Shake Down Hike - 16 miles report

[Bleemus]

First couple of nights with my SpinnUL I had to tighten it tighter than an E-string on a guitar. Much better now.

Hang it in the backyard for a couple of days tied up loosely I bet would quiet it way down for your next trip. Knock the sizing out of it methinks.

[Shug]

Righteous TR and videos Raul...
As to the Aqua Mira and water kick-up .... I always have a couple of coffee filters in my pack to strain mucky water. Work terrific and will last several times. Just wrap 'em up clean side in.

Like your style Raul .... make mistakes ..... adjust .... make note ....move ahead!
Shug

[Raul Perez]

Thanks Shug,

I'm always trying to learn from my mistakes and make my hikes more enjoyable in any weather condition. Therefore I'm not limited to when or where I can hike.

Plus it's interesting to see how much I've progressed in my earlier movies when I started with an ALICE pack and the Osprey Argon 85. I basically hand picked most of what the Captain bought based on his budget and was able to get his pack weight to about 30lbs with food and water for 2.5 days. Had this been 3 years ago he'd have a 50lb pack for sure!

I really thought the lightweight and ultra-lightweight movement was much bigger than it was. Or maybe I really get down and dirty with my research (habit of an auditor) and believe everyone is doing this now. I ran across about 60 people on the AT that weekend and I could count on one hand how many didn't have super over-sized packs and were staying the night.

One of the scout pack leaders had his son wear a 40lb pack up the mountain and NONE of them had a way to purify water with a filter or chemical. They actually had a water shortage problem and had to pool their water and re-distribute. I talked to one of the adults and offered my msr sweet water filter if it got too low by the evening.

But they did have a kick *** stove and they made chicken tacos in the shelter ha!

[Shug]

I tell ya' .... I agree on the not seeing that many light backpackers out there ..... I rarely see one unless it is a HF member. Surprising....... we are kinda in the "cult of lightweight" I suppose.
Like you, I have really enjoyed going through all my phases.
Had more fun working out the logic and gear of ultra-light hiking more than doing it. all that 2 sheet of TPO and sit-ups in the night due to minimal insulation was interesting.... I did it .... but not fun fun. Because of that I hike what I call a"smart and light" .... roughly 15 to 23 pounds depending on the season and conditions ... and how hungry I may be!
I love the science of all that and you always toss some good tech info on gear and thoughts in your videos. "Preciate that.
Shug

[dowilliamson]

Thanks for posting the videos Raul. You did a great job. Thanks especially for that part about making mistakes and learning from them. Keep hiking!

[Stone]

Great videos man!

[bwtruitt]

I ran across about 60 people on the AT that weekend...

60?! Yikes. Maybe I'm spoiled but the last trip I went on (7 days) I saw exactly 1 other person outside of my group of 4... One, and we didn't even talk. Just passed each other on the trail with a smile and a nod of acknowledgement. Though I suppose the boy scouts have a lot to do with how many people you saw.... I hope that's not typical. That many people around me when I'm trying to "get way from it all" would just about ruin backpacking for me.

At any rate, got my popcorn. Ready to watch me some youtube videos.

[Raul Perez]

It was a packed weekend. At least 30 at west mtn and probably another 20 at william brien with about 10 day hikers I passed.

[islander]

Very nice report on your trip, incredible video and walking us through your trip. Someday I need to get Up North to experience the same.

Thanks...

-Mark [islander]