Paul Randolph, retired US Forest Service, over 1500 miles with Ultralight Backpack including 2 thru-hikes of the Colorado Trail
Over 50 years; Approaching lifetime total of 2-years in a tent; Advanced off-trail backpacker
- Last long trip: 9.5-pounds: 100-miles on 4-Wilderness Trip: Cache La Poudre, Commanche Peak, Neota, and Rawah Wildernesses-- 2016
- Heaviest: 80-pounds: NOLS Mountaineering -- 1975
Have Fun! To re-enjoy backpacking which I thought was part of my youth; To embark on small or grand adventures; To explore, discover, and learn; I find it inspiring, creative, beautiful, and peaceful; I enjoy making a contribution, the social interaction, and being active; This is probably the healthiest thing I can do; I regard foot travel on long trails engages our most ancient form of travel. To backpack further and longer; to reduce injuries.
To improve my ultralight knowledge by sharing with others. To connect with like-minded people for future trips.
- Friends Of Wilderness, FOW Wilderness Ranger: Medicine Bow-Routt NF – 2016 - 2020
- Poudre Wilderness Volunteers, PWV Wilderness Ranger: Arapaho Roosevelt NF – 2011 - 2017
- 4-Wilderness Trip: Cache La Poudre > Commanche Peak > Neota > Rawah -- 2016
- Gila Wilderness: Gila NF – 2016
- 3-Wilderness Trip: Rawah > Neota > Comanche Peak -- 2015
- 500-mile Colorado Trail thru-hikes -- 2014, 2012
- Wind River Highline Trail thru-hike: Bidger-Teton NF -- 2013
- Ozark Highlands Trail: Ozark NF -- 2011
- High Uintas Wilderness: Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF -- 2011
- Popo Agie Wilderness: Shoshone NF -- 2010
- Flattops Wilderness: White River NF -- 2010
- Cloud Peak Wilderness loop: Big Horn NF -- 1994
- Fitzpatrick Wilderness: Shoshone NF -- 1987
- Escalante Canyon, Utah -- 1982
- US Forest Service: Forester (Klamath NF, Shoshone NF, Bighorn NF) -- 1980-1998
- Peace Corps Chile: Tierra del Fuego -- 1979
- Peace Corps Chile: Andes to Pacific -- 1979
- Peace Corps Chile: Bolivian Andes -- 1979
- Peace Corps Chile: Torres del Paine -- 1979, 1978
- USFS Wilderness Ranger: White River NF (Vail) -- 1977
- Started the Outdoor Recreation Program at Stephen F. Austin State University -- 1976
- Stephen F. Austin State University: climbing instructor -- 1976-1977
- NOLS: Grand Teton Climb– New Years 1976
- NOLS Mountaineering: Winds (Shoshone NF and Bridger-Teton NF) -- 1975
- Outward Bound: Gila NF – 1975
- Wonderland Trail loop: Mt. Rainier NP -- 1962; and
- Many 2-5 day trips in CO, WY, UT, TX, VA, OR, CA, Chile, Bolivia and sections of AT, PCT, CDT -- 1972-present
Ultralight Instructor: 2012 - 2018
Since retiring in 2010, I backpacked over 1500 miles carrying my ultralight backpack system.
In September, 2010, I re-discovered backpacking after retiring for the second time (first US Forest Service, and second Hewlett Packard). I thought my pack was light at 41-pound pack for 5-days in the Flattops Wilderness; but soon I said to myself “I don’t remember backpacking being this challenging!”. I researched ultralight backpacking and went on a total of 4 trips that September and changed my system each time – my fourth trip pack weighed only 12-pounds. During the winter of 2010-2011, I read lots of trail journals from experienced thru-hikers and I put their gear lists in a master spreadsheet. In April, 2011, I went for a 35-day trip on the Ozark Highlands Trail with a 14-pound base pack (I came off the trail after 13 days due to poison ivy). I changed my system to produce a sub-3-pound pack/tent/sleeping bag (the big 3) for 2012 trips and beyond. In October, 2015, I achieved my lightest overnight base pack weight at 4.8-pounds, i.e. SUL.
- Teacher: Ryan Jordan UL course – fall 2011
- Teacher: Paul Petzolt on Grand Teton – 10-days at New Years 1976
- NOLS: Grand-Teton NP – New Years 1976
- NOLS Mountaineering: Winds (Shoshone NF and Bridger Teton NF) -- 1975
- Outward Bound: Gila NF – 1975
Paul at PWV Spring Training, 2011