…….someone was eventually going to ask that question….. How much does it weight?
It’s like getting a new shirt in grad 8 only to have the angry looking blonde ask you….. Well what shade of last years blue is that? You know the feeling……the dread as she gets out her color chart ready to pounce on you…… you’re about to get scaled son. There are two very different trains of thought with tripping….. it’s like foreplay, and yes, I used that word and it’s not golf gentlemen…nor the five minutes the kids actually went to check on a friend instead of texting them (U thr) ; but that’s a rant for another day
No this is the hard and heavy vs. light and….. Searching for a word….nimble, unsatisfied…
Any who
It’s about knowing what is superfluous in your pack and what is going to give you the most bang for the ounce. Travel with Haslam and it’s worth eh insurance of a 40 ouncer just the slow the machosistic fool down; makes Sisyphus look like a sissy
Anyways; it’s not about one or two or 5 trips across the portage. It’s about the utter simplicity and functionality of what you brought. There’s some who take it to the extreme….like handle less toothbrushes and commando without the wink and swagger of an exobishonist. More like a calloused undercarriage. They get a thin layer of lip sweat and dilated pupils if you suggest an extra roll of toilet paper
But as I’m sure you’ve figured out; I’m having fun with the scaled wonders. We could use there wisdom without the fanatical. Two weeks out means the need for some efficiency. Things like axes weight.
Truth? Everyone has their own system and ways and quite frankly there are necessities for some that aren’t needed for others. My pack for 3 days weights about the same for two weeks. I take what I can comfortably carry…..ok, there was one trip where there was a 90 lb food pack. So I learned that maybe 12 cans of chicken isn’t a good idea and I should get use to the chewy dehydrated or pony up for the cardboard freezdried. I won’t pass along the commentary from hubby at the airbase….I did manage to get the dam pack into the truck and was fully prepared to sweat it down the portage….that’s my story and I’m sticking to it
...and yes, I'm recyling t-h-a-t story again
A smart food pack will get you satisfied and healthy at the end of your trip with one days extra food and fuel. (Independent of what is available in nature)
Personally, I don’t like the individual freeze dried meals but we carry them for emergencies and back ups. Others think they are the cat’s ass. They don’t waste and ounce though and are really favored among our cross-over hikers
Beans and lentils and rice with dried fruits and veggies are light and versatile.
If you don’t have an MSG allergy there is some fun to be had at T&T’s oriental grocery’s and East Indian shops…..Shan seasoning packs are the bomb baby.
Things like lemons and cabbage will last in your pack but weigh.
Sweet potatoes absolutely rock and they are really nice dehydrated either as a mash or as small cubes.
PS…if you decide this is your thing you will be buying a dehydrator.
The coles notes version is:
Aside from your emergency, repair and safely equipment…if you end up back without using it then it should be the subject of scrutiny next time.
And yes, you push your time in the bush out to 4 weeks and you will be looking at the scale as a very important tool.
Coles note just looses the joy of reading and humor..... but for some, I'm just tooooooo....... fill in the blank..........
cheers all
