The Range of Light: Fastpacking the John Muir Trail in Under a Week

"Thanks to my Scandinavian ancestry, I'm more of an ideal size for pillaging monasteries."

You better get after it, then. ISIS has built up a formidable lead.

"Somewhere on here or his site, Roman Dial wrote about the ideal size for hiking. I don't remember the exact numbers but it was something like 5'10", 160 lbs and a size 9 or 10 foot.

I think it might be in his How Far? How Fast? article."

I reread the article, Jack, and couldn't find that comment anywhere. I recall him saying something to that effect somewhere, but my hazy recollection is that the physique was smaller/lighter, with feet in that range. Makes sense, because he was talking about not breaking thru snow and ice crust, or sinking into tundra, IIRC.

If you should happen to run across the source, would you mind posting it?

"If you should happen to run across the source, would you mind posting it?"

Will do, Tom. I searched through his posts here and didn't see it. I'm guessing its on his site, I'll be trying to find it this weekend.

I've searched through his Arctic 1000 and AMWC posts and did some keyword google searches with no luck.

This thread is the closest I've found him to mentioning something, but no specifics: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=4623

I haven't taken the time yet to reread through the other responses.

Also, there was the recent thread ("It pays to be small") on here that discussed the study of backpack weight with a smaller human frame but it doesn't provide specific details.

Anyways, looks like his statement may be lost in the interwebs for now…

I can identify with the emotional ups and down of solo walking in general, so Josh's candid reporting of his internal battles really resonated with me. As to the fastpack-slowpack conversation that has broken out, I really don't care. I've covered 150 miles in five days. I've also been known to haul a guitar and three bottles of mezcal to 13,000 feet and fish my way through 20 miles in 9 days. To each his own, whenever and however they so chose.

NICE PIC! I miss Bondcliff. Haven't been on that loop in a few years and its one of my favorite places in the world to spend a few days of hiking… just for fun here's the other perspective: