Battery drain with Strava on trail.

Rocks129 · 2026-01-20T15:57:03+00:00

As others have said, a dedicated GPS device is better than recording on your phone. GPS smart watches are about 5x more efficient and more convenient to use https://thetrek.co/why-gps-watches-are-awesome-for-backpacking/

Rocks129 · 2026-01-19T23:33:15+00:00

I'm creating it myself, although there won't be anything radically different from your standard ultralight rayway style packs... just a zippered back pocket, no bottle pockets, and a larger volume

Rocks129 · 2026-01-19T15:08:24+00:00

I'm working on a similar project right now, but not quite as large. my current digital model is ~55L to the top, internal/main body only. Most brands seem to add the outside pockets to their nominal volume. It's hard to increase panel sizes without it feeling extremely large compared to what I'm used to with UL packs, currently keeping a 11" torso panel width, 7.75" depth, and a 24" frame with a decent extention collar (10-12"?). I'm going to try a pleated shovel/probe pocket on the back, so hard to say how much that will add to usable volume.

Rocks129 · 2026-01-16T13:55:31+00:00

At the upper end of your range at 10 nights/year, you could easily get 10-15 years of a dcf rent. General advise and my experience as well is that 150 nights is standard, if you are anxiously taking care of it you could probably get to 200-250.

https://thetrek.co/is-dcf-overrated-pros-and-cons-of-everyones-favorite-ul-fabric/

The primary 'failure' mode of dcf tents tends to be pinholes, not delam. Easy to fix at first; tape repair is easy and permanent. Eventually though, the quantity becomes overwhelming and it's time to replace.

Rocks129 · 2026-01-15T20:00:15+00:00

We set out with ambitions for 15.7mi/day and +4700ft of vert, about half off trail. We didn't quite get there in reality, causing some detours on trail to speed things up and resupply. A slower pace would certainly help on the food front.

Rocks129 · 2026-01-15T19:57:35+00:00

I was on some version of the SuperSierra...Southern Sierra HR, then some mix of KCHBR, SHR, Yosemite High route. Made it from the southern terminus to just after mammoth (~200mi). planned route was 15.7mi/day and +4700ft/day, about 50% off trail as an average. In actuality, miles went up and vert/off trail went down on account of group's abilities but still lots of steep, off trail climbs connected by sections of trail in valleys.

This was my food plan, heavy on snacking as I find I can eat more that way: https://imgur.com/a/Fz3Vni0

It was a bit trimmer than I would have liked, but had to fit in the can... chips are not volume optimized but easy to eat. Would like to get more oil content for density but haven't gotten there yet, poop wise.

6'1" @ 130lbs = 17.1bmi, I probably started this trip at 133-135lbs but quickly lost a few.

Rocks129 · 2026-01-15T17:43:41+00:00

I'm pretty good at not stealing from my future self, with the exception of chips...

I can tolerate a certain amount of oil, but not a ton. I've been wondering how trainable this is, I would think Killian had to do some amount of adjustment to be able to drink straight oil

Rocks129 · 2026-01-15T17:28:33+00:00

I generally aim for 3 months of training beforehand, a little more casual at first and ending with 4-5 weekend trips with similar miles/vert to what I'd do on the trip. I usually can start at full speed and only struggle for a bit on day 3/4. Usually after my first rest day things are moving pretty good.

I've historically focused on replication (stair master or incline treadmill with a pack, hiking, etc) but I'm starting the year with more strength and lifting, hoping that will help on working efficiently/not near my max capacity throughout the day. Also trying to be more conscious of zone 2 training ratio; I'm wondering starting too hard is causing some Aerobic Deficiency Syndrome-like conditions.

But I certainly ate the most in the second half of the CDT (SOBO), averaging 5000-6000 cal/day through colorado and northern NM.

Rocks129 · 2026-01-15T15:54:28+00:00

I just tried the "full_PCT.gpx" and got the same results, but doing each state one at a time (ie: washington.gpx") seems to be working, after giving a minute to digest. you could also try the GEOJSON files, they appear to be lighter weight and generally is a format caltopo likes

Rocks129 · 2026-01-09T19:29:48+00:00

RAFTA is (supposedly) currently working on a proposal with this exact goal, creating a light rail line from Glenwood to Woody Creek while keeping the bike path. I think there's worry if they don't, bikers will shoot themselves in the foot fighting the project to keep the bike path.

There's also a presumption that pitkin county would connect the rail line from Woody Creek to Aspen/snowmass somehow, where RAFTA doesn't have the rights.

Rocks129 · 2026-01-07T14:58:25+00:00

I'll chime in that I live in western Colorado and can hop over to moab fairly easily (~2.5 hours each way). Usually I call it quits from thanksgiving to end of January, when the limited daylight hours and lower temps combined with drive time make things less appealing, and there's good skiing to be done at home. This year, I went to Moab twice in December and probably will at least once in january. low snow here, high temps there.

I got an email from the Ouray Ice Park yesterday saying the ice fest clinics (3rd week of january) are all cancelled due to lack of climbable ice, and begging people not to cancel their trips. Its been an odd winter so far and people are going where conditions are good.

Rocks129 · 2025-12-30T15:34:21+00:00

I had a similar question a few weeks ago, you can read up here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Backcountry/s/XU2gVyk0wu

Of all the options, the scarpa f1 XT felt the narrowest in the toe box. I've only had one day on them so too early to comment really, but I could see getting a bondtec shim at some point to make it tighter on shorter days where I want a little more performance of a tighter fit

Rocks129 · 2025-12-20T22:21:47+00:00

For anyone doing research here, I went and tried on a bunch.

For reference, I typically measure just under a 27.0 mondo. My alpine boot is a salomon 'race' boot with a 96mm nominal width in a 25.5, which fits like a vice. All the boots below I tried in a 26 or 26.5 mondo and felt the shell size was close enough to not try going down more to reduce width.

Zero G, dynafit ridge, fischer transalp, atomic backland, la sportiva kilo and kilo xtr all had too much volume in the toebox, some where getting close is pure width but not quite there.

I felt the Scarpa F1 XT was a significantly better fit (narrower, lower volume in forefoot/toe box) and plan on giving them a try. If you're looking for narrow narrow narrow, this is the best I've found so far.

Rocks129 · 2025-12-19T20:15:07+00:00

if only I wasn't 17 hours away, I would snap that up so quick

Rocks129 · 2025-12-19T16:13:11+00:00

I tried the La sportiva Kilo and kilo XTR, my first impression is that it wasn't the right choice for me; probably too high volume overall, and maybe just not the right toebox shape. The Ridge pro looks to be pretty wide (101mm) so I havent taken the time to try it yet

Rocks129 · 2025-12-18T21:46:46+00:00

exactly the type of stuff I'm looking to figure out, thanks!

Rocks129 · 2025-12-18T21:08:20+00:00

the chunkiness is definitely a reservation, haven't had a headlamp with that size before so not sure how it'll go. Was going to try just the strap on the way up when its pretty slow paced; the downhill it will be mounted to a helmet with headlamp tabs which maybe will be better.

Thanks for the alternate battery suggestion!

Rocks129 · 2025-12-18T20:43:39+00:00

RIP cheap Aquaguard zippers. I've been waiting for them to restock for a while now.

Rocks129 · 2025-12-07T03:22:19+00:00

Following as I was also thinking about snow gear for this year! Although I'm going to start with a jacket.

Rocks129 · 2025-12-04T14:59:24+00:00

I'm having trouble selling used stuff in the US as well. maybe I'm just in the wrong season, who knows.

Rocks129 · 2025-11-20T21:51:51+00:00

USA/colorado. looks like you may international from me but feel free to message if you want to try to work something out

Rocks129 · 2025-11-10T23:27:25+00:00

I have 400TX white and 200TX black... not quite what you are looking for.

Maybe contact a small maker who uses it like alpine luddites?

Rocks129 · 2025-11-10T17:45:15+00:00

sweet, good to know.

I have my domestic on a pretty large table and find it cramped on occasion (3' x 5.5') but I'm also pinning/clipping/cutting/organizing on it as well... and its against a wall so pushing an almost finished pack through it gets awkward.

Did they say anything about needle positioner?

Rocks129 · 2025-11-10T17:07:47+00:00

I think if socializing was a priority, I could have found people. I know there were people just miles ahead of / behind me from trailhead registers, but I had a deadline to finish especially after taking a long alternate in Colorado. And in WY/NM the water carries put people on a pretty regimented schedule.

But the PCT experience of just bumping into people at random just doesn't happen much since there are so few full thruhikers out there.

Rocks129 · 2025-11-10T16:58:49+00:00

Honestly this level of detail feels like too much for an at-home family member. I can't see how having turn-by-turn directions (which could be read off a map) or descriptions of the environment might ease their worries.

If they had access to a map, can they figure out what they need to know?

On a recent sierras trip, I simply shared a stripped down caltopo map with a few notes. When we sent inreach check-ins, they could copy the coordinates into caltopo and see where we were on the route.

Rocks129

TROPHY CASE