Like many others, I'm fascinated by how "the others" do it!
My stats:
• 56.2kg
• 17.605kg pack weight for 4 day walks
• 13.2kg for quick overnight walks (usually reccés, not with big camera, but small digi)
• 1.270kg tripod (comes on reccés)
• 2.32kg camera ('Brutus'!)
Other bits: I am an ultra-stable/fit long-term renal transplant recipient (10.3.1977—one of Australia's longest). I look about 25, but I'm about to turn 50 (!)
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
. Not really endowed to a heavy load and 21kg would seem to be the limit before I get back pain. At the end of a day's walking I swear the pack is heavier, but I also swear that's what other walkers think, too!
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
. One problem I carefully monitor is lateral ileotibial band syndrome on both knees and wear lateral sports braces to prevent 'flaring' (which can be debilitating); can flare up with unnatural, twisting, pounding, rolling foot or other "tricks". Trekking poles valuable. I have more muscle tone than fat (have been a road/MTB cyclist ever since transplant), so I stock up on nuts, jelly babies, dark chocky, cup-a-soups and cashews, with an energy food intake before a walk (Sustagen, Horlicks malt extract and maybe an egg nog), lots of scroggin during and a mega-feed the night before a long or arduous walk. I'm still around!
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Will be planning a solo Overland Track walk in late November (to fotygraf the scoparia at Pelion Gap) and if that's OK, another one in autumn to fotygraf the fagus in Waterfall Valley.
I gave up overnight walking and ski touring 20 years ago to concentrate on cycling (also how the knees became so wonky!). I had successfully summited Mount Bogong in Victoria twice in that era. So at this time, with the benefit of vastly more advanced equipment, better materials and awareness of weight and its impact on walking, I consider myself on L-plates, joining experienced friends on progressively more adventurous walks (such as this weekend's to the snow, but mind you, only for one night in the freezer!!
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
). I have some solo walks lined up from mid-August with progressively more days to around 7-8. Experience is a wonderful teacher, and all that experience will come in handy in planning for the Overland Track.