A ranger in Yosemite told me I was carrying too much weight and it changed my whole setup

Last summer on the John Muir Trail I stopped at a ranger station to check conditions and the guy looked at my pack and just laughed. He said I was hauling at least 15 pounds of stuff I'd never touch like extra clothes and a heavy cook kit. I listened to him on the spot and maild home half my gear from Tuolumne Meadows. Dropped from 45 pounds to 30 and my knees thanked me the next 150 miles. Anyone else get a brutal but helpful reality check from a ranger or fellow hiker on a long trip?

2 comments

2 Comments

craig.brian4d ago

Laughed right in my face about my "cast iron skillet phase" on the Pacific Crest Trail and honestly I deserved it. Dropped from a 50 pound monster to a 32 pound setup after mailing home a whole box of stupid luxuries including a full sized harmonica I never played once. My back still hurts thinking about those first few days but man the difference was night and day once I actually listened. Still carry a little extra weight for comfort items like a thin pillowcase though, some lessons only go so far lmao.

reese5504d ago

And @craig.brian I've been there too, man. I still carry a paperback book because I like having something to read at camp, even though I know a kindle would be lighter. It adds up but some things are worth the weight for your sanity out there. That ranger basically saved my trip though, I was so stubborn about bringing "just in case" stuff I never used like a full rain suit when it was 90 degrees. Once you feel what 30 pounds is like compared to 45 it changes everything you thought you knew about packing.