Has anyone taken this route near Hellhole Canyon?

[backpackpack]

I did see that Ted marker. What are those? I think it is something for USGS

Those are triangulation points that were used during the surveys of the area from which the maps were drawn. For whatever reason, in some parts of the country, they give triangulation points. Elsewhere they may receive some type of alphanumeric designation or no designation at all. For example, the triangulation point atop this summit has no designation.

I don't know why my pack always ends up so heavy. A tent, pad, sleeping bag, little stove, pot, water, food. It doesn't seem like it should be that heavy. I think water is a large portion of the weight.

Rule #1 with keeping pack weight down: Weigh everything. Put it in a spreadsheet. You'd be surprised what weighs what. Underwear? Quarter pound. Empty Nalgene? Quarter pound -- for the white ones. The clear, colored ones are even heavier. It all adds up. As Colin Fletcher once said, "take care of the ounces, and the pounds will take care of themselves".

HJ

Ok, here is all my gear except food and snacks, batteries, headlamps, flashlight. As I suspected, water is the biggest problem. In the desert I don't know what alternative I have... There are a few things I can remove from this list as I look over it, like water filter, chair, lots of little things.

Code: Select all

oz   % of total   loadout
426.0   51.20%   all water
86.0   10.34%   pack
32.2   3.87%   pad
26.8   3.22%   tent
25.5   3.06%   mayfly chair
25.0   3.00%   light sleeping bag
19.7   2.37%   20oz kerosine bottle 3/4 full
18.1   2.18%   poles
14.4   1.73%   hiking poles
14.0   1.68%   fleece
13.9   1.67%   shirt, tanktop, socks, hat
13.7   1.65%   filter in bag
12.9   1.55%   stove in bag
11.6   1.39%   first aid shaker
10.5   1.26%   full bag of stakes
10.4   1.25%   kindle
10.4   1.25%   desert shirt
9.6   1.15%   knife
8.7   1.05%   footprint
8.4   1.01%   multi-knife
7.7   0.93%   aluminum pot
4.1   0.49%   cup
2.7   0.32%   sunscreen
2.6   0.31%   soap
2.6   0.31%   big bowl
2.2   0.26%   tp
2.2   0.26%   pillow
2.1   0.25%   pancho
2.0   0.24%   space blanket
1.9   0.23%   mirror
1.9   0.23%   electrical tape
1.4   0.17%   cloth tape
0.9   0.11%   spoon


[Hikin_Jim]

If you're interested, I posted my gear list recently. There's not much you can do if you need to carry water in the desert. Of course you plan around water sources as best you can, and you cache in advance when possible, but if you have to carry a lot of water, you have to carry a lot of water. The trick is to get your base weight down. Your base weight is what you carry pretty much every, regardless of duration. To your base weight you add the things that will vary with length of trip like food, water, and fuel. My base weight is now down to about 15 lbs. It used to be up well over 35 lbs.

The first thing to concentrate on of course is the "Big Three" (pack, shelter, and sleep system). Those three are typically the heaviest things that a backpacker will carry. My old Lowe Alpine backpack weighed 5 lbs empty. My current Gossamer Gear backpack weighs less than two pounds and has been super comfortable for me. Your pack however should be the last item you change. Putting heavy gear into an ultralight pack is a recipe for misery. That and you want to make sure your gear fits. Get most of your gear to where you want it, then figure out what size and weight of pack you need.



My old tent that I started backpacking with was a North Face double wall tent. It weighed about 7 lbs and was for two people, but I would take it for one. My current set up is a Gatewood Cape from Six Moon designs which is a floorless shelter that can double as a poncho. I throw a sheet of Tyvek in as a floor. Total weight including stakes is about one pound. I use one of my trekking poles (which I'd be carrying anyway) as a tent pole.

As for sleeping, I can't say enough good things about the NeoAir. It's super light and compact. The one I have now is a 3/4 length and weighs 8 oz. I used to carry a full length self inflating thermarest, about 1.75 lbs. With my 3/4 length pad, I pop the foam pad out of the back panel of my backpack and put that under my feet (if it's cold enough to matter). Works pretty well. The NeoAir is pretty expensive, but not too bad if you wait for sales or better yet buy used.

I've done my lightening up over about an eight period, changing out a piece or two at a time. I used to go out with weight in the mid 40's (pounds) for a weekend. I'm now out with low 20's for a summer weekend.

HJ

[backpackpack]

Thank you for all that advice my friend. I am very interested in properly packing, so I really appreciate your list of gear.

I see a few things I could improve on for sure, like my 32oz sleeping pad.

I want to ask something about your shelter. I see you are not using a tent, and I see lots of people sleeping "under the stars" and I always wonder: what about spiders and snakes? Am I just being a baby? I don't want a tarantula to crawl into my mouth or a rattlesnake to curl up under my sleeping bag for warmth. Does this stuff happen?

I am going to review my gear again and really think seriously about each item and look for places to cut ounces out. Your list of gear is very helpful. Thank you!

[Hikin_Jim]

I see a few things I could improve on for sure, like my 32oz sleeping pad.

I want to ask something about your shelter. I see you are not using a tent, and I see lots of people sleeping "under the stars" and I always wonder: what about spiders and snakes? Am I just being a baby? I don't want a tarantula to crawl into my mouth or a rattlesnake to curl up under my sleeping bag for warmth. Does this stuff happen?

It can, although it's rare. Many "non tent" shelters have bug netting.

HJ