Do you drop your pack?

[Iceman]

I've been taught never to drop my pack because you never know when you might need something inside it.

There have been times when I have broken this cardinal rule. One example is after doing Algonquin and Iroquois, we dropped our packs and did Wright. I was totally exhausted when we got to the spur trail for Wright and I knew that I should not attempt it. I announced to the group that I was heading back but everyone else had dropped their pack and was heading up. Not wanting to head back alone, I dropped my pack and followed suit. Even without my pack I was still struggling to put one foot in front of the other. I made it to the top and back to the packs when my climbing partner asked me if I was glad that I got Wright today. I said no, because I could have gotten seriously hurt. I would have rather come back and do it when I had fresh legs.

[Dick]

Originally Posted by Iceman

I've been taught never to drop my pack because you never know when you might need something inside it.

There have been times when I have broken this cardinal rule. One example is after doing Algonquin and Iroquois, we dropped our packs and did Wright. I was totally exhausted when we got to the spur trail for Wright and I knew that I should not attempt it. I announced to the group that I was heading back but everyone else had dropped their pack and was heading up. Not wanting to head back alone, I dropped my pack and followed suit. Even without my pack I was still struggling to put one foot in front of the other. I made it to the top and back to the packs when my climbing partner asked me if I was glad that I got Wright today. I said no, because I could have gotten seriously hurt. I would have rather come back and do it when I had fresh legs.

Pack dropping aside, if I had gotten that far and felt lousy, I would have told my partners that I'm not up for the third peak. Either waiting at the junction or returning to the TH would have been fine for me, but if I didn't feel comfortable doing that, the partners I prefer to hike with would understand and save it for another day. Ideally these issues should be discussed in advance of the hike. As for dropping packs, I personally would never hike up a mountain with no pack, but that's just me. Some people bring small fanny packs with emergency items for this purpose, and drop the larger pack.

[Neil]

I voted, "every chance I get" which of course depends on the situation.

How about dropping the pack at Marcy Dam for a side trip up Colden?

This winter I dropped my pack at the bottom of the last steep pitch on Big Slide (trail junction), 15 mins from Santanoni and at Times Square for Panther, in the final low point before Colden's summit. At the Wright trail junction. In the col between Street and Nye. Before doing Sawteeth. Probably more than that but those occasions spring to mind. It is so nice to hike without a pack!

[NukedRocket]

Only time I've done it I had hiked in from Upper Works to Uphill Brook L/T with a full pack, dumped it and climbed Cliff before dark with just a fanny pack. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

[Iceman]

I was taught that the pack is like your lifeline. You should never leave it. Even if hiking in a group, at least one person should carry a pack.

Iceman

[Silverback]

Dropped mine to fit through the jungle gym on Cliff.

[adkdremn]

I've done it before. This winter I dropped it to do Wright and then made it halway up Boundary and thought, man why I am still carrying this I should have left it at the junction. So I dropped it on Boundary and did Iroquois without it. But, like Rik said I carried a few snacks and water with me.

[daLunartik]

As others have mentioned, depends on the circumstances. I usually have compass and knife on my person. My camelback is usually in a "snowbowl" insulated pack, which I can easily pull out of the hydration sleeve and use just as a hydration pack.

When dropping your pack, where do you do so? i.e. next to / visible from the trail or off trail and out of sight? I have always preferred to drop my pack off trail, and mark the location with my gps - partially to preserve other hikers experience w/out "littering" the trail and partially to prevent anything from "walking off" (either from a well meaning hiker or from a pilfering scoundrel).

-M

[Iceman]

Maybe this is my inexperience showing here but what happens if you decide that you want to change from snowshoes to crampons after you've already dropped your pack?

[pete_hickey]

I never do it when alone. With a group, and a short run, and I have confidence in the other(s), I will.

Oh.. I did it once when I was alone. I had an accident. I was glad to a) find my pack, b) get back to it. I'll never forget the releif I had when I got to it. Never again alone, unless it's less than 0.1 mile... in nice weather.... on a trail..

[timmus]

Me too, never when I'm alone.

When I did Allen, I saw all those packs hanged on trees at the bottom of Allen Brook. I thought about doing the same thing, but couldn't figure how I would get myself out of a bad situation without all my gear...I felt very jealous though.

When I'm with other people I don't mind at all. Well, once, our lunatic leader dropped his pack on our way to Cliff, and he left his compass in the pack. Good thing I had one, because we were stuck in a whiteout, and we realized we were circling around the summit since 45 minutes ! Pfftt, lousy leader !

[pete_hickey]

Originally Posted by timmus

Well, once, our lunatic leader dropped his pack on our way to Cliff, and he left his compass in the pack.

What a doofus!!!!

You know... I was kind'a hoping you wouldn't see this thread...

[Dick]

Originally Posted by Silverback

Dropped mine to fit through the jungle gym on Cliff.

We dropped our poles at the second set of cliffs, and regretted it.

[Skyclimber]

Originally Posted by Iceman

I was taught that the pack is like your lifeline. You should never leave it. Even if hiking in a group, at least one person should carry a pack.

Iceman

My rule of thumb NEVER LEAVE YOUR PACK!!!!!! PERIOD!! It only takes a minute to get hurt.

The one and only time I did leave my pack, I wrapped my head in a tree thumper and cut my head and was bleeding. Fortunately another hiker came along and helped with First Aid.

[Boreal Chickadee]

I never drop my pack but that's probably because I hike alone with my son and I won't take chances.

[Mavs00]

I drop mine on occasion, and usually just for small strecthes and oddly enough, I've only ever done it in winter. Not counting droppin an overnight pack at base to knock off a peak, slack pack style.

I admit, you do have to be carful, Last winter I dropped my pack on phelps, figuring about 1/3 the way up to blitz the top. Figuring it'd be about 20-30 minutes without. Turns out, I was out of it for about 1.5 hours.

I've I were a lesser man, I'd probably died out there without it

[Nessmuk]

In my case, its usually pack plus Hornbeck canoe that I may drop when I'm bushwhacking to the next beaverpond. I'll drop it if I'm in a rough area and want to scout ahead a bit for the best route. I may be looking to pick up an old ghost trail in witchhobble, or the best way across a steep ravine to minimize my ups and downs. It might be for 10-15 minutes or so. It can be scary though, because unless I am very careful about choosing a recognizable spot, it could be difficult to find again. I've had my share of adrenalin-high experiences in that regard. I avoid dropping it unless I can identify something large and clearly visible in the landscape nearby. Map and compass and small emergency kit always go with me when I'm out of sight of my pack.

[Sparky]

No, I've never done it. Not that anyone would want to the junk I carry, it's meaningful and potentially helpful to me if anything were to go wrong.

[Iceman]

I was wondering when the possibility of someone walking off with your pack was going to be mentioned. I thought that kind of thing only happens in NJ.

[Dick]

Originally Posted by Iceman

I was wondering when the possibility of someone walking off with your pack was going to be mentioned. I thought that kind of thing only happens in NJ.

Though I'm apparently in your camp when it comes to dropping packs, I think few people would want to carry additional weight over a long distance (presumably they have their own to begin with. Plus the fact that hikers/backpackers are a nice sort! It depends upon where we're talking about. Closer to the trailhead, the greater the risk, I would imagine. On the other hand, people leave all sorts of stuff in lean-tos and go hiking for the day, and I don't recall hearing of many problems with that.

Dick