[pct-l] Average Pack Weight & Average Weight Loss

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good morning, Patrick,

Considering hiking weight – including body, gear, and consumables – an old
cliche applies:  “It’s a matter of mind over matter.  If you don’t mind, it
doesn’t matter.”

Anyone who is uncomfortable in the snug, ultra-lite mold can easily read
PCT-L posts by participants who actively advocate for heavy loads, and they
will tell what you want to hear.  They will also give you a positive frame
of reference so you can say, “Wow!  I’m pretty lite compared to those
characters.”

My BMI hovers around 23.7 but I don’t manage by that number: I manage my
hiking training level and the BMI just washes out from that.  I can easily
manage that number downward by discontinuing strength training – but I
won’t.

One interesting statement about your base weight is that it, “essentially
this is now fixed.”  Either you have superb foresight to get it right the
first time, or you are unwilling to consider change.  That’s more than I
can do.  In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever hiked – day, week, or
long-distance – with the exact same gear; even between consecutive sections
of a PCT hike.

“In the last few years if you haven’t discarded a major opinion or acquired
a new one, check your pulse. You may be dead.”  - Frank Gelett Burgess

In my opinion the important thing is to just get on the trail and hike
while being willing to learn and adapt.  After the first hour all the
hyperventilating about gear and weight seems to evaporate.

Steel-Eye

-Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09/

On Wed, Apr 3, 2013 at 8:19 AM, patrick griffith <
patrickjgriffith at hotmail.com> wrote:

> Hi All,
> Following a recent email by Steel Eye, I've a general question about pack
> weight, water weight and weight loss.
> 1. Pack Weight: I'll be honest hereand say I'm looking at 9 kilos base
> weight, which I know is above average. This is a function of several
> factors but essentially this is now fixed. It might come down if I decide
> to fork lots of extra cash for ultra light equipment, but probably only to
> about 7-8 kilos, so still above the norm for an 'ultra-light' hiker. I
> worried about this at first but have since come to terms with it. I am
> male, 6'2 and weigh about 86kilos at the moment so figure I have the frame
> to handle that base weight, at least in the short term. Should I really be
> looking to cut the end of my plastric toothbrush to save on a couple grams
> of weight? Or would that effort be better spent elsewhere?
> 2. Water Weight : This year is shaping up to be a relatively dry one, so I
> imagine everyone will be carrying lots of water, so does it make sense to
> restructure the walking day and avoid having to consume, and therefore
> carry, lots of water? Water is heavy so if I can consistently carry 1 litre
> or 2 less than the norm then my base weight equivalent comes down quickly.
> 3. Weight loss : I am in relatively good shape, as I said before my weight
> is about right for my height (i.e BMI) but know that I will probably lose a
> considerable amount in the first month as my body adapts to the trail. When
> I trained hard for a marathon I lost 7-8 kilos pretty comfortably, which
> was obviously some fat but mostly losing upper body muscle bulk that I
> didn't need to get me round a marathon course, so know I can and will lose
> the weight out there on the trail without it having a negative effect (to a
> point of course).Further, I know as a male I am likely to lose more weight
> and lose it faster than the average female and know in the long run diet is
> major factor in being able to stay on the trail with a high mileage. I want
> to ask what the average weight loss is per hiker finishing the PCT is, but
> a number in kilos or pounds alone doesn't really mean much. A better
> question would be, how many BMI points does the average hiker drop during a
> thru-hike? Has anyone
>   kept tabs on that over the years?
> The main reason I'm asking all this is I've realised my pack weight is
> above average for a ultra-light thru hiker and am trying to trying of a way
> round it, or if it even matters in the long run considering water, body
> weight and food requirements etc so wonder if this ultra light mantra is
> such a big deal. As ever I look forward to your opinions!
> Patrick
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