jayboflavin04]

I have a 2L platy. If I fill it half way that will be good for 2lbs. Thanks. I will try that while I am out. Besides the marked springs on the map are there any streams and creeks along the trail. I didnt see any on the map.

[Summit]

Not sure what section you are doing, but during wet season there are often a lot of suitable flowing unmarked streams. You'll get a better feel for how wet and how well the water's flowing when you get out there day one! Have fun!

Speaking of over-carrying water, I get a kick when I see someone who's, by appearances, painstakingly got their pack weight down to 20 or so lbs, but at the water source where we meet, pull out and fill up two liters of water or more, when under the conditions is absolutely unnecessary. And yet they've cut half the handle off their tooth brush to reduce weight!

[Gray Blazer]

I've heard some of the water sources in the balds are iffy. Camel up at every opportunity if that is the case. If you are heading to Hot Springs I heard the water source at Rich Mnt was dry. Things could have change with the recent rains. Your pack weight sounds good to me. Better to have a little extra food just in case. I have my pack weight down to about the same as yours. When I get a real back packing tent, that will knock at least 3 lbs off of mine . Have Fun

[FamilyGuy]

Take the beer out of the pack. That always works well for me.

[bruchko]

walked that section the weekend of March 13-15. Plenty of water - springs flowing great. Didn't even have to treat water

I wouldn't carry alot of extra water

[Jayboflavin04]

great info thanks

[Wags]

my township just issued a burn ban. evident of a drought, so some smaller streams in PA may be dried out fyi

[Manwich]

i'm under the same burn ban over here in jersey. apparently the air is way too dry?

[Ladytrekker]

With all this talk about water sources I need a suggestion on water filter I am so overwhelmed by the choices.

[Gray Blazer]

I like my katadyn pro.

[Pootz]

Well I am pretty disappointed. I packed up everything including food and H20 for 5 days. 37.8lbs. Thought I was gonna be round 30! I figure since I am new I will "foot" the wght and keep a tight inventory! I must say that my Aether 70 carries it quite comfortably though.

On the lighter side......I leave on friday WOOT WOOOT!!! SO PUMPED....My first backpacking trip in 15yrs.

Wanna thank everyone for answering my stoopid questions. Hope to see and meet alot of thrus. We hit Allens gap Sunday mornin!!!

It is hard to be at 30 or less pounds when you start with a pack that is over 4 pounds empty. The good side is that you have a pack that will last forever, and Osprey stands behind their products.

I hope you have a great hike.

[Summit]

With all this talk about water sources I need a suggestion on water filter I am so overwhelmed by the choices.

Consider the popular alternative to pump filters . . . Steripen (search on WB for an abundance of pros, cons, and bickering! ). I've been a very satisfied user of mine for over two years. I hate pumping, spewing, squirting, clogging filters that freeze your fingers in cold weather. Filters rely on 'removal' of harmful 'germs' in the water. The Steripen's UV bombardment sterilizes the germ so no reproduction can occur. Nearly all municipal water treatment facilities include the same UV treatment that Steripen uses. I've never experienced the slightest hint of indigestion since I started using one.

[chiefduffy]

AquaMira

[darkage]

I like my katadyn pro.

I'll second that, i like my katadyn hiker pro also ...

And yeah, PA is currently in a burn ban .. however we got 4-5 days of incoming rain within the week or so .... i'm hoping for a good down pour ...

[Wags]

we need it bad!

[Jayboflavin04]

It is hard to be at 30 or less pounds when you start with a pack that is over 4 pounds empty. The good side is that you have a pack that will last forever, and Osprey stands behind their products.

This was not my first choice in packs! Like i said it was comfortable and I needed a pack. It was the second time I headed to the outfitter and they didnt have my pack size in stock! Arrrgghhh!
That pack should be in great shape so I can sell it next year for something lighter.

I know where I can shave some weight right now!!!! But they are comfort items for a first time outting....so it is all good.....

Cant HMOH.....if I dont know what works for me....

What I am carrying.
Aether 70
HS TT cloudburst
WM ultralite
Prolite 3 (reg)....wanna try a short for a night....
Marmot Precip
Monbell UL down inner jacket
OR Ion windshirt
2X socks (smartwools)
Columbia Midwght Polyster base layer(top n bottom)
TNF beanie hat
cheapo acrylic/wool gloves
MLD rain mitts
Camera....kinda heavy...needs replaced with something smaller
Simple first aid kit (in aloksak...5 bandaids, 2 gauze, bandana, saftey pin, advil, pepto, neosporin packets, extra batteries)
50' rope
20' shock cord (project with tarp tent)
Fire steel scout
Feather fire alcohol stove
titanium spoon
Snow peak Ti cookset 1L...will be cooking for two...
Camp cup (needs replaced heavy SS)
Leatherman Micra
Map compass...book for map n compass.....I am learnin
2L Platy hoser....(2L platy for camp, 1L Nalgene for measuring)
1/2 MSR pack towel
Head lamp (black diamond cosmos)
MSR sweetwater/Aquamira backup
Ti Goat bivy....comfort item.
Pad n Pencil