MonGoose wrote:JonW wrote:MonGoose wrote:... with 50 lb packs during the day followed by the summit attempt with (relatively) light packs in the dark.
50 lbs for the DC! Yikes!! All your gear for the DC should fit in a 45L pack and weigh less than 35lbs.
I'm skeptical that you can shave 15lbs off of this list but I'm open to suggestions:
Item, Weight in lbs
Black Diamond Mission 50L Backpack 3.44
Tent Poles 3.48
Tents Stakes 1.27
Mountain Hardwear Sleeping Bag 2.92
Thermarest 1.32
Canon G16 Camera 0.86
Avalanche Beacon 0.76
Avalanche Probe 0.63
MSR Snow Picket 0.93
Black Diamond Helmet 0.78
Black Diamond Gloves 0.76
BCA Snow Saw 0.49
Ice Axe 1.34
Snow Shovel 1.62
Grivel Crampons 2.84
Climbing Harness, 5 locking carabiners,
4 non-locking carabiners, prusiks and runners 2.81
2 Trekking Poles 1.22
2 Black Diamond Headlamps 0.41
Ipod with Speaker 0.27
Emergency Bivy 0.24
Pocket Knife 0.18
MSR Pillow 0.19
Cooking Pot 0.47
Micro Rocket Stove 0.29
16oz of Isobutane .99
Suunto Ambit2 Watch (GPS, Altimeter, etc) 0.19
3x Mountaineering Socks 0.62
Empty Nalgene with Insulated Case 0.61
MH Blue Shirt 0.54
Patagonia Synthetic Shirt 0.39
Synthetic Sitting Pad 0.13
Black Diamond Liner Gloves 0.14
ArcTeryx Jacket 0.8
Black Diamond Primaloft Jacket 1.75
Black Diamond Primaloft Pants 1.13
Patagonia Down Jacket 0.55
Backpacking Cup 0.22
Gaiters 0.82
Ski Cap 0.16
Camelback (empty) 0.68
Baseball Cap 0.19
Food ~5
2 Liters of Water 4
Total Weight 48.43
The last time I climbed Rainier, I did Gib Ledges in a group of 2 and our packs weighed around 38 lbs. Going with a group of 3, you can reduce your weight. ExcitableBoy on Summitpost is very experienced in the Cascades and I tend to fully agree with his suggestions.
Here are things I'd drop for a summer trip up the DC:
Avalanche Beacon 0.76
Avalanche Probe 0.63
BCA Snow Saw 0.49
1 Black Diamond Headlamps 0.2
Ipod with Speaker 0.27
Emergency Bivy 0.24
MSR Pillow 0.19
1x Mountaineering Socks 0.2
Synthetic Sitting Pad 0.13
Black Diamond Primaloft Pants 1.13
Black Diamond Primaloft Jacket 1.75 (since you have a down jacket)
Backpacking Cup 0.22
Camelback (empty) 0.68
These are being carried/worn and shouldn't be considered pack weight:
2 Trekking Poles 1.22
Baseball Cap 0.19
As others have mentioned, the food and pole weight seems excessive. Plus, you can drop a few biners. Obviously, things can get lighter if you're willing to spend more money, but I think you can at least drop 10 lbs with the gear you have. Remember if "you take care of the ounces, the pounds will take care of themselves". FWIW, I climbed the N. Ridge of Baker last week with one other person. We carried 2 pickets each, a small rack of ice screws, a tent, a shovel, a single rope (as opposed to a half rope), etc. and our packs up to camp weighed around 40 lbs each. Significantly reducing the technical gear for a route like the DC would've brought this down to right around 35.