[pct-l] was footware, now lightweight compared to old school

[Jeffrey Olson]

I am thankful that the ultralight/lightweight movement emerged when it did.
 I think Jardine's book came out in 1993 or so (i don't have it near me). 
I hiked Oregon and Washington in 1994 with a 30 pound base weight wearing
5lb boots.  My feet got larger in the first two weeks and i switched to
tevas, then NB 804s.  I mailed home anything i wasn't using. 

Now, at 58, with a knee that periodically has me in recovery for a week to
a month and a back that goes out when i don't exercise regularly I don't
think I'd be hiking with my 45 pound pack.  I carry everything I need,
including enough to eat and a trashy novel with a base weight of 12 pounds
plus food and water.  I know how to stay warm and dry and on week long
trips hike 10 miles a day.  I savor hiking.  I can hike while in bad shape
without hurting myself. 

It takes me about five weeks now to hike myself into shape, and then I can
put out less effort hiking 20 miles than I did hiking 10.  I remember the
first time I'd hiked 20 miles by 3PM and after i stopped, wondered what I
was going to do with the rest of the day.  I had to change my thinking
about hiking, hiking longer, or napping more. 

I actually chose to nap more next to bubbling creeks or on the top of
ridges, or in a shady forest on a hot day, or???   ...

Jeffrey Olson
martin, SD

On Sun, 17 Oct 2010 14:04:31 -0700, Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes
<diane at santabarbarahikes.com> wrote:
> On Oct 17, 2010, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
> 
>> Yes, give me a good 10 mile day and a nice camp with all the  
>> goodies any
>> day over the 25 mile days of the ULer.
>>>
> 
> Not sure how carrying a light load forces one to hike 25 miles a day  
> or that a heavy load indicates you are savoring the experience more.  
> I think people are getting mixed up. A light load facilitates more  
> miles. It doesn't require it.
> 
> I like going light because it leaves more room for books, chocolate  
> and wine. Nothing better than to end the day laying down in my tent  
> reading a trashy novel and eating a whole giant chocolate bar (with a  
> spoon if it's melted).
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> 
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/