Awesome video! Nice follow-up from your photos a few months ago. The scenery out on the back side of your route was so different. Interesting perspective to see. You guys really beat yourself up!! Good on you👏🏼👏🏼 Thanks for putting the video together and sharing. Great job 👍🏻
Thx for the comments Cary. As I pulled this video together I didn’t really realize how much we were in grunt mode. Johnny and I have had many conversations about this trip and we’d do it all over again. Half the fun of these expeditions is seeing how they unfold and how you handle the challenges you encounter. Thx for staying tuned into our adventures. Next on the list is an 8 day Kings Canyon off trail adventure starting on Monday! Can’t wait to be back on trail with John & Gregg…
I don't know, Im having a hard time breaking into the ultralight pack market. How comfortable can it truly be if you need a foam pad to cushion your back from incidentals. It should be included in the weight since it seems to be a necessity for all who use sub 2lbs packs.
Best advice I can give is if you have a total weight under 30lbs then maybe these ultralight packs makes sense, if over 30lbs I prefer my Osprey Exos 58. It carries heavier weights more comfortably, has more space, and is relatively light weight…
OMG, what a trip...and what a great video! After your intro about things going wrong, I was riveted, and a nervous wreck when you rafted and crossed all the creeks. But you were so smart about everything. Your relationship was wonderful to watch also - such cool guys. (I just got back from Tanner - Escalante - New Hance with my husband, but with NO rain. Amazing hike too.) When exactly did you go?
Just found this video thank you for the very thorough walkthrough I am contemplating picking up a 70 L Arc haul. After a year what are your thoughts is it still a good pack and would you recommend it
This pack has been a nice addition to my backpack collection. Love the weight, the hip belt, and the ride. Choosing gear depends on the type of backpacking you are doing. I’m not a thru hiker thus weight is not the driver of my decisions. I’d consider myself a more traditional hardcore backpacker where I’m trying to balance weight and comfort. Typically we are carrying 5-8 nights of food but have also carried up to 11 with no resupply. I tell you this because being on trail for longer timeframes requires more food and gear to carry which means more weight. I’ve carried upwards of 45lbs in the Arc Haul while in the Sierra and it performed fine but it just wasn’t as comfortable as the Osprey Exos 58. Also the 60L Arc Haul doesn’t carry as much gear as the 58L Exos. For that reason I’d go with the 70L plus I think the 70L would probable carry a BV500 bear canister better. I think the sweet spot on the Arc Haul is under 30lbs. Carrying the same 45lbs in the Exos is definitely more comfortable. As for the waterproof claim, yes the Ultra 100 material doesn’t absorb water but it’ll definitely leak on a steady sustained rain. Probably be ok on a typical mountain afternoon rain as a front quickly rolls on by. Still use a pack liner or stuff your sleep gear and clothes in a dry bag. I will definitely still use the Arc Haul but for very specific trips where a lower pack weight is critical, like when we did the SEKI Traverse up/over many 11k’+ passes off trail, or for shorter trips where the overall pack weight is under 30lbs. For the longer trips or for trips requiring more gear, like the 11 day Grand Canyon trip we did earlier this year which we carried packrafts, I’ll choose the Exos. Hope that helps. Hit me up if you have anymore questions…
@@SummitSeeker546 thank you so much for all that data and feedback I really really appreciate it. Happy hiking hope you put out some more content soon hat really enjoyed your videos. God bless
Awesome video...thanks! As far as condensation, since it comes from our respiratory tract, maybe there's a way we could injest damp rid just before bed and it might reduce condensation? I'm gonna email Dr Birx about it.
Thank you for the great review! I hope you enjoyed your trip :) What's the brand of the foam pad with the foil layer, sleeping bag and the silk liner? Thank you in advance.
Here you go… UGQ Bandit 20Degree Sleeping Quilt - 1lbs 12oz (added 1oz more down in footbed and a collar) Cozy! Thermarest NeoAir Xlite Reg/Wide (72”x25”) Inflatable Pad/Sack/QStraps - 1lbs 1.9oz (go wide. 25” is perfect size) Cocoon Silk Liner - 4oz Thermarest Z Lite Sol 1/2 Foam Pad - 7.2oz
Just back from another 10 days in the GC. Check out my buddies trailer… ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-f0vZLGrPNxM.htmlsi=kBICaUFGcMvI_96O
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Thx Johnny! Can’t wait to see your video! Hiking in/out canyons and up/down saddles with you in that otherworldly terrain was a pretty darn cool experience! Glad we did it!
Just got back from a 10 day trip into the GC carrying 10 days of food, a packraft & paddle, and all the usual gear but this time I took my Osprey Exos 58L. It holds more gear, that’s not a misprint 58 vs 60, and is definitely more comfortable but weighs slightly more than 1 pound than the Arc Haul. A couple times we had to haul additional water, I use the 2L platypus water sacks/bottles, and that pushed the weight over 45lbs. At the higher weights the Exos is definitely more comfortable on the shoulders. I think the Arc Hauls sweet spot is 30lbs or less. For longer trips with higher weights I’ll continue to use my 8 yr old Exos. It’s a bit battered and bruised but still performs beautifully!
What a difference a year makes. We just got back from a 10 day trip to the eastern end of the Colorado River doing a loop from Lipan Point down to Tanner Beach, pack rafting across to the other side to the Horse-thief trail, then down Nankoweap to see the granaries, then another pack raft trip back to the south side and partially up the blue waters of the Little Co River before ascending back out. Six days of off trail in that rugged terrain was grueling! We only got slightly drizzled on but the winds were ferocious for the first 4 days. Ugh!
What is your torso length? It doesn't look like that pack fits you properly. The load lifters should be on an angle so they pull up on the shoulder straps, not back.
It’s a winner! We are heading out in 2 weeks for a 9 day trip into the Grand Canyon which will require 2 crossings of the mighty Colorado River in our packrafts. That pump will come in handy! Yew!
Thanks! It was an amazing route that started on the west side of the Sierra near Lodgepole, it was the Wolverton TH. Went all the way to the east side to pick up resupply at Onion Valley then back to Wolverton. A remarkable traverse of the Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP’s. For all the particulars watch the first 9 min of Johns video of this trip. He’ll talk you through the exact route. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cl2anSYb_Lw.htmlsi=Qo3qayg6vftK8eG5
Just happened to see your video post. Awesome job here. You were in great company. Now I have to watch part 1. I look forward to following your adventures.
Wow!! You weren’t kidding when you said wait until you see Part 2. Must have been boring with sun every day 😂😂 I usually find I have a handful of my shots from a trip that stand out … but you’ve got dozens & dozens! Really enjoyed this👍🏻. Got to be tough to choose favorites out of all those amazing photos. Cheers 👏🏼👏🏼
I’ll be honest with you. I make these pic montage videos to relive the experience to music I like and typically use most of my pics including some bad ones but include them cause they are part of the story. Glad you enjoyed and thanks for the positive comments…
I appreciated your review of the arc haul. I have had the Exos 58 for years and really like it, but it is about worn out. I was planning on going to the ZPacks arc haul ultra for the weight savings and similar structure to the Exos, but I am torn between the 60L and the 70L. Do you wish you would have gone with the 70L? My last trip was a 6 days in the Eagle Cap wilderness in October... It was cold, and I had that 58L Exos filled up.
I’m starting to love the Arc Haul and yes I wish I would’ve gotten the 70L. I’ve carried up to 50lbs in the 60L and it’s doable if you have the additional hip belt pouches (2) and strap stuff to the top. It carry’s well with the heavier weights but loses some comfort. I think it’s sweet spot is <35lbs. By switching from the Exos 58 to the Arc Haul 60 I shaved over 1.5lbs. To me that’s significant. I’m not an ultralight backpacker but I do like to save some weight when possible! Happy trails…
@@SummitSeeker546 thanks for the great info. Even with winter gear, I do not go over 30 lb, but the clothes/down becomes so bulky. It sounds like our style is similar... Lightweight, but not ultralight. There is only .3 oz between the 60Land the 70L so I guess I really don't have anything to lose. You certainly are giving it a workout... How are you finding the durability of the material?
@@dsl9973 The ultra 100 material has performed quite well from a durability standpoint. I’ve put it through hell as we like to do a bit of off trail traveling. So far no punctures, tears or worn spots on the fabric. One thing to note, I’m pretty careful when setting down my pack. Some guys are very rough and just toss their pack on the ground which eventually wears holes in the bottom of their pack. I have a few holes in the mesh but that’s to be expected. My one concern about the pack is the waterproof claim. If you are in a prolonged, all day rain somehow moisture will get in it. For shorter, cloud burst type rains it performs to expectations. At least that has been my experience. Fortunately I pack my quilt, clothes, and puffy jacket in dyneema waterproof stuff sacks for extra protection. The ultra 100 fabric doesn’t seem to absorb water and thus maintains its light weight. Definitely go with the 70L it’ll give you more flexibility to carry larger loads. The roll top is perfect for large or small loads.
Kings is amazing! Has quickly become my favorite NP! We did an epic 16 day trip last September traversing the Sequoia and Kings Canyon high basins. Freaking amazing trip! I think you’ll enjoy this trailer of the trip with a 2 part documentary coming out in the next several months. My buddy John shoots amazing videos… ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kl5vnG4R9QY.htmlsi=FrknxnmRGOrR4ZDd
I did this loop two months ago. There was still some snow in some higher elevations, and of course the bridge was still out over the San Juaquin River (south portion). Great scenario and I met lots of friendly thru hikers, plus the rangers checking the permit were friendly and professional.
Glad you had a great trip! We were also in the Sierra about the same time doing what we are calling the SEKI Traverse. Love both the Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP’s. Check out this trailer by buddy put out. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kl5vnG4R9QY.htmlsi=8VYNKblC4y-wb8-h. Lots of snow, downfall and route finding both on and off trail… A lot more Rangers these days due to the high volume of Backpackers. Our general experience with them is very positive. Sadly there are assholes in the back country that complain about the rangers. Just follow the rules and all is good!
Hey Randy, I just talked with John about doing a Cactus to Clouds hike up to Mount San Jacinto on Saturday November 11th. You are both welcome to join us for that.
You guys are awesome putting out that hot spot! It’s sad that people can be so irresponsible in the wilderness and ruin the experience for others. Thanks again!
The GC is a special place and will challenge you in many ways… Glad you enjoyed the video. We leave next Saturday for a 15 day Sequoia Kings Canyon high basin loop. It should be another epic adventure with lots of snow still remaining from last winters record snowfall. One things for sure, I will be bringing enough Aleve to get me through it!!! 😂
Thanks for the comment. It seems the harder the trip and the more obstacles you overcome then the more memorable the adventure. We have another good one coming up in early September. A 15 day Big SEKI Loop in the Sierra. With all the rain, snow, and monsoon conditions it’s gonna be interesting to see what Mother Nature has in store for us…
This trip we didn’t cross the mighty Colorado River. However on past trips when we did cross the river we used light weight pack rafts. The best light weight pack raft IMO is the Supai Adventure Matcat. It can handle class 1 rapids and probably class 2. Great piece of gear! www.supaiadventuregear.com/products/matkat-flatwater-boat
I think the sweet spot is under 35lbs. That being said I have carried over 40+lbs multiple times and found the pack quite tolerable. I love the double belt buckle system or v strap webbing. It holds snug and the padding in the belt and shoulder straps is adequate. If I have any complaint it’s that it doesn’t hold as much gear in the main compartment as my Osprey 58L. To claim 60L they clearly maximized the added space in the side and back pockets. If you want a really light weight pack I highly recommend it. I’m glad I have it in my arsenal. For when I carry more gear and weight isn’t as much an issue I will reach for the Osprey. We are attempting the Kings Canyon High Basin Route again this fall and I’ll carry the Arc Haul with 9 days food and a bear canister. With all the high passes we will go over My knees are telling me to go as light as possible! I’m pretty sure I’ll have the pack weight right around 40lbs when we start.
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Cocoon. Backcountry Gear has it on sale… www.backcountrygear.com/silk-mummyliner/?sku=DES9S10030-SILK-NATURAL&gclid=CjwKCAjwscGjBhAXEiwAswQqNLlbYWKn_2aUm1qcBoR8JEe8gRJ8WufXD_wxwUOoUEnNzkq2F1dqghoCgjsQAvD_BwE
Impressive video-watched all of it and was never bored. Appreciated seeing your experience on what it’s like to do a serious backcountry trip, and the wisdom you displayed in not continuing further than you did. My wife and I are just dayhikers who finally managed to make it down the South Kaibab and overnight at Phantom in early April. It took three planned trips to finally accomplish that simple trek due to frequent snowfall then. I can only imagine what it’d be like to deal with the difficult conditions you did.
