Before I get terribly off topic, let me just clear up one thing: Skurka was not sponsored by National Geographic. They simply did an article on him. Skurka has always paid for everything himself on all his big journeys and he is by no means rich. He probably lives more frugally than anyone on this forum, including me. Now that the expedition is over NG is interested in him big time, so he will probably get sponsorship from here on.
His gear is not really that expensive. Probably much cheaper than all the gear you used on your trip. I personally have much of the same gear he does. One of the tenets of UL is to make everything as simple and practical and safe as possible, so a lot of thought goes into every item that is bought. Where something is not needed it is not brought. His pack is actually, for a UL hiker, extremely large. As a UL hiker I have never carried such a large pack, even on my week-long walks in the wilderness, with no resupplies. He carried enough food for two weeks in one go at some points, buying most of his supplies locally in towns along the way, or sending himself boxes of his stuff to towns he passed through, or, in the extreme wilderness, a few times had food drops. What he did was truly extraordinary. Very few people, anywhere in the world, have ever accomplished what he did on that trip, especially in such a remote area.
My point is not to win this conversation... just to say that UL can be used for very serious expeditions. You don't need to go heavy or super durable to make it work (though there is nothing wrong or inferior with that either). The more I've tried it, the more I've learned that a lot of what I take on a trip is dictated by my expectations. As Skurka told me once, "Don't pack your fears."
Now, to get back on topic, among UL backpackers, the floorless pyramid-type shelter is becoming more and more accepted as the ideal all-around, year-round shelter. Tarps are lighter and full-on tents are a little more convenient, but with a little ingenuity a pyramid can be pitched anywhere and can withstand most weather. It is ideal for strong winds and snow loads. Because of its tapered shape it can take winds from any direction. The Solomid, for instance, uses two trekking poles pitched in an inverted "V" inside the shelter, and the poles act to counter the larger sides of the shelter being bowed in by the wind. The pyramid can also be pitched high or low to control airflow or to get better views or more privacy. And because of its floorless design, it doesn't depend so much on even ground underneath and in the snow you can dig a pit under the shelter to make a bigger interior, create a seat to dangle your legs in, or have a cold trap to hold inflowing cold air. Floorless shelters are also great for when your shoes are caked in mud or when you have a dog... no worries about the claws ruining the tent floor.
Since someone mentioned the GoLite Shangri La 3 earlier (Andrew?) I assume at least some of you know about all this already, so I think I'll stop from coming across as a know-it-all and refrain from hogging this thread.
