The Phil-list Apr_2007: [philmont] Backpacks, what's inside

From: <Michael_J_Conkey@nbc.gov>
Date: Tue Apr 17 2007 - 07:28:32 CDT

I find the jury is still out on 3/4 vs full length pads. For me, I need
something for my tired heels to rest on when I sleep at night. Tried the
3/4 length, didn't like it. I ended up putting my polar fleece jacket down
there for my feet to rest on. Now my one luxury item is my heavy
Thermarest Luxurest pad. I guess it depends on how comfortable you need to
be in order to get some restful sleep on the hard ground. Some of the
popular camps are like sleeping on a parking lot.....

Also, on the tents. For our group, we left it up to each tenting group on
how to carry the tent. All of them decided on one of 2 routes - trade off
the full tent each day with the non-tent carrier having more meals in their
pack OR assign the tent to one person all the time and the other person
always carried more meals. Much of it depended on pack space. The meals
are fairly bulky while the tent could be lashed on the outside of a pack.
Some youth had little room inside their pack, so preferred to carry the
tent while their tentmate (with room inside their pack) carried the meals.
We tried to discourage the cram and stuff on the food with initial
commissary (we actually had a kid sitting on the top of his pack while his
tentmate tried to zip up the pack!). Some still did it, but by the second
commissary, they had learned their lesson (being tired of cracker crumbs
and split open applesauce/pudding) and were more careful.

I agree with Dave, I took a polar fleece pullover for my warm layer and my
raingear was my outer layer. Never got cold, but my raingear is awesome
(Precip+ by Marmot) and never leaked, even a drop. I skipped the gloves,
took my polar fleece hat and wore it only once (at Mt Phillips after a
day-long rain/hail storm). I think I'm going to bring it again this year
because we are on the ranch two weeks earlier than previous treks and it
may be cooler. The "use it for two purposes or out" rule seems to apply,
so I suppose I could either use my raingear hood, or tie my bandanna around
my head if it got real cool.... YIS. Mike Conkey ('76, '02, '04 and '07).

|---------+---------------------------->
| | "David Wheeler" |
| | <david@troop52.co|
| | m> |
| | Sent by: |
| | philmont@troop47.|
| | com |
| | |
| | |
| | 04/16/2007 04:51 |
| | PM |
| | Please respond to|
| | philmont |
| | |
|---------+---------------------------->
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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  | To: "philmont List Member" <philmont@troop47.com> |
  | cc: |
  | Subject: [philmont] Backpacks, what's inside |
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

This is a very good thread. It is always interesting reading what others
have done, it both verifies my own list and provides good ideas to use on
future trips. I am always in the market to get lighter and faster.

The following are my comments regarding Steve's equipment list:

- The pack and bags seem fine, although, I prefer smaller packs. I also
carry a Prolite 3 pad, 3/4 length.
- I wore one set and carried one set of the following clothing:
- zip-off shorts (beige and green) with only one set of legs
(green)

- Half the trip I looked normal, the other half,
not so
normal. I have long since cared that I look silly, plus it's fun
embarrassing the boys...
- Under Armor short sleeve shirts, synthetic underwear, heavy
wool
socks, and liner socks.
- I took a micro fleece for my warm layer and my rain suit as my outer
layer, one wool hat and one pair of lightweight gloves. No other clothing
items were taken.
- The two stoves, two one-liter fuel bottles, pots, etc. were split among
all crew members.
- We split the two-person tents between tent partners
- We did not take a water filter, we used the Micro-pure provided by
Philmont. We did not happen on any water which needed a filter, but we had
a group of country boys who didn't mind the floaties. They ate ants for
snacks, apparently they taste like lemon...
- I only required that each crew member carry at least 2 liters of water
for
personal use (either 2 Nalgenes or a > 2-liter bladder), but also carry a
2.5-liter collapsible Platypus for crew water. The Platypus' were used to
carry water to dry camps or from water runs, such as from North Fork Uracca
when we were camping at Shaeffer's Pass on day 11. I think 6-liters per
person is a lot of overkill. The Platypus' could also be carried on top of
the pack, under the top pocket, so as not to take up room inside your pack.
- I always stuff my tent, I don't like the creases caused by rolling or the
time it takes.
- I didn't have to use compression bags, but a couple of the boys with
smaller packs (<4000 ci) and big sleeping bags did.
- I always use the lower compartment for my sleeping bag, the main
compartment and pockets are generally much more than I need for other
equipment.

Just my thoughts, as has been said many times, your mileage may vary.

YIS,
David Wheeler
Philmont 2004 & 2006
Northern Tier 2005

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Received on Tue Apr 17 07:33:28 2007

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