What’s the Deal With ‘Base Weight’?
John Muir took little more than bread and tea into the wilderness. A century later, backpackers were carrying up to 50 or even 70 pounds’ worth of gear. In the 1990s, this way of experiencing nature began to change and modern materials have swung the pendulum back to the “less is more” philosophy.
The current buzz in the PCT community and many other hiking communities as well as Backpacker magazine centers on the concept of base weight. Base weight is a concept to many and a religion to some. Both appear to have a place in the thinking of hikers. My struggle has been for many years now to find the ‘sweet spot’, that ideal weight and place where I have what I need, it carries well, and I am not exhausted by the relationship between me and my backpack.
Base weight is framed by one’s pack, tent or shelter, sleeping bag, and pad. Add in food and water and the ‘Ten Essentials’ and there you have it. More or less this seems logical not to mention practical. Overall it is deciding you can get by with less.
There are many strategies for establishing your base weight. Some go as far as cutting the handle down on your toothbrush or going stoveless. Many people are using light weight tents, tarps, or hammocks. ‘Cowboy camping’ is never out of the question for someone who is really shrinking base weight every where possible. Hiking with a 45-55 liter pack is a good start. Closed foam sleeping pads are simple and weigh next to nothing. Alcohol stoves are extremely light.
I have found that hiking in the Pacific Northwest has significantly shaped my perspective. The weather in the Cascades is ever changing and going without shelter is only minimally reliable for brief periods in late July and early August. Even at that, one can get frozen out or snowed on before, during or after that time due to the quality of the weather that blows in off the north Pacific. A tent is a nice thing. Leaving my rain jacket at home seems sacrilege. I admit the Cascades have shaped my thinking in ways that are difficult to shake.
Last spring I encountered a fellow hiker along the southern portions of the PCT. I was going about ten days without a planned resupply. My pack was heavy with food for ten days, probably more water than I needed, and what I was sure a minimal amount of gear. I came upon ‘Pine’ and his first words were, ‘You’re not traveling light.’ Despite my desire to say something not so appreciative of his observation, I smiled and acknowledged his obvious observation. Pine went on to share with me his base weight as if to rub my nose in the fact that he was conquering the demons of carrying too much too far and I wasn’t. If he only knew how far I have come.
As mentioned earlier I have been wrestling with base weight for years now. Some things are easy to replace or give up altogether. I tried a tarp and the bugs convinced me to reconsider. I limit the clothes I bring and consciously think about the use of an item along with it’s weight. Over the past few years water has been the heaviest item to carry. That has been due to the drought conditions that have plagued California up until last winter. Second to water I do bring nuts and granola (admittedly heavy) along but the trade off in protein packed energy seems worth it. I do pack a generally small journal only because my slightly larger brain just won’t remember some of the finer points along the way. Getting base weight down is a challenge not to be taken lightly (no pun intended however it is a pretty good one!).
Ultralight philosophies prevail. I am in awe of the ultralight hikers I have encountered over the years. Sometimes I admit to questioning their decisions but maybe their evolution has just been shorter than mine. My first PCT hike I carried and wore items I would never think to bring today. Cutting weight is a rewarding goal so long as safety is not sacrificed. Maybe it is my fear of the unknown but risking getting caught out gives me pause. I will continue to wrestle with my base weight. I will keep you posted. For now I am somewhere between Muir’s bread and tea and needing a Sherpa to help me find my way or at least carry it.
