DTape,

To be honest, I really don't remember where this came from. I know my dad was already using it as a rule of thumb for us in 1966. My sister, who was 3 years younger than me did not have that rule applied to her; for her 7 and 8 year old self it was all clothing and sleeping gear.

a general comment

I have hauled 100 pounds of equipment up mountainsides; for a specific purpose each time mind you. Not particularly pleasant, but it was for a worthy cause. I really think the better, and more enlightened, way to think about packing weight is less is more. Splitting your pack weight into base and food/water weight is one practical way to accomplish that. Throwing too much initially usually ends up in turning the person off to backpacking.


Edited by skcreidc (12/07/11 07:12 PM)