Ran into an old timer on the JMT last summer who changed how I pack

I was taking a break near Thousand Island Lake when this guy in his 70s came up and asked if he could sit. He saw my pack weighed like 45 pounds and just laughed. Said he's done the trail 12 times and now carries 18 pounds max. He showed me how he cuts his toothbrush in half and uses a poncho instead of a rain jacket. I still think about that conversation every time I pack for a trip now. Anybody else get schooled by someone way more experienced on the trail?

3 comments

3 Comments

susan_wright3423d ago

HOLD UP, he told you your 45 pound pack was wrong and then showed you a HALVED TOOTHBRUSH?! I literally just gasped out loud at my laptop. That is the most hardcore thing I have ever heard in my life. I mean I get cutting weight but a toothbrush? That's next level dedication right there. I bet he also uses one of those tiny spoon things instead of a real utensil. Some of those old timers are basically ultralight ninjas living among us normal backpackers and they don't even care about fancy gear.

jake98622d ago

@jenny_hall nailed it with the mental toughness angle. These guys know the weight savings are pointless, but they do it anyway to prove they can handle discomfort. It's like they're building tiny little challenges into every part of their trip just to stay sharp. The halved toothbrush is basically a badge of honor at this point, not a practical choice.

jenny_hall23d ago

Ultralight ninjas" is spot on lol. But here's something nobody brings up - those old timers with the halved toothbrushes and tiny spoons? They're not just saving weight. They're basically training their brains to suffer a little bit for no real reason. I mean come on, a full toothbrush weighs like half an ounce. You could save way more weight by leaving your tent poles at home. But they do it anyway just to prove they can. It's like mental toughness training disguised as gear choices. Seen guys shave their toothbrush handle down with a pocket knife on trail before lol.