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Ditch the Weight
by: Alan Peak 4/5/2012

After the tax return check arrived, I did what many do, buy some new gear.  Ebay has been my new guilty pleasure.  I have purchased camera equipment, lures, fly tying material, hammock, solar cell charger, and the list goes on and on. 

I stumbled upon an interesting item that, not surprisingly, does not get a lot of bids; a fanny pack.  This is not really a fanny pack, but it carries the stigma.  My new lumbar pack is light and comfortable beyond belief.  They are made by most major outdoor manufacturers in all sizes.  I am currently using Columbia lumbar pack.

This is my new adventure.  Camping light.

Packed thoughtfully, you can lighten your load down to a 10th of your internal frame pack.  You can walk further, and more comfortably.  Absolutely everything packed needs to have a reason, or even better two reasons for being included. 

For now, until my water filtration system arrives I am packed a bit heavy.  I have to carry an initial two bottles of water.  If I run out of that, I can boil some with my mess kit.  Water is a very limiting factor, so without a filtration system I will not be going farther than four miles from my vehicle where more clean water will be stored.

Some of you may notice that there is a distinct lack of first aid kit.  I am certified in Combat Lifesavers Course and have a few things in my pack that double as first aid material.  Ten feet of duct tape, five feet of electrical tape, parachute hammock material, parachute cord, sterile gauze and rod tube.  I can splint bones, control bleeding, prevent shock and signal for help.  Already this year I have had a wake up call when a friend cut his finger on a auger blade.

Of course, above all, know your limits and ensure your personal safety. 

Here is what I am taking.

1. Sage Rod
2. Bauer Reel
3. Water
4. Hammock (forgot to film that!)
5. Lighter and matches, toilet paper, sterile gauze (double bagged)
6. Go Pro Camera, 3 Batteries, 16gb memory
7. 3 Fly boxes
8. Tippet, weights, floats, Gink
9. 2 hot meals, 2 pieces flat bread, peanut butter, cheese spread
10.  1/2 cup butter, salt, pepper and rosemary (campfire brookies)
11. Ipod
12. Mini Tripod
13. Fleece Blanket
14. Cooking Set, fork
15. Net made by Mike Garcia
16. Head lamp
17. Knife, paper cover for kindling
18. 50ft parachute cord
19. Poncho
Total weight without extra water, 9.5 pounds

Video: Packing Lightweight
Song by Carley Baer,  "The Rain Song"

Blog content © Alan Peak

Member comments

Vanish, CO   4/6/2012 7:43:08 AM
That's super light, but I'll have to see it to believe it!

 

Browns Hunter, CO   4/6/2012 8:11:16 AM
Good approach. Of course, if you're "da man" you won't need a net for the fish. Surely, you can get by with one fly box (build a special one for backpacking to lakes or streams). But, I'd have to have some coffee! Get some coffee bags from Folgers, they're light enough.

 

Alan Peak (moosegoose), CO   4/6/2012 9:12:06 AM
Browns Hunter.. I love that net! I know of some really small coffee packets, I will have to get some of those! As for the flies? Yes, I was definitely thinking that I was overdoing it with the boxes. I did however have the room. Actually, I have a little more room left over, even after my hammock is put in there!

 

Browns Hunter, CO   4/6/2012 11:45:24 AM
You could have told me that the net served a very vital first aid kit need... I couldn't figure that one out!