UL Backpacking and motorcycle camping

[Uncle Fester]

I've thought it amazing that many of my opinions, outlooks and interests are dovetailed together at certain points. I've been looking into lightening my load on the trail, since I've been sitting at a desk and getting more out of shape every year, and with a 50 odd lb pack, I can't go far! With a lighter load, I can go farther, and get out there, and get back into things I haven't done in a long time. Enter Ultralight Backpacking.  Like my interest in bushcraft skills, the more you know the less you carry. Well, UL Backpacking fits great with a host of my interests, but doevtails very nicely with motorcycle trips / camping...  Here's a few pretty good sites I've come across.

http://www.ultralightbackpacker.com/

http://www.the-ultralight-site.com/

http://www.adventurealan.com/

http://www.backpacking.net/

I had no idea when I put together my first ten pound pack (minus consumables llike food/water,TP).. That there was a name for it! lol!

[Bumblebee]

It's amazing how many outdoor activities are directly related.

For any trip anywhere: Everything is sorted into two categories, wants and needs. Don't bother with wants. Lay out what you think you'll conservatively need then get rid of half of the pile. The next day, dump 2/3rds of what's left. Put half the remaining stuff in the pack and take just that. You'll still have more junk than you'll actually use. Seriously the real problem is that this society is a junk accumulating consumer culture. You've been programmed from day one that you need junk to justify your existence. You don't. You really seriously honestly do not need much stuff - especially on a trip.

Motorcycles:
Large day pack for motorcycle camping. Sleeping bag on the pax seat in front of the backrest. Tent and sleeping bag secured to the luggage rack along with any sharp/pointies. Find BLM land and enjoy.

Backpacking:
Real world operational list: Fully adjustable expedition level external frame pack (internal frames are horrific for long trips IMNSHO) Change of clothes consisting of one extra pair of pants, 1 long sleeve and 1 short sleeve shirt. Extra socks and undies. Jacket, fleece gloves, hat, rain gear, 0F sleeping bag, tent, towel. Camp stove, camp knife, two water bottles, lightweight water filter if desired, eating supplies, pooper paper. First aid kit. Paper map, flashlight, compass, camera, fishing gear, tree rope and two separate food tree bags. (Never ever put all your food in one bag in one tree) Food. And 2-3 lbs of solo specific gear. Hiking stick. I think that's the entire list.
35lbs total pack weight most of which is consumables. If you fish at all, that will get you 46 continous days solo in the backcountry of Colorado without getting anywhere near your reserve food supply.


Leave only footprints. Take only pictures.
Peace out.

[Uncle Fester]

But Bumblebee!  Your pack weighs in at like 10,000lbs! lol! You have an RV! lol! 
(I couldn't resist! Sorry! lol!) 

Seriously, that's exectly what I'm talking about.  Over the past 10 years or so, I've wanted less and less stuff. From cleaning out my house to smaller or less or homemade gear. Then a couple years ago, I decided nothing larger than what most would consider a large daypack.  That's it. I get cheaper and more creative eavery year. Everything has more than one purpose and is either well made or home made.   

[Bumblebee]

But Bumblebee!  Your pack weighs in at like 10,000lbs! lol!

Yea that too. Actually gross weight is 12,300 lbs plus 5000lbs towing capacity. I could dump some tonnage however I'm in this for the serious long haul. But..that's kinda what happens when you insist on taking your entire house with you on vacation. 

What can I say though? I'm a camping fanatic (continous camping day #899 as of today) and I'm camping right now and you're not so...neener neener neener. 

Seriously, that's exectly what I'm talking about.  Over the past 10 years or so, I've wanted less and less stuff.

Have you noticed that the more junk you get rid of, the less stressed you are because you don't have all that stuff around to take care of all the time? You don't own your stuff, it owns you.

Bumblebee (gone camping, not coming back - ever)

[rotomotor]

Last year, I tried to solve this problem if even for 2 days. I solo hiked up Longs Peak in CO and camped in the boulderfield. I didn't want to carry more than a smallish day pack and anymore than 20-25 pounds. That included an REI solo tent, a sub-kilo 20 degree bag, 3/4 sleeping pad, 2 flexible water containers (Platypus), a water filter, food for 2-3 days (always bring extra), stove, fuel bottle, camera, sunscreen, knife, 10 essentials etc. and enough clothes and gear to get to the top of the peak. The campsite is at 12,700 feet so you can't skimp on gear too much at the beginning of September. It was a lot of fun to carry everything to be self sufficient in such a small load. It was no fun to carry it down though. I want my own sherpa.
See pics here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2007883&id=1243872093&l=97b7b9f849

[Gizmo]

"continuous camping day #899 as of today"   

Holy smokes!
Are you homeless?     

[LOKi]

I'm going to look into some serious weight savings for future motorcycle trips. Goal is to shave at least 20lbs. Could go on a diet but I need more weight off the back of the bike not the front. So something has to give in what I pack. I was fine until I added the laptop and a box of cords and plugs. That little bit of extra weight put it over the top. Anything over 90mph was down right scary. There are times in the desert where I really want to be able to wick it up to 105 or so. Shedding 20lbs from the back of the bike will help a great deal.

Areas to save weight.

1) Tool roll. Current roll is heavy. By far the heaviest thing I pack. What do I need the tool roll to cover? Just about any repair you can think of on the side of the road. Anything that doesn't require the engine to come off the bike or be cracked open. So a pretty intense set of tools. While I have the bike apart I'm going to do an inventory of every tool needed to rebuild the thing and put it back together. Any tool not used will get pulled from the set. Then I would like to replace the remaining tools with titanium. I know EXPENSIVE! But shedding 20lbs is not going to be cheep or easy. Hopefully shave a good 10-12lbs there. When I figure it out I'll post my list on this thread.

2)Tent. My current tent is a 3 person Marmot. I really like this tent. It's light (~5lbs) and somewhat compact. It keeps me dry and all my bags fit inside. But I think I'm going to go with a bivi and a tarp on my next trip. My roommate said I can use his bivi/tarp setup to give it a try. So another 2-2.5lb saving there.

3)sleeping bag. My current bag while not really heavy (backpacking bag) it's not that light either. I camp enough to warrant a good sleeping bag so I'm going to look into some down bags. That could shave another 1lb here.

4)charger and cords. I find it odd that computer manufactures make these ultra portable laptops. Thin enough to fit in any bag. Small enough for road trips. Everything about the design of these things is small small small. But when it comes to recharging this already DC system you must plug into a big ass building. There is no 12v. plug for the computer. They don't make one. Even the people I have talked to at Toshiba agree it is short sited not to have a car adapter standard with these things. Enter IGO. http://www.igo.com/ The roommates went with this system because between the two of them they had a rather large box of wires to charge phones, mp3 players, GPS's and the travel netbook. The one IGo has interchangeable tips that fit anything. So you don't need any wires or chargers. Probably another 3-3.5lbs here.

This should save me anywhere from 15-19lbs. If I replace most of my clothing with lightweight hiking gear I can probably save another lb or so there. I have plenty of space and this tends to lead to over packing. I did note that I was short some warm clothes for cold nights camping at altitude. Bringing extra puffy clothes is the only thing I'm going to add to my packing list. The puffy stuff doesn't add much weight but takes up much more space. I guess it's good to fill the available space. Keeps things from shifting around in the bags.

[Bumblebee]

There is no 12v. plug for the computer.

They do exist for some brands however they're about $100. You can buy an 400W inverter for $50. The problem is that an inverter and charger pulls a lot of power that will eat a motorcycle battery quick. My inverter just to charge the laptop is my highest power consumption device by major degrees of magnitude. A handful of full charges and I'm running the generator to recharge the house batteries yet I can go months without charging otherwise.

"continuous camping day #899 as of today"   bugey
Holy smokes!
Are you homeless?      

I'm prison-cell-less and rathole-less if that's what you mean.
I am not anywhere near being homeless though society treats me as if I live in a cardboard box under a bridge. (I'm not on the 2010 census because of it) My front yard is the road ahead. My backyard is the entire North American continent. I don't waste weekends manicuring several hundred square feet of yard. I let it mine run wild in the form of state and national parks and forests.

Today is day #1353. That's 3 years and 9ish months and counting. My back yard has been something like two dozen plus state and national parks just this summer...So far...

Just a routine run of the mill day living miles deep in a national forest near a national park:

[Gizmo]

Whoa! Now THAT IS NIRVANA!

I'm a newbie here, so forgive me, but I feel like I have run into Obi-Wan.

The logistics of how you have done this needs to be it's own thread so we can live vicariously through you first, and take serious notes (and possibly an exam) second.  (I hate my several hundred feet of yard so much, I pay another person to mow it.)

From your favorite meals to how you keep the fuel tanks full.

Off the grid is absolutely incredible. I'm not even sure I have the testicular fortitude to even try it.

[Bumblebee]

Whoa! Now THAT IS NIRVANA!

Nirvana? Thinking like that and you're finished before you start. The reality is not for everyone. There are great days however it's not all glory and happy world stuff. The best planning is minimal planning and be adaptable no matter what happens.

Off the grid? I haven't touched my shore power cord since mid May.

Go here for starters:
http://nighthawk-forums.com/index.php/topic,1429.0

[Gizmo]

Excellent reading.
Thanks.
I would fail to the tool test.

But, do ever get the urge to check into a plush hotel with a spa and get a sauna/massage/sauna/massage for a few days?   

   

[Bumblebee]

But, do ever get the urge to check into a plush hotel with a spa and get a sauna/massage/sauna/massage for a few days?

Less often than you get the urge to go swimming in an overflowing septic tank. The thought of anything not camping is repulsive in the extreme.

Those are consecutive as well as total camping days. Motorhome, tent or just a sleeping bag the whole time. No other accommodations. It's a lifestyle, not a hobby.