High sierra trail to whitney – gear list

I would leave behind the following items:
1. polycro tarp – not needed with tent
2. closed cell pad – not needed with inflatable pad
3. mug or pot – only need one.
4. platypus or 1 water bottle. 2L water storage plus your sawyer filter bag is plenty.
5. GPS and charger – not necessary, trails are well marked.
6. Car key – hide it in a magnetic box under your car.
7. lens wipes – not sure what these are but can you use T-shirt or bandana?
8. consider carrying ~1L water instead of 2L wherever possible, that will save you 2 lbs for free. Obviously you need to consider distance between sources but typically it is not that far in the Sierras.

Other things to consider:

Bandana – does this really weight 3 oz? My synthetic packtowel type bandana is .5 oz.
Soft shell pants – 13 oz is kind of heavy. A pair of 5 oz running shorts plus 3 oz windpants will do just fine. With the long underwear you'll be have plenty of warmth and lots of options, or you could even leave the long underwear behind especially if you are set on the softshell pants. Cap 3 is more warmth than you are likely to need, cap 2 would be plenty. Windpants will keep the bugs off.

I find a windshirt to be redundant if I'm carrying a rain shell, although many disagree.
But you could get a lighter rain jacket and save 5-6 ounces or so.

The Ex Oficio shirt or similar will be nice if the bugs are bad, which they may be at that time. If you stay covered up you won't need much sunscreen. And your buddies will likely have extra if you run out! I would not bring both the cap3 shirt plus the ex oficio shirt – pick one or the other. Ex oficio for bugs/sun vs cap3 for colder temps and no bugs.

You could get a 30 degree quilt and save about 11-12 ounces but it will cost you and quilts are not for everyone. A tarp would also save significant weight over your tent but that is a leap that you may not be ready for.

Several of your items appear to be something for two or three people, but your list is summed up for only one person.

Are you carrying the wilderness permit for the group?

You could take the paper topo map and a GPS receiver, then turn the receiver on for only once or twice a day, so you don't need to recharge.

Your butane fuel is confusing. The actual fuel weight is about 3.8 ounces. Where is the empty metal canister weight? No lighter or matches?

How many people is that big cook pot for?

–B.G.–

"No lighter or matches?"

First Aide & Survival Bic lighter & matches in 4" x 7" Aloksak 1.50

Listed in cooking Bob

What's with the 24 paper towels? You have wet ones.

Why 50' of Zline? Aren't your guy lines attached to your shelter?

I'd bring the ccf pad for sitting on while you wait around. At a little over 10 miles a day you will have a lot of free time.

I would want a real compass of some sort for backup and to save battery.

"I will be the only one trying to go light." Always sad to see that.

Our plan is to hike about 12 miles per day with one day really light just hanging out. That being said I am trying to balance what I bring for both trail and camp.

Considered the tarp / quilt but I am not there yet. I got hung up on escaping the bugs so I settled for 2lbs with what I know.

It is a group of 3 on this trip so the 1.3 pot is for the group and the mug is for me. I will try to of load the cooking gear to others.

I am still considering the running shorts and wind pants. I actually bought them, but it seems like convertible pants would be more comfortable.

I would leave behind the following items:
1. polycro tarp – not needed with tent
– I was thinking the same.

2. closed cell pad – not needed with inflatable pad
– More of sitting. To this groups standards we will have a lot of camp time.

3. mug or pot – only need one.
-Mine vs group cooking gear.

4. platypus or 1 water bottle. 2L water storage plus your sawyer filter bag is plenty.
– I was thinking the same.

5. GPS and charger – not necessary, trails are well marked.
– The Iphone is just as much for pictures

6. Car key – hide it in a magnetic box under your car.
– I am trying to get the other guy to drive.

7. lens wipes – not sure what these are but can you use T-shirt or bandana?
-I know, but I sweat a lot, so I end up just smearing salt residue around and not wearing the glasses. But it will save 1 oz.

8. consider carrying ~1L water instead of 2L wherever possible, that will save you 2 lbs for free. Obviously you need to consider distance between sources but typically it is not that far in the Sierras.
-Agreed.

I will add a real compass.

The line really does not need to be there. It is more of a backup for anything. I may bring 10ft, just for my peace of mind at a fraction of a once.

I am doing a 2 day trip with the group next weekend. I will see if I really want the Paper towels for TP.

On the plus I cut down my paper map and just saved 1.3 oz.

Thanks

For an active layer, the Cap 4 would be better than the 3, and should be more than sufficient warmth while on the move if used with a houdini. For camp warmth you have the ghost Whisperer.

A GPS is not needed at all. You're trail walking. There are signs ever few miles. It's not like you're going off trail and could get lost. A compass is not necessary either, unless you're going off trail.

Just a paper map should be fine.

Billy

Agree on the GPS, but IMO is might be a good idea to carry at least one tiny little button compass just in case conditions call for a quick "sanity check" when there is fog or a milky overcast that makes the light so flat you can't tell East from West. Done that a couple of times, once after mistakenly climbing Mt. Adams in NH when there was a heavy overcast.

A good piece of information to know before going is local magnetic declination. With that info you can actually do some pretty good navigation even with a "toy" compass.

The need for a compass can become apparent when you are on the last two miles before the Whitney summit and it is still pre-dawn. A teeny tiny compass can help prevent a navigational challenge.

–B.G.–

I have hike Whitney from North, south, east and west and aside from hiking the JMT the High Sierra Trail is my favorite. It will be a great trip.

B. G. I am confused about your comment about the need for a compass at Trail Crest.
Are you saying it will be hard to figure out which way Lone Pine is from there?

I have been up there about 19 times and get confused every time.

I have never taken a compass in the Sierras, maybe stupid, but never felt like I needed one.
Maybe if foggy weather kept me from seeing mountain peaks would I consider the compass a need. But I have only hiked in rain a few times and the trails and markers were adequate.

gone off trail a few times without much difficulty.

I can see the need for a Compass in flatter terrain. I am not saying not to take a teeny compass. Actually, my High Gear and now my Suunto do have compass capabilities, I have never used or trusted them or my ability to declinate etc. I used those for altitude, weather and time information.

Have a great hike.

I am not saying not to take a teeny compass.

Which is exactly what we're saying! :^)

Declination: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/declination.shtml

If you're ever off-trail, good to know. Where I live magnetic declination is about 13° west… in the north Cascades it is about 22° east… big difference.

edit: declination

"B. G. I am confused about your comment about the need for a compass at Trail Crest.
Are you saying it will be hard to figure out which way Lone Pine is from there?"

I did not say that, and you make another person who has gotten confused. The trail junction 1.9 miles from the summit is not Trail Crest.

There is a well-documented rescue story that coincides with many similar stories on Mount Whitney. Backpackers start from Whitney Portal and spend a night at Trail Camp. Early the next day, they dayhike from Trail Camp up to Trail Crest, then down a few hundred feet of elevation to the trail junction that is 1.9 miles from the summit. There, they turn north and do the 1.9 miles up to the summit, then return to the junction. At that point, instead of going back uphill to Trail Crest and then down to the east, somehow people get confused and turn west toward Guitar Lake. Then after a cold night out they end up getting a helicopter rescue to haul them out to Lone Pine.

With that standard place for trail confusion, a teeny tiny compass could make a map check a real winner.

–B.G.–

"There is a well-documented rescue story that coincides with many similar stories on Mount Whitney. Backpackers start from Whitney Portal and spend a night at Trail Camp. Early the next day, they dayhike from Trail Camp up to Trail Crest, then down a few hundred feet of elevation to the trail junction that is 1.9 miles from the summit. There, they turn north and do the 1.9 miles up to the summit, then return to the junction. At that point, instead of going back uphill to Trail Crest and then down to the east, somehow people get confused and turn west toward Guitar Lake. Then after a cold night out they end up getting a helicopter rescue to haul them out to Lone Pine.

With that standard place for trail confusion, a teeny tiny compass could make a map check a real winner."

Gee… if they can't remember to turn left instead of right, how are they going to remember to go east instead of west… or even look at the compass for that matter???

just sayin'…

billy

"Gee… if they can't remember to turn left instead of right, how are they going to remember to go east instead of west… or even look at the compass for that matter???"

In the military, that was called complete lack of situational awareness.

OTOH, for many people hiking up Mount Whitney, it is their first time to ever be above 10,000 or 12,000 feet elevation, and they really do not understand how poorly their brain may be functioning. They end up making all sorts of terrible mistakes due to hypoxia. They turn west instead of east. They go downhill instead of uphill.

–B.G.–

Or if they can't read the sign at the intersection for that matter…

geez… being able to remember left vs right or just read the sign seems easier and more logical than having to pull out a compass to figure out to turn left back to the Portal…

Billy

"OTOH, for many people hiking up Mount Whitney, it is their first time to ever be above 10,000 or 12,000 feet elevation, and they really do not understand how poorly their brain may be functioning. They end up making all sorts of terrible mistakes due to hypoxia. They turn west instead of east. They go downhill instead of uphill."

And what makes you think someone in that state of mind and read a compass better than the trail sign… or better than remembering to turn left????

Billy

Jeff,

Sounds like a nice trip. I’m hoping to do a similar trip in August.

Re Cap 2 vs. Cap 3. I usually find Cap 2 to be plenty in the Sierra in the summer. I’d keep an eye on the wx forecasts. You might even be able to get away with Cap 1.

Re fuel. You do need to consider that the weight of the empty can is something on the order of 3.7 oz which is part of your base weight. The fuel itself is 110g/3.88oz.

Now, if you’re thinking that one 110g canister will be enough fuel for three people for seven days with a Gigapower stove, I would question that. Of course it depends on how much cooking you’re doing, how many hot beverages, etc, but let’s say you boil one liter in the morning and one in the evening. Assuming you know the basics of stove fuel economy, you’re going to need something like 15 grams of fuel per liter boiled, which works out to something like 30g/day. A 110g sized canister gives you three days of fuel at that rate.

For seven days, you’d need about 210g, which, conveniently is about what the next size up canister holds.

Now, that said, your experience is way better than my guestimates. If you use less (or more) fuel, then go with your own data over mine.

Regards,

HJ
Adventures In Stoving
Hikin’ Jim’s Blog

@ Jeff:

I recommend wearing shoes on both feet, unless you are one-legged.

That way your "clothing worn" subtotal would jump up a bit, since the 13 oz weight you had listed is just for a single La Sportiva Wildcat shoe.

Regarding the compass… I picked up a 0.8oz compass, maybe less. The Boy Scout in me won't let me leave without the very basics. I am struggling with only having a Swiss Army Classic as a knife.

HJ,

Cap 3 for this trip… I own them, but it is good to know I don't need Cap 4, thanks

Interesting you mentioned the Fuel, because that is my next item to refine. I realize one canister for 3 people is not enough, I figured we WOULD need 3 (one each). However, we did a shake out trip this weekend to test gear and pace of the group. A few items important items came up:

1. The trip is now only 2 people. One person is not in backpacking shape and not feeling the trip.

2. Fuel use is going to be high for us. We plan on cooking meals each night and cup of coffee in the morning. The other guy enjoys the idea of cooking and me being an ounce wienie will distract from his enjoyment. Over the weekend he was shocked I did not want to heat water for dishes. I we will need at least a 210g and 2nd 110g for the two of us. We are cooking meals i.e. no dehydrated meals from REI. We might need two 210g. canisters. Maybe he carries the fuel and I carry the stove and pot.

3. I tried wearing running shorts over the weekend (Patagonia Strider 7in Short) and I have a pair of Houdini pants. But I am having a difficult time deciding if the pros out weight the cons. They are awesome to hike in, dry super fast, breath great… but they suck for sitting around camp or sitting anywhere. Also no pockets has its pros and cons. Will be in camp up to 30% of the time so camp comfort is important.

Jeff

"That way your "clothing worn" subtotal would jump up a bit, since the 13 oz weight you had listed is just for a single La Sportiva Wildcat shoe."

Good eye – also one shoe weights 14oz. corrected on my working list. Thanks Jeff

Jeff, You might enjoy watching THIS VIDEO if you haven’t already

thought I would post – post trip summary. We had a great time and completed the trail in 6 days. This trip inspired me to add the JMT to my bucket list. The guy I went with was pretty overloaded with gear and completely beat up by day 5. Never really used the compass, I brought way too much food, actually I never used my down jacket either. I purchased a Houdini and really liked it. I also brought too much bug spray, wet ones, fuel, TP. Wish I brought pepto bismol as my buddy had some issues on day 3. I also missed camp shoes, but not enough to justify the weight. Planning a solo 2 day 20+ miles in Yosemite for this weekend. I miss being out there.