That sign at Cloud's Rest made me realize I was hiking wrong for 4 years

Saw a ranger post that said pack weight should be under 20 pounds for day hikes above 10,000 feet and my 35 pound load with a 3L bladder made me stop and rethink my whole setup on the spot.

2 comments

2 Comments

the_john14d ago

Honestly my pack was so heavy on my first big hike I had to sit down halfway up and eat a whole bag of trail mix just to feel lighter. Ngl I was carrying my old tent like I was planning to camp overnight, but it was a day hike and I didn't even have a sleeping bag. Took me three seasons and a torn hip belt to finally ditch the extra water I was never gonna drink.

amy_sanchez14d ago

Kinda have to disagree on the extra water part @the_john. I mean, dehydration is no joke and having a little backup isn't the worst thing, even if you never touch it. Maybe it's just me but I'd rather carry an extra liter than risk feeling dizzy halfway through. Those old tents though, totally get that. I did the same thing with a camp stove on a quick morning hike once. We all learn the hard way I guess.