Our AT Thru Hike

 

What will we carry? How much will it weigh?

There has been a revolution in the sport of backpacking the past five years. Books like Don Ladogin’s Lighten Up!: A Complete Handbook for Light and Ultralight Backpacking provided an education in how to pack light without sacrificing the essentials or compromising safety. Many other print and web resources have been designed to support the lightweight backpacking movement. Two of Dane’s favorite web sites are Backpacking Light and Practical Backpacking.


When we started backpacking ten years ago, Connie and I did not begin to consider that our back breaking 50-60 pound loads might be reduced. That amount of weight seemed to represent a burden that all hikers assumed.


We have worked steadily to educate ourselves the past two years, in order to lighten our load. This includes experimenting with proven lightweight gear selection strategies and field testing products. We have made great progress. Connie’s winter base pack weight is now under 17 pounds and Dane’s is under 19 pounds. Base weight includes everything needed for long distance hiking except consumables (water and food). These numbers will go down during warm weather when we will ship cold weather clothing home.


What will we carry? How much will it weigh?

Here is a breakdown.


  Dane’s Backpack: ULA Catalyst ( 43 oz)              Connie’s Backpack: Granite Gear Ozone (48 oz)

                                                                                  




Sleeping System (under 4 pounds)

 

Other Essentials (under four pounds)

  1. Bullet Aqua Mire Water Purification Drops

  2. Bullet Water Bladders (one 1.8 liter in pack and one 6 liter for hauling water to camp

  3. Bullet Personal Hygiene

  4. Bullet Camping Kitchen

  5. Bullet First Aid

  6. Bullet Headlamp

  7. Bullet Camera

  8. Bullet Cell Phone

  9. Bullet Pocket Mail

  10. Bullet Ultralight Sit Pad

  11. Bullet Waterproof Pack Cover

  12. Bullet Waterproof Food Bag and UL Food Hanging Kit