Pacific Crest Trail Gear in 1982 ... and what I'd take now

The North Face Back Magic II pack in the North Cascades

At the end of the film Wild (see my review here) as the credits roll there are pictures of Cheryl Strayed on her actual hike in 1995 which show just how accurately the film makers replicated the gear she used. Looking at these images and going through my slides for a talk on the PCT I'm giving in Inverness I thought again about the gear I used and what I would take today. Late last year I wrote an article about this that appeared in the January issue of The Great Outdoors. Here it is.

Thirty-three years ago I was planning my hike along the Pacific Crest Trail, which I began in April 1982 and the story of which is told in my latest book, Rattlesnakes and Bald Eagles. Returning to a walk so long after it took place was an interesting experience. In my journal I’d listed all the gear I started out with, including its weight. Reading through this I was somewhat shocked at just how heavy it all was, some 43lbs (20kg) in total, and also surprised at some of the weights. How did my first aid and repair kits weigh well over a kilo? Today their weight is about a quarter of that. I wish I’d kept a list of what was in them!

All the gear worked fine though and most was fairly lightweight for the time. A few items could have weighed less and a few I could have done without but overall I doubt I could have cut the weight by more than 3-4kg at most. Today I would expect my gear to weigh half what it did back then, partly because over the years I’ve refined what I carry but also because it was my first long distance walk overseas and I was undoubtedly erring on the side of caution and taking everything I thought I might need, and because of new designs and, especially, new fabrics. In 1982 materials like Dyneema, silnylon, fleece, microfibers, Pertex, cuben fibre and titanium didn’t exist in outdoor gear. 

Here’s what I took – and what I’d take today.

PACK

With 23 days supplies for the High Sierra

I started out with a 100 litre capacity Berghaus Cyclops Scorpion, a tough internal frame pack with zip-off side pockets. I knew I’d be carrying two weeks food at times so I wanted a big pack. As it was the Scorpion still wasn’t large enough for the 23 days without resupply through the High Sierra when I had gear strapped all over the outside. It was comfortable though and handled ridiculously heavy loads quite well. It’s 2155g weight seems quite high today but was on the lighter side for a big pack at that time. And the current similar Berghaus pack, the 100-litre Vulcan weighs 2900g.  The internal frame broke after around 1500 miles – probably due to the pack bouncing down a pass at one point – and as I couldn’t get it repaired I replaced it with an 85-litre external frame The North Face Back Magic II, which weighed even more at 2700g but which was also comfortable.

Today I would look for a smaller pack as my gear would be more compact. I’d also look for a lighter weight one. The 60 litre Lightwave Ultrahike that weighs 1230g and which I used on the Scottish Watershed in 2013 would be one possibility. Others I’d consider are the 1200g Six Moon Designs Fusion 65 and the 1330g ULA Catalyst, or, if I thought I needed more capacity, the 1550g Lightwave Wildtrek 70 and the 1652g Montane Grand Tour 70. 

SHELTER

Told I might need a free-standing tent in places (this wasn’t so) I took a single-skin Gore-tex dome tent, the Wintergear Eyrie, which weighed a hefty 2268g. It was easy to pitch, stood up to the few storms well and was very roomy. Condensation was a problem at times in wet weather towards the end of the walk but otherwise it was excellent. Although nice to have I didn’t need such a substantial shelter though and could have taken a lighter, smaller tent – there were several available at the time. Today I wouldn’t take a tent at all but a shaped tarp like the Mountain Laurel Designs Trailstar with a mesh inner for mosquitoes, which were a problem early in the summer. The Eyrie still exists in slightly modified form and a very expensive price as the 2520 gram Terra Nova Gemini Bivi (Wintergear tents became Terra Nova ones).

Camp in the North Cascades near the end of the walk

I also took a fairly heavy Gore-tex bivvy bag, which was only used a few times to protect my sleeping bag from condensation in the tent. Today if I took one at all it would be something like the 210 gram Terra Nova Moonlite Bag Cover.

Knowing I should be able to sleep under the stars at times I carried a 425g reflective Sportsman’s Blanket to use as a groundsheet. This was well worth the weight as I slept out on many nights. Today though I’d take a much lighter silnylon groundsheet which I’d also use in my shelter.

Bivouac in the Yosemite wilderness with Larry Lake

SLEEPING BAG & MAT

At 1020g my down-filled Mountain Equipment Lightline, rated to -5C, wouldn’t seem very heavy today. It kept me warm, with clothes, in temperatures down to -10C and lasted the whole walk well. The Lightline still exists, the latest version weighing 1225 grams and with a comfort rating of -6C. It would probably prove excellent on the PCT today but I’d now take something lighter such as the 755 gram Mountain Equipment Xero 300, 860 gram Montane Featherlite or 874 gram Rab Infinity 500. 

Therm-A-Rest self-inflating mats were still new in 1982. In fact there was only one model, available in two lengths. The foam inside was solid so it was warm for sleeping on snow. The 709g weight was high though. Therm-A-Rest is now a big range of mats from which I’d take either the 310 gram NeoAir X Therm S or the 430g Prolite Plus S. 

KITCHEN

In 1982 I was advised that the only stove fuel I’d find along the way was white gas (such as Coleman Fuel) or petrol. Stoves running on these fuels were standard for backpacking then and I took the lightest available, the 539g Svea 123, which looks like a brass can. This was before the days of hose-connected fuel bottles and the Svea had a small tank under the burner that held 120ml. The stove worked fine throughout the trip, including for melting snow at high camps in the Sierra Nevada. It’s still available from Optimus and is a lovely stove. The weight would put me off taking it again though. Gas canisters and alcohol fuel are available now so I’d take a stove that runs on one of these, probably the 225g Trail Designs Caldera Ti-Tri that I used on the Pacific Northwest Trail and the Scottish Watershed.

As the Svea 123 held so little fuel I also took litre and half litre Sigg fuel bottles so I could carry enough for two weeks when needed. These were the only metal fuel bottles available at the time.

My aluminium pots and cup were quite light but were so badly scratched and dented by the end of the walk I never used them again. Today I’d save a little weight and take my much tougher titanium pots that are veterans of several long walks and weigh 220g.

FOOTWEAR

The lightweight footwear revolution was just beginning in 1982. Fabric boots and brands like Brasher didn’t exist and the first trail shoes weren’t yet in the shops. Heavy, semi-stiff leather boots were standard for backpacking. I’d worn a pair, Scarpa Bronzos, on my first long distance walk, Land’s End to John O’Groats, and I chose them again for the PCT. That this was a mistake I discovered very quickly. The PCT begins in hot desert country and my feet were soon swollen, blistered and very sore. Luckily I was carrying a light pair of New Balance running shoes for camp and town wear and quickly found that my feet were better with these on my feet and my boots in my pack. However there was much snow in the mountains when I often used crampons and snowshoes so my boots were needed. Eventually both boots and shoes wore out. Out of the snow and happy with the shoes I bought a pair of new-fangled trail shoes made by Asolo, despite the staff in the store warning me they weren’t suitable or safe for backpacking. These proved fine though and just lasted the final 1000 miles.

Asolo Trail shoes & torn Cool-T shirt in Oregon

CLOTHING

Wool and cotton were still the main materials for outdoor clothing in the early 1980s but new lighter fabrics were starting to appear. The first thin, lightweight, breathable, fast-drying and windproof clothing made from a 50/50 polyester cotton mix had recently been launched by Rohan. The outdoor trade was not impressed, saying the stuff wouldn’t last and was too insubstantial for the outdoors. I thought otherwise and was delighted when Rohan offered me clothing for the trip. I had trousers (Bags – still made of the same fabric in the same design today), breeches, shorts and a windshirt and they all worked well. Why I took both trousers and breeches I now have no idea! Rohan sparked a revolution in clothing and today such garments are standard. I’d take similar garments again, made from 100% synthetic fabrics though.

Rohan also supplied me with synthetic base layers (not that the term was used back then) that were faster drying and much more comfortable than cotton or the wool garments then available (merino, which I’d use today, was a long way in the future) but which I have to admit did stink after a while.

My warm garments were a Helly-Hansen nylon fibre-pile jacket, which looked like a shaggy type of fleece, and a down vest. The combination worked well and I’d use a similar one today.

For rain Rohan made me up a set of experimental lightweight Gore-Tex garments. They don’t seem particularly light now but at the time 800-1000 grams was standard for Gore-Tex. There was only one type of Gore-Tex too and no alternatives. The Rohan garments just lasted to the end. Today I’d take much lighter garments, probably no more than half the weight.

SNOW GEAR

I carried an ice axe the whole way. At a hefty 765g it was the lightest I could find. Today I’d take the 245g Camp Corsa, and probably not carry it the whole way either. For the High Sierra I bought crampons and snowshoes and needed both as it was a late snow year. Once out of the high mountains I dispensed with them. I didn’t have trekking poles, which hadn’t appeared then. I should have got some ski poles for use with the snowshoes but didn’t realise they’d be useful until it was too late.

GEAR LIST AT THE START

                                                             Weight             lb oz                   Grams

PACK

Berghaus Cyclops Scorpion pack                                   4  12                 2155

Pack liner                                                                          2                     57

CAMPING

Wintergear Eyrie Gore-tex tent                                      5    0                 2268

Mountain Equipment Lightline sleeping bag                    2     4                1020

Wintergear Gore-tex bivvy bag                                      1     3                  539

Sportsman’s Blanket                                                    -     15                 425

Therm-A-Rest ¾ inflatable mattress                               1     9                  709

Total                                                                         15    13                7173

KITCHEN

Svea 123 gasoline stove                                                 1      3                 539

Sigg 1 litre fuel bottle                                                             5                 142

Sigg ½ litre fuel bottle                                                            4                 113

Field & Trek Lightline aluminium pots & Sierra Cup                 11                312

Stuffsacks, spoons, pot grab, lighter, matches                        10                283

Field & Trek 2 gallon Water Bag                                              4                113

Sigg ½ litre aluminium water bottle                                          4                113

Wide mouth 1 litre plastic water bottle                                     4                113

Total                                                                            3      13              1728

FOOTWEAR

Scarpa Bronzo leather boots                                         4       8                2041

New Balance 420 running shoes                                    1       1                  482

Total                                                                            5      9                 2523

CLOTHING

Rohan Cool T shirt                                                                5                   142

Rohan Long T shirt                                                               6                    170

Gordale chlorofibre long johns                                                7                   198

M&S Viloft briefs x 2                                                            4                    113

Rohan polycotton shorts                                                       5                    142

Rohan polycotton Knickers (breeches)                                   9                    255

Rohan polycotton Bags trousers                                          10                    283

Helly Hansen Double Pile jacket                                     1     4                    567

Snowdon Mouldings Down Vest                                           14                    397

Rohan polycotton Action Jacket                                          12                    340

Rohan Gore-tex jacket                                                  1     5                    595

Rohan Gore-tex salopettes                                            1     3                    539

3 pairs wool knee length socks                                      1     7                    652

Field & Trek Viloft Thermclava balaclava                                3                      85

Goredale Chlorofibre balaclava                                              2                      57

Cotton sun hat                                                                    2                      57

Damart gloves                                                                     3                      85

Wintergear Gore-tex Overmitts                                             3                      85

Nylon Stop Tous                                                                 2                      57

Total                                                                        10     10                  4819

SUNDRIES

First Aid/Repair Kits in plastic tubs                            2        7                 1106

XL Food stuffsack                                                              4                   113

Simond Cougar ice axe                                             1      11                   765

Compass & whistle                                                            2                     57

100 foot nylon cord                                                           11                   312

Head torch + 3 sets batteries                                            14                   397

Sunglasses                                                                       3                    85

Notebook, pens, documents                                              12                   340

8x20 binoculars                                                                  8                   227

Total                                                                          7       8              3402

Grand Total                                                            43       5             19645

For the crossing of the High Sierra I added the following (no weights recorded)

Sherpa Featherweight Snowshoes

SMC 12 point crampons

A16 Gore-tex gaiters

Polarguard bootees

At Mammoth Lakes I added 120 feet of 7mm rope for river crossings.

After around 1500 miles I replaced my damaged pack and my worn-out shoes and boots with the following:

The North Face Back Magic II pack

Asolo trail shoes

Camera Gear (no weights recorded)

Pentax ME Super SLR

Pentax MX SLR

Pentax 28mm lens

Pentax 50mm lens

Pentax 75-150 zoom lens

Camera Care Systems cases

Kodachrome 64 transparency film