Single Night S Rim Hike?

[SHANEA]

Shane:
What backpack are you using? I'm going to have to get something for this trip and I don't know where to start, other than going to Whole Earth and trying on everyhting that looks like it might do.
   Thanks!
      Bill

I went to REI in Dallas over off of LBJ and found someone that would help me - told him I wanted a comfortable backpack.  He started me out with some lower end REI backpack, it felt "ok", and we kept trying them until I found one I really liked.  He'd load it down with about 30lbs of weights in it, adjust everything, and I'd hike around the store.  Tried on this one Osprey Aether 70 Pack and asked why he didn't show it to me first.  Told me I had to appreciate the difference between the units, which explained the price tag.  The custom molded belt is outstanding along with the air flow.  After I lost a fair amount of weight I went back and for free they actually gave me a new belt as I'd shed 30 some odd pounds and remolded the belt and readjusted everything for free.  The top portion of the pack removes and so does the belt and the two are easily mated together to form a nice day pack.

I probably spent two solid hours trying on backpacks and walking around with them on.

[SA Bill]

Thanks to all for the water transport tips! I'll save a couple of soda bottles to go along with a couple of smaller water bottles I already have.

Shane:  Thanks for the pack info! That Osprey looks nice. I do think trying packs on, with some weight in them, is the best way to go. I'll have to see where that can happen around SA. Whole Earth Provisions? Good Sports? Maybe another one or two places if I think about it. A trip to REI in Austin could happen.

I like the spreadsheet idea Jeff! I have a check list started so it will be easy to add a column for weights. No surprises!
   Bill

[SA Bill]

Hmmmm....quick spreadsheet calc at lunch today shows 44-45 pounds on the back going up. 20 lbs of that weight is just the water (2.5 gallons)! Gonna have to really think about things like a tripod (only 2 pounds!), a book, sweat pants, etc.  I'd really like to be at 40 pounds tops going up, knowing that the load will lighten as the water is consumed.
  Much thinking to be done.....
     Bill

[russco]

Bill...Just to say it ...you don't really need jack-crap for a one night s. rim loop. No tent, no stove, no nada. Just you and the view from the top. Really I would bring my PACK, first aid kit,WATER,camera,LIGHT WEIGHT FOOD,LIGHT WEIGHT SELF-INFLATING 3/4 LENGTH AIR MATTRESS with CHAIR,LIGHTWEIGHT SLEEPING BAG, CONVERTIBLE PANTS, SHORT SLEEVE COTTON SHIRT,LONG SLEEVE POLYBLEND SHIRT, gorillapod, HEADLAMP,TP and BAGGIESand a topo map (not that you'll get lost but it's nice to have when your trying to figure out how much farther your going to have to LUG that water!) Campmor is a great place to buy gear as well as REI just make sure your buying in the clearance section. In fact I have bought almost everything I own in the clearance section of various different websites. One more thing... a pamphlet on the flora and fauna of the Chisos....love figuring out what all the plants are along the way.Just wanted to take a moment and share with you my basic essentials list...hope it helps to keep you grounded. Anyways it's OK to not be a gearhead! And your wallet will appreciate it! Cheers!

[SHANEA]

Hmmmm....quick spreadsheet calc at lunch today shows 44-45 pounds on the back going up. 20 lbs of that weight is just the water (2.5 gallons)! Gonna have to really think about things like a tripod (only 2 pounds!), a book, sweat pants, etc.  I'd really like to be at 40 pounds tops going up, knowing that the load will lighten as the water is consumed.
  Much thinking to be done.....
     Bill

Funny how ounces turn into lbs and how only 2 pounds - like a tripod - turn into 40lbs.  Pack it up, weigh it.  Unpack it - strip out everything you don't need.  Pack it up.  When you get to the trail the night before, unpack it, and pull out everything you don't absolutely need.  Funny, how things like pieces of paper weigh a lot. 

Go try out some packs and have them fill it to 40lbs.  If it's not comfortable in the store on flat even ground, then it's going to be horrid on the trail.    Make sure you wear at least your hiking boots to the store when you try it out...   

[SHANEA]

Thanks to all for the water transport tips! I'll save a couple of soda bottles to go along with a couple of smaller water bottles I already have.

However, remember that soda bottles and smaller water bottles are going to add the infamous onces - and also will take up space as they are inflexible.  Soda bottles, generally, are going to be heavier than other types of water transport devices.  Each small bottle is going to weigh ~ about the same, in the range of a larger bottle - especially when you consider the lid/cap is going to be duplicated on each device. 

Heck, you can stand anything for one night.  I'd just go up with virtually nothing but some energy bars, shot blocks, water, etc.  Just lay the sleeping bag out on the ground.  Heck, the way you like to read the heavens, no need for a book or even a sleeping bag.  You'll be up all night...    

[mule ears]

Thanks to all for the water transport tips! I'll save a couple of soda bottles to go along with a couple of smaller water bottles I already have.

However, remember that soda bottles and smaller water bottles are going to add the infamous onces - and also will take up space as they are inflexible.  Soda bottles, generally, are going to be heavier than other types of water transport devices.  Each small bottle is going to weigh ~ about the same, in the range of a larger bottle - especially when you consider the lid/cap is going to be duplicated on each device. 

True soda bottles are not collapsable but they are light.  A 32 oz Aquafina bottle weighs .08 oz., the same as a 32 oz. playtpus.  A 80 oz. (2.5 liter) platypus is 1.44 oz. and when empty is flat but costs something like $5.

As Colin Fletcher used to say "When planning a house on your back, the weightiest matter is weight" and "if you look after the ounces the pounds will look after themsleves"

[SA Bill]

Hi russco!
Too late!!!  I'm a gearhead at heart...whether backpacking, photography, astronomy...all ways to spend way too much money too quickly.

I need a pack so I'm at least going to buy a pack. Probably buy some trekking poles to try also. Could use a new pair of boots....you get the idea. I looked at a few packs that seemed like they would do and they weighed 5 pounds! Off the list! Still looking.

That all said, I really am figuring to go without very much. That's kinda why it was enlightening to see I'd be carrying 45 pounds. That's with 2.5 gallons of water. I could cut out the .5 and get down to about 40 pounds. I doubt that I'll do that though. Just have to cut some other stuff.
   Bill

[SA Bill]

Good points Shane!
Speaking of star gazing and backpacking, I used to carry a small telescope on hikes as high as 12,000' in Colorado. Up that high, the stars are spectacular! For this trip in October, I'm limiting myself to a tiny pair of binoculars that weigh .5 pounds. I gotta have at least that much!!     The rest of the stuff is subject to being tossed at a moments notice, as you suggested, at the trail head.
   Bill

[SHANEA]

Bill,

Just hire a Sherpa.  I don't know why some enterprising individual doesn't start a Sherpa service out there - then you really can take it all with you.  Haul that 72qt Igloo up there chocked full of ice cold beverages, etc.  Heck, they have those Rio Grande river gourmet feasts.   Instead of spending all that money on new equipment, just hire a Sherpa.   They could do it easily with pack mules...

[SA Bill]

Sherpas! What a great idea!!

How about llamas?

This looks like it's slow but....
  http://www.drpower.com/TwoStepCategory.aspx?Name=Powerwagon2Step&Redirect=true

   Bill

[SHANEA]

SA Bill, I'm a little concerned about the noise?

But, that unit looks great to haul things up to the Christmas Mountains...  Not a bad price either @ $1,619 with free shipping...  Heck, the top of the line one is only $2,500...   

Should have picked up the aerial tramway from the now defunct  Astroworld and strung it up - or maybe the old steam engine train...     

[stingrey]

SA Bill, I was in the same boat as you as far as gearing up was concerned... My wife and I will be making a 2 night stop on the rim in less than 30 days (woo hoo!!!) and I wanted to make sure we had the best blend of comfort, durability, and convenience. We stopped at REI twice during this process, and each time we were rewarded in our efforts. The other spot I hit was eBay... I got my boots on eBay...

I got some Asolo FSN 95 GTX shoes on eBay for $86 shipped, and I found my Big Agnes Seedhouse SL3 with footprint on eBay for $288 I got the tent for an outing in May, and we'll also be using this tent in July. We need something to keep critters out. Regardless, the REI finds included backpacks for the two of us (UTSA's free loaners were cool, BUT I needed something that was more camera friendly), some new shoes for my wife, a head lamp, and some Nalgene 100 oz collapsible water bottles.

The pack I got for myself is the High Sierra Long Trail 90 for $89, and it is PERFECT for taller guys like myself. The waist strap is sorta long, but it is able to be tightened, and the straps are able to be secured against themselves, so that in itself is no biggie. The pack is hydration compatible. Last week Sports Authority had Camelbak's on sale @ 20% off, so I got their 100oz bladder that comes in a cinch-on pack for $29 (less than a retail 100oz bladder to begin with!), and if that wasn't all awesome enough, the pack even has a built in rain fly AND it was highly reviewed at REI when it WAS on their site a few weeks ago. Might still be there, just can't find it.

The single most important thing we bought in gearing up for this trek, though, was a Texas Parks pass. My wife and I have already hiked Government Canyon with our gear (Asolo's are AWESOME, by the way) INCLUDING full rations of water. Make sure you load your pack down with similar amounts of whatever you will be taking, make sure your shoes do the trick for you BEFORE you take on South Rim, and make sure you stop and enjoy what is out there while you are walking around. A lot of people love going up the LM side, but I am almost convinced that Pinnacles is a better route up... I could be wrong, but that's my opinion.

Pinnacles has a perfectly timed bench stop at almost exactly 1 mile up. After that, you pass through the Juniper Flats area, and things are somewhat less strenuous until you get to Toll Mountain. By that point, however, and once you get up past that last stretch of inclines, you are on a level walking area with another perfectly placed stopping area by a bathroom and by the Emory Peak junction. You can stop there, sit on the bear boxes, and just have a nice break on something easy to sit on. I know there is a bench on the other side, but it seems like you have to go a LONG way to get to it for some reason. I don't know...

Many people have problems ascending, and descending is no problem for them. I'm the opposite. I can climb for days, but coming down kills my knees. I have trekking poles for said issue, but last time I didn't use them. I took my time coming down. If you don't rush, you are less likely to be killing your knees in either direction. Regardless, trekking poles DO help, and if you've never used them you are in for a treat when you do use them. Light weight is the way to go with those, and that's why some are expensive and some are cheap. My cheap Bass Pro trekking poles do the trick for me, but since I didn't use them last time, I may not take them this time.

What I DID wish I had last time, we also got at REI recently. They have these tripod style stools/chairs. They are $15, they are in the chair area, and they are pretty lightweight. There are a ton of chairs that are similar that can be found at Sportsman's Warehouse and at CampMor and even at Bass Pro, but they don't all weigh just 18 oz, and they aren't all as sturdy as REI's Camp Stool (search for same, look for $15 price if you want to see what we got). Though I'm happy sitting on a stump or a rock, it would've been (and WILL be) nice to have something to sit on while chowing down on whatever portable food we take on the trail with us.

The bags we have are by Big Agnes, as are the inflatable pads that we got with the bags. I've got the Fishhawk (large) with its corresponding pad. In short, the bag and pad would be good enough with a tarp on the ground or as standby to sleep under/on if the weather warranted it. The approximate 4 lbs the bag puts on my back is nothing in contrast to knowing that at least some of the creatures I have seen out there will not be making their way into my comfy bag while I'm sleeping. Though I'm up for sleeping under the stars during less frantic times in relation to animal activity, I'm not ready to subject myself to the smaller nuisances that will be active during the summer months.

All in all, I am EXTREMELY happy with the pack, the weight of the bag and tent, and I'm understanding of the weight of the water and food. I have no problem adding my camera gear to that mix, and I took just the right amount of clothes last time. The only thing I took in excess was food. I used ALL of the water I took (gave a bag to someone who was running short, rationed the rest and got down on empty), and the only thing that really kinda troubled me was my shoes. That's why I got the Asolo's per Exception's suggestion.

Not sure that I got the exact model he recommended, but I found that shoe nicely reviewed and in my price range and took a chance. As long as your ankles are already good with shifting terrain, these shoes made walking the rough areas of Government Canyon like walking in tennis on paved surfaces. If you get NOTHING else to cut down on your pack weight, the MOST important thing is the shoes. I guarantee that everything you carry will feel that much lighter if your feet aren't killing you a quarter of the way up the trail! Don't forget to pair your shoes with a good pair of hiking socks, though!!! Also, if you'd like to hit REI some upcoming weekend and you don't have company, let me know! I don't need anything from there, but that doesn't stop me from finding new stuff to bring home from there!

[mule ears]

My wife and I have already hiked Government Canyon with our gear (Asolo's are AWESOME, by the way) INCLUDING full rations of water. Make sure you load your pack down with similar amounts of whatever you will be taking, make sure your shoes do the trick for you BEFORE you take on South Rim,

Before big trips I start walking around the neighborhood (about 3 miles, with some hills involved) every other day, carrying the pack, beginning five weeks before the trip.  I increase my load slowly adding 10 pounds every week until I am carrying 10 pounds more than what I expect my starting weight to be, when I start the trip the pack feels lighter than expected! 

Also, if you'd like to hit REI some upcoming weekend and you don't have company, let me know! I don't need anything from there, but that doesn't stop me from finding new stuff to bring home from there!

Just got the REI summer sale and clearance add, starts Friday the 27th.  Sounds like it might be just in time.

[badknees]

Take a pair of flip flops, or something more comfortable (I use Speedo swim sandals). Very nice for getting out of your boots at the end of the day.