Bivies in the High Peaks

Camping without a tent, using a waterproof breathable sleepingbag cover instead.

Bivy Sack (Clycops Bivy Sack, made and sold by REI) on summit of Mount Ellen, Long Trail, Vermont

Tim and Dann in bivouac on Mount Washington, near Glen Boulder

It is real easy to separate the new hikers from the seasoned veteran hikers. Those who have been hiking the longest usually carry the lightest packs. A lot of backpackers carry a big heavy expensive tent, and only spend about 7 hours in the thing! You really don't need all the junk that a lot of beginning hikers carry in their packs. When your overnight pack weighs 20 or so pounds, you can bounce along the trail, and not even sweat. When your backpack weighs two or even three times that, you'll be huffing and puffing, stopping alot to get air, and even worse, tearing the heck out of your tendons and ligaments. I've spent a lot of hours in the doctors office, getting my knees and ankles rehabbed. Ever since I quit carrying all that heavy unnecessary crap, I can hike up and down all day, then go for a long stroll after supper. Here is a hint; buy a cheap used scale, and weigh all your "stuff". Do you really need a two and a half pound, fifty dollar thermarest pad to sleep on for six hours? I'd never trade my twelve ounce, nine dollar, ten year old black closed cell ensolite pad for your thermarest. Do you really need to dish out $$ for a camelback water carrier? Wake up! You are a heck of a lot better off using three or four (or more) 20 or 32 oz. plastic soda bottles!