@ Daryl and Daryl- Thanks for the shout out. Much appreciated.
Even though I check out BPL just about every day (even at night under a tarp curled in down, when reception allows; weird but true), I rarely chime in with an opinion. There are too many backpackers here with far more experience and expertise than I have. This community is fortunate that the well is as wide as it is deep; and moreover, I never feel the need to throw my two cents in just for the sake of the throw. But every once in awhile I’ll find a thread that pertains to me, usually about being tall or big.
(I keep waiting for that ‘What’s the best hat for a bald man to wear on a cold night’ thread?!?).
So when I read this thread on being sweaty, I figured my opinion would have some value. My intention was two-fold: one, to pass on what has worked for me in regards to dealing with being wet (and easily chilled) nearly all the time; and two, to give an example of when it’s good to carry a heavier base weight. Sometimes what you bring is as important as what you leave home.
My knowledge of backpacking has grown leaps and bounds since I started learning from this community; it amazes me sometimes. And while I do find, at times, threads become bent from strong opinions, I have always sensed that the underlining message–regardless of topic, experience, new technologies, new materials, new products–is this: find what works for you. That’s important; and it’s a message, despite all that I’ve learned about materials and methods and what-nots (Gawd knows I’ve bought and sold a lot of what-nots), that I am still straining to hear every year.
Allow me an example: last summer was my greatest backpacking season to date. I did the JMT in two weeks, came home to rest, and then did The Wonderland Trail. That was a huge accomplishment for me. The JMT was the first time I truly felt like I was applying the knowledge I learned here over the years. My base weight hovered around ten pounds, my Big 3 felt dialed in, and more importantly, I felt like I could look someone in the eye and say that, yes, I was serious about backpacking, that it was an important part of my life.
Now: as I prepared for The Wonderland, I went over my gear list and reduced it further simply for the sake of reduction, as if to show myself just how serious I could be about backpacking, as if to say ‘I am under 10lbs!’. That too felt like an accomplishment. But it wasn’t. For me, it was stupid. The JMT and Wonderland are very different trails: white sun vs. dark shade. Even though it was in the 80s with perfect weather the entire trip, I was chilled most of the day, sometimes downright cold in midafternoon. And here’s the thing: I love backpacking in WA and go on overnight trips 3 times a month all year round, so I KNOW that it can be significantly colder in the shade; and I KNOW I start sweating from step one; and I KNOW that many times I need breathable insulation while I’m hiking, and not just my down jacket at the end of the day . . . but when I packed for The Wonderland and thought about bringing my R2. . . there was that stupid little voice that said, ‘But it’ll be more weight and you won’t be an ultralight hiker.’
And so I didn’t bring it.
And I sweated my ass off.
And I was chilled until I reached the riverbeds and sat in the sun briefly before starting back up into the cold shade.
This entry is a bit rambling and off topic, but I always enjoy reading when someone else shares their journey to finding that Backpacking Balance, and more importantly, how broadly they define that first, fundamental lesson we all hear:
Hike Your Own Hike.
(Even if you are a big tall bald sweaty restless side-sleeping backpacker)
