I feel like “ultralight” should be 10% of your body weight, excluding fat. 10lbs is an arbitrary number, and 10lbs to a 5’ woman is a lot more than 10lbs to a 6’6” man. That also makes packing a little more practical.
This is a really informed pack list. Really well done. Great idea using the tent stuff sack for quilt or clothes (or both!). I will try that. Bothers me a tiny bit seeing new young hikers sucked into the big box vortex of 65 litre Deuters and 5 lb tents with Nalgenes and such not-necessarly-cheaper heaviness for a 3 day coastal trek.
😀 ha, I hear ya! I do bring more stuff sometimes, but recently find I enjoy a lighter carry. Who knows what the next trip will bring. I have thought about fishing on a backpacking trip which a pan would be nice.
@@CharmingGecko Who said I'd be hiking 20 miles a day? I mean to enjoy my backpacking trips. To me, that doesn't mean logging as many miles as possible. It means enjoying nature, being somewhat comfortable, and eating good food. It could be 1 mile, or ten miles.
@@somethingorother319 that's the point. if you aren't doing as many miles you can afford to carry more. but when you are doing long miles people tend to not want a heavy pack. neither style is wrong. and most people change what they carry depending on the trip. I love my chair but if I was going to do a lot of miles I would just bring my sit pad and either use it to sit on a rock or my bear can. and yes when I'm doing less miles I will bring my chair even though I also bring a bear can that doubles as a seat.
Great video, thank you! I’d be interested in knowing more/seeing your Fairy Lights for the tent. Great gear load out. I love your balance of ultralight and comfort with your pillow choice. ;)
Thank you! I just picked the fairy lights up off amazon (something similar to the following): Onforu 16 Pack Fairy Lights Battery Operated, 6.5ft Blue Mini String Pixie Christmas Lights.... I just brought one of those along. Worked great.
What I bring for food has changed over time. On my first few trips, I brought way too much. On this last one, it was pretty much spot on. I would like to change up my breakfast some as a 'bar' seems dry and hard to eat in the morning.
I tried those zpacks carbon stakes on the pct but they only lasted 2 weeks. They all snapped. I carried extra for our triplex which was extra weight. I met the guys from zpacks at pct days and they gave me their sonic stakes which were much better. They would still bend sometimes but you could bend them back. I ultimately decided on 2 mini groundhogs for the doors and blue Sonic’s for the rest with no extras. If I am going to the desert I use all mini groundhogs. Other than that your kit is dialed!
Thanks! My main concern for the stakes is breaking as I've heard that from others, but not run into it yet. For a 4 day trip it doesn't matter much as I could still use rocks, but if I go on a longer one I may look into the sonic ones you mentioned.
Wow, I just finished a section hike on the JMT last week. My pack was close to 40 pounds. Mostly because I over packed on food which caused me to need a larger Bear canister. An 18 pound pack would have been a dream.
Congratulations on the JMT! That's one of my dream hikes. 40 lbs is a heavy load for what I (back and shoulders) can handle. Food is an area I've dialed in over my different trips and feel like I'm spot on for what I need for a 4-day hike. What would be interesting about the JMT is does the on-trail hunger increase on day 5+?
its so doable too.....maybe not as light without boning out for dyneema but food is the devil...and its a double devil at elevation. Between that and the impossibility of rain gear was the hardest part for me to get dialed in. For me, including a bear can it works out to just a little over a pound per day....and I've not run out yet. The BV450 with a bit of lying could be stretched out to about 5 nights. It takes a bit of obsessing and food is fuel mentality, but at altitude, for me food is forced.
I like the presentation of this video. Well done. I’m not sure which is worse, smelly toilet paper or dryer sheets. I never use fabric softener of any kind. It’s toxic and completely unnecessary. Perhaps an alternative for your storage of dirty TP is to line the bag with paper towel and sprinkle in some baking soda or talc/baby powder?
Thanks! It was my first time having this rule in place, so I was grasping at straws a little. It seemed to work well, but you offered up some other good suggestions.
@@hikingmule Another idea is to keep the ziploc but inside it you can have paper lunch bags, as many as needed for the duration of the trip. If necessary put baking soda in them but at least the paper bags can be closed and they will keep the ziploc more clean. Even with TP in the paper lunch bags you can compress them quite a bit and they’re light and more bio-friendly than chemically-impregnated fabric softener sheets.
Sir you have given me virtually NOTHING to complain about....thats a hell of a kit...I agree there are several "luxury" items included...I think the only thing missing (but not ignored) was a proper chamwow for condensation. All great, zero fat. The only item I'd suggest...and it might be Sierra specific...I did the same trip in aug. Your water storage I feel like could be improved with a single full liter water bottle (less bulk) and swap out the 1 liter Befree for a 3 liter - again less bulk when you don't need it and the same 4 liter capacity when you do. I did say virtually - the number one fear packed item in backpacking.....drum roll....the InReach. no no no no no no no not ever....but thats me, I hate even having a phone. Old men Rule Cheers - hope the rest of your crew was even half as prepared.
Thank you! If you have experience in the Sierras, what would be your suggested next hike (4 or 5 nights)? The 3L bag would be a great addition to kit and useful on other hikes, especially if there is a requirement for longer water hauls. I'll have to put that on my Christmas list. Funny on the inReach. I did not see that coming. I'm pretty sure my wife would let me go without.
The stuff sack is a tight fit for the quilt and with the rolltop, it is very much a compression sack. Because it's dynema, it also acts as a second layer of waterproof protection.
An overall weight of 30 is not horrible. While there are always things we can change up, what goes in a pack is very personal. Food is one such thing. I have found that on a 4-day trip, what I bring hits the mark. Water on the other hand, is very dependent on the trail. Luckily the ones I've done lately have good water supplies so does not require a long water carry. Fameless packs are absolutely not for everyone, but I would suggest giving it a try if you haven't. :)
Nice gear list. I have heard great things about LIte AF. I retired this past year and went from light backpacking to UL this year. My big three are all Zapcks. Its truly been a game changer. My dog Maggie and I hiked the Long Trail in Vermont this year and plan on doing the Colorado trail next year. I found going from light to UL a great move but expensive. Money well spent. I do you like your Lite AF pack? I have the Duplex because I was thinking the tent you have would be little tight with my dog. That hike you did look beautiful. Take care and thanks for sharing.
I love my LightAF pack and would highly recommend it. They have many options when putting one together; the pack straps fit well and make the carry comfortable; and the quality of the product is very good. I just got my daughter one for her first backpacking trip next year. I agree the Duplex is needed for the extra room. If I were to take on a longer trail, I'd would think about a slightly larger tent too. How was the long trail? I have eyed the Colorado Trail as well as the John Muir Trail, but will need to wait until I have more time on my hands.
@@hikingmule I really enjoyed the Long Trail. I am an Eastern hiker so the straight ups and downs are normal for me. I mostly hike in the White mountains of NH and I think the Whites are steeper and the climbs are longer. I had never done a longer trip like the LT and I learned a lot. I also lighted my back more than I thought was possible. I hiked with a triple crowner for a couple of days off and on and he said 23 miles on the LT was much harder than 40 on the PCT. I could not hang with this young man on the trial but our paths crossed a few times. He also did the Colorado trial and said I would love it. He said it was like all the best parts of the PCT but much shorter. I am looking forward to having switch backs and the trails being much smoother and endless views. The LT is all about the forest, green tunnel and endless climbing. The LT is over two hundred miles shorter than the CT but has less than thirty thousand feet of vertical. So be ready to climb straight up and down. I was lucky and it hardly ever rained, so there was little to no mud. After the LT and the AT splits the LT gets harder and there are far less people. It almost becomes a completely different hike. There are lots of shelters and you could do the whole hike without a tent if you wanted to. I did both. Take care
@@mtadams2009 Awesome. The straight ups can be brutal. I have yet to do backpacking trips in the east, but perhaps someday. Good luck on your next adventure!
I like your minimalist approach. I just finished the same trail a few weeks ago and though I tried to go light, still feel I brought too much. I think you mentioned at the end of the video that you brought a few luxury items. Any insight to what those were and the added weight? I had water/camp shoes, a zero chair, and the larger Bear Vault which I had stuffed with too much food for me. Still trying to cut back.
Good stuff! This was one of my favorite trails. What direction and campsites did you hit? As for luxury items, I brought a much larger (bulky) pillow vs an inflatable (9.8 oz). Good sleep is important, and I struggle with inflatable pillows. Blue fairy lights provide no real value, but just wanted to try a soft light at night. You could argue the face wipes and deodorant are not needed, but ahhh... I like them to feel somewhat normal and knock off a layer of grime. Finally, the 16 oz of vodka is a luxury... well, at least some may argue ... :) I've brought camp shoes and a zero chair in the past and may again in the future. I like simplicity and the zpacks folding mat is 'good enough' for a sit pad/chair but also works as padding against my back in the backpack. For the shoes, I just go with the hiking shoes at camp and river crossings.
Fantastic pack and I would recommend. The shoulder straps are comfortable; customizable to what you need when ordering; highly water resistant and durable (enough). I just got my daughter a pack from there as well.
I will add a chair on some trips. It's nice to be able to lean back and relax. I do bring a small knife and always a medical kit. In the past I've also brought playing cards.
I caught pretty warm days and nights on this trip. One of the huge advantages of a quilt is the ability to vent and regulate the body temperature. I don't have a toe box so can turn it into a blanket. That said, I've gone into low 30s with this quilt on past hikes and was still very warm, not adding any clothing layers. The UGQ is rated for comfort level vs survivability which is slightly different from others. Here's the details of how I had the quilt made: 30 degrees 55" width 72" length 950 overstuff no box no taper draft collar If the temps were to drop even lower, I have many layers in my clothes bag I could start to add. That said, I would not take this into winter weather.
If I understand your question correctly, I would answer by saying a 20 degree quilt may be ideal. In the sierra's you can be sweltering and have rain, hail, and snow in the same 24 hrs. If you are not prepared you are just rolling the dice. in July and Sept a 30 degree is rolling dice....your not gonna die, but you could have a really uncomfortable night (depending on layers) Not so much in August, yet thats when I did this trip and a hurricane blew up the coast causing catastrophic damage in the mountains all the way to Death Valley - most roads in death valley are gone. I walked in on the last day of rain and passed countless soaked and frozen JMTer's that just quit. So be very prepared, and have a backup plan, and one that deals with soaked everything. I'm stuck with an awesome 10 degree quilt....because its 22 ozs. I've not gotten the nerve to bone out for a 30 degree because it only saves like 3 or 4 ozs. so 20 seems to be the sweet spot. For the record a lot of gamblers win. Took me 10 years before I got hit with weather.
I echo your comments on being prepared as the mountain weather can change quickly. I just got my daughter a quilt and she went with a 20 degree one as she sleeps colder. She also went with a hybrid quilt, so it can zip all the way up making it a sleeping bag. It's a great option from UGQ.
@@nedanother9382 Is you quilt UGQ bandit or EE or other brand. It looks like EE quilt temperature is for limit temperature while UGQ is for comfort temperature. I am debating if I would need a UGQ bandit 10 degree or 20 degree. I am leaning for 10 degree since I may go to Sierra in late June or late Sept. and I do sleep cold.
Thanks! When I put on headphones, I now hear it. Not sure what went wrong, I use Davinci Resolve for editing. I'll have to look into it and see where I dropped the ball.
For me, it's the perfect amount for a 4 day / 3 night hike. Calorie wise, it's not enough when you consider how much you're burning but I cannot ingest more. If I were to go on a longer hike, that starts to change after a bit, but on these short ones my body goes into a 'shock' state. The other hikers on the trip bring a similar amount, but larger snacks. Note, I would like to change my breakfast up. While the bars are great in the afternoon, they are not enjoyable in the early hours. I also don't want to tap into the cook kit, so I may play around with some type of smoothie concoction... who knows....
I would agree with the Mule....at altitude you will not eat what you would otherwise. Thats why what you eat has to have some tooth to get the job done. I was told prior but had to figure it out on my own that at 12000 feet, everything changes. Your digestive system is not working well at all - even if you ate you wouldn't necessarily absorb the food. Everything but chocolate tastes like the sole of a shoe. bars SUCK!. at elevation food is fuel.
I feel like “ultralight” should be 10% of your body weight, excluding fat. 10lbs is an arbitrary number, and 10lbs to a 5’ woman is a lot more than 10lbs to a 6’6” man. That also makes packing a little more practical.
I agree that 'ultralight' definition should be dynamic.
This is a really informed pack list. Really well done. Great idea using the tent stuff sack for quilt or clothes (or both!). I will try that. Bothers me a tiny bit seeing new young hikers sucked into the big box vortex of 65 litre Deuters and 5 lb tents with Nalgenes and such not-necessarly-cheaper heaviness for a 3 day coastal trek.
Thank you! Many pack their fears. I have to fight against going too light and not weighing in comfortably enough.
Yall ultralighters astound me. Nothing wrong with it, & more power to ya. I just can't leave my chair, frying pan, or eReader behind.
😀 ha, I hear ya! I do bring more stuff sometimes, but recently find I enjoy a lighter carry. Who knows what the next trip will bring. I have thought about fishing on a backpacking trip which a pan would be nice.
When you’re hiking 20 miles a day, you really don’t have time for sitting, frying, or reading. 😌
@@CharmingGecko Who said I'd be hiking 20 miles a day? I mean to enjoy my backpacking trips. To me, that doesn't mean logging as many miles as possible. It means enjoying nature, being somewhat comfortable, and eating good food. It could be 1 mile, or ten miles.
@@somethingorother319 that's the point. if you aren't doing as many miles you can afford to carry more. but when you are doing long miles people tend to not want a heavy pack. neither style is wrong. and most people change what they carry depending on the trip. I love my chair but if I was going to do a lot of miles I would just bring my sit pad and either use it to sit on a rock or my bear can. and yes when I'm doing less miles I will bring my chair even though I also bring a bear can that doubles as a seat.
The way I see it is that if you’re having fun you’re doing it right.
I'm not a backpacker (I'm barely a noobie camper) but I found this fascinating and a very informative and just well laid out video. Great job!
Glad it was helpful! I get a lot of value out of watching gear list videos from others and was hoping this would give back in that area.
well then I suggest you stay right here if you were looking into "the best" and cheapest way to start backpacking - this is solid top to bottom
Great video, thank you! I’d be interested in knowing more/seeing your Fairy Lights for the tent. Great gear load out. I love your balance of ultralight and comfort with your pillow choice. ;)
Thank you! I just picked the fairy lights up off amazon (something similar to the following): Onforu 16 Pack Fairy Lights Battery Operated, 6.5ft Blue Mini String Pixie Christmas Lights.... I just brought one of those along. Worked great.
Definitely time for us to update our bags!!! Awesome video
Someday we will wild camp but so hard with the kiddos
Thank you! I'm planning to take my daughter on a trip next year, so it should be an interesting experience. :)
Never thought of the compressed towel. Going to try that…I bring way more/different food
What I bring for food has changed over time. On my first few trips, I brought way too much. On this last one, it was pretty much spot on. I would like to change up my breakfast some as a 'bar' seems dry and hard to eat in the morning.
Great gear list. I took note of several items. Well done. New follower here. Crow✌️
Thanks and welcome. I love watching gear list videos of others and find them valuable, helping craft my own.
Informative and beneficial video
Awesome! I geek out seeing the gear list of others and hope this was helpful to show what's in mine.
Excellent info
Thanks! A big part of the fun is putting together my gear list.
@@hikingmule My pleasure
I tried those zpacks carbon stakes on the pct but they only lasted 2 weeks. They all snapped. I carried extra for our triplex which was extra weight. I met the guys from zpacks at pct days and they gave me their sonic stakes which were much better. They would still bend sometimes but you could bend them back. I ultimately decided on 2 mini groundhogs for the doors and blue Sonic’s for the rest with no extras. If I am going to the desert I use all mini groundhogs. Other than that your kit is dialed!
Thanks! My main concern for the stakes is breaking as I've heard that from others, but not run into it yet. For a 4 day trip it doesn't matter much as I could still use rocks, but if I go on a longer one I may look into the sonic ones you mentioned.
Wow, I just finished a section hike on the JMT last week. My pack was close to 40 pounds. Mostly because I over packed on food which caused me to need a larger Bear canister.
An 18 pound pack would have been a dream.
Congratulations on the JMT! That's one of my dream hikes.
40 lbs is a heavy load for what I (back and shoulders) can handle. Food is an area I've dialed in over my different trips and feel like I'm spot on for what I need for a 4-day hike. What would be interesting about the JMT is does the on-trail hunger increase on day 5+?
its so doable too.....maybe not as light without boning out for dyneema but food is the devil...and its a double devil at elevation. Between that and the impossibility of rain gear was the hardest part for me to get dialed in. For me, including a bear can it works out to just a little over a pound per day....and I've not run out yet. The BV450 with a bit of lying could be stretched out to about 5 nights. It takes a bit of obsessing and food is fuel mentality, but at altitude, for me food is forced.
I like the presentation of this video. Well done. I’m not sure which is worse, smelly toilet paper or dryer sheets. I never use fabric softener of any kind. It’s toxic and completely unnecessary. Perhaps an alternative for your storage of dirty TP is to line the bag with paper towel and sprinkle in some baking soda or talc/baby powder?
Thanks! It was my first time having this rule in place, so I was grasping at straws a little. It seemed to work well, but you offered up some other good suggestions.
@@hikingmule Another idea is to keep the ziploc but inside it you can have paper lunch bags, as many as needed for the duration of the trip. If necessary put baking soda in them but at least the paper bags can be closed and they will keep the ziploc more clean. Even with TP in the paper lunch bags you can compress them quite a bit and they’re light and more bio-friendly than chemically-impregnated fabric softener sheets.
Great gear loadout and editing. (new friend and subscriber) take care
Thank you for the kind words and glad you enjoyed.
This video is so relaxing I could almost meditate to it lmao. The music and sound effects are really something
haha... that's awesome!
Excellent pack!!
Thank you!
Sir you have given me virtually NOTHING to complain about....thats a hell of a kit...I agree there are several "luxury" items included...I think the only thing missing (but not ignored) was a proper chamwow for condensation. All great, zero fat. The only item I'd suggest...and it might be Sierra specific...I did the same trip in aug. Your water storage I feel like could be improved with a single full liter water bottle (less bulk) and swap out the 1 liter Befree for a 3 liter - again less bulk when you don't need it and the same 4 liter capacity when you do.
I did say virtually - the number one fear packed item in backpacking.....drum roll....the InReach. no no no no no no no not ever....but thats me, I hate even having a phone. Old men Rule
Cheers - hope the rest of your crew was even half as prepared.
Thank you! If you have experience in the Sierras, what would be your suggested next hike (4 or 5 nights)?
The 3L bag would be a great addition to kit and useful on other hikes, especially if there is a requirement for longer water hauls. I'll have to put that on my Christmas list.
Funny on the inReach. I did not see that coming. I'm pretty sure my wife would let me go without.
Any section of the John Muir Trail would be a good next hike, or 3
Nicely presented. I like the mule.
Thank you very much! I need to make a mule that dances now... :)
How do you like using the stuff sack for your quilt rather than a compression sack? No issues with space?
The stuff sack is a tight fit for the quilt and with the rolltop, it is very much a compression sack. Because it's dynema, it also acts as a second layer of waterproof protection.
18lbs! Dang I’m at 30. Could get to 20 if I cut my food and water and a few others. Don’t like frameless packs
An overall weight of 30 is not horrible. While there are always things we can change up, what goes in a pack is very personal. Food is one such thing. I have found that on a 4-day trip, what I bring hits the mark. Water on the other hand, is very dependent on the trail. Luckily the ones I've done lately have good water supplies so does not require a long water carry.
Fameless packs are absolutely not for everyone, but I would suggest giving it a try if you haven't. :)
Very impressive. I need to learn how to pack smarter
ha... I don't get out often (for now), so for me 1/2 the fun is route research and gear prep. I'm not sure if what I do is classified as 'smart'. 😊
@@hikingmule you got your stuff to fit better than I do, so you get credit where credit is due😁
Nice gear list. I have heard great things about LIte AF. I retired this past year and went from light backpacking to UL this year. My big three are all Zapcks. Its truly been a game changer. My dog Maggie and I hiked the Long Trail in Vermont this year and plan on doing the Colorado trail next year. I found going from light to UL a great move but expensive. Money well spent. I do you like your Lite AF pack? I have the Duplex because I was thinking the tent you have would be little tight with my dog. That hike you did look beautiful. Take care and thanks for sharing.
I love my LightAF pack and would highly recommend it. They have many options when putting one together; the pack straps fit well and make the carry comfortable; and the quality of the product is very good. I just got my daughter one for her first backpacking trip next year.
I agree the Duplex is needed for the extra room. If I were to take on a longer trail, I'd would think about a slightly larger tent too.
How was the long trail? I have eyed the Colorado Trail as well as the John Muir Trail, but will need to wait until I have more time on my hands.
@@hikingmule I really enjoyed the Long Trail. I am an Eastern hiker so the straight ups and downs are normal for me. I mostly hike in the White mountains of NH and I think the Whites are steeper and the climbs are longer. I had never done a longer trip like the LT and I learned a lot. I also lighted my back more than I thought was possible. I hiked with a triple crowner for a couple of days off and on and he said 23 miles on the LT was much harder than 40 on the PCT. I could not hang with this young man on the trial but our paths crossed a few times. He also did the Colorado trial and said I would love it. He said it was like all the best parts of the PCT but much shorter. I am looking forward to having switch backs and the trails being much smoother and endless views. The LT is all about the forest, green tunnel and endless climbing. The LT is over two hundred miles shorter than the CT but has less than thirty thousand feet of vertical. So be ready to climb straight up and down. I was lucky and it hardly ever rained, so there was little to no mud. After the LT and the AT splits the LT gets harder and there are far less people. It almost becomes a completely different hike. There are lots of shelters and you could do the whole hike without a tent if you wanted to. I did both. Take care
@@mtadams2009 Awesome. The straight ups can be brutal. I have yet to do backpacking trips in the east, but perhaps someday. Good luck on your next adventure!
@@hikingmule Thanks. The East is what I know but I am looking West for my next trip as my body is calling for switch backs. Take care
I like your minimalist approach. I just finished the same trail a few weeks ago and though I tried to go light, still feel I brought too much. I think you mentioned at the end of the video that you brought a few luxury items. Any insight to what those were and the added weight? I had water/camp shoes, a zero chair, and the larger Bear Vault which I had stuffed with too much food for me. Still trying to cut back.
Good stuff! This was one of my favorite trails. What direction and campsites did you hit?
As for luxury items, I brought a much larger (bulky) pillow vs an inflatable (9.8 oz). Good sleep is important, and I struggle with inflatable pillows. Blue fairy lights provide no real value, but just wanted to try a soft light at night. You could argue the face wipes and deodorant are not needed, but ahhh... I like them to feel somewhat normal and knock off a layer of grime. Finally, the 16 oz of vodka is a luxury... well, at least some may argue ... :)
I've brought camp shoes and a zero chair in the past and may again in the future. I like simplicity and the zpacks folding mat is 'good enough' for a sit pad/chair but also works as padding against my back in the backpack. For the shoes, I just go with the hiking shoes at camp and river crossings.
The inReach was over the top, but some people say the sit pad is a luxury as well....an awesome one.
Never heard of LiteAF, but they look like good packs for going, well, light af. Have you been happy with yours?
Fantastic pack and I would recommend. The shoulder straps are comfortable; customizable to what you need when ordering; highly water resistant and durable (enough). I just got my daughter a pack from there as well.
@@hikingmule Great, thank you!
Where did you get the scale to weigh your pack? I’ve been wanting one so I can weigh my backpack before I go out on trails.
Most likely off Amazon. :) For the bag scale, I use a portable luggage scale. For measuring the individual items, I use a food scale.
What items would anyone add to their gear? Chair?knife?medical?
I will add a chair on some trips. It's nice to be able to lean back and relax. I do bring a small knife and always a medical kit. In the past I've also brought playing cards.
I may have missed it, but do you have a link to your gear list and associated weights?
I track my gear in a spreadsheet now so have not put it anywhere you can see but need to add it to lighterpack.
Did the night low temp go below 30F during your trip? Are you a warm sleeper? I am curious if your UGQ 30F quilt is warm enough.
I caught pretty warm days and nights on this trip. One of the huge advantages of a quilt is the ability to vent and regulate the body temperature. I don't have a toe box so can turn it into a blanket. That said, I've gone into low 30s with this quilt on past hikes and was still very warm, not adding any clothing layers. The UGQ is rated for comfort level vs survivability which is slightly different from others. Here's the details of how I had the quilt made:
30 degrees
55" width
72" length
950 overstuff
no box
no taper
draft collar
If the temps were to drop even lower, I have many layers in my clothes bag I could start to add. That said, I would not take this into winter weather.
If I understand your question correctly, I would answer by saying a 20 degree quilt may be ideal. In the sierra's you can be sweltering and have rain, hail, and snow in the same 24 hrs. If you are not prepared you are just rolling the dice. in July and Sept a 30 degree is rolling dice....your not gonna die, but you could have a really uncomfortable night (depending on layers)
Not so much in August, yet thats when I did this trip and a hurricane blew up the coast causing catastrophic damage in the mountains all the way to Death Valley - most roads in death valley are gone. I walked in on the last day of rain and passed countless soaked and frozen JMTer's that just quit. So be very prepared, and have a backup plan, and one that deals with soaked everything.
I'm stuck with an awesome 10 degree quilt....because its 22 ozs. I've not gotten the nerve to bone out for a 30 degree because it only saves like 3 or 4 ozs. so 20 seems to be the sweet spot. For the record a lot of gamblers win. Took me 10 years before I got hit with weather.
I echo your comments on being prepared as the mountain weather can change quickly.
I just got my daughter a quilt and she went with a 20 degree one as she sleeps colder. She also went with a hybrid quilt, so it can zip all the way up making it a sleeping bag. It's a great option from UGQ.
@@nedanother9382 Is you quilt UGQ bandit or EE or other brand. It looks like EE quilt temperature is for limit temperature while UGQ is for comfort temperature. I am debating if I would need a UGQ bandit 10 degree or 20 degree. I am leaning for 10 degree since I may go to Sierra in late June or late Sept. and I do sleep cold.
A little heads up, your voiceover audio is only in the left ear
Thanks! When I put on headphones, I now hear it. Not sure what went wrong, I use Davinci Resolve for editing. I'll have to look into it and see where I dropped the ball.
Well, figured it out. I somehow set the voice channel to 'stereo' instead of 'mono'. Augh...
its because he is graciously whispering knowledge in to your left ear.
Hey, is there a video of you or a reviw video showcasing that tent?
I have not done a video around it. That said, great tent that's easy to setup and pack.
I think his tent has been somewhat replaced by the newer single person tent from zpacks....all of 14 ozs
Did you have enough calories per day? Doesn't seem like a lot of food
For me, it's the perfect amount for a 4 day / 3 night hike. Calorie wise, it's not enough when you consider how much you're burning but I cannot ingest more. If I were to go on a longer hike, that starts to change after a bit, but on these short ones my body goes into a 'shock' state. The other hikers on the trip bring a similar amount, but larger snacks.
Note, I would like to change my breakfast up. While the bars are great in the afternoon, they are not enjoyable in the early hours. I also don't want to tap into the cook kit, so I may play around with some type of smoothie concoction... who knows....
@@hikingmule I've been doing carnation instant breakfast X2 and instant coffee in a liter of water. No cooking. It's not completely terrible
That actually sounds pretty good and may look at adding that into the mix. Thank you for the suggestion!
@@TomMosher01 not completely terrible is good....ish.
I would agree with the Mule....at altitude you will not eat what you would otherwise. Thats why what you eat has to have some tooth to get the job done. I was told prior but had to figure it out on my own that at 12000 feet, everything changes. Your digestive system is not working well at all - even if you ate you wouldn't necessarily absorb the food. Everything but chocolate tastes like the sole of a shoe. bars SUCK!. at elevation food is fuel.