[at-l] Pack weights of yesteryear

[Linda Benschop]

Earl told me that Granny Gatewood didn't carry any food, that she just 
knocked on doors and asked for food.  That really upset Earl.
I don't have the Rodale books, but was wondering how much weight Dorothy 
Lake carried.

Hugs, Hummingbird




Raphael Bustin wrote:
> At 08:49 PM 9/25/2006 -0400, skeeter wrote:
>
>   
>> There's been a distinct bell curve in pack weights since then.
>> Dig out the old Rodale Press set and check out some of the gear listings.
>> When you went hiking in the 60's you bought a Kelty frame pack at
>> about 3.5pounds. Your tent was a coated nylon
>> pup tent at about 3 pounds max, or a sheet of plastic for a tarp for even
>> less. Rain gear was a plastic poncho instead of
>> pounds of Goretex.
>>     
>
>
>  From the two Rodale books.  This took about an hour
> or two to skim (there are about 40 diaries or so, in
> 1866 pages.)  I may have missed a few.
>
>
> Earl Shaffer: (p. 36) 30 lbs, "including camera and hatchet."
> Gene Espy (p. 38) 45 lbs.
> Granny Gatewood (p. 58) 14-17 lbs.
> Owen F. Allen (p. 293) 25 lbs max
> Max Bender (p. 384) "around 40 lbs."
> James Fox (p. 389) "around 25 lbs with a week's food"
> Ray Baker (p 440) "around 40 lbs"
> Howard Bassett (p. 664) "35 lbs, with a week's food"
> Everett Skinner (p 817) 40 lbs
> Nell Skinner (p 817) 20 lbs
> Jeffrey Hancock (p. 1113) 50 lbs
> Branley Owen (p. 1166) 27-28 lbs, max
>   











> Charles Konopa (p. 1185) 30 lbs or less
> Art Smith (p. 1477) 45 lbs at Springer, 30 lbs in Maine
> Robert Winslow (p. 1531) "40-43 lbs leaving town"
>
>
>
>   
>> Then somewhere in the 80's and 90's the gear manufacturers came out with the
>> "bombproof" stuff that so many people
>> bought into. And now that we're getting older and our knees are shot we're
>> going back to the lighter gear... <g>
>>     
>
>
> As good a theory as any I've heard.  I'll buy it.
> How many of those who hiked 30 years ago are still doing so?
> How many of those who hiked 15 years ago are still doing so?
> I'm proud to answer "yes" to both.
>
>
> rafe b
> aka terrapin
>
>
>