Going solo? How has ultralight made you an outcast?

Elena, the point is that there is a place for everybody in search and rescue. In California, ordinary walkers manage to wander out into snow country and get stuck. Somebody calls 911, and the dispatcher sees if the county sheriff has some s&r team available. When the team gets to the snowy trailhead, they do not want to have an army invasion of them heading into the woods. Instead, they send in two or so s&r "searchers" on X-C skis, very light and very fast. The searchers are not carrying much gear, so they can do a hasty search and hopefully turn up the stuck hiker, or a body, or else maybe only tracks. Once that much information is out over the radio, then the "rescuers" come in slow and heavy, typically on snowshoes, hauling a litter, ropes, etc. They will have enough gear that they can stay out if necessary, but the lightweight searchers had to be light to go fast.
–B.G.–

Not sure what triggers the negative emotions but i always bring out the worst in those that i pack with.

Friends always lift my pack and suggest the I should better prepare myself,that i go over-board,how much did i spend on this or that.

I actually believe they feel intimidated cause every time i take my pack off someones lifting it shaking there head.

Why shouldn't we have the same right to lift someones PORKY pack and shake our heads.
Oh…that would be considered arrogant.

"Why shouldn't we have the same right to lift someones PORKY pack and shake our heads."

Why waste the calories? They are where they are on the evolutionary continuum and will either adapt or remain where they are. In either case what does it matter in the greater scheme of things? HYOH, as the saying goes.

I was out this past weekend and we came upon a shelter full of 'normal' backpackers. There was snow on the ground and rain predicted overnight, so everyone crammed into the shelter. Except me. I set up my new Hexamid, which I took out of my new Blast 32 cuben pack, and proceeded to get my bivy/quilt ready.

Needless to say, I soon had a number of the normal backpackers coming over to see this paper thin contraption I was planning on sleeping under in the winter. They were curious about what the material was, and were astounded when I told them how much my pack and shelter weighed. But instead of scoffing, they all said they had to check out this stuff, especially the three older (older than me, and that's old!) guys, who said that such a weight reduction would really improve their enjoyment of the outdoors! So I gave them some names (MLD, ZPacks, SMD, GG) to check out. It was fun to see their curiousness turn into downright interest. And I know more than a few were jealous in the morning when I told them what a restful night I had, while they all had to contend with a rather loud snorer!

But instead of scoffing, they all said they had to check out this stuff, especially the three older (older than me, and that's old!) guys, who said that such a weight reduction would really improve their enjoyment of the outdoors!

Sounds like they've learned that they aren't the pack mules they once thought they were. (that's what did it for me)

Once people take an interest that is where the fun starts. You can smile and give them some insight. When this starts to happen I get strange looks when they ask me how much stuff weighs and I can recite from memory how much each item weighs down to a tenth of an ounce. I haven't moved to grams yet. At this point a usually mention that I have a spreadsheet at home, and then everybody laughs. But I think too that this shows all the thought that goes into everything, and people don't bring up the preparedness argument. Well, except for with my mom.