tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post648577195066396613..comments2024-03-27T21:31:59.376+00:00Comments on Chris Townsend Outdoors: Pacific Crest Trail Gear in 1982 ... and what I'd take nowChris Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-76342782827539041222015-05-17T23:16:48.076+01:002015-05-17T23:16:48.076+01:00I'd take a tent with a mesh inner for the mosq...I'd take a tent with a mesh inner for the mosquitoes - it's not irrational to fear them! Or a shaped tarp like the MLD Trailstar with mesh inner. Some closed tents with mesh inners are very light, especially ones that can be pitched with trekking poles. I don't think snakes would be a problem with a tarp though - it's on the trail, especially in bushes or long grass, that you needChris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-47049098591129548682015-05-17T17:46:39.980+01:002015-05-17T17:46:39.980+01:00Hello, thank for the article and explanations. I p...Hello, thank for the article and explanations. I plan a long multi-day hike in terrain that will probably include some snow even in summer but also zillions of mosquitoes. And Iwant to be superightweight because my own body weight is large already.. Also I admit i prefer a (heavier than a tarp) closed tent with mesh windows than a tarp setup out of fear of snakes or maybe this is irrational fear,Frankanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-68706350026687930022015-04-18T13:25:23.977+01:002015-04-18T13:25:23.977+01:00Stevie, I wouldn't describe those packs as ext...Stevie, I wouldn't describe those packs as external frame in the traditional sense of a rigid aluminium frame on which you can hang different packbags or stuffsacks and which rises high above your head. I've used the Exped Lightning and it performs much like similar internal frame packs.Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-54412880654824731782015-04-17T22:56:32.480+01:002015-04-17T22:56:32.480+01:00A few good examples of external packs have come ou...A few good examples of external packs have come out in recent years and they compete weight wise. Zpacks Arc Blast.<br /><br />I currently use an Exped Lightning 45, external frame, for desert hikes where I have to carry a lot of water. It can carry 40 lbs without getting uncomfortable and the weight compares to many UL packs.Steviehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00099064394859894070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-67174538018644345942015-02-14T05:56:34.989+00:002015-02-14T05:56:34.989+00:00Great gear info from someone who knows his stuff. ...Great gear info from someone who knows his stuff. ThanksDaggerDanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13097501403736497552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-42933220979903823592015-01-29T23:45:34.875+00:002015-01-29T23:45:34.875+00:00Glad you enjoyed my Munros book Stu. That's an...Glad you enjoyed my Munros book Stu. That's an impressive list of walks. I'm not really reversing the trend towards lightweight. My load is far lighter than it was back in the 80s and 90s. I certainly do mention lighter gear in my talks, as I did in this piece and have done in other pieces and books over the years. I haven't tried the ArcBlast. It looks good. Last year I mostly used Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-6729596075402386372015-01-29T23:38:42.700+00:002015-01-29T23:38:42.700+00:00Thanks John, If there'd been little snow I'...Thanks John, If there'd been little snow I'd probably have planned on 12-15 days through the High Sierra. I don't know that progress would have been that much faster with a lighter load. Reds Meadow was closed and Tuolumne Meadows only opened the day we arrived (hence going to Mammoth Lakes - we knew Tuolumne was unlikely to be open). If I was doing it again with that much snow I Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-54942323900904849282015-01-29T23:35:48.910+00:002015-01-29T23:35:48.910+00:00I doubt it Jay. I doubt it Jay. Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-58366894782229747862015-01-29T13:07:41.518+00:002015-01-29T13:07:41.518+00:00Chris, do you think external frame packs will make...Chris, do you think external frame packs will make a comeback?Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15163120994783902652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-10416325998635782942015-01-29T12:21:14.910+00:002015-01-29T12:21:14.910+00:00I thoroughty enjoyed your book on your Monroe trek...I thoroughty enjoyed your book on your Monroe trek. As you mention you are reversing the current trend towards light weight. After years of other sport I came late to long distance hiking(60yrs old at the time) and missed the earlier traditional packs.<br />I now have ZPacks ArcBlast after scaling down from the ULA Circuit which is also great bag.Clearly if you are carrying many days food you Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10508546033835958247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-8464848768145516682015-01-29T12:01:56.624+00:002015-01-29T12:01:56.624+00:00Great read, Chris. With regard to passing through ...Great read, Chris. With regard to passing through the Sierra with a big load, I wonder if you'd need to account for that much food, as you'd probably pass through faster with the reduced weight of the load on your back*. Think I had planned 12 days between Kennedy Meadows and Tuolumne Meadows back in 2004 (and almost managed to carry sufficient food, but nipped down to Lone Pine/Bishop John Manninghttp://www.outdoorsmanning.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-22660273922519801462015-01-28T23:21:51.366+00:002015-01-28T23:21:51.366+00:00I am with you there Alexander. I too prefer bigger...I am with you there Alexander. I too prefer bigger capacity packs for the reasons you mentioned. They also seem to have better strap and back systems that make carrying heavy loads much more comfortable. My old Berghaus C7 series pack is heavy, but I have carried 30kg+ in it comfortably. It's also bombproof which has been useful over the years. If I needed more capacity I would strap my Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15365887133394304785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-77586265940793968292015-01-28T22:44:44.496+00:002015-01-28T22:44:44.496+00:00Alexander, I've never gone for small packs wit...Alexander, I've never gone for small packs with everything jammed in tightly for the reasons you give. I reckon a 60-70 litre packj would be fine for the PCT unless 23 days food had to be carried. 1982 was exceptional for the snow. If doing it again and the High Sierra was snowbound I would reckon on splitting the traverse with a descent to Onion Valley to resupply as my companions did. That Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-59219052644168441472015-01-28T21:39:09.144+00:002015-01-28T21:39:09.144+00:00Chris, you mention that the 100 ltr Scorpion was n...Chris, you mention that the 100 ltr Scorpion was not quite sufficient for a 23 day without resupply section in 1982, but say you'd probably choose a 60-70 ltr today if doing it again. Even with the far more compact other items of gear of today, that 'and' 23 days of supplies in a 60-70 ltr pack seems far beyond my capability at the moment, because if anything, after several hikes Alexandernoreply@blogger.com