My loads seem to be the same whether it is 3 weeks or 3 months. I just finished packing for a month-long tour that will include riding in the mountains as well as the hot California Central Valley. Because of the time of year and higher elevation camping, I am carrying right at 40 pounds of gear. We have more warm clothes, heavier sleeping bags, and full rain gear. I'm also carrying a small netbook for some work we need to do while on the road, and about 4 pounds of food. This is about 5 pounds heavier than my load for a summer tour.
I wouldn't say 50 pounds is normal (if there is such a thing as normal), but considering where you are headed, maybe 50 lbs is not bad if it meets your needs.
Last edited by Doug64; 09-18-14 at 07:04 PM.