Things change over time. More people, lighter gear, and bodies. I'm always looking to lighten the load, but ............
* 15 years ago I had to add a self inflating pad. Old body just didn't like the hard ground any more. And even that has given way to a lighter air core during the summer months.
* Freeze dried food has come a long way the past 20 years, but, after so much I had to go back to adding some good stuff too.
* Used to just heat up the old coffee pot or enamel cup with a small fire. Now, with all the human traffic, wood is scarce, fire restrictions in a lot of places and lack of energy after a long trek to camp make some form of stove a near necessity. I'll sacrifice the economy of alcohol and white gas and stick with the canister stove.
* Forty years ago, nature calls could be dealt with behind any old bush, but with all the human traffic, nasty pathogens, and nosy critters, a spade is now a necessity. More weight but a necessity.
* For many years, a small tarp configured to a lean to was more than adequate, but with more ladies enjoying the wilderness modesty dictated a tent and swim trunks had to be added. (Was enjoying a much needed hot bath in a back country hot springs many miles from the nearest road when five lovely co-eds came up the trail. They promised not to look while I got dressed and I promised not to peek while they changed and we all left friendly, but I keep thinking how enjoyable if I had a swim suit and could have stayed and shared that pool,)
* I never used to give waterborn pathogens a thought living in the mountains but again, with increased human activity, stronger resistant pathogens and me with a weakened old mans immune system, I now have to carry the means to filter/purify which also means I have to carry more containers. Again, more weight.
With all this high tech equipment and extra knowledge, is it any wonder my weeklong pack weight has gone from 20 lbs to 35 lbs? Oh well, I've been training some strapping grand sons so its off to pack deep into the Frank Church next week, no matter what the pack weighs.
* 15 years ago I had to add a self inflating pad. Old body just didn't like the hard ground any more. And even that has given way to a lighter air core during the summer months.
* Freeze dried food has come a long way the past 20 years, but, after so much I had to go back to adding some good stuff too.
* Used to just heat up the old coffee pot or enamel cup with a small fire. Now, with all the human traffic, wood is scarce, fire restrictions in a lot of places and lack of energy after a long trek to camp make some form of stove a near necessity. I'll sacrifice the economy of alcohol and white gas and stick with the canister stove.
* Forty years ago, nature calls could be dealt with behind any old bush, but with all the human traffic, nasty pathogens, and nosy critters, a spade is now a necessity. More weight but a necessity.
* For many years, a small tarp configured to a lean to was more than adequate, but with more ladies enjoying the wilderness modesty dictated a tent and swim trunks had to be added. (Was enjoying a much needed hot bath in a back country hot springs many miles from the nearest road when five lovely co-eds came up the trail. They promised not to look while I got dressed and I promised not to peek while they changed and we all left friendly, but I keep thinking how enjoyable if I had a swim suit and could have stayed and shared that pool,)
* I never used to give waterborn pathogens a thought living in the mountains but again, with increased human activity, stronger resistant pathogens and me with a weakened old mans immune system, I now have to carry the means to filter/purify which also means I have to carry more containers. Again, more weight.
With all this high tech equipment and extra knowledge, is it any wonder my weeklong pack weight has gone from 20 lbs to 35 lbs? Oh well, I've been training some strapping grand sons so its off to pack deep into the Frank Church next week, no matter what the pack weighs.