Some guy on the JMT told me to stop overpacking layers

Last summer on the John Muir Trail I had this 45 liter pack stuffed to the brim. Third day in I ran into this older hiker at a pass who asked why I was carrying so much. He pointed out I had three mid layers for a forecast that never dipped below 40. I dropped two of them at the next resupply and my shoulders felt way better the whole second half. Anybody else get called out for carrying too much stuff?

2 comments

2 Comments

kim.emma7d agoMost Upvoted

Yeah that forecast advice was gold, I stopped hauling extra layers after a similar wake up call in the Sierras.

skyler5166d ago

Wait, did that guy actually call you out in front of everyone on the trail? That's rough but honestly sometimes you need someone to be direct like that. I did the same thing on the Long Trail in Vermont last fall. I had this puffy jacket, a fleece, AND a wind shirt for a week where it never got below freezing. My shoulders ached so bad by the end I could barely lift my arms to set up my tent. Finally mailed the wind shirt home and felt like a new person the next day. It's like we're all just learning the hard way what we actually need.