JMT 5: Weight matters
Fresno Bee reporter Mark Grossi has been backpacking before, and he knows the difference a few pounds can make at the end of the day. So he decided to take the contents of his pack to The Bee’s postage scale to see which items could stand to shed an ounce or four. Watch this video (the fifth in a series of eight) to see Mark weigh his sleeping bag, trekking poles and bear canister, as well as the pack itself. In August 2006, eight journalists set out to hike and backpack their way through the 200-mile John Muir Trail, which connects Yosemite with Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks in central California. To read about, and see photos, as well as the rest of the videos, go to the Digital Edgie-winning blog, FresnoBeehive.com/JMT. Videos were shot, edited and produced by Will Albritton.
Helpful Resources
- John Muir Cabin closing for renovations « Capital City Weekly Updates
- Weigh Max Digital Shipping Scale 330 Weight Postal Rates Scales …
- Off to the Sierra | Alpenglow Images
- The Appalachian Trail Hike, Part One « The Gay Life of a Country Boy
- Sweat Science » Trekking poles reduce muscle damage from downhill …
- Ice Axe or Trekking Poles: For Rainier or any other Alpine Ascent …
- Apple-Overload! » Update: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park …
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks – Park Packers Win Numerous …
- John Muir Trail HD (video) by Pete Bell | YosemiteBlog.com
- John Muir Trust Launches Wild Land Campaign in UK – The WILD …
That is a nice scale…did you notice when you weighed you pack that waist harness wasn’t completely on the scale? The stiffness of it likely held a significant amount of weight off the scale.
Happy trails!
the pack strap was holding the pack off the scale….humm, are we in denial here?
Hey, you’re right. I didn’t notice the waist belt was caught when I weighed it. I thought that backpack felt a little heavy! Actually, by the third day, I didn’t even notice the weight of my pack.
Yeah, you’re right on. I think I was in big-time denial. Glad I survived that backpack … 78 miles in eight days. Never done one quite that long before.
Much easier just to use Metric.
He should keep working on that base pack weight. My 3-season Base Pack Weight is down to 8 lbs. can hardly feel it on my shoulders.
Oh, you ounce counters. If it feels light, pack it. No need to be a sissy!
25 pounds is a lot. Ultra-light backpackers can get down to 10 pounds easily.
Holy crap!! 25 lbs?? That’s the weight I’m carying with a full 6 days of food and fuel…aouch! I left Kennedy Meadows with 35 lbs total, JMT nothbound no ressuplies.
i know, tell me about it. i was humping 50 pound packs at 11 – 12 years old, john muir trail. 25 pounds does not seem heavy at all!
great video!
United States post officers hard at work. Using my tax dollars to weigh their hiking gear. I wish i could say I’m surprised.
or you could just work out a little
@Skywa1ker1987 Had to write back and clarify. This weighing was done in the mail room of The Fresno Bee. That’s a newspaper, not a U.S. postal office. And everyone in the video is an employee of the newspaper.
wait…. beer canister? why the fuck would you want to bring that much beer :O
Personally, I would do a bit of weightlifting.
Much more healthy and safer. Lightweight stuff is not very durable.
@timonix2
Bear canister. You know…. to stop the bears from eating your supplies.
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