Carrying a heavy load

imported
#1

What is the heaviest pack that someone's carried and actually finished a through-hike? More specifically, I mean one that a hiker has carried the whole distance, with minimal slacking. I know that there are some 50+ pound stories out there (the Tuba Man must have had that much just because of the tuba). Anyone over 55 pounds? 60?

What kind of pack did they carry? What kind of build did they have? A 6'6" football player carrying 50 pounds isn't as impressive as a 5'6" woman carrying 50 pounds.

I don't mean for this to turn into a discussion on ultra-light hiking, it's easy enough to find a million other discussions of that. I just thought it would be neat to hear about some hikers who contrast with the 2.5-lb ultralighters.

Teddy Roosevelt

#2

I know I’m not the heaviest, but I carried between 40 and 50 pounds the whole way. When my pack went to down 35, it felt awful. My body weight was 200 at the start and 160 at the end. During a few wind storms in Maine, the Bigalows especially, I was sure I was going to blow away. Once I carried three books. One, I was not done with when I got resupplied with another, then I found one in a shelter I had been looking for for years. I know I have to start hiking again when I start to dream without a pack on.

Blue Jay

#3

I hiked the south shore of Lake Superior shortly after high school, roughly a 750 mile hike, carrying a military Alice 2 pack with average weight around 70 pounds (there are VERY few towns to resupply in up there). Build-wise I am 5’7" and somewhat built, or as Stephanique said, bull-like. I was even more so then. Lost 15 pds of weight on the trip, and ate like a horse all I could carry and forage. I don’t think I could do that anymore, aiming at a 45pd pack for future LD hiking, with a more back/knee/shoulder friendly pack!!! :oh

airferret

#4

I heard of this photographer whose pack weighed over 70 lbs. with his camera equipment. He busted his knees out fairly early and it took him two years to recover enough to hike again. Hike, not backpack.

Wood Picker

#5

In 1969, Eric Ryback carried a 60+ lb. pack on his 80 day N-S thru-hike. That weight was with 18 or so days of food, so his average weight was a bit less. He did 48 miles in one day (slacking), which included the state of Maryland. Probably the first to do MD in one day. What ever happened to Eric, anyone know?

Groucho

#6

I can ditto what Blue Jay said except for the books. But my weights were 206 and 167. My pack was a Gregory Shasta in medium and I’m 6’2". I did it last year.

Two Scoops

#7

I found his “The High Adventure of Eric Ryback” fascinating. Walked the PCT in 1970. He carried, at times, 70 to 80lbs, while weighing in at 130! My knees scream when I think what I’d have to lug to match that. Can’t find anything more recent. He was about 18 in '70.

Hope he’s finding flat trail and fair skies.

Jim2

#8

JFTHOI, I did a search on Excite. Eric Ryback is a Funds manager.

Groucho

#9

AT Springer I was 47#, Got a new pack at Gatlinburg and averaged 45# all the way. Did lose some weight when I sent home sleeping bag for 3 months in summer. I always carried to much food. I now carry about 30#s wothout water. Much better than 45. Dont ruin the dream of a lifetime after 2 days because your pack is to heavy, lose the weight now, not in Neels Gap.

Chef

#10

We saw 35 hikers last weekend at Newfound Gap in the Smokeys. They said the majority of people who had dropped out was because too heavy, too fast, too soon. We carried two down the mountain into Gatlinburg with bad knees. Not one of the hikeres was over 25. Their packs were in the 45 to 50 lb range. Most of the hikers said they were planning on shipping more back home in Hot Springs. Two topics they wanted to talk about: whats the trail like up north (do the climbs get harder than GA?) and How much did your pack weight when you finished? Dump the weight now, not a Neels Gap.

Papa Smurf