08/25/15: Doubt

Tarptent ProTrail (source)

Already wanting to change the shelter to a combo tarptent (Tarptent ProTrail, 26.0 oz, $209) for extra weight savings. It's still really cost effective at only $3.50 per oz saved. I went through my list again tonight and ended up at a base weight of about 18.6 lbs, higher than I want. I added a battery pack and updated some quantities and weights, resulting in the higher overall base weight. Downsides to the ProTrail are that it's not as large of a floor area and is not as flexible in that it is a one-piece tarp/bugnet system. Upsides are the weight and ease/speed of setup.

08/25/15: Three

Warbonnet Mamajamba tarp

The Big Three - shelter, sleep system, backpack. These 3 categories hold the greatest potential weight savings. Using only gear I currently have, my shelter (dome tent, tarp, ground sheet) is 5.5 lbs, my sleep system (sleeping bag, sleeping pad) is 4.5 lbs, and my backpack (62L, internal frame) is 3.0 lbs for a total of 13.0 lbs. Upgrading my shelter system could save 47.9 oz, changing from a mummy bag to a lightweight quilt would yield 35.5 oz, and downsizing my backpack might shed another 19.4 oz. A total savings of 6.5 lbs for $530 ($5.10 per oz saved) is a good investment. For comparison, spending $200 to replace my down jacket would save 1 lb, which costs $12 per oz saved (more than double the relative cost of replacing the big three).

My new shelter would consist of my existing tarp (Warbonnet Mamajamba, 18 oz), a Tyvek ground sheet (36 square feet, 7.6 oz), and a new bug shelter (BearPaw Minimalist 2, 15.0 oz, $135). I debated heavily about whether or not to include a full bugnet like the Minimalist 2 in my shelter system. With just a sleeping bag and headnet, I'd be protected from getting bit while sleeping. However, if mosquitoes are heavy where I'll be camping, it would be nice to have a "safe zone" that is big enough to hang out and sit up in. Also, an enclosed bug tent with bathtub floor will keep any crawly bugs at bay (red ants are fairly common on the Oregon stretch). BearPaw also has a single person bug shelter (Minimalist 1, 9.0 oz, $100) which would save another 6.0 oz and $35. Yet the extra space inside the 2-person shelter will be psychologically rewarding and will also allow me to keep all my gear in a bug-free zone. The Tyvek ground sheet will protect the floor of the bug shelter and will also give me a dry place to sleep when the bug net is not needed. I've been using the Mamajamba tarp for a couple years now, both for ground and hammock camping. It pitches very tight and has tons of room underneath it. My only concern is that I won't be able to pitch it high enough to clear the bug shelter using only hiking poles. If it does turn out to be a problem, an easy fix is to tie off to a tree for the high side of the tarp (head end) and use a hiking pole for the low side (foot end).

My current sleep system is a sleeping bag (Ledge Sports Featherlight +20°F mummy bag, 48.4 oz) and an inflatable pad (REI Flash, 16.5 oz). For a reasonable cost, I can save over 2 pounds by switching to an ultralight quilt (Enlightened Enigma 40°F, 12.9 oz, $195). I will use my existing sleeping pad since it's about as light as is available for a full length inflatable pad and is also super comfy. There's about 8 oz to be saved by switching to a foam pad, but as a side sleeper, sleeping for a month straight on a foam pad sounds absolutely terrible.

My backpack (REI Flash 62, 49.4 oz) is considered lightweight in traditional backpacking terms, but there are numerous 60+ liter packs available which offer significant weight-saving potential. I'm also somewhat concerned about the durability of the REI Flash, though I have no evidence to support that sentiment. Regardless, the ULA Ohm 2.0 (29.2 oz, $200) is a tried and true PCT backpack and ULA packs are perhaps the most common on the trail. While there are lighter options, they are somewhat less known brands and tend to be a bit “too light” (I never thought I'd say that). They have less substantial shoulder and hip padding and fewer features that I have deemed necessary (load lifter straps, frame structure, hip belt pockets).

With these new big three items, my base drops to a respectable 17.8 lbs. The longest leg between resupply points is 106.4 miles at a 20 mile/day pace, so the heaviest load I'll carry will be with 5 days of consumables which adds 14.8 lbs (9.8 lbs food, 4.3 lbs water, 11 oz misc/other) for a total maximum pack weight of just 32.5 lbs. Of course, this will rapidly decrease at a rate of almost 3.0 lbs/day, leaving myself with a sub 20 lb pack towards the end of my resupply legs.

08/24/15: Beginning

Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, Oregon section (source)

It was about 2 weeks ago when the new engineer started. Ryan interned with our company last summer, starting the week before I did. After graduating this Spring, he thru-hiked 800+ miles through part of Washington, all of Oregon, and into California via the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT). Having been yearning for an adventure, this piqued my interest. The great outdoors, becoming one with my equipment, and the planning; all 3 equally as appealing to me.

Spreadsheets have been made: checklists, wishlists, weight saving ideas, gear comparisons, hiking schedule, resupply notes, calories packed, etc. Each new spreadsheet is more interesting than the last. Of course, I've also updated my normal backpacking checklist with new gear, wishlist gear, new food ideas, and new formatting. I also added the ability to plan a trip for 2 people including weight breakdowns for each person, making splitting/comparing loads very easy. I'm currently using Person 1 as a "current case", using only gear that I have already (24.5 lb base weight). Person 2 is serving as my "ideal case", which includes ideas for new gear to reduce my base weight.

Aside: The process of spreadsheeting the shit out of something begins slowly, but escalates hurriedly. The same thing happened with my new car, my rc car, our emergency supplies, and my shotgun. It almost always starts with a cost comparison, then advances to summarizing research I've done, then evolves into an auto maintenance log, a motor gearing calculator, a go-bag checklist, and an ammo counter.

Base weight is one of the main concerns when planning a thru-hike. It is the weight everything carried in/on your backpack that is not a consumable. It facilitates apples to apples comparisons of pack weight regardless of trip length. Obvious examples of consumables are food, water, and fuel, but I've also categorized things like toothpaste, batteries, hand sanitizer, etc. as consumables. This is as mainly for housekeeping purposes so that when planning my resupplies, I'll reference my list of consumables and remember what to include.

Much of what I document in this journal will be about reducing my base weight, either through replacing "heavy" gear or eliminating gear outright. While initial instinct is to start buying and replacing gear, a large chunk of savings can more easily (and cheaply) be had by eliminating items. This is not to say that anything can be eradicated; the trick is to find a balance between safety and light weight. For example, some items that would typically be brought but have been nixed in the name of weight are a trowel (4.25 oz, for digging poo poo holes), coffee cup (1.5 oz), and pack cover (4.05 oz). I will dig holes with sticks and rocks, drink coffee/tea directly from my cookpot, and pack my sleeping bag and clothes in a lightweight plastic bag to keep them dry.

Another way to save weight is to use items for multiple things. The foam back sheet (1.1 oz) in the ULA Ohm 2.0 backpack can also be used as a sit pad in camp, eliminating the bubble mailer (3.3 oz) I would've brought otherwise. ZPacks makes a clothes stuff sack that has fleece lining sewn on one half of the inside. Flip it inside out and fill with extra clothes to produce a comfy pillow (1.65 oz), eliminating a donut travel pillow (5.5 oz).

To avoid carrying unreasonably heavy loads (the vast majority of which would be food), I'll be resupplying at 4 points along the trail. These equipment resupplies are the heart of long-distance thru-hikes and 2 main strategies exist: buying as you go and shipping packages ahead. I have so far chosen to ship all or most of my resupply packages ahead, mostly due to the fact that stores are not always readily accessible off the trail (some may require 20 mile detours into town, either by walking or hitch hiking). In addition, these stores may or may not have a good selection of backpacker-friendly food (think gas station convenience stores). I've chosen 4 resupply points along the 430 miles (Crater Lake, Shelter Cove Resort, Big Lake Youth Camp, Timberline Lodge). All of these accept and will hold packages for thru-hikers. There's also the possibility of meeting someone on or near the trail who can provide a resupply. I'm hoping I'll be able to meet Kylie and Geoff at some point(s), and hike with them for a few days. While I want to spend the majority of the hike solo, it would be really nice to break up the monotony with some company and a couple slower/shorter days.

Aside from food and fuel, I'm still deciding on what should be in the resupplies. The entire list of consumables includes ibuprofen, bug spray, chapstick, deodorant, moleskin, paper towels, soap, sunscreen, toilet paper, toothpaste, wet wipes, pack liner, batteries, books, groundsheet, maps, sock, and water purification drops. As with most things hiking, there exists another balance: this one between minimizing weight and minimizing inconvenience. From a weight perspective, it would be ideal to carry only enough of the above consumables to last the 5 days until my next resupply. However, not only would it be annoying to have to sift through and refill 20 different things at each resupply, it may be unsafe to cut back on things like Advil or sunscreen.