To pack or not to pack?

[AZ_Hiker]

Hiking here in Arizona, I have found really different then the areas im use to, the northwest and the south. I have no proplems with the heat and spend a lot of time outdoors. but I find myself carrying a lot more gear then I ever did before. it just seems to me that there are lots more ways to get in to trouble here and therefor "to be on the safe side" more grear is needed.

so heres the question.. for an 8 mile hike.

do you plan for the worst? take everything you might need if you get hurt or cought out over night or

do you take your mule and a peanutbutter sandwhich and call it good?


the reason I ask is because I think I may be over working my self always planing for the worst. I have been doing all my hiking alone so I may be getting a little parinoid?

dont know.

[Thoreau]

I started out on the heavy side, but have been doing as much as possible to reduce my pack weight.

Small customized 1st aid kit, 100oz camelbak, leatherman skeletool, a couple snack type items/cliff bars, flashlight, camera (40d body and 24-70 lens... half my pack weight right there,) boomboom stick and spare magazine, and not much else when its going to be a shorter day hike.