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35 Lbs is too light for a long trip with no resupply - get a comfy pack and carry what you need - and your safety margin. Keep the weight on your hips and not on your shoulders for max comfort.
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yup - wife and I hiked down Grand Canyon the Colorado river from North Rim (via Tapeats Creek) - I had an Xped, she had a 3/4 Thermarest. Come to pass, she snuggled up with me all night on my Xped several nights in a row. We both own full size Thermarests (decades old, and in perfect working order)- but they were too heavy for us oldies to carry.
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This is the Rock Creek drainage - and its lovely. You can also do a pretty easy day hike (or overnight) up to Mono Pass (and a lake). Stop by "Toms Place" and see if they have a berry pie on the menu!
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use a lighter pack as part of the answer. I ditched my lovely very heavy North Face pack for an old-style (and old) aluminum-framed pack and hacksawed off a useless part of the frame - this saved me around 4 Lbs total.
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yes - day hikes come before any overnight trips. BTW - Mono Pass (and back) via Rock Creek is a great day trip for a newbie. There is a lake at the top for fresh water. In August you could sleep up there and watch the Perseid meteor shower. Or simply stay at Tom's Place (an alternative to the not the $$$ Rock Creek Resort).
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do not turn it inside out - it was sewn up to be used in only one configuration - sleep mode. Stuff it into its protective stuff sack bottom end first.
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