If you’ve ever looked at someone’s ultralight gear list and thought, “there’s no way that works,” this is a good one to sit with for a minute.

Because this one does work.

This is what Glen is bringing for a late April trip through Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon. Highs around 70, lows near 40, long sandy stretches, narrow canyon walls, and just enough water to keep you thinking about it.

It’s not extreme. It’s not stripped down just to prove a point. It’s thoughtful. And more importantly, it’s practiced.

A Quick Note on Conditions

Late April is a really nice time to be out there.

Days are warm and can feel hot when the sun hits the canyon floor. Nights cool off, but not in a way that demands a heavy sleep system. Water is around, but you still need to pay attention to where and when. Bugs are mostly a non-issue.

When you look through Glen’s list, you can see all of that reflected back at you. Nothing is overbuilt. Nothing is underprepared. It’s just right for this place, at this time.

That’s the first lesson hiding in here.

This Isn’t About Being as Light as Possible

It’s easy to get distracted by the weight.

Around five pounds base weight is impressive. There’s no way around that. But if you focus only on the number, you miss what actually matters.

This list works because it’s a system. Every item supports the next. There’s very little overlap. There’s almost nothing in there that exists just to make you feel better.

That kind of confidence doesn’t come from cutting gear. It comes from knowing your gear.

Starting With the Pack

The Murmur without a hipbelt is a bold choice if you’re not used to it. It’s light, simple, and doesn’t hide mistakes.

That’s kind of the point. A pack like that rewards good packing habits. It rewards restraint. It rewards experience.

It also disappears in a really nice way when everything else is working. You’re not fighting your pack. You’re not adjusting it every few minutes. It’s just along for the hike. That’s where most people eventually want to get to.

Shelter and Sleep That Match the Trip

There’s something refreshing about how straightforward this setup is.

A simple DCF shelter using trekking poles. A thin groundsheet. No extra pieces floating around.

The sleep system follows that same thinking. A lightweight down bag paired with a torso-length foam pad and a small sit pad. Not luxurious. Not uncomfortable. Just enough to sleep well and wake up ready to go.

A lot of people get stuck here, thinking they need to maximize comfort at all costs. What you start to realize over time is that comfort comes from the whole system, not just one piece of gear.

Sleep matters. But so does what you carried all day to get there.

Clothing That Works Together

There’s no extra outfit tucked away “just in case.” Instead, there’s a small set of pieces that can handle a lot of different moments.

A breathable base layer for hiking. A light insulation layer for when things cool off. Simple rain protection. Sun protection that does more than just sit in your pack. You can tell this is built from experience. It’s not about having options. It’s about having the right options.

And once you’ve felt what it’s like to hike all day without digging through your pack for something different to wear, it’s hard to go back.

Keeping Food and Cooking Simple

This part of the list is easy to overlook, but it says a lot.

The cook setup is minimal. Just enough to make a hot meal when it counts. No extras that only serve one purpose. Food is straightforward, too. Calorie-dense, easy to carry, and planned for the length of the trip.

There’s a quiet kind of freedom in not building your day around cooking. Eat, move, stop when you want to, and keep going.

Water Strategy in Paria Canyon

If you’ve spent time in canyon country, you know water shapes everything. Glen’s setup reflects that balance.

There’s enough capacity to stretch between sources, but not so much that you’re carrying weight you don’t need. Treatment is simple and reliable. Nothing complicated.

This is one of those areas where experience really shows. You can plan all you want, but knowing how much water you actually need in a place like this comes from time on trail.

The Details That Make the Difference

This is where things get fun. A finger toothbrush instead of a full one. Soap that handles multiple jobs. A small repair kit that can solve real problems. Tiny tools carried where they’re easy to grab.

There’s a lot of intention packed into very small spaces.

Individually, these choices don’t seem like much. Together, they completely change how your pack feels. And maybe more importantly, how your day feels. You’re not digging. You’re not sorting. You’re not carrying things you don’t use.

You’re just moving.

A First Aid Kit That Reflects Reality

It’s compact, but it’s not careless.

Blister care. A few medications. Small, specific items that handle common issues. Everything is broken down to the amount you’ll realistically use. It’s a good reminder that being prepared doesn’t mean being weighed down.

What You Can Take From This

You don’t need to replicate this list. In fact, you shouldn’t.

What you can do is start paying attention to your own system. Notice what comes back unused. Notice what you reach for all the time. Notice where things feel clunky or slow.

That’s where the opportunity is. Take one thing out next trip. Or swap one item for something that does two jobs instead of one.

That’s how this kind of setup gets built.

Why This Approach Works

At the end of the day, this isn’t about gear. It’s about removing distractions.

When your pack is light in the right ways, you stop thinking about it. You stop adjusting things. You stop wondering if you brought the right stuff.

And you start paying attention to where you are. In a place like Paria Canyon, that’s kind of the whole point.

THE PACKING LIST