KensPost - Pacific Crest Trail Journal - 2014

Getting my load lighter - now under 10 pounds

I have the basic gear weight down to about 5.5 pounds. My total pack weight, sans consumeables, is now under 10 pounds.

The magic that makes this happen is my Tarptent Notch, my REI Flash-45, a 14oz sleeping bag, and my luxury item of a NeoAir sleeping pad at one pound. I was planning to take a 10 ounce foam pad along, but I am under 10 pounds with my NeoAir, so it's totally worth the extra six ounces.

I notice a lot of people are taking along what I consider non-essential weight of electronics. With iPhones and Android devices that require a lot of charging. I see a lot of lists out there that total, easily, two to three pounds+ for electronics. I do not mean to be judgemental, really. I can understand the need to communicate when possible, and write in a journal as it happens. There is also the luxury of distraction with entertainment with a Kindle for reading, and games on the smart-phones. That's all fine.

I'm sure I will miss reading. I have no plans to read anything while on my trek. I will have plenty of battery juice for an hour and a half of audio books in the evening. That will be my one electronic luxury.

I prefer to travel as lightly as I can. For me, that is my luxury.... well, that and my NeoAir.

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