>>275901Ditch the assault pack and get a lighter weight summit pack. Nothing fancy or expensive, just a little sil-nylon day sack.
>>275904>>275901You should look in to renting gear. It allows you access to better quality/purpose built gear for less money invested.
Hiking =/= Mountain climbing. I'm not telling you this to try and scare you or shame you or make fun of you for buying milsurp. I'm telling you this because mountain climbing is serious business, especially for the uninitiated.
Yes, people have climbed mountains with less. But those people spent years, decades, sometimes their whole lives preparing for it.
Climbing a Fourteener is a whole new ball game. You will never be as ready for it as you think you are. That kind of exertion and altitude does weird and unexpected things to you.
If you want to use the ILBE pack, cut as much weight as you realistically can from it. Rent good equipment rather than buying cheap equipment.
This is a much for you as it is for the climbing rangers who will have to bring you down if something happens. They are putting their lives at risk as well.
Last year Mt. Rainier NP lost a veteran climbing ranger during a rescue operation to pull two unprepared climbers off the mountain.
Just to reinforce my point: Saving money on milsurp/walmart gear is perfectly fine for hiking, backpacking, camping and general innawoods stuff. But technical mountaineering is a completely different level.
