Week's Hike

[Rick]

I don't do a week's hike very often (count that in years). Mostly because discomfort and I don't get along well. But my oldest son and I are leaving this Saturday for a week's hike across some rugged landscape where water is supposed to be scarce.

For those of you that do backpack for a week or more, what is your pack weight for a typical week's hike? It looks like mine is coming in at 45 pounds with food and water. I'll be carrying just under a gallon of water and aPack meals (similar to MRE) to conserve water. My youngest son does it all the time and he thinks I'm right on the money for pack weight.

I'm going to tear my pack down again today just to remove anything I can but I was just curious what your pack weight is.

[crashdive123]

The last time I did an extended hike (it's been quite a while) my pack weighed in at 55.5 lbs. If I were doing it today (much lighter equipment) I would think that 45 lbs would be about right. I know the preceeding statement will horrify some of the minimalist trekkers out there, but I'm kind of from the over kill not under kill mind and skill set.

[Rick]

I'm with you. If I could figure out a way to drag my Lazyboy (the chair, not me) out there I think I would. Comfort first, last, always!

[crashdive123]

If you can, after you do your final modifications give us a breakdown or some pics of what you're carrying.

[LostOutrider]

Seconding what crash said. I'd love to see what you're bringing - maybe I could offer some lighter alternatives. I'd also like to see what food you're bringing and your planned calorie/day amount.

40-50 lbs sounds about right, but . . . [edited out the part about eye-boggling the humping a gallon 'cause I just read that 'water is scarce' part]

[Sourdough]

A few thoughts, 90 pound women carry 90 pound packs up Mount McKinley. When I was guiding a empty pack was 38-42 pounds. Empty means just for walkabout that days hunting, A coat, rain gear, spotting scope, tripod, 8-10 knives, first-aid, Binoculars, ammo, game bags, rope, the days food, never water.

Packing a load of meat 85 to 125 pounds, and sometimes to 180 or 200+ if getting sheep meat down in one trip. Packers do this everyday.

The mother of all packs is a wet brown bear hide across swamp, a big bear hide will go well over 200 pounds. Another poopie pack is large moose antlers through the alders; the packer can end up with his load wedged in the alders, and his feet off the ground.

But to your question, 55 to 60 pounds, remember we need warmer sleeping bags, and clothing, it is 38* above this morning at 5:AM. Also we carry a cook stove and fuel, but not water. Well the sourdoughs don't carry water, the brightly clad REI type and tourist do.

For me it is all about building a pack frame with the very best hip belt on the pack, and to a slightly lesser degree the quality of the straps, This can reduce the felt weight by 20% to 30%.

[Gray Wolf]

I think for a week trek, 45lbs is on the money, maybe 53lbs if the water is very scarce. An extra gallon of water will weigh about 8lbs.

[Rick]

One more reason I'm glad I'm not a 90 pound woman!!

Since you asked, here it is:

(1) Alice LC1 pack with frame. Standard kidney and shoulder pads. Molle II shoulder pads have been ordered but might not arrive in time.
(2) 1 quart canteens
(1) 1 quart Nalgene wrapped with duct tape
(1) 1 pint Nalgene wrapped with duct tape. (I'm 1 pint shy of a gallon whether I'm hiking or not...sad)
(1) canteen cup
(1) Heineken pot
(1) MSR Pocket Rocket stove
(1) MSR fuel canister
(1) Therm-A-Rest self inflating pad
(1) poncho (this is my tent if I use one)
(6) stakes for poncho
(4) 3 foot sections of 550 cord for poncho
(1) 12 foot section of 550 cord for poncho
(1) sleeping bag cover (my ground cover/blanket. I can sleep inside of it)
(7) APack meals (similar to MRE. 1150 calories per meal)
(6) Clif bars (230 calories)
(18) pieces of hardtack
(.5) pounds jerky
(7) coffee bags
I'm planning on 1500 calories per day which is okay with me. I won't starve to death in a week and hope I burn 2000 calories per day on the hike.
(1) GI fork
(1) MSR Sweetwater purification kit (filter pump and 2 liter folding bag)
(8) water purification tablets
(2) large and (1) small trash bags
(2) Compasses
(1) GPS
(1) Midland Walkie Talkie (14 miles range with weather band). My son will have the second one.
(1) roll of TP with one ounce of waterless hand cleaner
(1) pair leather gloves
(1) wooden spoon blank to work on
(1) plastic trowel
(1) Gerber hand saw
(2) bandanas
Fire kit containing:
*(2) Bic lighters
*Dryer lint
*char cloth
*(6) petroleum soaked cotton balls
*(1) flint rod
(1) tube Freesole
(1) tube SeamGrip
(1) sewing kit
(1) fishing kit (both the sewing and fishing kits fit in the same standard medicine bottle)
(1) Petzl headlamp
(1) camp towel
Personal Bag containing:
*tooth brush
*tooth paste
*comb
*mirror (Star Flash)
*Camp Suds
*1.5 ounces Gold Bond
*sun screen
*dental floss
*personal meds
(1) small can Deet
(1) Topo map
(1) small journal and pen
First Aid kit containing:
*Quickclot 50
*(2) pair latex gloves
*Nextemp thermometer
*.5 ounces Refresh Tears liquigel
*tweezers
*syringe
*(4) acetaminophen tablets
*(2) antacid tables
*small tube Neosporin
*2X2 gauze pad
*2X3 non-adherent pad
*(1) knuckle bandage
*(5) adhesive strips
*(1) alcohol pad (waterless hand cleaner is 62% alcohol. also both back up fire starters)
*(2) butterfly closures
*(1) sting relief pad
*(2) bandaids
*(1) splinter remover
*(10) Q-tips
*(12) Benedryl tablets
*(6) anti-diarrhea tablets
*(1) Survival blanket
*(1) Fresnal lens (backup fire starter)
*(1) small roll gauze
*(1) pkg. moleskin
*(1) small box cough drops
*(1) nail clippers

Total weight with water and food = 42 pounds

On my person I'll carry:

(1) Kershaw Black Horse
(1) Buck Knife
(1) Springfield XD .45 with 14 rounds
(1) digital camera
(1) 20 feet of 550 cord in a bracelet
(1) pair prescription glasses
(1) pocket survival kit containing:
*Photon light
*small tube char cloth
*flint bar
*P51 can opener
*Howler whistle
*liquid filled compass
(1) smile

If it turns out water is available we'll just carry the Nalgenes empty.

[Gray Wolf]

What??? No Quikclot 50?

[trax]

He's slipping, isn't he GW?

[Rick]

Oh, dear. Oh me!! oversight!!!!!!! corrected!!!!!! thank you!!!!!!!

[Gray Wolf]

Wow if Rick the Super Moderator is carrying that stuff, I gotta get me some!


Actually it's so light, and you never know what might happen, it be foolish not to bring it along.

[Rick]

I've been working on my first aid skills, too.

Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum.

[Gray Wolf]

What happened? Did he scrape his right elbow?

[trax]

That was hilarious Gray Wolf, that really was. Coffee spewing time again

[Rick]

Why is it OLD wolves think they are funny? Why is that?

[Gray Wolf]

Cause the youngins give us all the material we need.

[trax]

Why is it OLD wolves think they are funny? Why is that?

and cuz we had such a good time getting old

[wildWoman]

Do you have to bring a stove where you're going? Leaving that and the fuel behind would shave off a bit of weight. Otherwise, you might want to use trusty old Sam from Lord of the Rings as an example for your son - how he kept taking heavy stuff out of Frodo's pack and lightening his master's load

[Gray Wolf]

Therm-A-Rest self inflating pad:

Ah father learns from son....