Ultralight backpacking

While there's no official weight that constitutes ultralight (UL), there is a general consensus that your base pack weight (BPW) should be between 9 and 11 lbs. BPW includes your pack and all necessary equipment for your hike, but excludes food, water, fuel, and the clothing that you are wearing. If your BPW is between 11 and 20 lbs, it's considered lightweight backpacking and if it's less than 9 lbs, it's either super ultralight (SUL) or extreme ultralight (XUL).

I'm going to try and take a picture of the base pack I'm starting with, but it generally ranges from 17-25 pounds, depending on the length of my trip. Going UL will be expensive, time consuming (I could research equipment all day), and will probably frighten my dad, but I'm motivated to go UL for a few reasons.

• I love backpacking and the lighter my load, the further I can go.
• I don't mind sleeping on hard ground or smelling badly.
• I don't need a nice tent, just something to protect me from evil spiders.
• I have slight minimalist tendencies, so the idea of leaving unnecessary things behind gives me an added thrill and sense of freedom.
• I'm obsessed with Microsoft Excel and it's a fun excuse to make countless new spreadsheets.
• My boyfriend just broke up with me and it's a great distraction!

There you go. This begins the journey from my big backpack to my new UL lifestyle. Wish me luck!

Rob

It begins!

Double happy . . . is the man to whom lofty mountaintops are within reach, for the lights that shine there illuminate all that lies below.”

—John Muir 

I've been dreaming about the Pacific Crest Trail for a few years. At first these dreams focused on hiking the trail in segments at different times in my life, taking off for a few days here and there. Then I decided that If I was going to truly experience the adventure and solitude of the Pacific Crest Trail, I would need to commit at least a few weeks. After going back and forth with my supervisors at work, I agreed to take 5 weeks off in order hike a section of the Pacific Crest Trail from Central to Northern California in August of 2014.

One night, after a few hours of researching the gear that I would need for my 5-week trip, I had the most incredible dream. I can't remember all of the details, but i remember waking up more inspired than I had been before. It was in those waking moments, where everything seemed possible, that I realized that there was nothing stopping me from hiking the entire Pacific Crest Trail. I realized that I have time to save money, train, and adequately prepare myself, and that I'm physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of making this journey in its entirety. 

So that's what I'm doing.

Thank you all who have already started supporting me, doubting me, worrying about me, and questioning me about my hike. You have taught me so much about my level of determination and you are all continually pushing me closer and closer to April 2014, when my dad will drop my off near Campo, California to start my trip on the Mexican border.

Rob

...358 days and counting...