<html><body style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><p>Hi, Ellen--I was just responding to the woman who posted on the CDT-L--it wasn't my post about the shoes. I stayed with you a few years ago when I completed the AZ Trail. I, too, carry 30 pounds max. I will be finishing the Hayduke this spring from Escalante to Zion. Her email was :<br /></p><h3>mbracht@live.com</h3><p>--Mary "Fireweed"<br /></p><p><br /><br /></p><blockquote><br />----- Original Message -----<br /><div style="width:100%;background:rgb(228,228,228);"><div style="font-weight:bold;">From:</div> "Ellen Shopes" <igellen@comcast.net></div><br /><div style="font-weight:bold;">To:</div><mkwart@gci.net><br /><div style="font-weight:bold;">Cc:</div><br /><div style="font-weight:bold;">Sent:</div>Sat, 23 Jan 2016 17:33:35 -0700<br /><div style="font-weight:bold;">Subject:</div>Lightweight hiking and shoes<br /><br /><br /><div><font face="Calibri">Hi Mary,</font></div>
<div><font face="Calibri">I am also a solo female hiker. I have done lots of
long distances (over the 200 miles you mentioned. Even in pretty
foul weather, I carry at most 30 pounds. I have done a lot of desert
hiking with water carries, and still don't carry the loads you are
hauling. As Warner Springs Monty is fond of saying, "the fun goes up when
the weight goes down!" Please, please, rethink what you are carrying, so
you don't get reinjured!</font></div>
<div><font face="Calibri">So the dog does call for carrying extra, but I doubt
that he requires 20 pounds extra. You don't say what your hiking goals
are, but if you are planning the CDT, you can get by with less. Check out
the journals from last year, especially Scout's on Trailjournals.com.
Scout is older, yet completed the 3000 miles of the CDT. He has a lot of
wisdom to impart.</font></div>
<div><font face="Calibri">Good luck with your planning!</font></div>
<div><font face="Calibri">Ellen</font></div>
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