I was packing way too much gear for years until a solo trip in the White Mountains changed my mind

For a long time, my base pack weight was always over 35 pounds. I carried extra clothes, a big first aid kit, and even a heavy camp chair. Last fall, I did a three day loop near Mount Washington and my pack was killing me on the first big climb. At a shelter, I met a guy who was out for a week with a pack that looked half the size of mine. He showed me his setup, and his base weight was under 20 pounds. He just had one set of clothes to hike in, a simple sleep system, and a tiny repair kit. The real kicker was when he said, 'You pack your fears.' I realized I was carrying all that stuff just in case, and it was making every trip harder. Now I'm torn between wanting that lighter, easier hike and being scared to leave my safety net behind. Has anyone else made that big shift to ultralight, and did you ever regret not having something?

2 comments

2 Comments

wades761mo ago

That "pack your fears" line really hits home.

claire9921mo ago

What's the one thing you always pack because you're scared to be without it? For me it's a full roll of duct tape, even on a day hike.