What They Say
Dear Lynne,
Thank you so much for making available the video "Lightweight Backpacking Secrets Revealed." What a great compilation of ideas and methods. I have always wanted to know much of this but was too afraid to ask! I thought the sales people at EMS had all the answers. Not so! They're just trying to do their jobs well -- sell, sell, sell -- but this stuff is heavy, heavy, heavy!
The second reason this video really hit home is because, long story short, I'm getting married June 11 this year and planned to section-hike a part of the AT with my new wife. How we were looking forward to it!
Well, I'm sorry to say I've been in pain lately. Saw the doctor today and was diagnosed with a hernia, possibly a double. I'm only 27! Now I've got surgery pending and my "AT" dreams were going to just become "pipe" dreams again.
When I got your video in the mail today I was so sad and angry I almost sent it right back. Instead, I decided to open it and watch it, thinking it would only make me sadder. But...even though I can't honeymoon on the AT as I have always wanted to...the message at the end of your video spoke loud and clear -- "wait and hope."
I am actually in pain as I write this, but thinking of your techniques and backpacking sure gives me a lot to keep my mind off it. I know that in one year, for our first anniversary, the AT will still be there and I'll be even more in shape and ready.
Lynne, thanks for the hope and inspiration. You made me feel better during a rough time. My wife Amanda thanks you too!
A.W.
Dear Lynne,
Thank you for making the lightweight backpacking video! With that one video I learned the best way to pack for a backpacking trip and how to handle my finances with the book you recommended ("Your Money or Your Life"). Because of that book, I'm going to hike many beautiful places. I don't make much money, but I'm a minimalist in many aspects of my life. I'm 28 years old, and by the time I'm 40 I should only have to work when I want to. Thank you so much!!
Sincerely,
J. Thompson
Dear Lynne,
I've been sectioning the AT for 7 years now and have from time to time seen people with packs that look much more reasonable. Every time my thoughts are, "How do they do it?"
This holiday season my sister gave me "Five Million Steps" as a gift and I enjoyed it so much that I bought your "Secrets" video which I've watched 3X now. Based on your reference, I've also read Ray Jardine's book and am almost done "retooling" my traditional gear for the more sensible approach.
After a lot of brutal honesty and learning how to sew from my wife, I've managed to (via weighing everything) get my 5 day pack weight to 24 pounds, which seems like a miracle to me. My section this year continues south from Bland, VA for 3 weeks, and I've never been more eager for a hike. I figure on completing the AT in 2005.
Thanks so much for your pedagogical ways...no more beast of burden for this sectioner!
Sincerely,
"Daddy Longlegs"
Mr. Whelden,
I have just finished your video "How To Hike The Pacific Crest Trail" and have enjoyed it immensely. The truths and realities of long distance trekking are finally brought to the front of the planning process with your work. On behalf of all prospective thru-hikers, thank-you!
Very truly yours,
–Bill Ballard
Dear Mr. Whelden,
I've got my weekend-trip pack weight down to 13 pounds plus food and water...I might even get the food weight down a bit since I've begun to learn to forage. Tried some miner's lettuce along the trail over the weekend. Not bad.
The pack rides very well on me. I now find it more comfortable than the Great Escapes Journey, which previously had been the most comfortable pack I've ever worn.
–Steve B.
Can't believe you've gotten me weaned off using my stove!! 3 rocks and tinfoil works like a charm!
–Rob M.
The blue nylon tarp you sent me was perfect! I loved my night's stealth camping in it. I never bothered with a ground cloth, anyway. The ol' Ensolite® on the ground with a dry loft bag for insurance.
–Ray Clark
Dear Mr. Whelden,
I write to you with a huge sense of relief. After playing your video "Lightweight Backpacking," I danced around the room like a wild man, freed of heavy pack, and now I know how to keep my total weight on the Appalachian Trail to under 25 lb. What a relief! I knew there must be a better way, and you showed me.
I'm 76 years old. I'm in quite good shape and have dreamed of hiking the Appalachian Trail for several years. I would say I am very active.
Thanks again Lynne,
Best,
–Dick Price
P.S. Your film is great! What other sort of filming do you do?
Okay, in the interest of complete honesty and being up front, I will confess that I think Lynne Whelden is one of, if not THE, finest producers of backpacking/outdoor films. I own most of the ones he has made, having watched them all at least twice or more...and one, “Lightweight Backpacking Secrets Revealed: Let The Revolution Begin” more times than I can count.
So when I found out his new film would be world-premiered at the Gathering, I knew one session where I would attend...Imagine that, a world premiere movie at the Gathering. That alone would have been worth the price of admission. Instead of movie stars all dressed up, it was attended by hikers!
Filmed in high definition and available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats, it is the story of Lynne’s mostly solo hike on the CDT day by day. Some days are exciting, some days are not. The photography is exquisite. The scenery is awe inspiring. The sound track is amazing.
With some autobiographical background, we literally follow Lynne through the peaks and valleys of his hike and his life. If you only hike on well-trodden pathways, it is hard to get lost. On the CDT it is hard to stay found. Lynne gets lost. Oh, does he ever. You will end up knowing him better than you ever thought possible. He does get overexposed. At almost 3 hours, it is a bit long for me to sit still but it can easily be watched in two sessions. After all, the CDT is the longest of the north-south long trails.
Why are you still waiting? Order one now. Or put it on your Christmas list. It IS that good.
Hikermiker (from ‘The Long Distance Hiker Newsletter’)
Lynne,
I have seen your videos "How To Hike The Appalachian Trail" and "Lightweight Backpacking" many times... so many times that I know most of it by heart. Over the past few years, my father and I have watched the videos and felt like we have grown to know the characters. We think about what it would like to meet them and what we think our impressions would have been of them had we met them on one of our hikes.
P.S. – My father and I did the Appalachian Trail section from Neels Gap, GA to Deep Gap, NC, and we were rather proud since our packs with about 5 days of food weighed
in at 19 and 17 pounds respectively. I slept under a tarp and everything (first time). I never thought I would do that. The revolution is catching on!
–Anitra
The University of Pennsylvania
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