John Muir Trail Hiking Gear 2014 (32 lbs.)

[@inbaro537]

Very helpful, as usual! (especially for novices, like me :) I plan on hiking the JMT summer 2015 so watching your videos, enjoying and learning. Highly appreciate it John, Thank you !!!

[@jjohara63]

thats when I hiked it

[@manresarods4947]

I think this is the best backpacking gear/food list I have watched. Practical and easy to find things to get you out on the trail. Fishing rod a must have!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Greg Foy Fishing rod is always a must except when hiking the PCT and you have to make miles. Thanks!

[@kennethnied5242]

"I'm out there to take my time and enjoy it, because I enjoy being out there." -- A great attitude! Re: Stuff sacks for everything. I'm one of those guys. It's my way of organizing my gear and insuring that I don't forget anything. For example, my "Kitchen" sack (or more likely, two sacks) will contain stove, fuel, pot(s), windscreen, lighter/matches, and camp soap/sponge. I'll fill each bag several days ahead of time, then check off each category right before the trip. It also makes it easier to find and identify my stuff when unloading my pack at the camp site. Your system obviously works for you -- and thanks for sharing it -- but for me personally, I'd be very apprehensive about cramming a down sleeping bag into the bottom of my pack without any protective cover. It's too easy to tear the bag, or, worse, get it wet via leaking water bottle, filter, whatever. Hopefully, that won't ever happen to either of us, but for me the few extra ounces of a dry sack is well worth it for my peace of mind.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

It's your hike... you can pack the actual kitchen sink if you want. Like I say in the vid, do what works for you.

[@majicdlt]

This was absolutely perfect for a beginner like me. Thank you so much for this video. Informative, easy, simple, straight to the point. So useful!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

+David Tampubolon Thank you... glad it could help you out.

[@majicdlt]

Been wanting to get back into the natural life after all my city life. Lil nervous till i watched your video and it put me at ease after being bombarded with advice. We're planning on going 2 weekends a month friday to sunday full weekends here in Colorado. I might end up mirroring your setup. hope you don't mind ;0) but it's just perfect in my opinion. Besides you've got the experience to back up everthing you said. So thanks again.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

That's good that you have a plan to get out there, stick with it and it will grow. I'm honored that you're going to mirror my setup. Everything I use has been tested on multiple long distance hikes and I have had no issues with any gear, so I'm pretty confident in my equipment. Let me know how it works for you... good luck out there.

[@majicdlt]

I'll begin in June after the wedding and honeymoon, but I've started purchasing equipment. I'll be sure to update you in the future ;0)

[@narstyness7]

I appreciate your opening statement about how this is what you bring and not what the viewer needs to bring. It is something not many gear videos do. I also like the fact you aren't trying to shove ultralight gear down everybody's throats. Most beginners aren't likely to have a good time or enjoy their hike with ultralight gear.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

SPI guy I agree... I would get so many, (what I call couch hikers), commenting on my previous videos about the gear I take, so I decided to add all that at the beginning for those who feel they need to tell me what I take is wrong. Thanks for watching and understanding!!

[@alexanderweaver4838]

Great video, John! Great advice, too. Zip loc bags, straws for spices (cut in lengths and melt the ends with lighter), old Rx med bottles for coffee, sugar, coffee mate are just a few hacks to save weight. To save money, probably 85% of the foods you displayed can be bought at a Dollar Tree. Where I spend the bucks, however, are on the steaks and adult beverages. The best pre-trip tools to invest in are a luggage scale and a kitchen (gram) scale. These tools help in making wiser decisions re your load out weight. I need to purchase a "civilian" backpack as 90% of my packs are military surplus and pack weight is not a primary concern in production. As I watched you pack your Osprey 58 I think you helped me in my decision process. I was leaning heavily on the new Granite Gear Crown 2 but Osprey's seem to dominate the trail. Thank you, John. Have a great time on the trail and I look forward to watching your adventure afterwards.

[@Gyppor]

Good setup for both food and gear. No unnecessary junk but you're not going overboard with the ultralight stuff and everything has a purpose. I like it.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

+Gyppor Glad you liked it, thanks for the support.

[@werm69]

Great info on the food packing. I got a lot of ideas from it that I wasn't thinking about. Headed to the High Sierra in 2 months for 5 days of the back country and get a glimpse of that Range of Light!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Twelve31 Sounds great. Glad I could help give some ideas. Have fun in the back country and be safe... thanks for watching.

[@espenglomsvoll]

Im so sorry!! the coment was on a "exedition 65/80/100 video. I really dont know way the coment was posted on your video. your video was great! Thanx for the upload!

[@Ketutar]

Great tips! Thank you for sharing. I see three things you can skip to shave ounces off your package: - q-tips. If ears is the only use for them, skip them. It's not good to put anything smaller than your finger inside your ear. Besides, they are just sticks with cotton rolled around them. If you absolutely must have them, use any stick, roll a cotton ball on it, use it and then use the cotton as fire starter. - Toothpaste. You don't need that. Your teeth are healthy, being without toothpaste for some time doesn't make any difference. - Vitamin C. You're a healthy male getting enough vitamin C on your everyday food, and you are not going to high seas with no access to vitamin C, you won't start suffering of the lack in the time you hike.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Yeah, I could definitely do without all 3 of those items. The thing is, they all add up to just over an ounce together, which is nothing. But, I see your point... ounces add up to pounds, right. I think I might go without the Q-tips and the vitamin C, but the toothpaste is staying. ;) Thanks for the tip.

[@scottshattuck4426]

Some people are stating you're wasting fuel with no lid. You can still shed the lid and take a small piece of heavy duty aluminum foil to cover the top of your jet boil. It works as a lid, conserves a slight amount of fuel, is reusable and doesn't weigh hardly anything. Anyways thanks for the video. I am starting to get into longer hikes and have to compile some new gear. This is a tremendous help! I agree with finding what works for you. I am actually going to take the new Osprey Atmos 65 AG EX pack. It's a little bit more room but has a lot of the same features as the Exos 58. The top lid is completely removable which takes it down a few liters if you don't need them. Thanks again and I will be looking forward to your new video. I'm planning JMT July of 2017 as my brothers graduation present. We want to hike all 211 miles.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Scott Shattuck Awesome... glad this video was helpful and good luck in 2017. Hiking the JMT will change your life!!

[@ontherocks1491]

I'm a new subscriber I watch some of your videos today keep up the great work I enjoyed this video a lot thanks for all the info

[@schlaznger8049]

Man I was watching 28 weeks later on tv then started watching your video. I can say that your video was much more entertaining than the first. It could also be that I am very stoned...either way it was a cool video, thanks!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

***** lol... I remember those days. Thanks for watching!! ;)

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

This was a great look at what one hiker prefers to carry and I was able to get some good ideas for my load. LOVE the plastic baggie liner for the jet boil. Also I did not know that Osprey Exos 58 was that light! All good stuff to know. I feel I may not be alone in my disdain for bear canisters too. We need a support group for this issue...

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Glad you got some helpful pointers and agree that bear cans suck... ;)

[@fetchingphotos]

This is the most informative video I've seen for gearing up. Thanks for making it!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

stefrobrts Happy to help... thanks.

[@Wakis85]

Great video. I agree, each person pack their own pack and hikes their own hike. One suggestion would be to pour water in ziplock, place ziplock in mountain house bag to insulate then place ziplock into jetboil to eat. This way don't need to clean mountain house bag. Ok off to watch the rest of your vids!!!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

+Wakis85 Great idea... I'm going to definitely experiment with that, thanks for the tip.

[@stereosonix2000]

Well thought out gear list. Thanks for your input! I really enjoyed your weight saving tips!

[@petermarkowsky7447]

Thanks for the vid. I ditched the rain poncho for an emergency clear rain poncho. Super light weight. Happy trails.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Peter Markowsky I started packing accordingly to the area Im hiking and what the weather forecast says. Last year in Washington I was screwed when it rained for 4 days straight. My body was soaked, but luckily I was given some really good advice from a local who told me to line my pack with a trash bag. Even though I was soaked, my sleeping bag and clothes inside were all bone dry. I now carry a Coleman rain poncho that is a little more thick than the emergency version and really keeps my upper body dry. Good luck out there.

[@rockynanach]

Really great kit you put together plus lots of extra luxuries. I would always have a second fire source, bic lighters are notorious for losing their gas at altitude. Something like a swedish starter is always good to have. Mind you in a jam you could always get a "spark" from your electric gadgetry. Or use a lense with the sun.

[@ghpatriot]

I'm an ultralight backpacker and I hike for all of the reasons you stated in the beginning, not sure why you had to have the "Im not an ultralight disclaimer." I'm an ultralight backpacker and I hike trails to see what that trail has to offer and just to be in the outdoors and experience the beauty of being in the out doors. I'm not out there to check off trails as quickly as possible. I enjoy being out there. I could be wrong but it seems like your saying that all of these mentioned motives are mutually exclusive of being an ultra light backpacker. I do everything that you do except with a lot less weight on my back. I do love your JMT video and all of the photos you took along the way. Thanks for sharing it and all the time it took to put it together.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Kevin Ryan I have nothing against ultralight backpackers. The reason for the disclaimer is b/c on my video last year there were a ton of ultralighters who gave me a bunch of crap for the gear I choose to bring with me. So, with this video I wanted to express the reasons I bring the gear I bring so certain ultralighters don't really have a reason to bash me this time. Like I say in the video... everyone is different and wants to hike with the gear they want, not what "other people" want. Seems like you're taking the disclaimer a little too personally, but please don't. You're not bashing me for the gear I choose to bring, so you're not who the disclaimer is aimed towards. Unfortunately, most of the people who give me shit for the gear I choose are ultralighters, but it's only aimed at those individuals. I'm not saying I don't like feedback or advice either. I love when people give me new ideas... it helps bring the weight down, and I'm all for that. Just don't like the bashers!! Thanks for watching the vids, and I hope I cleared up any misunderstandings!!

[@yerbyray]

Kevin....Good for you. Do your own video and we can come and correct you.

[@briansimpkins985]

you seem like a real big douche bag......why bash someone its his videos and john is a lot more tolerant with people than i would be no reason for anyone to bash him over his methods and who cares if you do a 100 miles with just a gatorade bottle and a sleeping bag.....good for you studd

[@mattcrowl8843]

Great video John.....jut starting out here in NE Pennsylvania & this video is the best I have watched to date. Great job!!!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Matt Crowl Thanks... I'll have a new one coming soon.

[@debrapatton5703]

Got a lot from the JMT gear video. Can't wait to implement on the next outing coming up in June! I too will not go without wipes. I bring dried-out ones in a baggie and re-hydrate with a few drops of water as needed. Thanks for all the great tips! Have a wonderful Summer. Debra

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Cool, happy this video could help. Thanks for the tip on the wipes... more weight saved there!! Be safe out there!!

[@joepittsburgh7301]

What a great tip! I just tested this and dried 3 oz. of wipes down to just under 1 oz. 2 oz. saved tyvm.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

nice... Im trying it out also this week!!!

[@TheOutspired]

Just like the mtn house meals you can make oatmeal by putting hot water right into the pouch. It's water tight and makes for zero clean up other than licking the spoon. Might pre shred your cheese too, won't have to carry the cheese grater. Food for thought ;) thanks for the vid. I never thought of getting rid of lids to get less weight and always love seeing what others do. I agree with that opening statement, it's about the journey and some comfort is necessary to enjoy it. thanks for the vid!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

***** Thanks for the advice and for understanding the opening statement! Yeah, I don't carry the cheese grater anymore... have too much video equipment to carry now!! ;)

[@805gregg]

Great video, good to see someone that does not over do the ultra light BS, if you are not comfortable who cares how light it is. I have an Osprey Aether 60 and have been thinking of going to an Exos, looks like a good choice, thanks

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

805gregg Thanks... yeah, I love my Exos. It's a great pack and has been with me for over 2000 miles of hiking and still going strong.

[@yonimagallanes6645]

After deciding to undertake the JMT. I stumbled across your videos and got great ideas on how to cut weight from my pack, as well as a variety of food options. Thank you.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Yoni Magallanes No problem, glad they can help. Thanks for watching!!

[@brucehodson2763]

FWIW, stuffing sleeping bags into bottomm of pack has been a staple of backpackers for generations. I started 'packing in '73 and have never used ne for SB. Labels on tea bags, wrappers on candies, extraneous clothing, and anything that has only one use (short of stove and spoon) are left behind.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Bruce Hodson Yeah, I'm sure it's not a new thing to stuff a sleeping bag into the bottom of a pack. And, I'm positive it was done even before '73. Like I said in the video, it's something that's catching on more and more within the hiking community along with other tips and tricks that have stood the test of time from back in the day. Thanks for the little extra info regarding saving weight. I'm more of an ounce counter not grams though, so tags don't mean much to me. I know every little bit adds up, but I'm not an ultra-lighter or half my gear would be gone. Thanks again!!

[@dcavalierproduction]

Thx for the great video and killa tips. my favorite tip was repacking the food and re using the mountain house pouch.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Daniel Cavalier That's one of my favs too... ;)

[@dcavalierproduction]

Do you wash and reuse the same pouch over and over or what?

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Yes, but switch them out at each resupply.

[@MrSimon2SLC4U]

Great video, sure wish I had more time to take in my JMT jaunt this summer. I love me some light tackle trout fishing and wish I could camp out for a week up there around the Rae Lakes. Enjoyed every minute!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Yes, Rae Lakes and Arrowhead Lake are some of my favorite spots on the JMT. Thanks for watching!!

[@gradybamill6975]

solid advise! Beyond this level, it should take actual experience to think about moving beyond the level described, i.e. frameless cuben fiber Backpacks and pole less tents, etc. Where the price tag goes up for ounces, and which a beginner may not fully understand the practicality vs the comfort, combined with real experience completed in the field. And, for most of use, we dont see a need to go beyond. You provided trustworthy advise. ( Stay warm, avoid hypothermia, it makes you think and act stupid, and you might die.)

[@anthonyromano8565]

Things I learned during my JMT and watching these videos. Stuff my sleeping bag in the bottom of the pack saves time, another useless stuff sack. Bring a good camera maybe even two. my depending on my LG g3 phone as a camera for an epic hike of this nature was risky. turning it on and off was slow, battery usage probably not as efficient as a stand alone camera. My solar panel broke 3 days in, so have back up power or miss a lot of shots. Getting up early and on the trail as soon as possible makes for better mileage during the day. Fast breakfasts and fast stoves help. Passing on coffee meant less stops in the morning and less re-hydration and water I think. Its cold up there, 32 degrees in the morning, I slept in my wool bottoms, sleeping shirt, and sleeping socks and I stayed toasty. Dont depend on a fly rod to catch trout in lakes, rivers yes lakes no. I wished I had your set up on the lakes. I saw some big fish. MY hike was fantastic, thanks for the vids.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Anthony Romano Nice... you really did your homework. You make valid points all the way around. Don't know about the coffee thing, can't live without that on the trail!! Glad you had an awesome hike bud. Here's to many more!!!

[@rockramsey950]

Great video, thanks for taking the time and effort.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

+Rock Ramsey No problem... thanks.

[@MidsierramusingBlogspot]

John, Thanks for the response.

[@tednottodd]

Great tips. I'm we are always looking at saving weight without losing our base comfort level to make our trips enjoyable for us. You give some great tips, but more importantly, you have a purpose for everything you take. Most people could cut weight just by thinking about their actual needs on the trail.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Exactly... find the lightest of what you want and the lightest of what you need and go with it. While hiking with the PCTers this year, I noticed a lot were suffering with just bare bones packs. To me that's not enjoying your hike. Yeah, they had 20 lb. packs or lighter, but they were suffering without. I recently weighed my pack with everything in this video minus food, but there were a few snacks left in the bear canister, and it was dead on at 25 lbs. That's not bad at all for the comforts I get to enjoy while on the trail. Take away all the camera gear and it would be even lighter. To each their own bud!!! Thanks for watching!!

[@mancowherd]

On the Mountain House setup -- never thought about just taking one of them and re-using them. Good tips! I'll tailor some things around for me -- keep up the good work!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Thanks bud!!

[@FogDog68]

Thanks for the video. Very informative. Well done Sir.. Happy Trails.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

+FogDog68 Thanks... stay tuned for a new one to come out next week sometime. I've made a lot updates.

[@BBG18s]

Thanks for the tips especially the fishing pole idea.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

NickD No problem... happy to share!!

[@mnmacgill]

Thank you. All those things right in front of use that most don't see at first

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

mnmacgill Yeah I'm sure I'm still missing things... thanks.

[@mamaspooky7806]

thank you so much for sharing all of this with us!! And thumbs up for the baby wipes and camp soap! Some people just don't get it.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Mama Spooky Exactly... I go out there to have fun most of all, but I don't want to smell like a dead animal while I'm hiking. Thanks for getting it!!

[@molonlabe9602]

I like the idea of ditching the sleeping bag stuff sack IF you can keep your sleeping bag, clean, undamaged and DRY. Consider Polycro instead of Tyvek if you want to save weight and preserve function. Good idea on the Olive oil and cotton balls. Dental floss doubles as VERY strong repair thread. Lids on cook pots do reduce cooking times and thus saves fuel. I do the knee support-just in case-thing....too and love the Merrell's.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Molon Labe Thanks for the input. I get Tyvek for free from the job site I work at... I have rolls of it, so that's why I use it. I have resorted back to using my stove lid, not to save fuel b/c it's a very little amount saved with a JetBoil, but to keep bugs and debris out of my water between boiling. ;) There's a ton of other updated gear and changes I've made since this video, so it's time to make another.

[@22phan]

John Amorosano Hey John, bugs add extra protein and favor to your water. I hear they taste like shrimp when you boil them. Can't wait for your 2015 next gen. 12-22lb gear video. I still working on combining a selfie stick, umbrella tent, hiking stick all rolled into one in my 100F SoCal weekly day hikes.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

lol... yeah 22 lb. pack with 6 days of food would be great. Stay tuned for the new gear vid coming soon.

[@LilleMisGavstrik]

Your videos are great. I love it 😊 thanks.

[@HighFlyer61488]

Thanks for the response!

[@sc514able]

I found something worth sharing... CVS pharmacy sells their own brand water activated bathing cloths. These are fabulous!!! Wet them with lake or stream water for a cool bath on hot day, or use left over heated water for a warm bath on cold or stormy night. One cloth does your entire body if you plan ahead. You don't need to rinse or dry. Easy on your skin, safer for the environment than campsuds and darn near weightless. I carry one for every day of my hike in a ziplock bag and discard them in my carry- out babywipes or TP trash bag which by the way is a doggie poop bag. They dry after use and become weightless again.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

sc514able Awesome, I'll check them out... thanks!!

[@filmic1]

John, have you figured out how many calories you need every day, especially for the high alt. treks? I scrolled through the comments and can't find a comment on that. Great breakdown. Thanks for spelling it out. Nice. (I'm 200lbs and my daily C count base is 2100 calories, without hiking with a pack. I've heard of hikers going through 3000+ calories/day.)

[@trailkrum]

+Gary Bowen 2500 to 3000 kCal for most people at normal pace. Up to 3500 for extended hikes and/or at higher exertion levels. So about 1.5 to 2 lb of food per day. Aim for average energy density of 125 kCal/oz. For more info check out Andrew Skurka's blog posts on his website.

[@matthewyarbrough1056]

Awesome. Thanks for the video. You might want to look at the weight of the jet boil lid vs an extra fuel canister. (Boil times and fuel consumption)

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Truckee Tahoe Triathlon I carry my lid, I was just using it as an example of cutting weight. I'm sure it only weighs grams and I'm not a gram counter. But, I am an ounce counter. Thanks for watching!

[@steventhaw3765]

Everything should be inside the pack! You should be able to stuff the tent on top of the sleeping bag. The neolite air mattress is folded and put inside against the back wall of the pack. Next the canister with clothes stuffed around it. Tent poles also inside the pack. Climbing gear in and outside like crampons and ice ax.

[@earthwalker4293]

Great vid. Thanks for sharing. Could you expand a bit on that Tyvek material? Where did you buy it? cost? What you consider the benefits to be, etc. Anything you could share would be appreciated. Thanks!!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

EarthWalker You can get Tyvek or Tyvek-like material at any local hardware store. The big rolls of it cost around $50, but that has lasted me over 6 years worth of footprints and whatever else I use it for. It's lighter than the actual footprint that is special made for whatever tent you have and the $50 cost gets you years worth of footprints instead of one. Hope that helps... thanks

[@earthwalker4293]

Awesome. Thank you for the response John

[@steventhaw3765]

The Sierra (not sierras) is a single mountain range. Sierra Nevada is Spanish for snowy range. John Muir called it "The Range of Light". The California Miwok named it "Kayopha--- the sky and the peaks that touch it". Steve Thaw, Moraga, CA

[@hoslogistics]

...and that was the "nit-pic" of the day!

[@trailkrum]

+Steven Thaw You again, dude, get a life!

[@raymondhewitt75]

Great video, I will be doing my first thru hike and my first John muir this next season..My health is good and let's just say I am training for this daily lots of hikes and lots of gym work..but I am debating on start times.. Will the beginning of July be to early..Also being a city boy are bears a problem?How important are permits and are they difficult to get? If my hiking partners are all talk, back out and I choose to go this alone would that be out of the question to do lol?... thankyou for the videos. Espeacialy this one on gear. I'm already rocking the jet boil titanium and plan to mimics some of your other gear choices.. Thanks again

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

raymond hewitt July is not too early to start. I would say after mid July would be too late b/c of the crowds. In the 1000's of miles I've hiked, I've only seen bear twice. They don't want anything to do woth you unless you're messing with them. If you're hiking from N to S getting a permit is a little difficult. Order it early online. If S to N it is a lot easier to get the permit in that direction, even with walk-up. Good luck, and enjoy... thanks for watching!!

[@timkeele8790]

+raymond hewitt I haven't hiked the Sierra backcountry in 35 yrs but I know it's different now, because more popular. I believe NPS gives out 10 WP's daily at designated ranger stations but demand is high so chances of getting shut out are high. I think for a thru hike you DEFINITELY want (maybe need) to use the online reservation system and the day you want to reserve is EXACTLY 6 months prior to the day you want to commence your hike. I hear the number of JMT thru hikers has doubled just since 2011. It's a thing now. get familiar with the website. fewer bugs in August/September as I recall, but more people as John says. One more piece of unsolicited advice, if you will allow me: If you think you are fit enough, get fitter. it's not just the mileage, or the elevation, or the rocky trails over the passes, or the weight. it's all of them simultaneously, day after day, after day. I used to be a 3-5 day backpacker, and did a couple of longer section hikes back then. These guys, the thru-hikers, are true athletes, and they make it look easy. better to over-prepare than be under-prepared. ATB

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Yeah.... what he said. lol Thanks for adding the great tips and advice Tim.

[@Visaliaipa]

Great video. I'm not an "ultra light" hiker either. I've got my base weight minus food, water and a few items down to 24 pounds. I've got the Kelty cosmic too, in a 0°. I'm doing the JMT this August and I appreciate the food part too.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Thanks... Chris and I struggled with the food part over the years and we're not done with that part of our gear. I'm going to keep experimenting with different ideas and food items. If you layer up when you sleep that 0 deg. bag might be too warm on the JMT for you. My 20 deg. was almost too warm for me... have been thinking of getting a 30 deg. for summer hiking. I guess it depends on if you sleep in layers or not. One reason I do is, the oils in our skin will degrade the fabric of our bags over time. Good luck out there... thanks for watching!!

[@nitsymccarthy7803]

I also have a lot of experience and can always learn/relearn/share tricks. So...Food Tip: Smart and Final have a 20 oz. bag of Real Bacon which equals 5 lbs. of bacon - add 3 spoons worth to insta potatoes. Don't use Mtn House - too expensive. Big lots have cheap insto food that can be used for BPing too. In a food tube, put Jif Nutella ($1.00) @ Big Lots, add PB. Dollar stores - 8 oz. PB - $1.00 - Put on tortillas. Again, dollar store - can of corned beef, pouches of chicken/tuna/etc., powdered soups, packs of hot choc w/mini marshmallows. I like StarBucks too, but you can get a jar of insta coffee, put in baggie-make it strong - with leche and it's StarBucks. But the best take away from you is using the smaller bear can and instant breakfast - I start with and EmergenC to hydrate and get the vits in quick. Who can put 10 day of food in a bear can with out filling it with dried rice? I like to bring whole food as much as poss. Happy hour - If you are bringing crackers and salami, then bring gouda in wax- fold wax over open part, doesn't spoil, gets you over passes. Happy hour - waverly crackers & a can of oysters- extra olive oil - use on your fish. Good vid!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Nitsy McCarthy Awesome tips and tricks, I like some of those ideas. Thanks so much for sharing and watching!!

[@TheCondor300]

Thanks for sharing the no bullshit video... you know your stuff!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

George Adams Thanks... I'm still learning. In fact I need to make another gear video b/c I've learned a ton since this one.

[@backpacking-mike]

really liked the food section, good stuff, good job

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Cool... food is a part of my gear that is constantly changing. I'm still finding new things to eat, especially hiking with PCT thru-hikers this year!!

[@MrWinger1951]

Good vid John. Have you considered changing over to an alcohol stove? The camp soap could go into a smaller container. Also could use paper towels with a small bottle of witch hazel or even the alcohol used for the stove, for sanitary uses, instead of the Baby Wipes. My luxury items consist of a very small Sangean AM/FM radio and a potty trowel. Since you love to fish you could save quite a bit of weight using a Tenkara fly rod instead of the spinning rod/reel combo.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

I have looked into the alcohol stoves, but not in detail. Thanks for all your tips, I will look into each of them. See, there's even more I can do to cut weight, like the smaller bottles for the soap and also my olive oil. Things that stare us in the face people!! Thanks so much!!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

***** Thanks man... it works pretty good!!!

[@foimassa]

yeah i like the trash bag idea. i like to put my clothes into a drybag so they arent gonna get wet. also, whats your opinion on those jetboils? they seem ridiculous to me. id much rather bring a whisperlite and a single fuel canister you dont have to throw out when youre done with it, also in the winter it works well for boiling water, melting snow/ice etc. and it simmers nicely so if you catch a fish and youre stuck in a rainstorm, unable to make a fire, you can cook the filet really well on a whisperlite. let me know your thoughts! thanks

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Logan Deak The new Jetboils have an updated regulator that allows you to simmer now. The new MiniMo that I tested worked awesome for the last 180 miles of the PCT. There's nothing better to have boiling water in under two minutes when you're cold and wet. I hiked the whole 180 miles on one 120 gram can, boiling water 3 times a day. I know there's lighter alternatives out there, but the the luxury of the Jetboil is king!

[@billyg1461]

Good info. Thanks! I am planning a through hike of the River To River trail in southern Illinois. It is a 160 mile hike. Not nearly as ambitious as the JMT, but much closer to home for me. I had a question about your food prep. You said you only take one Mountain House package for reconstituting the meals as an effort to save weight. I like this idea, but my question is how does that one Mountain House package hold up after repeated use and cleaning which would be a must?

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Billy G The bags that the MH come in are very durable and thick. I put a bag in each resupply during the JMT which were about 6 days apart but I'm sure I could have used just one bag for the whole hike. If you want to be safe take two bags and have one as a backup. Good luck on the trail and thanks for watching!!

[@billyg1461]

Thanks for the prompt reply. I will be looking forward to any future videos.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Another is coming up real soon... thanks!!

[@madmartigan8774]

Great video and well thought out gear list. I like "zing it" by Samson for rope when hanging bear bags. It's light, thin, strong and slides over tree bark like butter (designed for tree felling). I didn't notice a water purification method (did I have a dense moment a miss it?). I've never had issues with Sawyer mini. Do you not like the msr pocket rocket? It's so small and light and boils water quickly imo. Thanks for letting me voice my opinion.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

+Mad Martigan I use the Platypus Gravity Filter which consists of a 3 liter dirty water bag, a 3 liter clean water bag, and a tiny in line filter that goes in between. The filter is basically like the Sawyer, but I have the 3 liter bags to carry water in if needed. I like getting to camp and having the system do it's thing without me tending to it. When I'm done setting up camp, I have 3 liters of water ready for me to use through the night. I've used the pocket rocket in the past, but love the reliability and efficiency of the Jetboil. No matter what, in any conditions I can always have 2 cups of boiling water in 2 minutes and it's never let me down in the 1000's of miles I've hiked with it. I appreciate the opinions and always look for new ideas and gear, but tend to stick with what has worked flawlessly for me over the years. I am going to look into that Sampson rope for sure, thanks.

[@madmartigan8774]

I'm with you on sticking to what works for you. With that being said. I always ask why someone uses what they use if it differs from mine. Maybe they've come across a situation I haven't or experienced malfunctions I've yet too. Anywho, keep the videos coming.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Will do... I have a new gear video coming soon and a video on my new motorized slider.

[@vplane]

I don't necessarily think ultralighters are just out there to check off a list of trails. Some of us just enjoy hiking more when the pack is light.

[@vplane]

I get your point, though...you have to weigh (pun intended) the value of each item you bring. I fish too, so the weight of that gear is worth it to me. Thanks for the video.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Edgar Anolin Yeah, I wanted to add the side note in the video b/c on my gear video before this one I had a ton of ultra-lighters giving me shit about my gear, so I wanted to express my theory of HYOH. Thanks...

[@ppdangler]

Awesome video. I always though stuff sacks were a waste too. Never crossed my mind to ditch my sleeping bag stuff sack. Ill give it a try. I have the exos 46 great pack!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Thanks... yeah Osprey is the shit!!

[@TylerSocholotuik]

Thanks for showing the packing part. I've been trying to figure out what size pack I need to accommodate a bear canister and I thought that I would need at least 70L, but it appears that I can get away with 60L.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

+Tyler Socholotuik Oh yeah... 60L would fine even for the BV500.

[@MidsierramusingBlogspot]

Navigation? map, compass, GPS? You stuff your down sleeping bag into the pack. How do you keep it dry w/o a stuff sack in the rain? Lithium batteries? Merino wool is warmer than cotton and feels as good. Bareboxer makes a smaller approved bear canister. Just some thoughts.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

dematson Navigation is done with the smart phone. Halfmile has an app to download that pin points your exactly mile along the PCT and gives you mileages from your location. Don't need to carry anything else if you're hiking the PCT. I think merino wool is awesome, but it's all about weight when you're trying to film a documentary and you have to keep up with PCTers who are doing 20+ every day. In case you missed it, I lined my pack with a trash bag and all my clothes and sleeping bag went into it.... that's the ONLY reason my things stayed dry through 4 days of straight rain. I've learned pack covers are useless and a stuff sack would not have kept my sleeping bag dry in the weather I hiked through. Every single PCT hiker I came across lined their pack with a trash bag also... when you hike 1000's of miles, you learn what works and what don't. Thanks for the thoughts!

[@JoeFronczek]

John Amorosano How do you keep your smart phone charged for days at a time without the solar panel? You can't really charge your phone on those AAs, right? Thanks for the vid, very helpful. In terms of the luxury of a cheese grater, the one thing I have to bring for luxury is a pair of foam flip flops. They are very light and can stuff down the side of the pack. There is nothing better than relaxing around camp in some flip flops after a 20 mile day. Plus, when you get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night you dont have to put your shoes back on.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

100% agree with the camp shoes. I used to bring them when I first started hiking and I think I'm going to start packing them again. On short hikes, say 7 days or less, I don't need to recharge any of my electronics. I bring enough camera batteries to last and I only turn the phone on for location and using the GoPro App to set up a shot... it's off most of the time. The extra batteries on shorter hikes make up the extra weight of the solar panel, but I do bring it on longer hikes. The Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus charger with 4 AA batteries that gets it's charge from the Nomad 3.5 Panel will charge my phone and GoPro at night in the tent. It's a pretty awesome set up.

[@JoeFronczek]

John Amorosano thanks for the quick reply! I have considered purchasing a solar panel but haven't yet. My question is, when does it get the sun? Do you have it on the outside of your pack during the day while hiking? I'd think if you had it packed during the day while hiking its no good and then its dark most of the time at camp. You said you charge your phone and gopro at night using the panel. So I'm guessing it stores charge in the panel itself and then at night you discharge that power into your devices? Still curious when/how you actually keep it in the Sun for long enough to charge anything while hiking those miles. Thanks again!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Yeah the Nomad 3.5 Panel is attached to my pack during the day to charge the Guide 10 Plus. The Guide 10 Plus is a little battery pack that holds 4 AA rechargeable batteries. So, during the day that gets charged by the panel and at night that charges the electronics.

[@HighFlyer61488]

Really helpful vid! I'm doing the jmt for the first time this September. I know you said you hang your extra sack of food from a tree, but what do you do with your bear can? My neighbor who's done it says he just leaves it outside his tent on the ground. But that seems sketchy

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Finn Wilson Yeah, that's the whole point of bear can... to put all your food and toiletries inside and place it about 100 feet from your tent. 99% of bears can't get inside of them, so the food is safe. I hang any food or other items I can't fit inside the bear can. Good luck out there... thanks for watching!!

[@johngerlesky7867]

gonna do the jmt this sept. your info is excellent. its my first thru hike so im just going for it.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Good to hear and good luck out there. Have a safe trek.

[@mobiltec]

Hey thanks for the pack lesson. I've seen gear lists before but no one ever discussed the weight saving issues and packing before. .. What day do you expect to show up in Warner Springs? That's fairly close to me.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

We're going to be there on Friday, May 2nd. We'll be at the PCT kickoff at Lake Morena on the previous Friday and Saturday the 25th & 26th. Thanks for watching!!

[@timhefley5011]

Great Video! Thanks

[@Sierra_Skyline]

awesome video. Have you considered repackaging the MH food into freezer ziplocs? like yourself I like to keep my pot clean. The freezer bags can handle the boiling water (at least the ziploc brand; been to hesitant to try generic)

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Yeah, I used to just add the boiling water to the Ziplocs until I had my hot dinner all over my lap one night. :) Not to mention any pin holes that get caused by the dry food itself. So, now I just save the money and buy the generics... I end up eating out them anyway to keep my pot clean. An empty MH pouch folds up to be very small and then I just rinse it out and reuse, washing it whenever I'm camped next to an abundant water source. Wish they would make a Ziploc just a little more thick!! lol Thanks for watching bud... keep in touch with your hiking schedule!!

[@theresatate98]

excellent! Thanks for all the tips!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

+Theresa Tate No problem, happy to give them away.

[@andrewerwin8674]

Thanks for posting really appreciate this and your JMT/PCT videos. I'm hoping to do the JMT next summer (have done some day hikes in the Sierras near Garnet Lake) and I'm wondering about 2 gear items. A lot of people seem to use trekking poles but I don't think you do? I also have hiking boots like yours but a lot of PCTers seem to use lightweight trail shoes. I've noticed my feet feel a little heavy with boots but they are also really comfortable. Any thoughts on this? Sorry for the long message and keep at it!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

+Andrew Erwin Thanks for watching the vids. I don't use trekking poles b/c I'm always pulling out my cameras to record something. I've tried using them and they get in the way of shooting pictures or video more than they help with hiking. I'm not saying don't use them, it just doesn't work out for me to use them. Same with the boots... You have to go with what you're comfortable with. Don't use a shoe or boot just b/c others are using them. Test out all and go with what works for you. Good luck out there.

[@BPSpa1ntball]

I'm attempting to start backpacking and was wondering which model of osprey pack you use?

[@gunslinger1108]

Do you use trekking poles? Was curious since you had a dedicated camera pole. Maybe could rig something like the ultrapod or a stick pic. I'm thinking on getting a ultrapod for a upcoming trip I'm doing in northern Arkansas. Also what brand were the pants that you would be wearing?

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Nathan best I don't use trekking poles. I work the camera too much to have to put them down before taking a shot or have them dangling while trying to keep still. My pants are North Face. They are still kicking ass after doing the JMT twice, Grand Canyon, Zion, Whitney to Death Valley, and the High Sierra Trail. Not to mention all the smaller hikes in between.

[@rustymettle7170]

Nice video. I think you wouldn't save weight by skipping the lid on your pot. More cook time/fuel weight?

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

+Rusty Mettle I have since started taking it again. I always start with a new can of fuel, so that wasn't an issue with more fuel weight. But, I do like the fact of being able to keep bugs from flying in water... it really weighs nothing and I'm not an ultral-lighter, so it's back. Thanks...

[@gpinon4346]

Great info! Great tips!Thank you!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

+G Pinon No problem... thank you.

[@PureTazr]

I know that Hammock's are generally more expensive only less then the ultra tents cause my 2 person slumber Jack tent is only $99 compared to my hammock set which is $50 for the double nest ENO and the ENO net is another $50 and the under quilt for $99 + tarp another $100 or so if you go light weight. but it weights less compared to my Tent. 4lbs verses 6lb for the tent and poles + stakes. If you could go with a Hammock setup I thin you might light the lighter weight compared to packing around a tent. The area's you go to are very versatile and will almost always allow a hammock to be used.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

PureTazr I just bought the new Big Agnes Fly Creek Platinum. It weighs 1lb. - 6oz. Having a tent for that weight doesn't compare to anything else!! Yeah I might be able to find a hammock for around a pound, but for only 6 more ounces I get the full benefit of having a tent.

[@lisamallard]

Nice video. Good ideas. Have you ever had a problem with your sleeping bag getting wet since it's not in waterproof sack?

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

lisa mallard On the JMT, I've had no problems. If you're going to be hiking in Washington or Oregon I put all clothes and my sleeping bag into a trash bag. So, essentially I line my pack with a trash bag and everything inside the main compartment get protected no matter how wet my pack gets. Worked great through 4 days of straight rain along the PCT up by Canada last year. Thanks for watching!!

[@manofmusicx]

hey im curious what lures or bait you use up there you got some nice trout ..we are doing shadow lake,garnet and thousand island. thanks your vids are great

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

John Paris Good fishing in Garnet... I've never fished 1000 or Shadow but I would assume they're the same. I've caught nice rainbows out of Rosalie also. I just use little Power Bait croppy jigs. Buy them at Walmart. Glad you enjoyed, thanks for watching.

[@robsamsot234]

Other than the GoPro, what kind of camera did you use? I thought I heard "LA 20" but a quick google search didn't bring anything up for that. And for your 2014 hike video, did you wind up using your GoPro or that other camera most for your video shots? I thought they looked really nice.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Rob Samsot Gopro is used mainly for time lapse shots and walking and talking. The other camera is a Nikon L820. I use that one for stills and video that I want to zoom or have really nice quality.

[@RubenStorm]

Your breakfast from nestle, the business is 2 towns away from my place, but they don't sell this here.... To the shoes part, I use lowa real leather and I'm really happy with it. They have that cool service, you run them down, they repair them for less money than new ones

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Ruben Storm Thanks for the shoe tip. I'm sure you can find Instant Breakfast online somewhere.

[@RubenStorm]

John Amorosano you welcome.... I just been wondering, they produce the stuff here but don't sell it here....

[@williammorris1289]

Great advice on the ChickFila sauces in the Mtn house....would never think about that

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

William Morris Thanks... every time I hit a fast food place I load my wife's purse up with sauces!! ;) She hates it!!

[@MiddleSchoolMathNotes]

John, Thank you for all of your videos! I am looking for a warm jacket and was wondering what kind of puffy jacket do you use? and how do you like it? Thanks

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

+Tyler Hermens I have a Cabelas down jacket that I've had for 4 years now and it still kicks butt. I also have some cheaper synthetic jackets that I bought at Target and both work really well also. There's really no need to spend $100's on a name brand jacket, especially if you're on a budget. I've used both and can't really tell a big difference at all. Thanks for watching the vids.

[@sole6807]

LOLOL cheese grater!!!!!!! Hahaha thanks needed that! Camping in style well done!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

***** You have to have some luxuries... ;) Well, maybe not a cheese grater... Thanks!!

[@mariofuentes_]

Great video, very informative.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

+MARIO FUENTES Thanks...

[@Fishbreath81]

Great video. What do you do with the fish carcass out on the trail?

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Fishbreath81 Thanks... the only time we actually eat the fish is if we can cook over an open fire, so we throw the carcasses in when we're done eating.

[@brappjohnson6196]

Great vid John. Thanks for the break down. Have you found an upper limit to what the exos 58 will carry? Thinking about upgrading to a new exos but not sure I can shed the weight to your level. WHAT??? No spaghetti & donkey balls for dinner? LMAO. I find myself jealous of all the trail time you guys get. Is there much fishing in section A? Looks pretty dry down there. Thanks again for sharing, love your video style & editing. Your soundtracks always take me back to the good ol' days.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Thanks bud... I believe you can carry up to 40 lbs. with the Exos comfortably, any more than that would be pushing it. No fishing on Section A so I won't be carrying the pole, plus we going to have a gallon of water with us for back-up. I'm still waiting for MH to put out there version of Spaghetti W/ Donkey Balls, but can't seem to find it anywhere. Thanks for watching bud... VH rocks!!!!

[@saraloggins8365]

Could you use that dried up end of the summer sausage to flavor the mashed potatoes or something instead of just wasting it?

[@canyonoverlook9937]

You said you hiked in your fleece when it's cold. Do you ever hike in your down jacket? How often on your hikes do you hike in the 30's or below? Do you carry long underwear pants? I don't think you mentioned that unless I missed it.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Canyon Overlook Very rarely is it ever cold enough for me to hike in my down jacket. The only time I ever have was during the H2L hike when the wind chill was 20 deg. It depends on the time of year whether or not I take my long underwear. In the summer months, there's no need for them as it's too warm for hiking in those. At night I sleep in my flannel PJs and a thermal top.

[@Thefellowmanable]

You carry all of your food with you?

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

+Stefan Campbell Not for the entire trail. We usually only carry 5 or 6 days of food at a time and resupply at strategic locations.

[@asiam7436]

Excellent gear video. I am looking into a Go-Pro or Sony Splash. Thanks for the tips on re-using one Mountain House bag and the Gatorade packets. I'll return the favor. TrueLemon.com is dehydrated lemon juice that comes in single packets sold in a box. They can be sprinkled on your fish, and added to your water is truly refreshing and adds vitamin C. They make several flavors including lime, orange, grapefruit, mango, cherry etc. as well as raspberry lemonades, and teas without artificial sweeteners. Awesome.

[@Love2Wander]

good info John thanks for sharing

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

No problem, thanks.

[@docmichar]

Very informative, thank you.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

+Michael Harris Happy to help... thanks.

[@senzaforplay]

Hi John and thanks for this really helpful video. I am wondering, however, what kind of cup are you using to mix your food in? Is it a Sea to Summit? If so or if not, what size is it? Thanks so much!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

senzaforplay Yeah I believe it's the small Sea to Summit. I mostly do not mix my food in that cup though. That's mainly for drinks. Thanks for watching!!

[@senzaforplay]

John Amorosano Ah, right. I just watched the food mixing part again. That's a good idea. So, you just clean out the Mountain House bag my swooshing some soap and water around in it, I assume? I'm very new to this, so I'm not sure exactly how to handle the little things. Thank you!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

senzaforplay exactly... a little soap and water for a rinse and you're good to go. I usually take two just to have one as a backup.

[@ZeroAmplified]

Hey I love your videos and wanted to know if you could do a beginner's guide to backpacking and how to get started. I love hiking and would love to try backpacking sometime soon. Thanks!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

ZeroAmplified Like I say in the video, everyone is different. You have to just get out there and see what works for you. My video is just to give people ideas about what gear I pack and then you have to adjust things to your liking. Maybe I will do a video this year and go more in depth on how I use the gear in camp. Just get out there and do it... good luck!!

[@BornToBunk]

We enjoyed your video!!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

BornToBunk Thank you!

[@theherbivorehiker]

What fishing rod and reel combo do you use? I'm interested in purchasing a telescoping pole for my own backpacking adventures.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

It's a Master 6 ft. telescoping rod with the lightest reel you can find. I only use 2 lb. line cuz most of the fish aren't that big in the back country. I bought mine at Big 5 sporting goods... I'm sure you can find it at any sporting goods outlet.

[@jbrand7257]

water bottle for dry food sometimes helps.puncture proof.& how much weight in water do you carry ?

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

1 liter at a time, which is around 2lbs. give or take.

[@mattgardner3763]

Maybe this has already been asked but I couldn't find it....how much water do you carry and how/where do you carry it?

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Matt Gardner Where I'm hiking depends on how much water I carry. In the Sierra I only carry a 32 oz. bottle of water at any one time in my side pocket. There's no need to carry more in a place where you cross water every hour. The Osprey Exos pack has easy access for taking the bottle in and out of the side pockets with it's 2nd opening that faces towards your back. If I'm hiking in Grand Canyon, I carry the 32oz. bottle plus a full gallon in a plastic bottle, which goes in the main compartment. I don't mess around with hydration bladders, especially in the desert. They all end up with a hole eventually. If I need to carry a little more I do have the ability to use my Platapus filter bags.

[@mattgardner3763]

Thank you for the reply. This has been throwing me off a bit. I am getting my wife and I set up to do some local peaks in preparation for the JMT and Whitney. I currently have a Kelty Coyote 80 and it is just so huge and unwieldy when I add a 3L bladder. I want to switch to a pack more like the Osprey Atmos AG 65 but with the bladder my gear won't fit. My base weight is around 32 lbs at the moment. Not bad for a beginner. I am a bigger guy so this is around 19% of my bodyweight. I will shave a pounds off if I switch to the Osprey pack. Thank you for all your advice! I have watched most of your backpacking videos to learn from. The Journey through the Range of Light video is awesome too! Next time I'm in Big Bear I would love to grab a beer with you and pick your brain a bit!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

No problem... hit me up when you make it up here. Thanks for watching the vids and good luck to you guys out there.

[@chrisnigul]

You wash that one Mountain House container after every use correct? Cheers, Chris

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Not anymore... I now use a Ziplock freezer bag to re-pack the food in. Then I just simply place the Ziplock bag into the Mtn. House bag for prep. When I'm done eating, I pull the Ziplock out and discard, leaving the Mtn. House bag clean.

[@spruce238]

Just sharing a food suggestion. I mix 1/3 to 1/2 of a packet of Knorr vegetable recipe mix into most of my meals. It's dehydrated vegetables along with a powdered broth mix The powdered broth mix gives everything I make a distinctive vegetable taste.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Cool... thanks for the tip. I've been wanting to implement some extra veggies into my trail diet. I've recently heard that there is dehydrated ground meet on the market and that it's very tasty... gonna get me some of that!

[@beaud218]

John Amorosano Save the money and make your own!! I have been dehydrating ground beef for years. Get a 97/3 mix since fat can not be dehydrated, cook the meat, drain and strain as much as possible put it on a dehydrator for around 12 hrs. on the meat setting and you have "gravel." Meat at 1/10 of the original weight. Which can be stored up to 5+ yrs. Once you want the meat re-hydrate by bringing water to a boil and letting sit for 20+ min. I have found that 1 cup of dehydrated meat is around 1 1/2 - 2 lbs. of meat.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Awesome... yeah, I plan on getting a dehydrator soon. There's always some other piece of gear that I want to get 1st though, that I can actually take on the trek ;). Thanks for the tip!!

[@anthonyromano8565]

John Amorosano I made a commercial sized dehydrator using some oak plywood left over fro a cabinet job. I basically copied a design similar to 400.00 stainless ones. I used wood from a hardwood pallet to make frames with stretched polyester window screen as shelves. I used a small space heater for heat and mounted the controls outside the box and a meat thermometer to read the temperature inside. OK so its not UL listed but its a wicked set up.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

lol... you're definitely a survivalist!!

[@weedletrainer34]

Ditch that jetboil cup, get the mini-bic(or no lighter at all they almost never work at altitude), that heavy pill container, switch to fingertip tooth brush, cut that fishing pole base down, make a gopro mount on a walking stick and that mp3 player for a ipod shuffle! That's probably get you under 30!

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

Jonathan Ziegler Thanks for all the tips, but don't care if I get under 30 or not. Like I say in the video, I bring some luxuries that you might not want to take... to each their own hike. You make some good points, like the pill container and maybe cutting the fishing pole bottom off. But, again, the mp3 player, and a lighter are luxuries I like to have with me out there. And, just for reference... out of the 1000's of miles I've hiked in the Sierra, my Bic lighter always works at any altitude I've ever camped at. Maybe you just got a bunk one. As far as the GoPro stick goes... so you want me to trade one for the other? I can guarantee you that the stick I use is lighter than any hiking pole and it can extend far more than any trekking pole can. Again, thanks for the tips, I'll take some into consideration!

[@briansimpkins985]

John Amorosano have u ever thought about getting the little 6 oz stove with fuel cubes...i have that and the new jet boil but the little stove i have has a wind barrier on it lid and pot and fuel cubes and weighs next to nothing or is it not as reliable when weather is around

[@lifeisgood070]

serious question... how do you get your veggies on the trail during winter? All these light backpacking videos have ramen/etc. Where are the veggies?

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

lifeisgood070 Most of the veggies come from the freeze dried meals that I eat at night. Chris and I began bringing dehydrated bags of veggies to add to whatever we like also. You can dehydrate veggies just as easily as fruit.

[@lifeisgood070]

Ah, thank you John. I'll look for dehydrated veggies.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

I think REI is staring to carry them now.

[@spruce238]

Great video! Packing lighter also has an other benefit;- when your getting rid of the weight, your also getting rid of the bulk.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

For sure... another great element into the gear equation. Thanks for watching!!

[@rmoran113]

How difficult would it be to complete the JMT in around 14 days. I live in the Southeast and hike AT frequently in Georgia North Carolina. Time off is limited so I would have to be able to complete in two weeks is that feasible? I usually hike 15 to 17 mile days on the Southern AT when I go.

[@JohnCantHike55Amorosano]

If you start from Happy Isles and hike southbound you have to have an average of 16 miles per day to finish in 14 days. The mileage from Yosemite to Whitney Portal TH is around 220 miles. If you do that you can carry 7 days of food at a time and have one resupply at MTR. It's up to you how many miles you can do everyday. Remember, the elevations are a lot higher out here than on the AT. If you're averaging that many on the AT already, you'll be able to pull it off! Good luck out there!!!