Weight of packs - south coast track

[north-north-west]

Since when do you put the pack on before you stand up?

Almost always. I either rest it on a rock or fallen tree or something else at a comfortable height, sit and don the pack. Or, if there's nothing suitable around, sit on the ground, don the pack, roll over onto my knees and stand up. Regularly don a loaded pack in a standing position without assistance and you're looking at spinal damage.

[Moondog55]

As an example of what I think is someone who needs to rethink their packweight I submit the following YouTube link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqLPhw0J ... uO-86M0hQ=

Since when do you put the pack on before you stand up?
As you say, each to their own...

Well often actually when the pack is really heavy, I remember doing this on a winter walk in the High Country one very wild winter back in the 1980s. pack weight for a fortnite or more in those days was 45 kilos ( Yes 94 pounds ) and was 2/3s of my body weight. I remember that first days slog up Dungies Track vividly and not fondly.

Just our tent must have weighed 7 kilos wet and in winter it was usually damp ( Vango Force 10 MW ) this was the medium weight version, the Standard ( heavy) must have been double that

http://www.vango.co.uk/expedition/class ... d-mk3.html
I don't think the new standard is as heavy as the old one, the old one used the same fabric for the inner as for the outer, the MW used the heavy inner fabric with a nylon outer tent and the Lightweight used a much lighter cotton inner and the nylon outer

[jacko1956]

If you are carrying skis, snowshoes etc obviously the conditions are extreme enough that a higher weight is inevitable (and as I have already said a lightweight pack is not an option).
However this to me indicates that your walk is more an expedition than a bushwalk.
I view the difference as being an expedition is where the walk/hike is secondary and there is an element of being more or less stationary when you reach some point or points. A bushwalk is a hike where you keep moving and in the cases we are discussing here you do so for days at a time.
An expedition is something where a heavy pack is fine as the hike is the means to an end and the true enjoyment is when you get to where you're going. Getting there is an accomplishment but probably not a pleasure.
For me I tend to pick expeditions where I can get close with the car....
A multiday bushwalk is where the enjoyment includes (but is not limited to hopefully) the actual hiking. I just feel that those who are carrying very heavy packs for multiday bushwalks are relishing the pleasure of the accomplishment and the stops but lose on the pleasure that can be had from the walk itself. Again I stress I never want to make anyone feel that they are doing the wrong thing especially while on the walk, but I just found myself that for me a sub 16-17kg pack is not a strain and at about 19-20kg I find the pain seriously impinges on the experience. Call me a wuss but that's my cutoff point.

[Moondog55]

Nope, this was a high peaks traverse along the Alpine Walking track, in mid winter, 1985 or 1986.
Topped up in Hotham from a dump we had left at one of the ski lodges, should have left a dump at Falls Creek instead but did not know any-body there at the time. No expedition; just a hard long bushwalk, no skis or snowshoes that trip, bought them the next winter tho, But when i travel in winter above the snow-line i always carry an ice axe, mainly used instead of a walking stick but useful. Nearly always carry crampons too, and a small length of safety rope ( static rope ) for helping kids or companions up or over stuff that may be at the edge of their ability or comfort level. Have to say we really needed the axes and crampons on the side trip up Feathertop that year.
We catered for 3600 Calories per day and I lost 12 kilos over the 3 weeks of the trip.
We were using older style equipment, rugged, dependable and just a little heavier than I use now, for instance after that trip we changed the 111B for an MSR X-GK and bought a lightweight nylon tent and promptly bought a heavier nylon tent for the next winter, the little Eureka Firelight was simply too small and light for an alpine wind plus wet snow

[choppo]

hi i did the sc with my farther inlaw a few years back. we ate like kings had lots of left over food and fuel both packs were about 17-19kgs with water.

[corvus]

hi i did the sc with my farther inlaw a few years back. we ate like kings had lots of left over food and fuel both packs were about 17-19kgs with water.

What Kings food did you eat please ?? it is of no help unless you let all of us know what it was
corvus

[Nuts]

Probably a nice big baked Cray at Deadmans Bay?

[tasadam]

hi i did the sc with my farther inlaw a few years back. we ate like kings had lots of left over food and fuel both packs were about 17-19kgs with water.

What Kings food did you eat please ?? it is of no help unless you let all of us know what it was
corvus

A good point, would be nice to see statements like that followed up with an equipment list so we can all learn.

[MartyGwynne]

Hi my pack list for the south coast track done in march this year was as follows (if you can bear wading though more info).
pack liner (big dry bag) 380 g
pack macpac tore 2450 g
day pack katmandude 80 g
tent and footprint hubba hubba 2050 g
tarp/shelter 700 g
4 spare pegs 80 g
sleeping bag 550 g
vita-weet X2 600 g
meusli & mik powder X 8 @ 90 g ea = 720 g
cup-a-soups X 12 @25 g ea = 300 g
tea leaves 50 g
matches 2 boxes 20 g
mushrooms - dried 40 g
water bladder 2litre 140 g
knife fork spoon 210 g
small trangia 1060 g
cutting board 40 g
trecking poles 640 g
scroggin 600 g
hot chocky drink 80 g
tang 2 sachets 100 g
sugar 150 g
cheese 314 g
salami 220 g
metho 850 g
dried spag bog 140 g
noodles 260 g
dried chicken 70 g
laksa paste 80 g
soy sauce 100 g
red curry paste 20 g
coconut powder 180 g
dried corn 40 g
dried capsicum 45 g
dried carrots 50 g
dried green beans 20 g
dried sweet potato 100 g
dried ginger 20 g
dried garlic 20 g
dried cauliflower 30 g
dried cabbage 75 g
dried plumbs 120 g
waterproof pants 240 g
coat macpac hollyford 800 g
clothing and sleep wear 2600 g
sunnies 40 g
trowel 125 g
hayband/string 10 g
lip eze 2 g
map and book 550 g
torch 40 g
compass and repair kits for tent etc 30 g
camera & battery 350 g
5 litre plastic for bucket with lid (rodent proof) 250 g
tooth paste 40 g
1st aid kit 440 g
iPhone and battery kit 220 g
nalgene metho bottle 100 g
toilet paper 100 g
gaiters 300 g
pack cover 175 g
gloves 40 g
PLB 235 g
hoodie 300 g
all clothes worn on the track 1180 g

total pack weight 20.09 kg plus 2-2.5 kgs of water

Hope this is of help for others.

I carried too much food and could reduce some of the food but the weather was very good for us so did not to eat more for cold days.
I needed to double my metho volume to 2 litres as I ran out (I did get some off some others who had a litre too much - lucky)
only needed half the dried plumbs, cabbage, sweet potato, coconut powder, soy sauce, sugar. did not use the cutting board.
Shall increase the muesli amount by about 30 g next time.

I had packed for 9 days food but we only spent 7 days/nights out so plenty of spare food/meals.

Marty

[Moondog55]

To my shame I have never walked the South Coast track, any comments I have made were and are directed at those who asked about maximum loads carried. I envy those of you who can carry those ultra light packs and sleep comfortably at nite, as I get older I find I need much more mattress and as I save weight on tents and sleeping bags my mattresses seem to fill up the gap.
Just how cold does the SC get in summer //winter?
My last trip to Tassie I remember as being a little under dressed more than a few times during my weeks stay and this was in summer, more than once I was wishing Id brought my big fleece jacket and my ski parka

[ILUVSWTAS]

In summer it can range from -5 up high to 40 degrees.
In winter it would be more like -10 to 15

The difference from one day to the next is unpredictable and should never be estimated or taken for granted.

[sthughes]

I haven't done the south coast track but according to the weather beuro:
At Melaleuca minimum temps are usually 2-6 degrees in winter and 8-11 degrees in summer, but have been recorded as low as 0.6 in summer and -4.8 in winter. I imagine sections of the track could be worse, but nothing too extreme apart from the Ironbounds it's basically sea level and usually within 5km of the sea.

[Ent]

Hi Sthughes

Thanks for posting the official minimum temps. Such things help in ensuring you are not under or over done on gear.

I would imagine that rain would be the problem as getting gear damp on a long walk would not be much fun. At least at lower altitudes in summer you would have the option to dry it out. Clothes line is one vital bit of kit that gets missed at times.

Cheers.

[north-north-west]

camera & battery 350 g

Camera & main lens + two spare batteries + 10 spare CF cards + Macro lens + lens cleaning kit = I don't want to know but probably over 3 kg.
And if I took the tripod . . .

[Nuts]

I haven't done the south coast track but according to the weather beuro:
At Melaleuca minimum temps are usually 2-6 degrees in winter and 8-11 degrees in summer, but have been recorded as low as 0.6 in summer and -4.8 in winter. I imagine sections of the track could be worse, but nothing too extreme apart from the Ironbounds it's basically sea level and usually within 5km of the sea.

Melaleuca is relatively sheltered.. Even so, that's right, lots of low altitude track.. Nevertheless, the ranges and the creek crossings and the mud and no huts.. a few extra clothes are a good idea.

Nice time of the year for that walk..