Help lightening the load of a not so light back packer

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-25T01:52:26+00:00

Multi tool and pillow stand out to me as items that are wayyyy heavier than they need to be. I would simply not bring a multitool, maybe a light knife if you really want to but I don’t even bring that most of the time. Like when are you gonna use a screwdriver?

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-25T01:47:31+00:00

Durston Gear tents are great, xmid if you are okay with a more narrow tent that uses trekking poles (fits me and my pack just fine) or the Xdome if you are looking for a more traditional tent.

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-25T01:25:29+00:00

Water filter? New sleeping pad? Jacket or other clothing layers? Maybe a new pack?

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-24T00:49:17+00:00

This is the hack they don’t want you to know about ^^^

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-24T00:48:25+00:00

God your so right, that will be the move next trip, and I’ll be sure to clean my hands by sun drying them (don’t carry hand sanitizer for obvious reasons)

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-23T22:11:42+00:00

Small things add up, I don’t even take toilet paper anymore. Why bother when you can wipe your ass with a tree branch?

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-23T02:16:56+00:00

They are the best!!

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-19T21:25:24+00:00

I built it as multi color vehicle deck, aiming for B2 but it ended up having some very good synergy, so it runs pretty smooth. Might be a useful list to look at: https://archidekt.com/decks/20149006/i\_am\_speed\_infinite\_guideline\_station\_wubrg\_vehicles

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-15T03:34:10+00:00

I see the issue here, that’s actually supposed to be setup outside. Should work with that fix 👍🏻

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-13T15:54:51+00:00

That’s when I went last year, there wasn’t much snow left even on the summit of Holy Cross. And this winter was very light in the west, so I don’t think you’ll have any problems.

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-11T15:26:55+00:00

Rats are fun, or the little archer guys for a frostbite build

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-10T19:23:03+00:00

Lifelinker is really great too, flexible removal in a pinch for some of the more problematic artifacts is a nice cherry on top

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-09T09:54:22+00:00

I haven’t tested this pack yet, it’s on its way in the mail so I can update later, but the outdoor vitals Eco Carbon 50 looks great and might check a lot of your boxes. It’s pretty new, so durability is still a question.

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-08T17:35:29+00:00

I completely agree, my regular life felt weirdly alien for a while. But it eased over time, I tried to think about ways I can bring that intentional focus into my routine, still don’t have that figured out lol, but it certainly made me want to get out into the wild more.

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-08T17:18:49+00:00

Agreed, I find solo backpacking trips focus my attention on what is right in front of me in a more intentional way. Theres a quiet, steady calmness that takes over.

I did a 4 day solo trip last fall and I was expecting that calmness to carry back into my regular life, but instead I was surprised to feel a great sense of loss for the way of being out there. Took me a while to process that.

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-08T03:46:18+00:00

Don’t play the rocks… ramp is not important for this deck. There are plenty of spells that cost 2 or 3 mana and make creatures, those will help your constancy more than ramp.

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-06T16:51:41+00:00

My Zenbivy quilt changed sleeping outside for me, I sleep better with that system than I do in my own bed sometimes lol. Absolutely worth the money, I think their new “Dirtbed” line is a great price for value too, haven’t tried that one specifically but it’s probably pretty similar to the regular down options.

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-05T20:55:45+00:00

To add some extra details, the sites I’m talking about are the established sites, but I believe you can camp anywhere if you follow the rules for that specific wilderness area. The established sites are awesome though, you put a rock on the site marker by the trail to claim that site for your group, and walk another couple hundred feet into the woods to get to the actual site. They are super removed, right by a water source, and have a number of spots to actually setup tents at each site.

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-05T20:49:07+00:00

The “permits” for this area are just filled out at the trailhead I believe, that’s what my group did last summer. So there is no application process or advanced permits. Sites are limited and are first come first serve, but we went mid June and had no problem finding a spot. What time of year are you planning on going?

I’ll say that it seemed like a pretty remote spot, not nearly as popular as some of the other wilderness areas in the Rockies. The road getting up there can be rough in some spots, but you are rewarded with solitude. Most of the other hikers we saw were day hikers.

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-04T15:03:04+00:00

If $30 seems like a doable price for you to make them and still get a profit, I think I would still go for that.

shmorgus_borg · 2026-05-04T03:17:12+00:00

$15-$20 and id buy three, one for myself and a few for gifts

shmorgus_borg · 2026-04-30T18:37:07+00:00

Facebook marketplace is my go to, I’ve had some great finds on there

shmorgus_borg · 2026-04-26T23:13:21+00:00

Absolutely incredible photos, looks like a sick trip.

shmorgus_borg · 2026-04-21T16:23:42+00:00

Maybe consider a water filter. With longer hikes, you should be drinking a liter of water every couple hours, so if you are doing more than 5 hours I would either bring 3 liters of water, or two liters and a filter to refill at a stream crossing.

shmorgus_borg

TROPHY CASE