When it comes to carrying too little or too much on a hike, it's a question of balance.
The heaviest load I have ever witnessed being carried by someone walking was 160kg. The carrier was barely five foot tall and wore thongs. His load was a piece of steel pipe destined for a small hydro project high up in a Himalayan valley. I met him just as he had rested his load on a ‘chautara’, a load-resting platform for porters to back their loads onto without having to bend down to ground level, common on trails throughout Nepal.
As he arched his back and wiped sweat from his brow, I asked if I could try lifting his load. With a gentle ushering of a hand he said “of course but be slow, don’t hurry”. There was no way I could be anything but slow – I could barely lift it, yet this small man had come some 40km from the road-head over a 3000m ridge and still had as far to go with his massive load. Whenever I find myself carrying a heavy pack, I always think of him and slow down though I never fail to curse myself for not having thought through the contents of my pack more clearly.
Most people who venture out into the wilds and away from mechanised transport are sensibly aware of the need to keep what they carry to a minimum – in theory. Putting that awareness into practice will always require a good deal of thought, planning and a touch of ruthlessness and as with most plans, the sooner and more thoroughly you start thinking about it, the more effective the outcome will be.
Clearly, there is a fine line between taking too little and too much. The weight of individual items always seems trivial in the comfort of one’s living room but no matter how light, everything should be given the acid test – is it essential? Most things falling into the ‘just in case’ category are best eliminated as even the lightest item will add to the cumulative weight and the complication of continual packing and unpacking along the way. I’ve just returned from a trip away and annoyingly, several of the things I packed without too much thought have made it through the trip untouched.
No doubt, pack carriers of today are spoilt by a plethora of lightweight gear that makes going out easier and more comfortable. Lightweight stuff-sacks and bags let you organise and waterproof the contents of your pack without significantly adding to the weight and the gear itself is always getting lighter, better performing and more stylish, continually tempting you to upgrade your kit to the lightest and smartest. Well, if you can afford it, why not treat yourself and hand on your superseded gear to someone starting out?
The huge choice both in terms of function and fashion can seem a bit overwhelming until you wheel in some common sense and recount the KIS mantra – keep it simple. No matter what length the walk, I always take a few items in the ‘just in case’ category – a first aid kit (containing a lighter, compression bandages, band aids, antiseptic and painkillers), a headlamp and spare batteries, a litre of water, warm top, waterproof shell jacket, compass and map. If it’s likely to turn cold, a beanie and a pair of gloves go in too. And finally, the only excuse for not having a PLB these days is if you have a mobile phone with coverage and you can read a map properly."
Words_Tim Macartney-Snape