Maybe I’m finally ultralight

Liberating, isn't it? Now those Boy Scouts are going to have a hard time keeping up with you!

When I wuz yer age I carried a CAST IRON skillet, canvas tent, wood tent poles, a steel white gas Coleman stove, bamboo hiking staff and CANNED food.

Just kidding.

But at 72 I have lightened up a bit more and my best base weight (with CC Sidewinder stove, pot and 5 days of ESBIT tablet fuel @ 12 tablets) is also + or – 12 lbs. This is not counting clothes worn.

I need some kind of "hanging hammock chair" that weighs around 4 oz. Anything to get me off the ground and comfortable around camp.

I saw some people on the trail and at the lakes that had huge packs, huge tents, huge espresso makers, solar chargers, and I wanted take my pack off and have them be amazed at the weight. But I held myself back. I swear one tent was a 6 man tent. One couple asked me if I was going in for the night, like by pack was too tiny to have enough to spend the night. The light weight made the hike in more like a day hike than a backpack. Nice.

If you are getting comments about your pack size then I think you are there!

In my opinion, the comments from other backpackers is half the fun.

I don't ever try to "sell" UL backpacking to others but I am surprised at how many people (that aren't hiking with me) comment on pack size.

"are you going in and out overnight?" answer: no I'm going for 5 nights.

"must be nice to have such a small pack… how do you get your friends to carry your gear?" answer: just a puzzled look from me and I moved on…

"no wonder you aren't tired, you only carry a book bag!" answer: just smile

and my favorite was from a self proclaimed ultra-lighter that felt that he had to apologize for his pack size when he saw my gear. "I could have a pack that small but I like a tent. Sleeping under a tarp is not for me". answer: I actually didn't say anything… didn't have the heart to tell him I had a double-wall tent in my pack.

It never gets old!

I wanted take my pack off and have them be amazed at the weight. But I held myself back

Sometimes it's hard to refrain from being a UL proselytizer. :^) My position is to comment only if first asked.

Huge loads are still quite common, but on the way out of the woods yesterday I came across a REI class for Introductory Backpacking and it looked as if they were geared somewhat lighter than the old trad type folks… I saw some trail runners/light hikers, Osprey packs and some BA tents. It was a bit after 8:30am and they were just finishing packing up; the dog and I had already done 6 miles!

I spoke with their instructor (Jeff, IIRC) and he said that REI was stressing "lightweight" (if not UL). I'd guess that the average pack weight was around 25lbs, which is quite an improvement over ye olde dayes.

My father-in-law hiked in the 40's from the snake river to heavens gate lookout in the seven devils, then they hiked down to riggins. Take my word for it, that is a huge uphill followed by a huge downhill. They carried bacon, a 347 revolver, a fast iron skillet, an axe, and canned food. We've come a long way, baby!

Bob,
You might consider bringing a small pad like a zlite to sit on in place of a chair. It worked OK for me doing the Rae Lakes loop last summer.

http://www.cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/seating/seats/z-seat/product

I recently did a 4 night canoe camping trip to the BWCAW in Northern MN, and it was a funnymix of ultralight, lightweight, and tradition in our group (a couple of us work for EE, a couple for Sanborn Canoe, who make more vintage-style gear, and then a few mutual friends/family) We split up some of the big group items and I ended up carrying two steel fry pans, and still came in at about 15lb pack weight. It was hard not to feel a bit smug about that.

"They carried bacon, a 347 revolver, a fast iron skillet,…"

"Fast Iron" is a great marketing coinage! Like the aluminum version of the cast iron classics.