Packing Strategy
Background
This page contains our notes on how to distribute everything within our packs. Ken has two different packs, a 60L GoLite Quest and a 70L Osprey Argon. Our packing strategy varies depending on which pack Ken is using. The Osprey is larger and is used for longer hikes and/or when we use the bear canister (which doesn't fit in the Quest).
We typically have 70-75 lb of gear to split between us. We aim to give Julie 30-35 lb, and then the remainder goes in Ken's pack.
Estimation
We've found that between 1.5 and 2 cups of rice in a quart-sized ziploc is a good approximation of a single meal for one person. So, even if you don't have your food available, you can estimate volume and weight by creating and packing rice "meals".
During previous packing tests, we have found that towels do a good job of simulating volume (but not weight). For instance, a large bath towel, folded lengthwise and then rolled on its narrow end, is a reasonable approximation of a tent. Towels can also be used to fill stuff sacks and bags to simulate the volume taken up by clothes, food, etc.
Configuration I
In Configuration I, Ken uses his GoLite Quest. We each take our own personal gear (clothing, rain gear, sleeping gear, sit pad, 3L Camelbak and 1L Nalgene bottle). Julie takes an extra 1L Nalgene bottle, the tent-related items, and most of the non-critical miscellaneous gear (since her pack does not have an outside pocket). Ken takes the food and the miscellaneous gear that needs to be accessible on the trail (since the Quest does have an outside pocket).
Julie's Pack
Julie's pack is a 45L Deuter ACT Lite that can be expanded to 55L. It has one pocket on top of the cover (#1, zipper not shown), and one main pocket that can optionally be subdivided (#3 and #4). There are also mesh and elastic pockets on the sides (not marked), and some elastic strings on the outside of the pack (shown as #2, holding a sit pad).
| Contents | |
|---|---|
| Top pocket (#1) | Rain gear, emergency blanket |
| Elastic strings (#2) | Sit pad |
| Main pocket (#3) | See below |
| Side mesh pockets | 1L Nalgene bottles (2), not shown |
Everything is in the main pocket of Julie's pack (pocket #3). The picture below shows where the major items are placed. Some items are not visible or are not shown.
| Item | Container | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Item #1 | Rolled, with elastic straps | Sleeping pad |
| Item #2 | N/A | Windbreaker, shoved behind pad. Now that we use The Packa for rain gear, we no longer bring a windbreaker. This frees up some space. |
| Item #3 | Granite Gear Drylite | Sleeping bag |
| Item #4 | Silnylon sack | Tent |
| Item #5 | Sea-to-Summit UltraSil, 4L | Socks, underwear, bandana, pajamas |
| Item #6 | Sea-to-Summit UltraSil, 4L | All other clothes |
| Item #7 | Ziploc bags | Inside and outside groundcloths for tent |
| Food prep items | Ziploc or OP Sak | Utensils, dishes, and cozies. In bear country, anything that might be smelly goes into an odor-proof bag. |
| Various | Ziploc bags | Misc items like water purification, playing cards, etc., shoved where they fit |
| Not shown | Ziploc | Towel, pillow, pad inflation, other misc. |
| Not shown | N/A | 3L Camelbak reservoir, along back of pack |
Ken's Pack
Ken's pack is a 60L GoLite Quest. It has one pocket on top of the cover (#1, zipper not shown), one front pocket that zips (#2), and one main pocket which is not subdivided (#5). There are also mesh and elastic pockets on the sides which do not zip (#4), and two small zipped pockets on the hip belt (not shown).
| Contents | |
|---|---|
| Hip belt | Compass, pocket knife, keys |
| Top pocket (#1) | Rain gear, emergency blanket |
| Front pocket (#2) | Tent stakes, first aid kit, emergency kit, snake-bite kit, toilet trowel, sunblock, hand sanitizer, etc. |
| Mesh pocket (#3) | Sit pad |
| Mesh pocket (#4) | 1L Nalgene bottle, not shown |
| Main pocket (#5) | See below |
Almost everything is in the main pocket of Ken's pack (pocket #5). The picture below shows where the major items are placed. Some items are not visible or are not shown.
| Item | Container | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Item #1 | Sea-to-Summit UltraSil, 4L | Convertible pants, sweatshirt, short-sleeved shirt |
| Item #2 | Sea-to-Summit UltraSil, 2L | Underwear, socks, bandana, pajamas |
| Item #3 | Granite Gear Drylite | Sleeping bag |
| Item #4 | Sea-to-Summit UltraSil, 2L | Sleeping socks, gloves, hat, long underwear |
| Item #5 | Rolled, with elastic straps | Sleeping pad |
| Item #6 | Mesh sack | Stove, pot, fuel. We consider it safe to store this directly in the pack even in bear country, because we only use the pot for boiling water. |
| Item #7 | N/A | Windbreaker. Now that we use The Packa for rain gear, we no longer bring a windbreaker. This frees up some space. |
| Item #8 | Ursack lined with OP Sak | Food and smelly items like toothpaste and deoderant |
| Not shown | Ziploc, slid on top of stove | Towel, pillow, pad inflation, other misc. |
| Not shown | N/A | 3L Camelbak reservoir, along back of pack |
Configuration II
In Configuration II, Ken uses his Osprey Argon. We each take our own sleeping bag, 3L Camelbak, and rain gear, emergency blanket, and head net. Then, Julie's pack gets all of the clothes, and both sleeping pads. The food and basically everything else goes in Ken's pack.
Julie's Pack
Julie's pack is a 45L Deuter ACT Lite that can be expanded to 55L. It has one pocket on top of the cover, and one main pocket that can optionally be subdivided. There are also mesh and elastic pockets on the sides, and some elastic strings on the outside of the pack.
| Contents | |
|---|---|
| Top pocket | Rain gear, emergency blanket |
| Side mesh pockets | 1L Nalgene bottles, one on each side |
| Main pocket | Sleeping bag, clothes, sleeping pads, bike pump, clothesline bag (including DAM valve) |
Everything that Julie carries can be squashed, and we shouldn't need access to most of it during the day. So, she just shoves it wherever it fits. The sleeping bag goes at the bottom, and everything else is piled on top of that.
Ken's Pack
Ken's pack is a 70L Osprey Argon. It has two pockets on top of the cover (one smaller, one larger); two small pockets on the sides of the pack near the bottom (one with a zipper); a bottom compartment that can be accessed with its own zipper; a large main compartment that can be accessed both from the top opening and from a vertical zipper along the front of the pack; and a vertical sleeve on the outside of the main pocket.
| Contents | |
|---|---|
| Bottom Compartment | Sleeping bag |
| Top pocket (small) | First aid kit, emergency kit |
| Top pocket (large) | Rain gear, emergency blanket, head net |
| Side pocket (zipper) | Tent stakes, compass, bag with sunblock/sanitizer/bug spray, kleenex |
| Side pocket (no zipper) | Empty |
| Vertical sleeve | Tent, groundclothes |
| Strapped on bottom | Sit pads |
| Hung on pack | Five Fingers (for river crossings) |
| Main compartment | See below |
The main compartment contains all of the miscellaneous gear. The bear canister makes it a real pain to pack the compartment. The bear canister gets shoved on the left side of the compartment. The 3L water reservoir is shoved along the right side of the canister, rather than along the back of the pack as usual. That's all the big stuff.
In the open space around the water reservoir on the right side of the compartment, an empty 1L Nalgene bottle is shoved toward the bottom, and the SteriPEN, flashlights, weather radio, and toiletries follow. These items are kept on the right side, because that's where the vertical zipper is. (The toiletries will go in the bear canister if there's space.)
Everything else goes at the top of the main compartment: towel, washclothes, toilet paper and trowel, whisk broom, stove, books, and food for the day, in a small odor barrier bag.
