36 pounder

[Mando12]

I am heading for Springer tomorrow for a long section hike. I have been very careful about my weight and was shooting for 30 lbs. But the pack comes in at 36 lbs, including 4 days of food and 1 liter of water. I keep hearing of people hiking with 20 or 25 lbs and I am amazed. Not sure how to get there. But at this point, it is what it is.

[House of Payne]

post a list of your big 4 items and some of the smaller packed items, we can tell you where the weight is.

[oldbear]

Maybe nothing is wrong with that weight other than an obsessed culture that demands that it be less
Next year I'm leaving Springer on my NOBO thru hike w/ a target packweight of 45 lbs which is 18 % of my bodyweight...I don't want to exceed 20% of my bodyweight
If 24 lbs of that is consumable then the remaining 16 lbs is 6.4 % of my bodyweight :I don't want to my nonconsumable weight to exceed 8% of my bodyweight

[Slo-go'en]

A bit late to make any changes now, but you'll be at Neels in a few days and send send some junk you don't need home then. Or buy lots of new gear...

[JAK]

I don't care who you are.
A 36 pounder is NOT neccessary for a thru-hike.

Just sayin'.

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[JAK]

oops...
shim.gif
http://www.travelblog.org/pix/shim.gif

[bigcranky]

PW, 36 pounds is fine, just enjoy the hike.

Oldbear, why carry 24 pounds of consumables? I usually start the day with a liter and a half of water, for 3 pounds, and even 6 days of food is at most around 10 pounds. Never needed to carry more than that -- getting into town once a week for a shower and resupply works pretty well for me.

Unless you are carrying a couple bottles of Scotch, which I would understand.

[JAK]

Having trouble posting a photo. Last try...
http://www.austincc.edu/sfarr/online.../cannon_07.jpg

[MuddyWaters]

I am in the 17 lb range with 4 days food and 2L water with cold weather gear suitable for mid 20s and up.

Its pretty simple really:

You are taking too much crap
What you are taking is too heavy
Your tent is too heavy
Your clothing and insulation choices are too heavy
Your sleeping gear is too heavy
Your pack is heavy

[Lone Wolf]

I am heading for Springer tomorrow for a long section hike. I have been very careful about my weight and was shooting for 30 lbs. But the pack comes in at 36 lbs, including 4 days of food and 1 liter of water. I keep hearing of people hiking with 20 or 25 lbs and I am amazed. Not sure how to get there. But at this point, it is what it is.

i've hiked a lot more than the gram weenie experts on here and 36 pounds is about what i carry

[Lone Wolf]

I don't care who you are.
A 36 pounder is NOT neccessary for a thru-hike.

Just sayin'.

data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBhQSEBQUExQVFRUWFhgXFxYYGBUXFxgdFxUXHRcVGB oXHCYeGBkjGhcXHy8gIycpLCwsFx4xNTAqNSYrLCkBCQoKDgwO Gg8PGikkHyQsLCwsKSwsLCksLCksLCwsKSwsKSwsLCwpLCwsKS ksKSwsLCwpLCksLCwpLCkpKSwsLP

what would you possibly know about a "thru-hike"?

[rocketsocks]

Having trouble posting a photo. Last try...
http://www.austincc.edu/sfarr/online.../cannon_07.jpg

Put the shot!how big are the balls for the 36lb.er's

[Sarcasm the elf]

While I agree that lighter is better, there is no need for you to worry about reaching some specified pack weight. The real question you need to ask is: Is it comfortable for you to carry 36lbs? I used to carry ~50lbs on section hikes, I now carry 30-40lbs and it feels awesome. It's a completely personal thing, so 36lbs could be unmanageable for you, or it could feel totally fine.

One suggestion I have is that you'll likely want to carry more than one liter of water. Not sure how Georgia is this year, but connecticut's a lot dryer than normal and a lot of water sources have been intermittently dry.

[rocketsocks]

While I agree that lighter is better, there is no need for you to worry about reaching some specified pack weight. The real question you need to ask is: Is it comfortable for you to carry 36lbs? I used to carry ~50lbs on section hikes, I now carry 30-40lbs and it feels awesome. It's a completely personal thing, so 36lbs could be unmanageable for you, or it could feel totally fine.

One suggestion I have is that you'll likely want to carry more than one liter of water. Not sure how Georgia is this year, but connecticut's a lot dryer than normal and a lot of water sources have been intermittently dry.

Yep dry down through Nj and PA as well though we just had some rain,but each year at least in NJ there usually a open fire ban in the back country 1/2 mile wide stretch coming across the kittatinnies.

[Sarcasm the elf]

Yep dry down through Nj and PA as well though we just had some rain,but each year at least in NJ there usually a open fire ban in the back country 1/2 mile wide stretch coming across the kittatinnies.

I was lucky that I hiked NJ last May, it was a very good year for water sources. Also was an absolutely beautiful part of the state by the way!

I'm not sure what section I'm doing on my vacation this year, but the water situation has me a bit worried. I might put my section hike off until the fall and hope for the best.

[rocketsocks]

I was lucky that I hiked NJ last May, it was a very good year for water sources. Also was an absolutely beautiful part of the state by the way!

I'm not sure what section I'm doing on my vacation this year, but the water situation has me a bit worried. I might put my section hike off until the fall and hope for the best.

Yeah,I guess you carry more water or pray for that little piece of serendipity I keep hearing so much about.

[oldbear]

PW, 36 pounds is fine, just enjoy the hike.

Oldbear, why carry 24 pounds of consumables? I usually start the day with a liter and a half of water, for 3 pounds, and even 6 days of food is at most around 10 pounds. Never needed to carry more than that -- getting into town once a week for a shower and resupply works pretty well for me.

Unless you are carrying a couple bottles of Scotch, which I would understand.

Big Cranky
It's just a trade off that I'm willing to make ; a little more comfort , a little better food , a fatter margin of error for a heavier packweight
I'm going to be 60 in August of '13
I seriously doubt if I wll thru hike the AT more than once so I want to take my time , live as well as a long distance hiker can and enjoy the whole experience as best as I possibly can

[JAK]

what would you possibly know about a "thru-hike"?

Sorry, thought it was a naval gunnery thread.

[Grampie]

Don't listen to those who claim low 20lb. pack weight. Most of them aren't realy that low when they count water and food. 36 lbs. isn't bad at all. Just think about all the folks who thru hiked back in the 60s, 70s and 80s before the light weight stuff came out. Most of them carried around 45-50 lbs. they all mad it to Katahdin. A light pack doesn't make a hike easier. It's all in your head.

[JAK]

Seriously though, my comfort zone is mostly about total weight on my feet. I am just over 6 feet and my lean body weight is about 150 pounds. I like to keep my total weight under about 220. When I am weighing in at 180 pounds 36 pounds would feel just fine, but when I am weighing, in at 210-230 pounds every pound adds to it so I try and go as light as I can within reason. I don't spend alot on gear or clothes. I will go as light as 12 pounds for a 5 day solo in summer, but closer to 36 pounds when I hike with my daughter, with the tent and all. Spring/Fall I solo around 24 pounds, and 36 pounds or more in winter. I hope to get back down to 165 pounds, but I've been stuck around 210 pounds for months now, even though I have been increasingly active. A long hike would take it off for sure, but I don't have the time at present.

I think if you start off a thru-hike with 36 pounds, and can make it the first few weeks it should get alot easier as you drop body weight. I you have no body weight to lose then 36 pounds should be easy enough from the get go.