Creating a lightweight outfit can be quite interesting. I knew a fellow who hiked the Pacific Crest Trail twice back-to-back. I supplied a Yashica T4 and lots of Kodak 400UC for the trip. Shaving weight off of gear can be quite interesting. I also supplied him with a small Bogen head, which was fitted to the top of one of his hiking sticks with a double-screw from a hardware store.
What needs to be done is figure out how much the complete kit can weigh. I bet that the complete kit will weigh 20 pounds pack weight, including film. Maybe he would be better off with a light MF camera like the Mamiya 67.
One thing that I have not seen is a camera made from balsa wood. That wood is both light weight and quite strong. Isn't there a view camera made from carbon fiber or some molded plastic? I remember reading a review, but that was a few years back.
I would see what a Polaroid, Readyload, or Quickload holders weigh, and compare that to the weight of a changing bag. Your friend will also have to remember that dust may be a significant factor on the trip, and that can really mess things up. If he can get any kind of a resupply along the way, then he can pick up/drop off film as he goes.
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