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That ranger in Yosemite told me to ditch my 45L pack, she was onto something
Last August I showed up at the Tuolumne Meadows trailhead with a 45L pack stuffed like I was crossing Antarctica. A ranger named Dana walked by, laughed, and said "you're gonna hate yourself by day three." She suggested I trim down to a 28L and mail half my gear home from the store there. I ignored her, and by day two my shoulders were wrecked on the Cathedral Lakes loop. I finally shipped 12 pounds of stuff back to Fresno and finished the 4-day route feeling 10 years younger. Has anyone else gotten gear advice from park staff that actually saved your trip? I still bring my heavy tent when it's just me, but that pack change stuck with me.
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jana5091mo ago
People always think more gear equals more prepared, but it's usually just more weight dragging you down. That ranger saw the same thing I notice everywhere: we hoard stuff out of fear and it ends up making everything harder. Sometimes the best advice is just letting go of the extras you never actually need.
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webb.hannah1mo ago
@jana509 exactly. I read this thing once about how experienced hikers often carry less because they've learned what they can actually live without. It's like the fear of needing something becomes worse than the actual need itself lol.
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