Lightweight Testimony: My Journey into Lightweight Backpacking

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I guess you could say I needed something. I wasn't sure what that was, but I knew I was struggling without it. Over the previous seven years I had lost my childhood home to fire, lost my mother and brother to heart attacks, and lost my father to leukemia. I had been transferred twice for my job in less than two years. My wife and kids were exhausted with the transfers. The new job was turning out to be something different than what I had expected, and it was not working out. Simply put, things were bad.

While I was reading everything I could to make changes with my work, I came across an interesting exercise: "Write down the things you want to achieve in your life; don't let perceived possibility influence what is written." I did, and one of them struck me. Until that moment, I had forgotten my childhood dream, but there it was: "Hike the Appalachian Trail." I was soon turning forty and, with a wife and two kids, the thought of ever completing the Appalachian Trail seemed like an absurdity.

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Viewing 24 posts - 1 through 24 (of 24 total)

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Posts
Feb 3, 2009 at 1:30 pm #1233777

Addie Bedford
BPL Member

@addiebedford
Locale: Montana

Companion forum thread to:

Lightweight Testimony: My Journey into Lightweight Backpacking

Feb 3, 2009 at 6:56 pm #1475231

todd
BPL Member

@funnymo
Locale: SE USA

Jamie,

I always enjoy your posts. This article is no exception.

Thanks for the inspiration.

Todd

Feb 3, 2009 at 7:08 pm #1475234

t.darrah
BPL Member

@thomdarrah
Locale: Southern Oregon

Very well written, thanks. I look forward to your next trip report and gear list.

Feb 3, 2009 at 7:12 pm #1475236

Steven Evans
BPL Member

@steve_evans
Locale: Canada

What a great article…I truly enjoyed it.

Thanks Jamie!

Feb 3, 2009 at 7:31 pm #1475243

Kathy A Handyside
BPL Member

@earlymusicus
Locale: Southeastern Michigan

Thanks, Jamie, for a great story! You are an inspiration to me, as I, too, am at a standstill in my life. Like you, I've been studying "Lightweight Backpacking and Camping" and making a new gear list of ultralight equipment, because I need to get away to break out of this staid existence. Your story was just the impetus I needed!

Great photos, too!

Feb 3, 2009 at 7:33 pm #1475247

Greg Mihalik
Spectator

@greg23
Locale: Colorado

Great story. Amazing journey in so many ways.

Thanks!

Feb 3, 2009 at 7:47 pm #1475252

Joe Westing
Member

@pedro87

Wow, inspiring story. For anyone who has not seen any of Jamie's post, check out this thread about his first SUL trip (w/ photos). IMO, it should be required reading for anyone wanting information and/or inspiration to lighten their pack.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=13855

Feb 3, 2009 at 10:27 pm #1475274

Tony Wong
BPL Member

@valshar
Locale: San Francisco Bay Area

Jamie,

Fantastic essay and the link to your report about your 1st sub 5 lbs trek are outstanding.

If there ever was a story that truly is trans formative, it is yours without a doubt.

Your story is refreshing and reaffirming at the same time in that it shows how love of nature and the outdoor adventure can save us from the doldrums of our everyday existence and make us a better person at the same time.

Thank you for sharing your journey with us and for "giving" back to others in sharing your lightweight journey to inspire others to go lite and get out there and pursue the adventure and dreams they have been putting off.

-Tony

Feb 3, 2009 at 10:46 pm #1475277

Nick Gatel
BPL Member

@ngatel
Locale: Southern California

Very nice! I did notice that your book "The 2 Ounce Backpacker" weighs 2.4 ounces :)

Feb 4, 2009 at 5:09 am #1475300

CW
BPL Member

@simplespirit
Locale: .

Thanks Jamie!

Feb 4, 2009 at 5:56 am #1475305

Rodney Davis
BPL Member

@ramrod
Locale: North Carolina

Maybe we can get together for a future trip some weekend.
Rodney

Feb 4, 2009 at 6:03 am #1475306

Miguel Arboleda
BPL Member

@butuki
Locale: Kanto Plain, Japan

Great story, Jamie! Very inspirational.

Feb 4, 2009 at 6:06 am #1475307

Eugene Smith
BPL Member

@eugeneius
Locale: Nuevo Mexico

Thoroughly enjoyed this article, thanks for the ideas and inspiration.

Feb 4, 2009 at 7:59 am #1475323

Jonathan Ryan
BPL Member

@jkrew81
Locale: White Mtns

great article, thanks for sharing….

Feb 4, 2009 at 5:14 pm #1475462

George Matthews
BPL Member

@gmatthews

Thanks for the excellent article! You are a great inspiration for those of us everyday people who are ready to go for it. I was one of them after your trip report last year : )

Feb 4, 2009 at 5:24 pm #1475467

Miguel Arboleda
BPL Member

@butuki
Locale: Kanto Plain, Japan

Jamie, I've been putting together an SUL list like yours and wondering exactly how low in temperatures you'd go with your SUL list. What would a winter, snow, around -5ºF (-15ºC) list look like?

Feb 4, 2009 at 5:42 pm #1475476

James Lantz
BPL Member

@jameslantz
Locale: North Georgia

Jamie,
Thanks for a great article! My gear list shares many of your choices which makes me think I'm headed in the right direction! Lightweight is definitely liberating. My wife refers to my green Mont-bell UL Inner Jacket as my "disco jacket"! ;)

Feb 4, 2009 at 7:16 pm #1475500

Ed Barkowski
Spectator

@edbarkowski

Well written, Jamie. Very inspiring material. Glad your life took such a favorable U-turn and allowed you to "make light" of your circumstances. Happy to have your input in the forums.

Feb 6, 2009 at 2:30 pm #1475931

Monty Montana
BPL Member

@tarasbulba
Locale: Rocky Mountains

Jamie, thanks for the gratifying story on your journey to Lightness and self-discovery, one similar to mine. Of especial note is that I, too, take along the 2 oz Backpaccker and get chided for packing a book. Oh well, it still remains that at bottom we're all kindred spirits in th UL community. Happy trails!

Feb 6, 2009 at 7:53 pm #1475986

Jamie Shortt
BPL Member

@jshortt
Locale: North Carolina

I truly appreciate these comments more then you can imagine, thanks everyone for taking the time to post.

Rodney, My trips are mostly solo but thats only because we are so few. I'd be glad to hit the trails with you sometime.

Miguel, I'll put some thought into a -5F list, but my friend that is one step beyond me for the time being. I'd like to see what you come up with.

Thanks all, Jamie

Feb 24, 2009 at 8:30 pm #1480497

Jesse Taylor
BPL Member

@ahikernamedgq

Thanks for sharing the candid story of your career struggles and your "ultralight birth." Inspirational.

That picture of you with the Golite Ion floored me. All of your gear was store bought, not modified or special made. That's really amazing.

Your article is double inspirational!

Dec 7, 2010 at 12:34 am #1671689

Dug Shelby
Member

@pittsburgh
Locale: Bay Area

Jamie, fantastic stuff! Just came across this article you wrote, well done. Loved the inspiration and the transformation you took us through. Hope all is going well, and I do hope you get to do the AT sometime soon.

My best friend lives near Lake Wylie, SC, and we went camping at a great spot for a couple nights this last summer. Whereabouts are you in NC?

Hope all is well,

Dug
http://thf2.wordpress.com

Dec 29, 2010 at 4:08 pm #1678792

Warren Greer
Spectator

@warrengreer
Locale: SoCal

Jamie,

I read your article a month or so ago and sent myself a link at home so I could learn from your gear lists and all your experiences that you talk about. I'm heading down the same street too. Just like Dug above, I really enjoyed the it immensly. -If you ever so feel inclined, I bet many here in the BPL community would really enjoy reading another article by yourself. Cheers and thanks for the inspiration.

Aug 15, 2015 at 10:08 am #2221184

Nick Otis
BPL Member

@notis
Locale: CA

Perusing the forums–one link leads to another… I found this, and it is just as inspirational years later. Thank you so much, Jamie! I had read some of your other stuff recently, too. It seems that miles on the trails do good for the soul. And you are right: enlightenment is not achieved without passing on the knowledge. Hope your journeys are continuing to go well!
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