Jennifer Pharr Davis – Master Ultralight Backpacking

Jennifer Pharr Davis – Master Ultralight Backpacking

Master Ultralight Backpacking

If you want to go farther and/or faster on trails, or simplify your backpacking experience, or just lighten your load for increased comfort, this course is for you. Learn how to streamline your gear set-up with expert (and record-setter) Jennifer Pharr Davis. You’ll boost miles, comfort, and confidence with an ultralight approach.

This in-depth course covers everything you need to know about ultralight and lightweight backpacking. We’ll cover essential gear (including the big three—pack, sleep system, and shelter), non-essential gear, lightweight hacks, and mistakes you should avoid. You’ll glean field-tested expertise that will help you stay safe and happy on adventures to come.

How This Course Works
We know you have a busy schedule, so we’ve designed this course to be taken at your own pace. You’ll learn through a variety of interactive formats, including video instruction, photo descriptions, and more. Each session builds on the last, and, while we’ve designed the course in 6 parts, you can take it as quickly or slowly as you want. Plus, once you purchase the course, the lessons are yours forever.

Syllabus:

Course Introduction

• What is Lightweight?
• Why Go Light?
• The Lightweight Mindset

Lesson 1: The Big Three

• Pack
• Sleep System
• Shelter
• Conscious Sacrifices

Lesson 2: Other Essentials

• Footwear and Clothing
• Water Filtration
• Navigation
• Safety and First Aid
• Electronics

Lesson 3: Cookware and Food

• Types of Stoves
• Food to Pack

Lesson 4: Things To Leave At Home

• Don’t Mindlessly Pack
• Electronics
• Personal Hygiene
• Extra Clothes
• The 3-Pound Camp Kit

Lesson 5: Lightweight Hacks

• Ditch the Rain Gear
• Smartphone Multi-Tool
• Skip the Trowel
• Socks Aren’t Just Socks
• Don’t Buy It. Make It.

Lesson 6: Mistakes To Avoid

• Consider Your Rations
• Know the Weather
• Smarts Over Smartphones
• Practice

Course Wrap-Up

• Adapting to the Trail
• Learn to Improvise

FAQs

What is the difference between ultralight backpacking and lightweight backpacking?

Both terms refer to a method and mindset of backpacking that involves taking less and lighter gear. “Ultralight” indicates a more radical approach to weight saving than “lightweight,” but both have the same goal: lighten up.

Rather than lugging 50+ pounds of gear, for example, an ultralight backpacker might carry a 15-pound load. Whether you want to go faster, cover more ground, or become more self-sufficient, it’s a practice of refining your preparation for and experience on the trails. Both versions will be covered in this course.

Do I need specific experience or equipment to take this course?

No, anyone can take this course. It’s designed for those who are interested in ultralight backpacking and the lightweight method, whether or not they have already tried it. We’ll cover recommended gear and other equipment so beginners and experts alike can further refine their kit.

About the Author:

Jennifer Pharr Davis

Jennifer Pharr Davis is a hiker, author, speaker and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year who has covered over 14,000 miles of trails on foot on six different continents. In 2011, she covered the 2,185-mile Appalachian Trail in 46 days, eleven hours and twenty minutes, setting the (then) fastest known time record on the AT.

An expert in long-distance backpacking, Jennifer has written five books, including four guidebooks and two memoirs. She’s also written articles for and appeared in mainstream publications and shows. As a professional speaker, she shares her trail adventures with a range of audiences across the U.S. As founder and owner of Blue Ridge Hiking Company, a guiding service, she strives to make the wilderness accessible and enjoyable for hikers of all ages, genders, and abilities. She has served as a board member for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and an ambassador for the American Hiking Society.

Jennifer lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband Brew and their two children.

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