Ideal weight of the back pack to hike in Southern California?

[John Layton]

Something I always carry, rolled/folded up...an old (really old - my grandfather's WW1 issue) ground cloth - which I spread out on the ground before laying my backpack on top of this. Keeps the backboard and straps clean and dry, and helps keep dirt/sand/water/snow off of gear. And yes...about those boots - very important!

Drew...as you must know - those rescue choppers take great skill to fly at such high altitudes. I spoke with one climber who'd helped to lift and throw a small rescue chopper off the ground above the Khumbu icefall - air so thin that it lacked the lift necessary for the extra load, so six climbers literally lifted the chopper by its runners as the engine was going full tilt...and threw it upwards as it gained enough forward speed to barely clear the lip of the icefall. So hats off to your uncle!

[Jim Fitzgerald]

I know how important boots are trust me. My loads are not light but then I'm not as tough as Drew or John but what they say is true. I was on a trail years ago with my son and we had our crampons on and stopped for a break to enjoy the view when in the distance we saw two fools coming up the trail in those tennis hiker things. I politely told them that they could die and to go back. They stopped and we got out of there. I did not want to have to go for mountain rescue for these idiots. There is so much that can kill you out there you need to be prepared. Gear, conditioning and most of all common sense. I wonder if the OP got scared off?

[BradS]

I lead small groups on short, "Introduction to Backpacking" treks.
I give talks, distribute reading material and packing check lists and do pack checks prior to the outings.
The things I harp on and that get people turned away at the trail head are...

1. inadequate footwear (boots and socks)
2. insufficient water carrying capacity
3. inadequate rain gear
4. and, in the Sierra or anyplace during the rainy season, cotton trail clothing (bandannas, PJ's and sun hat can be cotton, nothing else!)

[Drew Wiley]

Agreed. Simple bubble packing works better and weighs next to nothing. And a down coat is not only soft, but provides superb thermal insulation to film containers.

[Drew Wiley]

It's always a good idea for beginning hikers to apprentice with experienced ones, even if only a few hours at a time at first. When hiking in the Fall, I often carried a spare jacket and raincoat, because there would always be some day-hiker in shorts and a T-shirt 5 or 7 miles back in the aspen under a flawless blue Nov Indian Summer sky. Then things would suddenly turn black and it would start snowing, and snowing, and snowing.

[faberryman]

I also carry a fold up helicopter in my backpack in case I run into a hiker that needs a medivac.

[Drew Wiley]

Is that attached to your deluxe Swiss Army knife?

[faberryman]

Is that attached to your deluxe Swiss Army knife?

Custom Leatherman.

[Two23]

I was on a trail years ago with my son and we had our crampons on and stopped for a break to enjoy the view when in the distance we saw two fools coming up the trail in those tennis hiker things.

I once saw a family of Chinese tourists hiking on a glacier wearing flip flops during a Canadian trip.


Kent in SD

[pepeguitarra]

Yes, I am reading, and I going to buy a pair of boots too. I do have a Columbia pair that I use for hiking only.