PSA: I hiked the JMT for 3 years before realizing my pack was 8 pounds too heavy (literally just my food bag)

So I was on the JMT last August and this guy I met at a campsite near Muir Trail Ranch offered to carry my bear can in exchange for a beer. I handed it over and he just laughed and said 'is this full of rocks?' Turns out I had been packing 12 days of food for a 6 day stretch between resupply points. For THREE YEARS I was carrying double the food I needed because I was scared of running out. Has anyone else had that moment where you realize your 'safety margin' was actually just stupid heavy?

3 comments

3 Comments

jessicaflores23d ago

Totally feel you on this one. I did the same thing on my first few solo trips, I would pack like I was going to get stranded for a week. It took me way too long to realize that extra weight was just making me miserable and slow. Honestly, it's impressive you figured it out at all, some people never do and just keep hauling that extra weight. Good for you for sharing this, it's a reminder we all need sometimes.

the_angela23d ago

My buddy tried packing light on his first solo trip and ended up having to buy a second pair of shoes in the first town because his only pair got soaked. I mean, there's a fine line between light and just not prepared, right? Nobody talks about figuring out that middle ground.

black.joel23d ago

That thing about buying new shoes cause your only pair got soaked... @the_angela I feel that. I did the same thing on the JMT last year, but it was my socks. I packed light on socks and ended up with blisters so bad I had to hitch into Lone Pine to buy new ones at the gear shop there. But back to the food thing, I think you were actually packing 12 days of food for 6 days which is wild but also kinda common. I knew a guy who carried a 5 pound jar of peanut butter for a 4 day section cause he was scared of being hungry. Most people don't realize how much food they really need until they actually run out once and see they survived just fine.