“I had brought a waterproof topo printout which the leader frowned on as constituting excessive weight.”
A few grams?
L
Going ultralight is apparently a thing among millennials. They can get competitive and a bit snotty about it.
Ultra stupidity in the ultralite community. I am all for a base weight of 4 pounds (tent, pack, sleeping bag/mat), and another 6 lbs of socks, a change of clothing plus a dedicated sleep clothing to keep my sleeping bag clean from body oil and sweat) and 1.5 lbs of food per day. I usually hike with 17 lbs of gear, food and clothing and a capacity for 4-6 liters of water, carrying two or three liters. This includes a 5k power brick, a GPS, phone, headlamp, first aid kit, and cooking gear using denatured alcohol. I make ample use of Freeze Dried meals, usually buying can of Mountain house and breaking down into portions. A few Koean coffee sticks, and I’m golden.
I wrap the balls of my feet, heels and insoles with tape of any kind to prevent blisters.
I don’t have much extra, no guns or ammo. My knife is a 1.4 oz mini scissors, knife combo pliars type thing - I once went out with a taped razor blade - that was incovenient and dangerous - but many forgoe decent first aid gear or hydration supplements.
I always have a paper map in addition to what’s on my phone or used in the GPS.
There is a guy on Youtube that hikes with less gear than his liter of water - some sort of badge of honor in the hiking ocmmunity. It is sheer insanity.