Going solo? How has ultralight made you an outcast?

[Devin Montgomery]

Maybe I'm alone in this, but I think being obsessed with hiking, particularly ultralight hiking, has had an overall negative impact on my ability to appropriately interact with other human beings.

So here's my question: How have habits or perspectives that you've picked up by being an "ultralighter" made you most socially awkward?

I'll start:

1. Around my wife or friends, I'm always checking out the nutritional values on food packages, then raving when I find one that has a "totally awesome" calorie to weight ratio.

2. Around those same people or worse, strangers, I may at any time grab a piece of their clothing and ask them, with all seriousness "Do you know how many ounces per yard this is? No? What denier then? How does it breath?"

[Chad Miller]

You know I have never experienced anything like you've mentioned. Hell, when most people find out I backpack and ask me about how much I carry they are the ones who ask how I get my pack too light.

Don't get me wrong, learning to make do with less and having gear that serves multiple functions has impacted my day to day life but nothing like the self imposed social castration you describe.

To put it bluntly, you're just a dork. :P

[Jay Wilkerson]

I am a DORK too!!! I have Ultralight Sickness to the tenth degree. I am constanly looking for new ways,products,gagets so on so on!!! Less is More and how many grams can I shave off that item. Every day in every way I get a little lighter and I love it!!!!!!!!!! Most of my close freinds think I am a FREAK.

[Devin Montgomery]

Well, at least I'm not totally alone.

Chad – have you been hanging out with my friends? They seem to share your sentiment. Maybe I just need new friends. :)

[Chad Miller]

You'd still be a dork to your new friends. :)

[Sarah Kirkconnell]

Dorks and Geeks must unite ;-)

[Chad Miller]

Just as long as they don't breed! :)

[Joe Clement]

You know, one of the first steps to getting help is to admit you have a problem…………

[Sam Haraldson]

> Chad – have you been hanging out with my friends?

I used to backpack and hang out with Chad when I lived in Minnesota. Birds of a feather…

[Anonymous]

Devin, If a chaper exists in your community, you might drop in and say:

"hello, my name is Devin, and I'm an ultra-light backpacker…." :>)

[Lynn Tramper]

Yes….acknowledging you have a problem is the first step…

Hello, my name is Allison, and I first realised I had a problem when other people laughed at me for punching holes in my tiolet paper to decrease it's weight per sheet…

[victoria maki]

allison, i've heard of holes drilled in toothbrushes(i haven't gone that far,i just buy baby toothbrushes)but holes in your toilet paper? very funny….why not just do what sheryl crow does, and use one square??? he he

[Jay Wilkerson]

I drill holes in my Ti spork. Saved 2 grams. HEEE! HEEEE!

[Sam Haraldson]

What's toilet paper?

[CW]

What's toilet paper?

mmm….snowpaper

[A. B.]

I don't think you've gone crazy until you start looking into body modifications.

"Hey Doc, do you think we could drill out some holes in my femur? It really looks a little bulkier than it needs to be."

"I only need one kidney, right?"

[Ken Helwig]

Yep Jay, you are a freak!!!

Hiking lighter just makes hiking much more enjoyable. Now when I buy gear, if I don't see how much it weighs, I won't buy it.

[Jay Wilkerson]

Hey Ken whats the name of that sewing shop in Berkley that does backpacking stuff? U- FUGAZI

[Ken Helwig]

Jay I forget. If you were to leave REI in Berkeley and drive north on San Pablo it will be on the right hand side just after Gilman St. That is all I can remember. The building sticks out like a sore thumb. They do great work too.

[Jay Wilkerson]

Thanks Ken, I can find it on San Paublo- its all coming back to me know. What about White Mnt.? Seems like a long drive when there other possabilties [sp] closer.

[Ken Helwig]

Yeah it is also alot to chew off 7 days on showshoes is alot. There are a ton of stuff to do in the Sierra's. I am down with anything. Also looking at doing a through hike of Point Reyes if anyone is interested around January

[Casey Bowden]

Narain's Outdoor Fabric and Sewing
1275 San Pablo Ave.
(Cross street: Gilman)
Berkeley, CA 94706

510-527-2509

[Jay Wilkerson]

Hey thanks Casey!!!!!!! Where you been? Whats up? Nice bannana slugs.

[Jeff Cadorin]

the simple fact that i now have a sewing machine freaks anyone out that knows me. when i go out solo my friends and family think im crazy but by now they know i am safe when out and about.

[Jack H.]

"So here's my question: How have habits or perspectives that you've picked up by being an "ultralighter" made you most socially awkward?"

Well, that's easy. I spend between 50-90% of the year in the backcountry. And my three year plan involves two solid years of traveling (a year abroad plus the CDT and AT). There is no way that I could pull it together physically without a light back nor financially without a light lifestyle.

[Author]

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