Hot take: I was overpacking for every trip until a ranger in Yosemite called me out

Honestly, I was carrying a 55 liter pack for a simple 2 night loop in the Sierra. A ranger at the Tuolumne Meadows station saw my setup and just said, 'You look ready for a month, not a weekend.' Tbh, I cut my base weight by nearly 10 pounds after that by ditching extra clothes and a giant cook kit. Has anyone else had a moment like that that totally shifted your packing strategy?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylorpatel24d ago

Lol, been there with the overpacking for sure.

cole_davis477d ago

But what if your skills aren't enough and you actually need that extra gear?

willow76024d ago

Ngl, that ranger comment would have stung in the moment. What really changed for me was realizing I was packing for my anxiety, not the actual trip. I'd bring stuff just to feel in control of every possible bad scenario, which is impossible anyway. Learning to be a little uncomfortable and trusting my skills with less gear was a bigger shift than just cutting weight.

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