How is it that so few journal writers state their starting pack weight in their statistics section, when there is a pack-weighing-scale at Amicalola Falls?
Just wondering.
Simmer
Simmer
Pack weighing - Appalachian Trail
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#2
When I put my pack on the scale at Amicalola and it read 29 pounds, I was horrified! I went back to our room and with Goldberry and Leapyear, dumped it out and went through (for the 50th time) every ounce of everything I had intended to take. I was able to shave off 3-4 pounds. At Walisi-Yi I dropped another 3.5 pounds. It’s amazing what you DON’T need~J.
Journey
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#3
For me, the reason is I didn’t know about the statistics section until long after I started my hike. Plus, I would have been a little embarrased to report I started with 42 lbs! I was able to get down to 30 lbs by the end of my hike, but for some that’s still way to heavy.
Bear Bag Hanger
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#4
Journey, is that 29 lbs before food and water ie base pack weight? Because if you can get to 22 lbs including both I want your equipment list!!
Big B
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#5
Yeah…I thought I’d be doing REALLY good if I had my pack weight at around 30 lbs including 4 days food & water. What’s your gear list?
Michele
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#6
When I left Amicalola March 21, 2005 my pack weighed 34 pounds including way to much food and water. The weight varied throughout the hike being less in the summer in the mid Atlantic states and no winter gear. I don’t know what it weighed at the end but it was less I am sure as I did try to get rid of every extra oz. althought I still had things some people would consider unnecessary. Food was my biggest problem, I always had to much. (by the way, this was a 60 year old woman carrying this pack)
Sleeveless
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#7
Yes, beginning pack weight WITH 3 days food and about a ltr and a half of water. My equiptment list is on my journal from 2003 (don’t know how to make a link or I would, sorry) I went back several times throughout the hike and made comments on what I dropped/changed.
That said, I did start with a GoLite Speed pack that only weighted 1 lb. 15 oz. and had so much shoulder and neck pain that I switched to a 3.3 lb. Osprey Aeriel 60 in Damascus. My Nomad Lite tent only weighed 2 lbs. but after being wet for 3 months I switched to an MSR Zoid 1 that weighed 3 lbs. 3 oz (but I got it under 3 lbs by ditching the bags and ropes.
I might be the only hiker on the trail that year that added weight to my back! Now I have to go back and check my gear list and make sure it’s correct~J.
Journey
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#8
I weighed my pack at Amicalola and weighed in at 31 lbs. However by that time my mom was posting my journals, and being technologically challenged, if I’d asked her to update my statistics I think she would have cried 
She was doing really well to get my journals posted!
Grassy Ridge
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#9
In 2004, at Amicalola, I weighed my pack at 47#, and I weighed about 200# (at 5’8"). I ditched a bit of pack contents at Neels Gap, but not much. I left ‘Hikers Welcome’ (Glencliff, NH) for ‘The Whites’ with the same pack and gear (more or less) weighing 53#… I weighed in at about 150#. I headed into the ‘100 Mile Wilderness’ from Shaw’s in Monson, ME, with a pack weight of 56#… I still weighed about 150#. As far as my knees were concerned, they were carrying about 30# or 40# LESS weight at the end of my thru hike, even though my pack weight was a bit heavier. Losing 50# (total) of BODY WEIGHT (while adding probably 15# or more of muscle weight!) made a BIG difference… I just kept the same HEAVY stuff that I’d started out with (Gregory Whitney pack, TNF Tadpole tent, etc.!) and added more FOOD weight as my hiker appetite kicked in and DEMANDED!
Every hiker will report totally different gear lists and weight information… part of the ‘Hike Your Own Hike’ thing, for sure!! All good!
TBott
TBott
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#10
My pack weight is between 15 lbs and 20 lbs depending on the food. Check out my gear list in 2005 list on my Trail Jounals, I hope that helps you.
Happy Trails
POOH-BEAR
POOH-BEAR
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#11
anyone can get their base weight to 15lbs or below, but it may require purchasing new gear.
siesta
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#12
Here’s the links to Journey’s and Pooh Bear’s gear lists. (simple cut and paste)…
Journey’s 2003 gear list:
and Pooh- Bears 2005 gear list:
http://www.trailjournals.com/gear.cfm?trailname=1480
- icantsleep
icantsleep
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#13
in 2003 i started with 65lbs. total. by the time i got to Virginia, it was down to 38lbs. total(food & water). thats where it stayed all the way to Katadin. everyone has different comfort levels. you will figure yours out while you hike. its not about oz’s and lbs., its about the journey.
happy hiking
Magic Rat AT 2003:cheers
Magic Rat
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#14
I love it. Pack weight, food, miles, zero days, beer in town. These discussions go on from now to the end of the trail, then start up again when you get home and listen to next years group. Trail life is great. No discussions about work, yard, car, no cell phones ringing, working in all of the thing that go on day in and day out with that stupid calendar on my desk. No day timer, palm pilot, nightly news… just hike. The trail will decide for you what you do tomorrow!
I wish I was somewhere between Pearisburg and SNP waiting for a ride to Trail Days with a 55 lb pack!!! It would be better than mowing the yard, taking the car in to have the tires balanced, fixing a leaking shower head, driving to Nashville to take back a laptop that quit working (only 3 weeks old), all on my calendar today!
Happy Days! See you guys at Trail Days!
Papa Smurf