Death by 1,000 Ounces
It is easier to ruin a trip by having too much gear rather than too little. The issue with too much gear is weight, and too much weight means reduced mobility. As Ray Jardine, the master of ultralight backpacking says “If you need something and you don’t have it, then you don’t need it.” This may be pretzel logic, but it is the thought that counts. At best, cold-weather ski mountaineering is a heavy prospect, so don’t make it worse than it already is.
How much is too much? It depends, but if you are packing for a trip find yourself thinking “Oh, this doesn’t weigh too much… I’ll just bring it.” you can probably do without it.
Ben Ditto (140 lbs) with a 100 lb pack on the Southern Patagonia Ice Cap. Pure misery.
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Category: 14 Travel
