Source
r/Ultralight•
MuchLu

First Shakedown Request, JMT August 2022

Shakedown

Location/temp range/specific trip description: JMT Aug 4 - 26 Temps in low 40's to mid 80's Happy Isles to Whitney Portal

Budget: ~ $500

Non-negotiable Items: Anything starred red is going in my pack.

Solo or with another person?: Solo

Additional Information: Lucked out and got the Happy Isles permit and a month off work so I'm trying not to screw up this opportunity. This will be by far the longest hike I've ever attempted. I would love to get my base weight down as much as possible without sacrificing too much comfort. Also I'm 6'4", 255lbs which makes volume a challenge. I'm taking it slow, ~10 miles a day and plan to resupply at Red's, MTR and with Mt Williamson motel at onion valley so my longest food carry shouldn't be any more than 6 days.

Some concerns I have...

  1. I don't love my pack. I'm broad and the straps really dig into my shoulders and I honestly can't imagine carrying 6 days worth food and a bear can in this thing. I have an older Exos 48 but I think I'll be carrying too much volume with the can/tent/pad/clothes. I have an Atmos 65 I could strip, but damn that's still heavy. I would love to get some pack recommendations for someone in my position.
  2. Bear can. I have the JMT hiker 45% off code to rent a bearikade weekender and I'm wondering if it's worth the trouble and $75 for 11.5oz?
  3. I'm thinking the R1 is redundant with the nano puff.

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/n3ueht

Posted Jun 5, 2022, 5:54 PM UTC

620
lovrencevic•

Just my opinion but here’s my thoughts:

  1. ditch the pullover and puffy go with the Outdoor Vitals Ventus Hoodie (I’ve been comfortable in the upper 30’s) that’s a lot of ounces right there.
  2. I’d definitely rent the bearikade
  3. and trade the HMG for a Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra.

That’s nearly 3 pounds off your base weight. Also that’s a lot of packed clothes. Do you need that much?

5
MuchLuOP•

That hoodie looks amazing and is nearly 5oz lighter comparing med vs med. I'm gonna lose the R1. I've packed it so many times thinking I'd start the day wearing it and rarely do.

I'd love to pack less clothing. How do people handle wearing the same pair of shorts for 2 or 3 weeks? I guess I could do some primitive laundry at Red's.

5
nomorehome•

Bear can laundry: grab some water from a lake or whatever, couple drops of dr bronners, add clothes and swish around. Be sure to dump out far away from the water source. Better to do this than carry extra clothes - you’ll be filthy and stinky anyway, just embrace it.

Good luck on the JMT! I did a week of it around the same time last year (then everyone got kicked out when they closed the CA national forests because of fires, I’m still sad). The sierras are A+ that time of year!

6
Medusa729•

They’re shorts 🤷🏻‍♂️. I haven’t washed some of my hiking pants in over 20 uses. I’ll be wearing 1 pair of shorts for a 10 day trek in Europe. Wash your boxers in streams and let them dry. That’s crucial to feeling clean more so than the shorts.

2
TealTigerlilyhttps://lighterpack.com/r/eun21q•

Have fun! I hiked it nobo July/Aug '16.

Big Things (2lb reduction):

  1. soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, anti-chafe stick, sunscreen, chapstick, medications, 10.3 oz: This seems heavy, can you pare down the sizes you are taking? potentially save ~6oz, my kit is 2oz but people have their own needs
  2. I Would drop the r1 and maybe add a windshirt to broaden your comfort range. My windshell MH Kor w/ Pertex Quantum Air is comfortable enough that I have been using it as a sleep shirt fwiw. Save ~8oz
  3. The Xmids are great shelters but you could consider a tarp, with a bivy or nanonet for bugs. I cowboy camped a lot and enjoyed myself. Save ~18 oz

edit: formatting explosion

2
TealTigerlilyhttps://lighterpack.com/r/eun21q•

More Nitpicky Things (aka spending more money to save 8oz):

  1. Coffee cup (starbucks disposable 1.5oz)
  2. Lighter or less sleep clothes (150wt merino is my fave, 3.5 oz for a size M 3/4 longjohn)
  3. Reservoir bottle, Platypus instead of Cnoc will save 2 oz. use pot which is sanitized daily by heat for pond dipping
  4. Nitecore powerbank, will save 1.5oz

Notes:

  1. If you don't like your pack I think you can get away with the Exos 48, I used an Exos 58 and had extra room. You will need to carry your bear can outside though, probably on top.
  2. Renting the Bearikade is the way to go. I would if I did it again, did not realize how affordable they make renting.
  3. Aquamira in the Sierra. I did the first half with AM til I ran out and then got a Squeeze in a hiker box. I've used the squeeze for years but the squeezing gets old. For lots of clear flowing water I like AM with premix bottle method for less hassle
  4. I don't see a headnet. It will be August but usually the headnet is the minimum I bring. You can always sleep in it and could consider ditching a bug bivy for tarp+ headnet due to the time of year the bugs should be well past their peak.
  5. Packliner/waterproofing? Insurance for your quilt in afternoon storms, primarily.
  6. Repair Kit, good insurance for hiking out when something goes wrong. Mine weighs 2oz and goes w/ the FAK, including repair tape (different types for the fabrics), needle and thread, some wire, and safety pins.
2
MuchLuOP•

Thanks for the second comment! I think I'm gonna go a different direction with my pack. I'll try to get everything in the exos 48 first. I know it carries very well. Gonna rent the bearikade. I didn't think about a headnet and how that could change my shelter system. I do enjoy cowboy camping. I use a trash compactor bag and keep forgetting to add it. I'll revisit the stray patch kits and add needle/thread/pins. Good stuff, thanks again!

2
hampster_unoriginal•

Where do you rent the bearikade from? Just the national forest?

2
TealTigerlilyhttps://lighterpack.com/r/eun21q•

They do mail order rentals for $12 shipping and $5/day! https://wild-ideas.net/rent/

2
MuchLuOP•

Thank you for the advice!

  1. The ditty bag included the stuff sac, a full size chafe stick, 3oz bottle of sunscreen, 3oz of deet, ear plugs and the rest of the things listed. I'm gonna pare down to smaller travel versions and send refills in my resupplies.

  2. I'm dropping the R1 altogether and may not replace it with anything.

  3. I have a hmg echo2 tarp with insert for 6.2oz savings but can't bring myself to pack it after using the xmid. I've considered a duplxl and xmid pro2. However, after using the altaplex for a couple nights I've all but given up on single wall shelters. I'm a very active sleeper and get all up on the walls throughout the night a wake up soaked.

1
TealTigerlilyhttps://lighterpack.com/r/eun21q•
  1. Makes more sense with those sizes of sunscreen and bug spray. For me I cover up with a windshell, a couple spritz is enough for august so .5 oz per leg. Sunscreen and chapstick I just use spf30 chapstick .5oz on my lips and face, one of those will last a weekish relying on sun hoody mostly.
  2. Good call
  3. I would use the echo 2 with a poly cro grounds sheet (2.5 oz for wide) and a s2s nano net duo (5oz) for a 21 oz full shelter. It’s likely that you won’t see a drop of rain overnight if the typical Sierra weather holds.
2
bajarneb•

  1. The Atmos is heavy, but you’ll need the space and I’ve heard it’s more than comfortable enough to compensate for the extra ounces.

  2. I used the BV500 without issue. Heavier, sure, but sturdy as a camp stool!

I hiked the JMT in July 2021 and I wore shorts and sun hoodie the entire time, except for nights when I put on thermals. The only time I regretted not having pants was at 5:30am on the summit of Whitney when temps were way lower than expected. I say this bc you could cut some solid weight ditching the pants and only doing shorts. Or switching the convertibles for lighter rain/wind pants.

I saw you ask about clothes in another comment. Rewearing the same thing wasn’t an issue, but only because I rotated socks/undies and washed myself/shorts/sun hoodie everyday and let them hang dry overnight.

Otherwise you have a good set up and will have a blast! Set yourself up to take passes in the morning when possible to avoid getting caught in storms. And when you set up to summit Whitney, skip guitar lake. Theres a campsite at 36.56156, -118.29326 around 13,400’ just above the trail the gives killer views looking back down over the lake and into the valley. Well worth the extra effort!

2
MuchLuOP•

I may just dump the shorts and save 8.1oz. Do you mind sharing your clothes washing process with someone who's never even thought about that?

I actually see the site you're talking about! 2.7 miles past guitar lake. If I get there in late afternoon and it's pretty full am I just screwed, lol?

1
bajarneb•

I strip down to boxers in whatever lake/river and water wash everything. That’s it. If you need more cleanliness, you could haul water somewhere to wash your clothes with a drop of Dr Bronners soap, but I feel like that’s only delaying the inevitable and isn’t precisely zero trace friendly. Good to just embrace that you’ll stink at least a little. Makes the shower on the other side that much better!

There’s space up there for 3-4 tents at least. I’d be surprised if there was anyone else up there. There’s no water at the site, so most hikers just stay at guitar lake for convenience. I spent a few hours at the lake to wash, eat, and stuff, then hiked up late in the afternoon so I’d only have to carry up 2L of water for drinking. I also had superb weather and didn’t have storms to worry about, which is another risk to be aware of.

3
Glarmjlighterpack.com/r/b9yqj0•

Take this with a grain of salt as I've never been anywhere near the JMT but I'd ditch the pants, not the shorts. You could add a pair of wind pants or dance pants to combine with your thermal leggings.

3
MuchLuOP•

Looks like I'm getting wind pants. I'll give the EE Copperfield a try. Might look into a wind shirt as well. Do you have any other brands you'd suggest? I see houdinis mentored a lot on here as well. Thanks for your input, that's the push I needed.

1
Glarmjlighterpack.com/r/b9yqj0•

I have a pair of Montbell wind pants and really like them.

2
crimpincasual•

I’m also trying out windpants recently and balked at the cost of the ee copper field for something I’m sure I’ll tear up - body wrap dance pants on Amazon are like $20 and 3 oz vs 2

2
MoonHowler99•

There’s space up there for 3-4 tents at least.

Is that campsite too exposed during lightning? Is Guitar any better in that case?

1
bajarneb•

Very exposed. Would avoid if there’s any chance of storms

1