Hey there, so I’m all set to embark on this epic 3-month journey through Western Europe starting from April and cruising all the way to June. Originally, my game plan was to roll with an Osprey 40L backpack along with a handy dandy packable day bag. But, twist in the plot, I’ve decided to dedicate a solid week in late June to conquering the Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites, chilling at those cozy refugios along the way.
Now, here’s where I’m hitting a bit of a roadblock – trying to figure out how to handle my luggage situation for that specific hiking week. I mean, let’s be real, lugging around a 40L on those trails sounds like a one-way ticket to Sore Back City. Oh, and just to give you a visual, I’m a 5’7 gal. My initial thought was to stash my main pack in a locker and just roll with the 20L packable bag for the trek. But then I started second-guessing if a structure-less 20L bag would cut it comfort-wise for multiple days of hiking. Decisions, decisions.
But wait, there’s more – downsizing to anything smaller than a 40L for the entire trip seems like a bit of a stretch. I mean, I’m hitting that sweet spot between cold and hot weather, planning to snag some souvenirs, and let’s be honest, I ain’t about that one-outfit-for-three-months life 😂. So, I’m willing to go ultra-minimal for the Alta Via week, but the struggle is real. Should I bite the bullet and cart around a separate, sturdy 20L hiking pack for the rest of the journey instead of the day bag? Or is that just a recipe for a major headache and major inconvenience?
So, here’s where I need your sage advice – anyone out there tackled a hut-to-hut hike like the Alta Via 1 smack dab in the middle of a longer European adventure? How did you crack the code on stashing your stuff and packing smart just for those trail days? Hit me up with your wisdom, y’all!