Lightest stuff sack/daypack?

First of all, if you are going up Whitney from Guitar Lake, which way are you departing?

It sounds like you might be intending to exit by the Mount Whitney Trail and you have the correct exit permit for that. If so, then you will be passing through the trail junction that is 1.9 miles from the summit. Sometimes a backpacker will drop a pack there and then reclaim it on the way out. Note that there are some pretty insatiable marmots that live in the talus rocks around there, and it takes them a matter of minutes to chew a marmot-sized hole in the side of a $300 backpack. So, as an absolute minimum, hang your pack up on some rocks so that the other packs will be easier for them to chew into. Depending on the weather and how you are doing, you probably don't want to have to carry anymore than necessary up to the summit.

The time required to hike up to the summit, take photos, and return, is highly variable. I've seen a few do that round trip in maybe 90 minutes. The others gasping for breath might take four hours. That means a quart of water and a couple of candy bars, warm clothing, your camera, headache pills, plus other stuff.

For a summit sack, you might just take the normal stuff sack that you use for your sleeping bag. Or, get something like the RikSack from Gossamer Gear. It is a dinky little thing. I made my own out of silnylon, and it has shoulder straps and no top flap. It is big enough for a whole bear canister, and it weighs 1.4 ounces.

Incidentally, while on the summit, I've noticed that about one third of the cell phones get just barely enough service to work. So, some people pass one around to others. That is, of course, with you standing in just the right place on the edge where you can see down to Lone Pine, Independence, and maybe even something close to Bishop.

The marmot that lives on the summit is even more insatiable. If you drop a piece of food on the summit rock, don't worry about the 15-second rule. The marmot will be all over it like a hobo on a muffin.

–B.G.–

Less than 1.2 oz., $35, and useful for a quilt, food or other stuff sack replacement. Here's a link, you'll have to scroll down: http://www.zimmerbuilt.com/gear-deals.html

If you are looking for a little bit more pack than the Zimmerbuilt, then the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Daypack could be something to consider.

Works like a stuff sack, or fill to use as pillow. Has thin but wide shoulder straps, making it really quite comfortable for carrying a bit more. I put my down jacket in there when it's raining and don't have to worry about it (saving some weight for a separate dry stuff sack).

I use it exactly for times that you describe, when going for a peak that is done better without a bigger pack – but mostly I've just used this as a daily pack for around town or carry-on when flying etc. for a year and never babied it. It's still going strong, which surprised me a bit considering the light material.

90 grams, seam taped with roll closure. I put a thin foam sit pad that I carry anyway as a back panel when I put heavier, more awkward loads inside.

http://www.seatosummit.com/products/display/162

Good Grief! 90 grams would be a relative brick.

–B.G.–

Yes, don't collapse.

edit – you're right of course. We all try to save those grams.

I'll be coming in Kearsarge and exiting whitney portal.
I'd love to have a pet marmot, but the idea of one chomping a hole in my custom Zimmerbuilt pack is certainly pushing me toward just carrying it up to the top.

Otherwise that little zimmerbuilt day pack may suit my needs! Thanks!

Here are some options, however, they are about an ounce over your goal weight –

Peregrine Summit UL DAY Pack – 25L, 2.3oz – http://www.libertymountain.com/products/5244/NTN15137

Peregrine ULtralight Dry Summit Pack – 25L, 3.2oz – http://www.libertymountain.com/products/5244/NTN15127

Acecamp Easy Rucksack – 16L, 3.4oz – http://www.libertymountain.com/products/5197/741365

Sea to Summit Ultrasil Day Pack – 20L, 2.4 oz – http://www.seatosummit.com/products/display/86

My brother and I went in from Horseshoe Meadow, camped below Old Army Pass then the next day headed to Langley. We submitted Langley with full packs. No big deal. Headed out of Guitar Lake 6AM or so and took our packs to the summit of Whitney, also no big deal. We found ourselves at the portal just at dark.

here's a link to a "1 ounce pack thread" from a few years ago:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=22311

It's dated info, and all myog, but I wonder if one of the owners might let one go to you.

I've always put my excess stuff (bear canister, sleeping bag, tent) in a 32 gallon trash bag I carry for "what if" reasons and then summit with my pack on. I just stick the plastic bag in a rock crevice. I've never been lucky enough to see the junction marmot. The summit marmot is a another story, along with the birds. The rosy finches will steal a nut out of your hand.

"I'd love to have a pet marmot"

Yes, they are real fun for about five minutes. Then when they go to work on that backpack, the gloves come off.

Once I had been on the Whitney summit, I walked back down to the trail junction. There were three backpacks of one group all spread out on the rocks, and there were three marmots working there. They had already figured out which of the three had the football-size bag of Gorp, so that is the one that they attacked. They chewed directly in the side to get to the food, and they were taking turns feeding. When I came along, they did not scramble. I saw what was going on, so I tried to shoo them away. Well, that worked for about ten seconds, and then they were right back into the Gorp again. I tried to shoo them again, but they had a food goldmine there and they were not giving up.

I couldn't wait there any longer, so I wrote a note and pinned it on the pack with the big hole. I warned them about the risks of leaving their food there, undefended, and I noted the time.

I expect that you will have better luck.

–B.G.–

Don't forget this one:

http://www.zpacks.com/backpacks/xs_zero.shtml

It is customizable too…but I wish it came in an XXS, because I only need about 10-12L for the dual use sleeping bag stuff sack and daypack.

And this one as well:

http://gossamergear.com/packs/backpacks/riksak.html

Lutheran World Relief donates little daypacks filled with school supplies to kids all over the world. I just made some out of outdoor fabric, with just a bit more length. They come out at close to 1000 cubic inches. The 70d packs weigh 1.5 ounces, the silnylon 30d ones should come in under 1 ounce. I hope to be have them ready to sell in two weeks. Fabrics will be 30d and 70d sil, 210 and 420 urethane coated, and a breathable textured nylon for those looking for a gym bag for sweaty shoes.

Hi David

Have you thought of increasing the price a bit so that you can supply more to the charity? Eg, for each one sold, another goes off to the charity?

I'd buy one in 30D :-)

Cheers,

Adam