I do go backpacking with my cast iron skillet. I didn't want anyone to come across this post and decide that they shouldn't bring cast iron with them because a few other folks choose not to. Now, obviously if you're counting ounces you probably shouldn't be including this in your kit. If you don't do a lot of hiking or heavy lifting in your day to day life, you probably shouldn't include this in your kit. For my part, I live and work on the trail (doing trail building and maintenance) for 7 months out of the year. On a typical work hitch, going into the backwoods to work for 9 days, I might carry a 32 kg. (80 lbs.) pack 3 miles up a trail, doing a couple thousand feet of elevation gain. That is 60% of my body weight, mind you. So when my weekend comes around and I intend to hike several miles up a trail, gaining a couple thousand feet, I don't think twice about grabbing my 2.4 kg. (5.3 lbs) 10.25 inch Lodge cast iron skillet. I'll also bring a lid for it. I'll bring my own personal tent, rather than share one. I'll also bring bacon, eggs, chicken breasts, heavy cream, butter, flour, carrots, potatoes, onions, and other fine, heavy, ingredients to cook with for my gourmet trail cuisine.
One must know their priorities and why they go camping. I am willing to "rough it" when it comes to not having much gear or, conversely, carrying lots of weight. When it comes down to it, though, I am able to enjoy the challenging of lugging an almost impossible amount of weight up a mountain, arriving at camp drenched in my own sweat and feeling a bit light headed and dazed. I get off on it a bit. On the other hand, I am only able to tolerate having less a kit that is less than complete. Believe me, I've tried both extremes. I, for one, prefer to eat spectacular food, have my privacy, and generally live like a king in the outdoors. Maybe it would be different if I had a place to go home to with a stove, oven, fridge, running water, etc.
Admittedly, I am still keeping my eye out for an antique cast iron. Lodge skillets are beastly thick. They really weren't designed to leave the kitchen at home. You can find antique casties that are nearly half the thickness.
