The Journal

San Juan Mountains Association will host a seminar on lightweight and ultralight backpacking from 6 to 8 p.m. April 30, at Pine Needle Mountaineering, 835 Main Ave. in Durango.

The whole idea is to have fun and enjoy the wilderness, so why be burdened by a heavy backpack?

Backpackers can learn to decrease their packs’ weight to under 20 pounds for lightweight backpacking, and under 10 pounds for ultralight backpacking without sacrificing comfort or safety. With a lighter pack, you can hike farther, faster, longer, and easier, with less physical stress, fewer injuries, more safety and security, and far more satisfaction.

Presenters Will Rietveld and Janet Reichl are SJMA Wilderness Information Specialists volunteers and avid ultralight backpackers with over 35 years of experience. Rietveld is a gear tester and has published over 300 articles on light-weight backpacking gear and techniques for Backpacking Light Magazine and his own websites.

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/2GjHQo7.