DAR Consulting

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This trip was my first attempt at reaching a lighter pack weight. The weight of my pack would bounce between 40 and 55 pounds. For an over night stay this is too heavy. I accomplished 29 pounds on this trip with 12 pounds being water. There is very little water on the trail until you reach the lake so I needed to carry more than normal. I usually only carry two liters – One for me and one for my two dogs. The trail to Silver Lake is steep and exposed to the sun so water was a necessary weight. I never felt better on a hike and feel the weight saving was a huge success. Getting my gear weight down from the usual 40-55 pounds to 17 pounds was an accomplishment I feel proud of and grateful for. At first this trip was suppose to go to Mount Townsend and then go to Silver Lake for the night where we would hike out from there the next day - Plans changed. As usual I was running late so we did not reach the trail until around 11 a.m. that was two hours later than planned. Fortunately this was to be a leisure hike in, camp, and hike out so it was no big deal. MY GEAR LIST: Let me start by explaining that I sell camping gear. The reason I say this is because I may make a comparison between products that I know very well and have used quite often. I will not mention a product I have not used for comparison as this would not be based on experience only opinion. The backpack I used was a Golite Trek pack (2 lbs. 2.8 oz.). It worked very well but the pack doesn’t fit me. The medium is the right length but the shoulder straps are too short and the large is too long with the shoulder straps being just right. My tent is the Golite Hex 3 with the nest (5 lbs. 2 oz.). This included the Hex 3, Hex 3 Nest, and the pole. This winter I will only be using the Hex 3 and my walking pole so the weight will be down to 1 lb. 11.2 oz. The Hex 3 gave me a lightweight tent that would easily shelter my wife, my two dogs, and me comfortably. I am really impressed with the teepee design; the headroom and floor space it offers is incredible. Even though there are two large vents at the top this tent traps a lot of condensation. If you keep tension on the tent the condensation will roll down the side of the tent and you will stay dry, if not, it will drip on you. My water filter is General Ecology’s Microlite (8.2 oz). I have used their First Need Deluxe (17 oz) purifier for 14 years and will swear by them. I am absolutely convinced that there is no purifier/filter on the market today that is as easy to use or as durable. During the years my First Need has been used in some of the worst water Alaska, Lower 48, and Canada, could dish out and not once has it failed to provide safe great tasting water. This hike was my first with the Microlite and I must say for such a small lightweight filter it worked very well. It doesn’t pump as fast as the Deluxe but it did pump just as fast as a Sweetwater, MSR, or a Katadyn Hiker. As an update I took the Micro Lite up to Flapjack Lakes which was the second time I used it. The filter clogged and left me with no filter. needless to say, I am using my Deluxe again and abandoning the Micro Lite. The sleeping bag I use is REI’s Kilo. After selling MSR, Moss Tents, and Walrus Tents to Cascade Designs, REI has dramatically improved the quality and construction of their products and it is beginning to show. The Kilo is a Down filled zero degree bag at 2 lbs 7.1 oz. I have been very happy with it so far. The pad I use is the Thermarest Ultra Light 3/4 and I have the Easy Chair cover for it as well. This does add weight but I am all for comfort first and weight second. I use Snow Peak for my cookware. I have yet to see any titanium cookware constructed with the same quality as Snow Peak’s. After years of near daily use (I use my cook set at work to cook lunch) their titanium as not deformed or discolored. In fact, the Mini Solo I have looks as though it has never been used. I just began using the Trek 700 this year so my cook set consist of the GigaPower Titanium stove, Trek 700 pot, titanium Spork, and because I can’t do without it – My 450 double wall cup. All this comes in at 16.3 ounces. This was the first hike with my Solomon boots (3 lbs). They were nice. This was the first hike I have done in years and not twisted an ankle or a knee. I felt really good on this hike and I am positive it had a lot to do with less weight and good shoes. TRAIL MAP USED: The map I used is Custom Correct’s Buckhorn Wilderness. I also used the Forest Service Recreation Opportunity Guide – Mt. Townsend Trial #839. For more information I read the Mount Townsend Trail and Silver Lakes Trial descriptions in Robert L. Wood’s book, Olympic Mountains Trail Guide. GETTING THERE: About a mile south of Quilcene we turned right onto Penny Creek Road. Just over a mile you will reach a “Y” in the road – Go left. You will be on gravel at the start and then FS Road 27 will become paved. Follow FS Road 27 for nearly 11 miles. If you want to go to the lower trailhead turn left onto FS Road 2760 and follow that for about .7 mile. If you want to go to the upper trailhead where I went do not turn on FS Road 2760 but continue on FS Road 27 for another mile and turn left on FS Road 190. At about a mile the road will end at the trailhead. THE TRAIL: The upper trailhead of Mount Townsend trail is at 3250 feet and is 5.3 miles to the top of Mount Townsend with a grade of 20% for the first 3 miles. The Silver Lakes Trail junction is at 5500 feet and about 3 miles from the upper Mount Townsend trailhead. Silver Lake is another 2.5 miles from this point. In this 2.5 miles you will reach a ridge at about 5750 feet and then descend to about 4500 feet and then climb to the lake at about 5500 feet. From Silver Lake there is a trail that goes to the ridge at about 6000 feet with a beautiful view of Buckhorn Mt., Mt. Constance, Mt. Rainier, Seattle, Hood Canal, Camano Island, Mt. Baker, and Mt. Adams.

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