Great subject! I had part of this reply pre-written because I've come to the realization that I've had a change of heart just recently. I was going to post something similar.

But what's the extra sleeping bag for? I may just have to agree with your companions on that one but as far anything else you mentioned...

I (we) use to make a concerted effort to pack lighter each trip. Ferreting out the things we could live without became a mission. On shorter easy trips I'd relax my standards a bit and pack a little heaver.

Then it finally dawned on me that portages, even the nasty ones, are usually some of the shorter, easier walks taken on a trip. There is even a path to follow! I do an unusual amount of bushwhacking so I've made a reasonably successful effort to reduce my photographic poundage simply because I carry it around a lot. I've been known to drag, push and grunt my canoe and photo stuff to lakes that no one ever goes to.

On the other hand, I'm not so critical recently when it comes to portaging general creature comforts down a well beaten path. If I think I might need or want it - it goes, without too much thought past if and where it will fit. Nothing above the gunnels. Ever!

We all have to pull our "extra" displaced weight through the water so I am also curious to see if anyone else has any truly decadent ideas to enlighten me.

Last trip, a solo with only myself to complain about, included...
- A sunshower, to me simply a given because it works better and is safer than a rock when I'm alone in an almost empty canoe.
- An umbrella. I didn't use it this time but I'll probably take again . Ya, I'm a little ashamed to admit that but cameras and rain don't get along very well.
- A bivy sack. No, I didn't use it either this time but I do on occasion so it always goes along on solos.
- an extra rod 'n reel that luckily replaced the rod I broke
- dessert for every meal (mmmm... cheesecake!)
- decaf coffee for every dinner
- extra rope I actually needed for the tarp
- pretzels and other space or weight sucking snacks
- a saw and hatchet (you don't really need 'em but their oh so nice to have)-
- an extra pint of gas I wasn't going to bring but ended up using half of anyway. Much easier and quicker than a fire. (it also doubled keeping the cooler, -cooler)
- a cooler (not an extra to me either)
- a thermos, took it once on a whim - never looked back
- my wife's therm-a-rest in addition to mine (hey it fit)
- the chair addition the the therm-a-rest of course.
- my wife's pillow (same deal) I've considered a real down pillow but that would be pushing it don't you think?
- extra socks (ahhhh... cotton!)

I enjoyed them, they were worth the effort over all eleven portages. Even the nasty one.

The only extra I wouldn't take but love it when someone else does is a walkman/diskman and 4-5 well chosen CDs and two sets of headphones. (Don't knock it till you've tried it. It's like that peanut butter and chocolate deal.)

If everything combined doesn't add an extra portage trip - what-da-dipendo??? Actually so what if it does on short trips?

Not an extra, but they come in so handy it seems like it, is the knee pads I use if kneeling in the canoe, sitting on rocks, separating kevlar from rocks, cleaning a mess-o-fish...

Posted by db on June 18, 2001 at 14:55