Jordan Ryan - Lightweight backpacking and camping : a field guide to wilderness hiking equipment, technique and style

BY

George Cole
Carol Crooker
Alan Dixon
Rick Dreher
Lee Van Horn
Ryan Jordan
David Schultz
Stephanie Jordan
Alison Simon
Bill Thorneloe
Ellen Zaslaw

EDITOR
Ryan Jordan

MANAGING EDITORS
Alan Dixon and Vic Lipsey

2006, 2005 by Beartooth Mountain Press. All rights reserved
Printed in China

Beartooth Mountain Press

1627 West Main Street, Suite No. 310

Bozeman, MT 59715-4011

http://www.beartoothmountainpress.com

Email: info@beartoothmountainpress.com

editor : Ryan Jordan

managing editors : Alan Dixon and Vic Lipsey

contributing authors : George Cole, Carol Crooker, Alan Dixon, Rick Dreher, Lee

Van Horn, Ryan Jordan, David Schultz, Stephanie Jordan, Alison Simon, Bill

Thorneloe, Ellen Zaslaw

cover photo : Ryan Jordan carrying 9 pounds of gear, food, and water through

Montanas Spanish Peaks Wilderness

cover design : Beartooth Mountain Press

layout and manufacturing : Venture Arts (www.venturearts.com)

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwisewithout prior permission by the copyright holder, except as permitted by USA copyright law.

ISBN 0-9748188-2-8

S o many hands touched this book that its no easy task to comprehend how it came together, let alone acknowledge them all in writing. Putting a project of this magnitude together and considering the various perspectives of multiple enthusiastic authors in the process is somewhat like dropping a bag of marbles off the tip of the Matterhorn and seeing where they land: You just never know. But land they do (and did), and each landing zone featured something very special that you can never grasp when youre writing a book by yourself: the value of unique and different perspectives.

The last time I read the entire manuscript, this epiphany exploded right in front of me, so the obvious place to start is with the founding authors of the volume: George Cole, Lee Van Horn, Alan Dixon, Rick Dreher, and Dave Schultzall who joined me in writing this books precursor, Lightweight Backpacking 101 (Beartooth Mountain Press, 2003), and who spent countless hours in the planning stages of Lightweight Backpacking and Camping to define its vision and purpose. Also, to the other contributing authors that were either invited to submit content to the volume or who appear in the encore section (part 5) or appendices as authors of some of the outstanding articles and gear lists that have appeared in BackpackingLight.com through the years: Carol Crooker, Bill Thorneloe, Ellen Zaslaw, Alison Simon, and Stephanie Jordan.

This book would not have been possible without the creative energy of Vic Lipsey and company at V Major Creative in Seattle. Their editorial expertise, design prowess, and enthusiasm for the subject are worth more than the lightest gear money can buy. Well, OK, almost.

In addition, Alan Dixon deserves much of the credit for how this project has evolved. Lightweight Backpacking 101 was largely organized, edited, and managed by Alan. His investment in putting that volume together, and in helping guide the initial vision of this one, are greatly appreciated. Alans been instrumental in contributing to the lightweight backpacking movement as we know it today with tremendous enthusiasm, willing to experiment off the grid du normale, and an analytical approach to solving various ultralight dilemmas. Alan and I first met on an unnamed ridge in the Tetons in 2001 after exchanging GPS coordinates by email. Ive enjoyed every moment together, be it scrambling across the Wind River Crest, finding big trout in the Uintas, or rappelling all through the night in defeat off of the Middle Teton.

My family deserves as much kudos for the completion of this book as anyone listed here. My wife, Stephanie, and son, Chase, had to undergo sacrifices that no one in their right minds should have to endure. Remarkably, saying no to them with I cant, I have to work on the book never once invited anything but a supportive OK, go for it. I cant thank them enough. This is as much their book as it is ours, but not by entitlement: by love.

Finally, none of the enthusiasm about lightweight backpacking that was channeled into these pages would have been possible without the unquenchable lust for lightweight gear and knowledge that occupies the minds and hearts of backpackers everywhere. These are the folks for which these books, and Backpacking Light, were written. And so, a tremendous thanks to both the readership and the staff of Backpacking Light for fueling the fire that makes this so much fun.

We didnt really want to waste a whole page on this, but our attorney said we sort of had to. If it was up to us, wed keep it brutally simple:

But despite the fact that this one line should be sufficient, the legal guys tell us that it wouldnt be enforceable in a court of law. So heres the rest. This book is a compilation of information, perspectives, and opinions and is provided to the reader with no warranty whatsoever. This is not a safety manual. In contrast, it provides information about taking more risks when you enter the backcountry. Consequently, it is not intended for beginning backpackers or those that otherwise do not already know how to stay dry and warm in inclement weather, possess wilderness survival skills, and know how to recognize and avoid dangerous situations. Therefore, be warned that you must exercise your own judgment in evaluating the accuracy, applicability, and utility of the information provided herein.

THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, THAT INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS BOOK IS ACCURATE OR RELIABLE. THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES OF FITNESS OR TIMELINESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THIS BOOK IS MERCHANTABLE. YOUR USE OF THIS BOOK INDICATES YOUR ASSUMPTION OF THE RISK THAT IT MAY CONTAIN ERRORS AND IS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF YOUR OWN SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR HIKING, BACKPACKING, AND MOUNTAINEERING SAFETY.

Chapter 4: Navigation Lightweight Principles
and Equipment, by George Cole

Chapter 10: Trail Food , Backcountry Cooking, and Nutrition,
by Dave Schultz, Lee Van Horn, and Ryan Jordan

Chapter 14: Advanced Tarp Camping Techniques for
Inclement Conditions, by Ryan Jordan

Chapter 15: Superultralight Breaking the Five-Pound Barrier,
by Ryan Jordan

Chapter 16: Hiking Efficiency A Day in the Life of
an Ultralight Hiker, by Ryan Jordan