TrailTalk Packweight Analysis By Phil

The Original Hypothesis Is ultraLight an eastern thing? “I have acquired a perception that ultralight backpacking is primary a practice of those that frequent lower elevations and warmer climes. So is there any truth to that? I am not suggesting that up nort people and those at higher elevations don’t try to shave the weight down. I am suggesting that the 20 pound pack for a 3 to 5 day trip is much more difficult to achieve when you need to be prepared for snow in July and rain that is sideways. Crampons and ice axe may even be need to get over passes. So how many north Rocky Mountain people hike (in the Rockies) with sub 30 pound packs?” mtn gal mtn gal 1:23:18 PM 3/23/05

On-Line Survey Survey conducted for 5 days to see how much packweights vary by region of the country Based on typical Spring, Summer, Fall Pack East and West North and South 63 Packweights reported

Conclusion It does appear that Eastern packweights are lighter than Western Packweights Northeastern packweights are the lightest Southwestern packweights are the heaviest

Data Table SWNWSENETotal lbs lbs lbs lbs lbs lbs lbs11103 Total