Page Title

1) A return trip to the Grand Canyon (Part 2) (10/01) to complete the Hermit-Bright Angel Trail Loop we started in May; and,

2) A return trip to the Canyon with packs that weighed 10 pounds lighter; Carrying 40 lb. packs (including one gallon of H2O @ 8 lbs.) was the goal!

While sitting around RB's pool slurping Margaritas and massaging our achy legs, we brainstormed ideas for lessening our pack weight for that next trip. Considering a "new-lighter-pack" option, RB sketched various pack designs with captions and arrows on a couple of tattered napkins. I jotted down a list of gear that might fall into the category of "No-takey: leave at home." All in all, we developed a short list of weight-reducing possibilities to reach our 40 lb. mark:

Our EMS 550 packs each weighed nearly 8-lbs. (Including 2 attachable side pouches). If we could lower the weight of the packs themselves we could save between 4-5 lbs.
Given the moderate weather anticipated during our return to the Canyon in October, we proposed:

a. Leaving our tents at home (Sierra Designs, Clip-CD Tents, 1-2 person tent) and saving 5 lbs. each;

b. Bringing only one tent to share it in the event of inclement weather (thereby, reducing our pack weight in shared gear by 2.5 lbs.); and,

c. Bringing our individual tents and leave behind our sleeping bags (2.7 lbs. Each).

The bottom line? We could easily reduce our pack weight by 7 lbs., And get pretty darn close to that 40 lb. benchmark. At this rate, we could still bring our $5 water shoes (1.5 lb) and camp-stool (1.1 lb.).

Anywho… back to EMS… In a matter of 30 minutes I was walking around the store carrying an ultra-light pack (the GHOST by Mountain Gear - 2 lb. - 3 oz., 3100 cu; $180) stuffed with sacks of rice. Shortly thereafter, I was standing outside Crossgates Mall calling Kate on the cell phone, "Hey Hun… What do you think about my buying myself an early birthday present?"

The GHOST arrived home on Sunday; the Boys and I were leaving on our 4-day trip to the White Mountains in five days. From Sunday to Tuesday, between the kid's bed time and 2:00 AM, I became obsessed with trying to cram gear into the GHOST. From the very moment I carried the GHOST at EMS I fell in love with the darn thing. Once I brought it home, I wasn't so sure...

I wanted to purchase an ultra-light pack that would allow me to carry 40 lbs. of gear for my return trip to the Canyon, and about 50+ lbs for colder, more gear-bearing trips. I was searching for a new pack that would accommodate both kinds of 4-5 day hiking trips.

Needless to say, I became obsessed with packing, carrying and then unpacking the GHOST with gear (with a manufacturer's maximum load rating of 35 lbs.). Gee… While I could fit all of my gear inside the EMS 550 (5550 cu.), the Ghost sported much of it strapped to the outside of the pack! One would have thought I'd see the handwriting on the wall a little sooner then I did...

OK. I was determined to be scientific. I would compare both packs loaded with the same gear for my upcoming trip. Looking as though I was running away from home, I walked for miles around my neighborhood at 1:00 AM. I walked up and down the steep embankment in my backyard, and up and down my deck stairs to simulate "mountain climbing." I was trying to "comparison shop in real-time."

Early AM e-mails to the Boys became frenzied with contradictions, like: "Well, Boys… I'm keeping the Ghost;" "Well, Boys… the Ghost is going back;" and, "Well, Boys… the pack's a dream and I'm keeping it!"

The problem seemed to be the obvious: the GHOST was designed for 35 lbs of gear and I was stuffing it with 45-50 pounds! The pack was going back.

Then on Wednesday, at around 1:00 AM, I'm surfing the net when I chance upon the AETHER 60 made by Osprey. I'm in love. A rainbow appears over my monitor. "This could work!" I think.

The AETHER 60 is a 3 lb. 6 oz., lightweight pack. It's rated at 3900 cubic inches (800 cu.in. more then