Companion blog: Adventures In Stoving

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Sierra Nevada Summer Backpacking Solo Gear List - Version II

This is 4th is a series on backpacking base weight reduction.
  • In my first post, A Gear List for Two, I listed out everything I carried for me and my daughter on a recent backpacking trip in Southern California, base weight 20.2 lbs (9.2 kg).
  • In my second post, Lightweight Solo Backpacking Gear List for Southern California, I deleted out all of my daughter's items and created a solo gear list, base weight 15.2 lbs (6.9 kg).
  • In my third post, Sierra Nevada Summer Backpacking Solo Gear List - Version I, I converted my Southern California gear list into a gear list for a week long trip in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, base weight 18.8 lbs (8.5 kg).
  • This post is Version II of my Sierra Nevada Summer Backpacking Solo Gear List, base weight 14.7 lbs (6.7 kg).
  • My next post will be Version III, contents yet to be determined, but with a base weight hopefully in the 13 pound range.
The weight gain in the Sierra Nevada version was primarily due to the addition of a bear canister, a mandatory item in the Sierra Nevada.
Lower Rae Lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, June 2014
For a week trip in the Sierra, I figure I'm going to carry a dozen or so pounds of food, a couple of pounds of water, and about a pound of fuel, for a total weight of about 15 pounds (6.8 kg) for my consumables.  Total pack weight = consumables + base weight, so with a consumables weight of 15 lbs and a base weight of essentially 19 lbs, my total pack weight would be 34 lbs (15.4 kg), placing me, a 220 lbs/100 kg person, in the "moderate" category based on a proportional weight schema as follows:
Proportional Total Pack Weight
  Ultra Heavy Very Heavy Heavy Moderate Light Very Light Ultra Light Super Ultralight Extremely Ultralight
Body weight 1/3rd 1/4th 1/5th 1/6th 1/8th 1/10th 1/12th 1/15th 1/20th
225 75.0 56.3 45.0 37.5 28.1 22.5 18.8 15.0 11.3
220 73.3 55.0 44.0 36.7 27.5 22.0 18.3 14.7 11.0
200 66.7 50.0 40.0 33.3 25.0 20.0 16.7 13.3 10.0
175 58.3 43.8 35.0 29.2 21.9 17.5 14.6 11.7 8.8
150 50.0 37.5 30.0 25.0 18.8 15.0 12.5 10.0 7.5
125 41.7 31.3 25.0 20.8 15.6 12.5 10.4 8.3 6.3
100 33.3 25.0 20.0 16.7 12.5 10.0 8.3 6.7 5.0
Now, 34 lbs/15.4 kg is doable, but I know I'll be a lot happier if I can move down into the "light" category, particularly since my plan is to ascend to 14,500'/4400m in elevation.  No need to drag a lot of weight that high!  

Peaks in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
So, I've done my first pass in lightening up my gear, and ... I've been able to cut 4.1 lbs off my gear!  Huzzah! That moves me just below 30 lbs total pack weight, which would be great.  I'd like to cut another couple of pounds off; we'll see.  I hope to post a couple more versions before my trip in August, each lighter still.  My current list is below my "signature".  My comments on the current list:

First, I've swapped out my "sweater weight" down hoodie.  Man!  I love that thing, but it is a full pound.  The down vest cuts that weight roughly in half.  Now, will a vest (with no hood and no sleeves) be warm enough?  We'll see.  I'll have to keep a close eye on the weather as the trip approaches.

Likewise, I've swapped out my Capilene 2 top and bottom base layers for silk ones, saving over a quarter pound.  Will these uber sheer silk ones be warm enough?  Again, I'll have to watch the weather reports.

I've deleted any water treatment for this trip.  Some people will think that's crazy, particularly if they've been reading the marketing spiel of the filter companies, but tests by an MD/PhD backpacker have shown the water in the Sierra to have less giardia than city water except in areas with heavy human use or livestock.  I've gone without water treatment before in the Sierra, and I believe I'll be fine.

I've dropped my Isuka map case which I purchased in a mountain shop in Japan.  That one sucks, because I really like that map case, but I'm going on well marked main trails, and I need to get the weight down.  If I were doing off trail routes or sketchy trails, I would keep the case.

I've dropped spare batteries for my phone and camera.  Instead I'll carry a single external battery and recharge my phone and camera as needed.

There are other changes, which are detailed below in the gear list, but the last major change I'll mention is swapping out my deluxe Stratospire I tarp tent for a minimalist Gatewood Cape.  The Gatewood is not as weather proof, so I'll have to be really thinking in terms of site selection and such.   One can use a "Serenity Bug Net" with the Gatewood Cape, but the Serenity Bug net is in my opinion poorly designed and really cuts down the interior volume of the cape unnecessarily, so I'll be leaving it behind.  I could sleep in a head net, if needed, uber minimalism at its finest.

More to follow I'm sure, but here's where I am at today.  I thank you for joining me.

HJ

The author, backpacking in the Grand Canyon, May 2015

One Person Gear List (Base Weight Only)
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Summer 2015, Day time high 80F/27C, Overnight low 40F/5C
Category Old Item New Item Old Grams Old Ounces Old Pounds New Grams New Ounces New Pounds Grams Saved Ounces Saved Pounds Saved
1 Clothing Patagonia down hoodie sweater Eddie Bauer First Ascent Down Vest 473 16.7 1.0 272 9.6 0.6 201 7.1 0.4
2 Clothing Long john top (Capilene 2) Terramar silk long john top 175 6.2 0.4 101 3.6 0.2 74 2.6 0.2
3 Clothing Long john bottom (Capilene 2) Terramar silk long john bottom 170 6.0 0.4 110 3.9 0.2 60 2.1 0.1
4 Clothing Flip flops No change 134 4.7 0.3 134 4.7 0.3 0 0.0 0.0
5 Clothing Golite wind pants No change 120 4.2 0.3 120 4.2 0.3 0 0.0 0.0
6 Clothing Fleece glove/mittens  No change 100 3.5 0.2 100 3.5 0.2 0 0.0 0.0
7 Clothing Montane wind shirt No change 95 3.4 0.2 95 3.4 0.2 0 0.0 0.0
8 Clothing Underwear, 1 pair No change 90 3.2 0.2 90 3.2 0.2 0 0.0 0.0
9 Clothing socks, 1 pair, midweight No change 75 2.6 0.2 75 2.6 0.2 0 0.0 0.0
10 Clothing Ghost Whisperer shell No change 73 2.6 0.2 73 2.6 0.2 0 0.0 0.0
11 Clothing socks, 1 pair, midweight Deleted 68 2.4 0.1 0 0.0 0.0 68 2.4 0.1
12 Clothing Fleece hat No change 40 1.4 0.1 40 1.4 0.1 0 0.0 0.0
13 Hydration Steri Pen with batteries Deleted 123 4.3 0.3 0 0.0 0.0 123 4.3 0.3
14 Hydration 4 x Platypus bladder 1L Only carry 2 x Playtypus bladder 1L 100 3.5 0.2 50 1.8 0.1 50 1.8 0.1
15 Hydration Plastic "basin" (for Steri Pen treatment) Deleted 18 0.6 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 18 0.6 0.0
16 Kitchen Garcia Bear Canister BV350 Bear Canister 1280 45.2 2.8 923 32.6 2.0 357 12.6 0.8
17 Kitchen Trail Designs Ti-Tri Stove & 1.3 L Evernew UL Ti Pot No change 248 8.7 0.5 248 8.7 0.5 0 0.0 0.0
18 Kitchen GSI Plastic bowl Ziploc plastic bowl 45 1.6 0.1 26 0.9 0.1 19 0.7 0.0
19 Kitchen Titanium Sierra cup/measuring cup No change 43 1.5 0.1 43 1.5 0.1 0 0.0 0.0
20 Kitchen 12 fl oz (355 ml) alcohol bottle No change 39 1.4 0.1 39 1.4 0.1 0 0.0 0.0
21 Kitchen Sea to Summit Aluminum spoon No change 9 0.3 0.0 9 0.3 0.0 0 0.0 0.0
22 Misc AMK Optimist First Aid Kit (FAK) + 1 x roller gauze No change 244 8.6 0.5 244 8.6 0.5 0 0.0 0.0
23 Misc Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) No change 196 6.9 0.4 196 6.9 0.4 0 0.0 0.0
24 Misc External battery with mini cable No change 170 6.0 0.4 170 6.0 0.4 0 0.0 0.0
25 Misc Potty kit (TP + hand sanitizer) No change 136 4.8 0.3 136 4.8 0.3 0 0.0 0.0
26 Misc Map (topographic) and Isuka roll-up map case Deleted 111 3.9 0.2 0 0.0 0.0 111 3.9 0.2
27 Misc Glasses (distance only; Fresnel lens for reading) No change 109 3.8 0.2 109 3.8 0.2 0 0.0 0.0
28 Misc Misc Ziploc (chapstick, meds, matches, sewing kit, crazy glue, duct tape, tenacious tape) No change 105 3.7 0.2 105 3.7 0.2 0 0.0 0.0
29 Misc BP Bag (Cordage, Liquid soap, Thermarest patch kit, ear plugs) No change 100 3.5 0.2 100 3.5 0.2 0 0.0 0.0
30 Misc Spare phone batteries (2) Deleted 76 2.7 0.2 0 0.0 0.0 76 2.7 0.2
31 Misc Pouch (sunscreen, fire steel, tripod) Tripod weight, see below No change 74 2.6 0.2 74 2.6 0.2 0 0.0 0.0
32 Misc Mammut S-Flex headlamp No change 49 1.7 0.1 49 1.7 0.1 0 0.0 0.0
33 Misc Snow/sand stake (used as trowel and as tent stake) No change 35 1.2 0.1 35 1.2 0.1 0 0.0 0.0
34 Misc Dental Hygiene Kit (brush, paste, and floss) No change 30 1.1 0.1 30 1.1 0.1 0 0.0 0.0
35 Misc Mammut S-Flex headlamp case No change 28 1.0 0.1 28 1.0 0.1 0 0.0 0.0
36 Misc Spare camera battery Deleted 27 1.0 0.1 0 0.0 0.0 27 1.0 0.1
37 Misc Wilderness Permit in plastic Ziploc No change 18 0.6 0.0 18 0.6 0.0 0 0.0 0.0
38 Misc Spare Ziploc bag No change 9 0.3 0.0 9 0.3 0.0 0 0.0 0.0
39 Misc Trash bag No change 9 0.3 0.0 9 0.3 0.0 0 0.0 0.0
40 Pack Gossamer Gear Mariposa, Large Cut off excess straps 884 31.2 1.9 863 30.4 1.9 21 0.7 0.0
41 Pack Nylofume bag (as water proof liner) No change 30 1.1 0.1 30 1.1 0.1 0 0.0 0.0
42 Photo Camera with 1 battery No change 250 8.8 0.6 250 8.8 0.6 0 0.0 0.0
43 Photo Camera case No change 84 3.0 0.2 84 3.0 0.2 0 0.0 0.0
44 Photo Mini tripod No change 45 1.6 0.1 45 1.6 0.1 0 0.0 0.0
45 Shelter Stratospire I tarp tent with bug net inner (used for 2 ppl) Gatewood Cape (no bug netting) 1000 35.3 2.2 482 17.0 1.1 518 18.3 1.1
46 Shelter Tyvek ground sheet No change 130 4.6 0.3 130 4.6 0.3 0 0.0 0.0
47 Shelter 8 x "V" Al stakes (could save 1.5 oz with Ti stakes) Stakes now incl. with Gatewood 100 3.5 0.2 0 0.0 0.0 100 3.5 0.2
48 Sleep Western Mountaineering Summerlite 6'0" sleeping bag No change 580 20.5 1.3 580 20.5 1.3 0 0.0 0.0
49 Sleep NeoAir X-Lite 3/4 pad & stuff sack No change 240 8.5 0.5 240 8.5 0.5 0 0.0 0.0
50 Sleep Dry bag, 10L (holds both sleeping bag and down hoodie) Silnylon stuff sack + Ziploc bag 77 2.7 0.2 30 1.1 0.1 47 1.7 0.1
51 Sleep NeoAir Pillow & stuff sack No change 60 2.1 0.1 60 2.1 0.1 0 0.0 0.0
Total 8524 300.7 18.8 6654 234.7 14.7 1870 66.0 4.1

TOTALS BY CATEGORY
Shelter Sleep Pack Clothing Kitchen Photo Hydration Misc
Grams 612 910 893 1210 1288 379 50 1312
Ounces 21.6 32.1 31.5 42.7 45.4 13.4 1.8 46.3
Pounds 1.3 2.0 2.0 2.7 2.8 0.8 0.1 2.9

2 comments:

  1. Great entries and info Jim! It makes me want to hit the JMT again!
    Matt

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Matt. I've still got a lot of work, but I'm making progress.

      Take care,

      HJ

      Delete