FastPacking gear is lighter than general backpacking or mountaineering gear, but attempts to tackle similar environmental exposure over the course of fewer days. Carrying less food and less bulk or weight can allow one to move more freely, at a faster pace than one who is carrying an expedition style pack. All this said, the key to successful Fastpacking is to read the weather and conditions appropriately, and move fast-and-light when the time is ripe for it.
This blog is meant to be a resource for anyone preparing for an Aspire Fastpacking skills course. Due to the continuous dialing-in of gear for Fastpacking missions, and the endless trade-offs with comfort and conditions, these gear recommendations are not black and white. For Aspire participants, we will have a pre-trip briefing to fine-tune gear selections. Anytime you are planning to venture into the mountains, it is a good idea to consult with your team about a gear strategy once you have an idea of the route, the conditions, and the weather forecast.
Sleep System:
The word ‘system’ is key. Any sleeping bag, sleeping pad, or shelter you choose, does not stand alone. They all work together to either make or break your sleeping experience. With some ground conditions, such as snow, your pad and shelter may need to be the most robust, whereas your sleeping bag may toe the line of temperature rating. At other times, shelter may rule out as the thing that takes up the most space (due to rain or inclement weather). When the weather forecast is high and dry, you may be able to get away with the most minimal of all three, and this is when Fastpacking is at its most prime. The most important thing is to ensure that your sleeping bag, pad, and shelter work together and are adequate for the conditions you might encounter in the mountains.
- Sleeping Bag –
- How warm does it need to be? How packable?
- Weather Considerations: In order to answer these questions, you should first consider what the nighttime low temperature will be for where you are going. A good way to check specific weather forecasts is to visit NOAA for the area to which you are traveling. Using the inset map on the lower right hand side of the page, you can pinpoint your proposed camp location (elevation is important) and allow the page to refresh with the forecasted weather for that zone.
- Dakobed: Glacier Peak – Glacier Gap camp weather
- Kulshan: Baker – Portals high camp weather
- Weight vs. Warmth: Next you get to consider the trade-offs of having a warm night’s rest and carrying a little extra weight, or opting for a slightly less comfortable slumber and having a lighter pack. **You’ll notice this is a trend with most light-and-fast style missions.**
- For the North Cascades in the summer, in good weather, you can get away with a 30 degree bag most nights, and other times, you may wish you had the 0 degree. My personal approach has been to travel with a lightweight 10-15 degree water resistant down sleeping bag and ensure that I pack it inside of a waterproof stuff sack, and pair it with adequate ground insulation and shelter (more on this next). If the forecasted temperatures are lower than 25 or the winds are expected to exceed 10-15 mph, I will likely also bring a silk weight sleeping bag liner, to add a little warmth.
- Weather Considerations: In order to answer these questions, you should first consider what the nighttime low temperature will be for where you are going. A good way to check specific weather forecasts is to visit NOAA for the area to which you are traveling. Using the inset map on the lower right hand side of the page, you can pinpoint your proposed camp location (elevation is important) and allow the page to refresh with the forecasted weather for that zone.
- How warm does it need to be? How packable?
- Sleeping pad –
- R rating? Thickness? Closed or open cell? Inflatable or foam?
- If cushion is really important to you, bring a lightweight inflatable or open cell pad (Exped makes some good options), but MAKE SURE there are no holes in your pad, that it holds air all night, and that you bring a durable ground cloth (must be puncture resistant) that is larger than the footprint of your pad!
- Ground cloth pro tip: Cut a section of Tyvek to size.
- Open Cell/Inflatable Pad
- PRO: Cushion for the joints and back, lightweight, packable
- CON: Easy to pop/not durable, tends to be colder, difficult to field repair in alpine environments
- When going fast and light I choose not to bring an inflatable pad.
- #1: Because I’ve had too many pop on me over the years.
- #2: Without a high R-value or an additional closed cell foam pad, I get too cold.
- If cushion is really important to you, bring a lightweight inflatable or open cell pad (Exped makes some good options), but MAKE SURE there are no holes in your pad, that it holds air all night, and that you bring a durable ground cloth (must be puncture resistant) that is larger than the footprint of your pad!
- R rating? Thickness? Closed or open cell? Inflatable or foam?
And so in my calculation of trade-offs, I choose warmth over comfort and bring a lightweight foam pad.
- Closed Cell Foam Pad
- PRO: lightweight, insulating, durable, can also be used around camp/as a yoga mat, etc.
- CON: bulky, not as comfortable
- Shelter –
- Tent? Bivy Sack? Tarp? None of the above?
- Consider the forecast… Precipitation? Snow? Wind?
- Consider the environment… Trees? Snow? Rocks? Ground Surface?
- Consider the number of nights out… one or multiple?
- TENT
- PRO: solid shelter from rain/snow/wind, adaptable to any ground surface, spacious, comfortable, bug screen
- CON: heavy, bulky
- TARP
- PRO: lightweight, packable, good shelter from precipitation, good airflow
- CON: sometimes necessitates an additional ground tarp, does not fair well in high winds, must have trees or trekking poles and stakes, no bug screen
- BIVY SACK
- PRO: lightweight, packable, can be solid shelter (depending on the type)
- CON: tends to promote condensation inside the bag, claustrophobic for long periods of time
- For the Aspire Skills courses on Kulshan and Dakobed, we will be camping above Treeline, on rocky surfaces, for one night only, and there is potential for any kind of weather (likely no insects). A lightweight waterproof bivy sack is recommended.
- Given that we only have one night out, if you get wet, it will be okay. *If going out for longer missions, consider how to keep your gear dry, or the efficacy of synthetic versus down sleeping bags.
- TENT
- Tent? Bivy Sack? Tarp? None of the above?
What is your guide bringing? Rab Neutrino 600 10 F Sleeping bag, MEC Zotefoams Evazote 5mm Bivy Sleeping pad, Brooks Range Ultralite Mini Guide Tarp (doubles as a bivy sack and tarp)
Cooking System
Every year, the cook systems are getting smaller, lighter, and more efficient. Although, no stove is all three. If you want efficient boil times in cold temperatures or high winds, you trade off a little bit of packability and weight. Some backpacking stoves are exceptionally small and light, although they tend to consume A LOT of fuel when trying to cook in cold or inclement weather. (We won’t even touch on how altitude influences these stoves.)
For the alpine environment of the North Cascades, I’ve found the integrated stove systems to be a favorite amongst mountain guides and recreational climbers. The JetBoil MiniMo allows you to simmer, whereas, the MSR Windburner has faster boil times, remarkably so when the wind is howling or the temperatures are below freezing. If you are looking to boil water for food, and melt snow for water, the MSR Reactor is the most efficient, albeit a little heavier. The MSR Windburner is next up in efficiency, a little lighter, but is hard to cook with (unless you tend to it very actively). The JetBoil stoves boast some of the more packable options, and have the ‘simmer’ option, but take their time reaching a boiling point on cold mornings or windy nights.
My tried and true stove for the North Cascades is the MSR Windburner.
Fuel is another consideration and depends on the number of people, number of meals, water source, water purification strategy, and style of meal.
For the Glacier Peak Fastpack course, we will be making two just-add-water meals, 2-3 hot drinks per person, and will likely find a water source along our route. We will discuss fuel amounts as a team. Usually a small canister for 2 people for one to two nights is adequate.
Food/Fueling
Moving fast and light, the easiest way to cut weight is to trim down on food. But we are asking our bodies to do a lot, so we need to give them the fuel they need to function properly. There have been huge improvements in freeze-dried and dehydrated meals in the last few years, so get excited and go find a meal that you can get amped up about!
Dinner Favorites: Good To-Go Kale and White Bean Stew, Mushroom Risotto, Thai Curry. Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai (lots of calories), also feel free to dehydrate your own meal (just make sure you work out the logistics of using the stove and cleaning it out if you share).
Breakfast Go-To: Breakfast is an important meal in the mountains. I like to bring a small bowl, some dehydrated coconut milk, and some tasty granola with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Get creative! Oatmeal is also an easy option and can be eaten straight out of the packet.
Pro Tip: You can use your empty dehydrated dinner pouch as your breakfast bowl. (Just make sure you eat all the dinner first.)
If you’re a coffee drinker, pick up some instant brew. If you like cream, sometimes I pair a Via with a Trader Joe’s Instant coffee where the cream is included. Add hot cocoa mix and you’ve got a mocha!
Pro Tip: A 16 oz. Nalgene paired with a Coozie works great as a mug, and can also be used to dry your shoes!
Clothing System
The ultimate gray area in many ways, is your clothing system, although for some things, it’s fairly black and white.
It’s up to you what you want to travel on-trail in. Bring your most stylin’ fastest mountain movement outfit for the approach and descent!
During the steep snow and glacier travel portions of the route, long sleeves that cover the elbows, gloves and pants are required to mitigate hazards associated with self or team arrests.
- Lightweight softshell pants are recommended. My personal favorite are the Arc’teryx Sigma FL pants. Fast drying, wind resistant, breathable, and lightweight are good things to consider.
Mountain weather is ever-changing and so having an assortment of layers is key. Make sure your layers pair well together, and can be worn all at once if needed. For a single overnight, we recommend only bringing one of each item listed on the packing list (Except socks, bring a pair of socks for each full travel day). Synthetic fabrics will perform better than cotton.
Personal Items
When it comes to personal items on a light and fast mission, consider bringing only the necessities. Some items that are recommended are a headlamp and a personal first aid kit for things like blisters, chafing, etc. Trim down your toiletries to a bare minimum, and consider bringing only the amount of toothpaste you need for one night (maybe even preload it).
- 15-30 Liter Pack
- This is where the rubber meets the road in terms of all the gear you intend to bring on a fast and light mission… It all leads up to the fated question, will it fit in the backpack? If your plan is to go fast and light, a 30 liter pack should be the goal. And with that said, there is some wiggle room. A well fitting 35 liter pack can also get the job done, but be conscientious not to just fill space because you have it.
- A welcomed side benefit of attempting a fast packing mission, is that you have an opportunity to be very selective with what you choose to carry, and to strive to bring only the things that are necessary, and that you will use.
- What I look for in a good pack: well-fitted to your torso, lightweight, easy access pocket to water, snacks, etc., and a comfortable hip belt that is also low profile for ease of movement.
- The current pack options I’m debating bringing: Aerios 30, Firecrest 28, Fastpackher 30
For those of you just testing the waters of whether or not fastpacking or mountaineering is something you derive enjoyment from, this can seem like a lot of gear to acquire… and I agree. My best recommendation to cut down on costs is to reach out to friends or local businesses to see if there is an option for you to borrow or rent these gear items until you have a better idea of how you want to invest. There are so many different varieties for each gear item listed in this blog, and each one is specific to how you will use it, where you will use it, and when.
I hope this gear discussion has shed some light on the nuances of packing for a fastpacking trip, and helps you get in the right headspace for how to make decisions about gear. If you are gearing up for a trip with Aspire, I look forward to continuing to dial in our pack contents together, and fielding any other questions that arise.
Thank you for dedicating some time to preparing for your trip. We appreciate you, the mountain appreciates you, and hopefully, you will appreciate the effort you put into setting yourself up for success!
-Julie Ann Holder.
This blog explores the fast-packing element of our skills courses. You can also dig in to the companion resource for fast and light mountaineering.
Want to join Aspire on the mountain and learn fastpacking and alpine skills? Check out these courses for 2022:
Glacier Peak Fastpack Course – SOLD OUT for 2022
Mt. Baker Summit Climb and Snow Skills Course
Julie Ann leads Aspire’s mountain based skills courses and fastpacking missions, while also working as a mountain guide in the North Cascades, and teaching wilderness medicine courses.