The selection of clothing and equipment for long distance hiking is ultimately a personal decision, based on research, recommendations from various sources, but most of all - experience. The options vary from minimalist at one extreme to the traditional backpacking style of yesteryear. Lucy and I have chosen a middle position: Because we come from a background of mountaineering and associated approach backpacking, we've spent years hauling big pack loads into base camp locations where much of the camp weight was left before making fast/light alpine ascents. Obviously this kind of pack load doesn't work well on multiple day/week hikes ... and furthermore, is not needed; ropes, belay gear, harness, snow-stakes, ice-ax, crampons, mountaineering boots, snow gaiters and alpine clothing can all be left behind.

So when we hike the JMT during the High Sierra summer, we travel light ... in fact by our standards, super-light, thanks in part to the latest state of the art clothing and equipment (developed by, or for the minimalist fraternity in many cases). However, unlike the minimalists, we do carry a sturdy self-standing tent, a serious stove for hot meals & drinks at dinner and breakfast, full length inflating sleeping mats and more than adequate sleeping bags for high altitude camps (Muir Pass for example). I'd like to think we hike the Trail with the optimum set of gear: Light enough to make our scheduled 10 to 14 miles each day, but sufficient to enjoy some comfort and provide protection from unexpected mountain weather at the higher elevations. It doesn't happen often, but when it does a lack of adequate clothing and equipment can result in a bailout either over one of the high eastern passes or down the rivers to the western side of the Sierra.

©Peter W Tremayne 2011, Reno, NV.

ITEM

Granite Gear Nimbus Meridian Pack

Western Mountaineering Ultralite 20⁰ F Sleeping Bag

1 lb 10 ozs

Thermarest NeoAir Sleeping Pad

14 ozs

Black Diamond Firstlight 2 person Tent ... packed, with pegs

3 lbs 5 ozs

Bearikade Weekender Mk II bear-proof food canister ... 7 day capacity

1 lbs 15 ozs

JetBoil Sol Titanium Stove without fuel cartridge

8 ozs

Dish, Cup, Spoon, Head-lamp, Pocket Knife, Cig. Lighter, Compass, Water Puri. tablets

1 lb 4 ozs

Water bottles 1.5 liters ... empty

10 ozs

Maps, Sunscreen, Bug-spray, Liquid soap, Sun-glasses

1 lb 2 ozs

Camera with spare battery

1 lb 2 ozs

Clothing ... loaded in the pack during daylight hiking

3 lbs 12 ozs

includes: Gore-tex Lite wind/rain jacket, Polatec pullover, Polatec long tights ... with zips, spare

socks, spare U-pants & T-shirt, small towel, light windproof gloves, woolen beanie, water shoes.

TOTAL WEIGHT ..... Single person carry, without food, water or stove fuel

19 lbs 7 ozs

NOTES:

With two people hiking together, the weight of the tent, the stove, maps etc can be shared ...

giving a TOTAL WEIGHT ..... each person, without food, water or stove fuel

16 lbs 14 ozs

FOOD: Using dehy for dinner & breakfast plus 2-3 Clif bars each day: Weight per person per day is ....

1 lb 3 ozs

FUEL: Using Gas cartridges for the JetBoil: Weight per person per day (including can) is ....

2.5 ozs