Hi Steve!
I'm 29 and naturally small/skinny. I try to stay in decent shape, but don't exercise nearly as much as I should. I run like once a month and I just got back into gym climbing once a week. I did San Gorgonio the weekend before, so I had some training and acclimatizing there.
I didn't weigh my pack, but I'm a weight-weenie (coming from the world of cycling). I'm about 125 lbs. so I try to go as light as possible. My pack for that hike was as follows (edit: maybe 15 lbs?):
Osprey Exos 58L pack
REI 0 degree down sleeping bag
Thermarest NeoAir sleeping pad
Sea To Summit Aeros inflatable pillow
3L camelpack bladder
First aid kit
Bag of snacks/food
Petzl Sirroco climbing helmet
Black Diamond Raven ice axe
Petzl Sarken crampons
Two headlamps
Arcteryx synthetic insulation jacket
Insulated gloves
Fleece beanie hat
Wearing:
La Sportiva Trango Cube boots
Wool socks
Wool t-shirt
Down jacket
REI stretchy hiking pants
GORE cycling rain pants (used as shell for trudging through snow and glissading)
Thin waterproof gloves
Trekking poles
8000 foot elevation gain was certainly my biggest day so far, but I knew that I was camping out at 12000 feet so I could expend more energy than normal on the way up because I didn't have to come all the way back down. After about 11000 feet I slowed down and didn't push as hard. Reaching the top of Shepherd Pass was absolutely stunning and awe-inspiring. That gave me the motivation I needed to drop off my sleeping gear and head for the summit. Only 2000 more feet straight up a snow ramp - pretty straightforward.
I left my tent in my car because I didn't expect snow. I just wanted to travel light. I'm glad there wasn't more snow/rain - it could've gone a lot worse. I spent much of the night holding the hood of my sleeping bag closed so snow wouldn't blow in, then realized I could stuff my extra jacket in it to block the weather. It worked and though I felt like I woke every hour, I got plenty of sleep.
Also - I forgot a pee bottle and that made sleeping a little uncomfortable, but I didn't want to get up and get dressed in a snow storm.
Last edited by goldscott; 05/26/15 10:32 PM.
