Now, if I may, have you already reduced weightto the minimum for the following items?
- yourself?
- your pack?
- your tent/mat?
- your shoes?
Yes, you may.
--BMI is a little less than 25, have lost about 5-10 pounds over the last several years
--Tent is a Tarptent (Rainshadow 3), which weighs 3 pounds and fits myself and 2 of my brothers; I don't have to carry it
--Canteens are Gatorade bottles (1-2 ounces each)
--Sleeping bag is Western Mountaineering, weighs 28 ounces as I recall; can't sleep without 3/4 length thermarest (about 24 ounces, I think).
--Pack itself weighs about 4.5-5 pounds empty (Osprey Aether I believe), much more comfortable than external frame pack I had. Need a large pack in order to carry a week worth of food and bear cannisters are required most places in the Sierra Nevada (and have lost food when not using bear cannisters)
--Shoes are boots with Vibram soles, about 3.5 pounds for the pair. I have found I can't go with anything lighter, as we often go cross country for long distances and my feet need the support, especially over talus (have spent up to 8 hours in a day on it). Also, I am no longer in my 50's.
--Polypore rainsuit weighs 10 ounces for pants and jacket
--Have decreased total pack weight as much as I can over the last 10 years, can't cut any more and still enjoy the trip. Total pack weight except food is about 28 pounds. Food and bear canister 12-14 pounds at beginning of trip.