I'm planning to fast-pack the JMT next summer. For me, a fast-pack of the JMT is a goal of seven days from Happy Isles to Mt. Whitney, which is obviously way slower than a lot of fast packers - around 30 miles per day. Up to this point, my Sierra Nevada hikes have tended to average high teens to low 20s. My pack base weight for the Sierra Nevada has been around 15 pounds with my ULA Circuit and Bearikade custom 12". Total pack weight has varied between low to high 20s depending on the amount of food I'm carrying. I've hiked the complete JMT southbound, nearly the entire JMT northbound, and one additional hike of the southern half of the JMT northbound so I'm familiar with the trail.
My anticipated pace will not require running, only sustained walking at a reasonable pace. My current pace is around 2-2.5 miles per hour and I'd like to bump that up to 2.5-3 miles per hour in order to hike mostly in daylight hours and not necessarily at the peak of summer when bugs are at their worst but probably in mid to late August. I plan to pick a time around the full moon if possible.
I plan to hike SOBO, if I can get the permit, to allow for a very light initial pack taking advantage of Tuolumne on Day 1, Red's on Day 2, and MTR either late on Day 3 or early on Day 4. This way, I also can acclimate more gradually than if I start northbound.
Right now my pack lineup is a ULA Circuit and a ULA CDT. I want to really pare down my kit for this hike. I am going to purchase a Bearikade Scout since I won't need the food capacity of the 12" custom Bearikade. Physically, the Scout would easily fit in the CDT.
At around 23 ounces, my CDT is pretty light and has enough volume for what I envision carrying. I hope to be down to a base weight of around 10-11 pounds with total pack weight at roughly 20 leaving MTR southbound.
I am willing to buy a new pack for this trip and know all about the zPacks ArcBlast - the 45L could be perfect in terms of volume - but I would only save a couple of ounces over the CDT.
Are there any other packs I should consider?
I might have questions on shelter as well but will start a new thread on that. Right now I have a Hexamid Twin but I am thinking about going with a bivy plus minimalist tarp, especially if I choose to hike in mid-late August when the bugs should be mostly gone.
Thanks.