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My pack weight was way off for years because I never counted the water
I was getting ready for a 3-day trip in the White Mountains and finally put everything on my kitchen scale. My base gear was 18 pounds, which I thought was okay. Then I filled my two 1-liter bottles and my hydration bladder. Adding that 6.6 pounds of water put my total over 24, which explained why my shoulders were always wrecked on day one. I'd been so focused on the gear weight listed online that I completely ignored the heaviest thing I carry. Now I plan my routes around reliable water sources to cut what I carry. Anyone else have a simple thing they forgot to weigh that threw their whole system off?
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mila_campbell256mo ago
Honestly, 6.6 pounds of water just seems like a normal part of hiking to me.
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tara_patel6mo ago
Oh man, @mila_campbell25, that reminds me of this one time I packed way too much water for a day hike. My bag felt like I was carrying a small child, not bottles. I ended up giving half of it away to this poor guy who only brought a tiny little soda. Felt good to help, but my shoulders were killing me for days after.
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the_emery6mo ago
That water weight is no joke, I did the same thing on the John Muir Trail. I agree with @mila_campbell25 that it feels normal, but it really adds up over miles. My knees always tell me the next day when I've packed too much. What's the most water you've ever carried at once?
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