I sat down to a amazing lecture on ultra light backpacking. It’s inspired me to try to do it myself.  I’ll be keeping everything I learn here.

Transcript of Ultra light hiking sheet he handed out(with a few details added by me):

My Camera ran out of space and shut off near the end of his lecture. But I took notes on everything and included it below.

Backpack- Rucksack, very light thin backpack custom made
Use a trash compacter bag as a waterproof liner for the backpack.
torso sleeping pad, camp in a place with natural forest duff where its soft, the sleeping pad is just to stop conductive heat loss from the earth. sleeping pad also works as a pad for the backpack.
took the zipper off the sleeping bag to cut down weight. the idea is that he sleeps with it as a blanket over him.
I might prefer to be cocooned.
 
uses a turkey bag from the grocery store to waterproof the sleeping bag.
 
Tarp rather than tent. Uses a stick to prop it up.
grown cloth to protect him from moisture on the ground.
these two are cheap and essential.
 
Made a huge body net to protect from bugs.
 
golight umbrella-http://www.sunnysports.com/prod/GOLCDTU.html?ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=GOLCDTU
 
stove-burns on wood-http://www.bushbuddy.ca/
no need to carry fuel, no need to conserve fuel.
ate dry cereal, granola, dried fruits, dried vegetables, penutbutter and tortias, cheese, breads
buckweetgrowths, coconut powder is amazing source of fat.
 
carry cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly, just 3 so in case of emergency’s you can start a fire easily.
 
carry’s a lighter.
titanium spoon, a lot of people seem to say a titanium spoon is all you need.
 
hike in simple travel shorts and a button up shirt(which gives for venting control). Special material you would get at a hiking store, that can handle being worn for months.

Carry a black down jacket for insulation layers.
Rain jacket-lightweight rain shell.
 
wind pants- works well as a warmth layer and bug protection. Doesn’t actually use them for rain.
——INFO NOT IN THE VIDEO BELOW—–
Arm Warmers- made from black long girls socks with holes for the hand and thumb, they can be rolled to adjust cover and are easier to take off than a jacket. Portable long sleeves.

Smartwater plastic bottle- lightest of plastic water bottles and a Platypus 2 liter water bladder in backpack.

Carry’s a light around his neck and a small one he holds at his feet to light up the ground rather than infront of him.   

Had the smallest swiss army pocket knife on the market. Didn’t even use the knife, cut it in half and took off the stuff he didn’t need.
Uses the tweezers, mini scissors mostly. sort of the knife.

In the past he used a portable water purification tablets for drinking out of rivers and a filter for drinking out of really dirty stuff, but he says he’s developed a immunity over the years and doesn’t need it anymore.

Carry’s a Compass + multiple maps for navigation. He’s had a GPS unit before, it was really really useful a couple of times but he decided he didn’t need it.

Carry’s Sunglasses for snow also need sun screen or the inside of your nostrils will burn. He used to carry a full brim hat but now only wears a baseball cap as seen in the video.

Rope for hanging up food and a bear canister when going past bear country.

Ate 2lbs of food per day, he got a few mail drops of food, shoes, ect. From his friends at next adventure 6 or 9 times during his trips and otherwise refueled from local stores whenever he could.

Carried ID and Money

Longest he spent without visiting a town to refuel was 11 days.

Someone said that for most people Fear is the biggest weight of all. This was a strikingly insightful comment on the reason why most people won’t camp this light. Fear is the reason why hikers bring more than they need. Fear is the reason why hikers won’t sleep outside of a incased tent.

Is it really a hunting knife? Or is it just a security blanket shaped like a knife?

-I’ll keep this page updated as I learn more,

Jonathan