Hiking the Western Arthurs light weight

The full traverse the Western Arthurs' are regarded as one of Australia's hardest and best walks. It usually takes from 9 to 12 days to traverse this remote part of south western Tasmania. I've always wanted to walk the full traverse since a quick visit to lake Oberon on a failed hike to Federation peak.

I knew the only chance I had of completing this walk with a back injury was to go light weight. I was on a mission to get rid of every gram that would weigh me down. On a few occasions we met people on the trail who said 'you guys must be carrying 26-28kg' and they showed disbelief (and perhaps worry) when we responded with Peter's pack weight of 20kg. Imagine their faces when I said I had 14.3kg, which was in most cases less than they were carrying for a 4 day walk.

I knew snow was possible and high winds and driving rain were likely so we didn't skimp on any 'essentials'. My philosophy was:

1. Take less - only the necessities
2. Take smarter - good light weight gear only

Here's what I took:

• bombshelter body - 0g
• bombshelter poles - 1165g
• pegs - 0g
• guys - 55g
• MSR reactor stove - 530g
• Fuel canister - 355g
• first aid kit - 0g
• PLB - 280g
• Repair kit - 30g
• Garmin GPS - 240g
• trowel - 55g
• 4 AA lithium batteries - 65g
• spectra rope (400kg) - 110g
• Leki trekking poles - 0g
• Western Mountaineering highlight sleeping bag - 540g
• Pacific Outdoors ether therma mat - 680g
• Integral designs thru-hiker shell - 340g
• shell pants - 400g
• silk body top - 175g
• silk body pants - 175g
• Aarn featherlite freedom pack - 1650g
• BD ion headlamp - 48g
• rab down jacket - 365g
• full brim hat - 0g
• underwear - 110g
• t shirts - 145g
• silk liner - 140g
• fire lighter - 25g
• space blanket - 50g
• pack towel - 50g
• compass - 20g
• titainium spoon - 15g
• socks - 219g
• leatherman micra - 45g
• crocs - 300g
• medicine - 85g
• 13 days dehydrated food - 5460g
• gloves - 100g
• beanie - 65g
• seat - 30g
• drinking bladder - 140g
• gaiters - 0g
• TP - 50g

TOTAL 14307g

Note the items listed as 0g were shared or not in the pack (eg trekking poles)

There's a few things I could do to lower this load a lot more. You'll notice that we took a heavy tent. We were expecting 3 to share this load but ended up with only the 2 of us walking. I didn't even cut the end of my tooth brush!

Next I'll be writing up some reviews of the gear I used and be adding the trip video.