{"id":383,"date":"2006-03-28T07:21:43","date_gmt":"2006-03-28T12:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tommangan.net\/twoheeldrive\/?p=383"},"modified":"2006-03-28T07:21:43","modified_gmt":"2006-03-28T12:21:43","slug":"lightening-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tommangan.net\/twoheeldrive\/index.php\/2006\/03\/28\/lightening-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Lightening up"},"content":{"rendered":"

OK, I’m going to get all geeky on y’all this morning. I taught myself some rudimentary spreadsheeting and drew up a list of what I might take on an ultralight campout. None of this has actually been tried because I’m a complete rookie at this stuff, but the gear is there and should work provided the temperature remains above, say, 35 degrees. For now I want to go with what I already own without having to buy more gear (which goes against all that I hold holy, of course).
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\nHere’s a list covering shelter, sleep system and cooking suppllies.
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Gear<\/b><\/td>\nweight (oz)<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Black Diamond Winter Bivy<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
REI Quarter Dome footprint (ground cloth)<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Integral Designs 5×8 silnylon tarp<\/td>\n 7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12 titanium stakes, 50 ft. of guy line<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marmot Pounder Plus sleeping bag<\/td>\n36<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Thermarest Prolite 3 sleeping pad<\/td>\n20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gregory G Pack <\/td>\n48<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MSR Pocket Rocket stove <\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8 ounce fuel canister<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Titanium spork <\/td>\n 0.6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MSR Titan Kettle<\/td>\n4.2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Petzl Zipka light<\/td>\n2.3 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
First aid kit <\/td>\n3.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Canon A510 camera <\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Katadyn water filter<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
REI 1 liter bottle<\/td>\n4.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total: 11.58 pounds<\/b><\/td>\n185.1 <\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

I feel like I’ve got the basic-survival test — avoiding hypothermia — covered so long as the temperature stays above freezing. My Marmot sleeping bag is rated at 25 degrees and has synthetic fill that’ll insulate if it’s wet. It also has a water-resistant outer fabric. The Black Diamond bivy is certainly not 100 percent storm-proof but it’s pretty close. The tarp is something to stow gear under and keep the rain out of my face — coupled with a bivy it’ll be fine but I’m dubious of using it alone if there’s any chance of rain in the forecast.
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\nI met a Pacific Crest Trail thru-hiker last summer who told me he was carrying 15 pounds of gear, not counting food and water, which sounds like a nice goal for a rookie to shoot for. So I’ve got another 3 pounds for clothing, rain gear, camp tools, toiletries, maps and other assorted doo-dads.
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I know all the “extras” could go over 3 pounds with no more effort than falling off a log, so where could I shave weight without giving my Mastercard a workout?<\/p>\n