UL 10 Commandments

[Stoker53]

As a recent convert from Heavy Pack / Presbyterian I'm just beginning to walk the path of enLIGHTENMENT. I need spiritual direction, a road map if you will. I'm looking to those among you who have been the mountain top and seen the promised land to share the 10 commandments you brought back.

Moses had tablets of stone but I suspect that most of you have tablets of plastic ( CD rom ) or titanium, aluminum, mylar film, etc.

Like most religious converts I'll take all the info you ( prophets of the religion ) provide and simply use what I like and ignore the rest. Tactic served me well with Southern Baptists and most recently Presbyterians.

So what are your 10 commandments for UL hiking? Serious and humorous posts will be equally evaluated then I'll publish my personal top 10.

[TDale]

Every item shall have multiple uses or it shall be left behind.

[Doctari]

Every item shall be used daily or it shall be left behind.

[The Hog]

Thou shalt not wear heavy boots, nor shall thee carry a heavy backpack, tent, or sleeping bag. Prithee, leave thy mega flashlite in yonder dumpster, along with thy stonelike hiking staff.

[Tha Wookie]

Thall shalt not covet thy neighbors beef stroganoff.

[Tha Wookie]

Smite down thy toothbrush as Moses hath hewn the sea.

[Blue Jay]

Thou shalt flirt with the Goddess Hypothermia at all times, due to lack of food, clothing AND shelter. Note, this is not a shot, I like flirting with her also.

["ME & U"]

Every thing is Zen...

Move in and through in as much as beyond weightlessness...
Let your every thought center itself on the weight of each object you possess and in this way... you will have thought about it.

getting rid of it is your problem

[Pencil Pusher]

Zen and the art of mooching.

[TDale]

Zen and Yogi(ing)?

[Lilred]

Thy base weight shall be under 12 pounds.

[Blue Jay]

Originally Posted by Lilredmg

Thy base weight shall be under 12 pounds.

12 pounds?? M y food bag coming out of town weighs that.

[Kerosene]

Originally Posted by Blue Jay

12 pounds?? M y food bag coming out of town weighs that.

Food isn't part of your base weight. Of course, 12 pounds of food should be enough for more than a week. Either that, or you're a big guy, Blue Jay!

[NICKTHEGREEK]

If thou doest not humpeth it thine own self thou shall not beggeth the use of it from another.

[Happy]

A thru-hikers base weight, starting the approach trail on March 1st or later should not be greater than 8 pounds including the BIG FOUR and no more than 17 pounds including all clothes, electronics, etc.

Add 4 lbs for water and 6 pounds for food for a grand total of 27 lbs.

[Clark Fork]

• Make up your mind you want to make the transition to ultra-light hiking recognizing it will take commitment, dedication and understanding that ultra-light hiking is a process not simply an accumulation of products from a store, catalog or from over the Internet. The first step is to buy a scale.
• Decide from the beginning that your objective is to hike smart and safely never compromising on safety and health so as not to endanger yourself or create a situation where you would burden others or unnecessarily harm the environment.
• Approach your transition to ultra-light hiking with an open mind observing a degree of humility that comes from knowing you don’t have all the answers.
• Set goals and priorities deciding on a workable timetable that does not burden those with whom you work and/or those for whom you care.
• Assess your budget needs in a realistic manner that takes into account your own needs and those that depend on you.
• Research products having a keen eye for quality and durability.
• Listen to others carefully with respect for their opinions and their experience but learn to trust your own judgment.
• Make an inventory of your own opinions, prejudices and other such baggage that hinders a fresh view.
• Live in the real world by acting rather than shopping, hiking instead of dreaming and living rather than hoping.
• Having made progress, help others along the trail. Discard the notion, “If it is meant to be, it is up to me,” instead recognize that every day on the trail is fresh evidence of the spiritual side of the universe from which you are bound to benefit.

Clark Fork in Western Montana

[Rain Man]

How about ...

Thy gross base weight shall include thy excess body flab.



RainMan

.

[Just Jeff]

Though shalt proclaimeth to all who doth harken, and most who won't, that thy newest belief is the one true path to the light, and that thy gear is godlier than theirs.

Converting others to thy views is the "Hiking Man's Burden" and thou must endeavor to fulfill this destiny if thou expecteth admittance to the final Mountain on High.

[MedicineMan]

1. never be the first to mention gear
2. when asked only answer succinctly, dont aggrandize unless asked
3. believe it or not there are many hikers who like the gear
they have, like carrying something that may be heavy but is
resilient as hell, dont push your mantra onto them
4. remember its safer to loose 5 pounds of gut than gear
5. even if you make significant sacrifices in all major areas allow
at least one frivolous item
6. most important, dont hike with a heavy heart

[Ramble~On]

Pratice.
Whilst in the wilds ponder the usage of each piece of stuff you have brought with you. Do you need it ? Is there a lighter weight alternative ?
Every time I go out I figure out some lighter, smaller, better thing to replace a thing I thought was the lightest, best and smallest.

Food. I am constantly trying to limit food weight and not suffer. Once you find baseweight gear you are happy with try to cut weight from the foodbag.
Water. I drink a ton of water at water sources. How much water I carry depends on 1) how far to next source. 2) temperature 3) difficulty of trail (steep climb)

I do not consider myself an Ultra Lighter....I simply try to make my pack lighterweight than everybody else