Pro tip: A guy on the JMT told me my pack was way too heavy

Back in 2018 on the John Muir Trail, some older hiker pointed at my 45-pound pack and just laughed. Said I was carrying three times what I needed and offered to help me dump stuff. I ended up mailing home my stove, most of my clothes, and a heavy tent at the next resupply. Dropped to 28 pounds and honestly the whole trip got way more fun. Anyone else get called out by a stranger and actually listened?

2 comments

2 Comments

foster.dylan5d ago

Yeah I had a guy on the PCT straight up dump my extra socks in a hiker box and I was pissed for about 20 minutes before I realized he was right.

simoncarr5d ago

Yeah the @foster.dylan thing about being pissed for 20 minutes then realizing they were right is spot on. Buddy of mine had a guy on the AT tell him to ditch his 8 pound camp chair and his cast iron skillet. He got real defensive at first. Stuffed them in a hiker box two days later after his back started killing him. Said he ended up sitting on a log and cooking in a titanium pot and it worked just fine.