Please do a forum search. There are several threads discussing those lenses.

>>>If you find that you are not using the wider end of your wide zoom, then I would leave it at home for a mid-range.

I definitely opened her up to 12mm frequently through the weekend. However, I feel like I would be fine with 16mm if I were to go with the 16-85 and drop the 12-24. I used to get by with the 18-105, after all.

>>>If you find you never need the range, or could just walk closer, then you may want to consider leaving it at home. If you're not happy with the 55-300, then you should probably avoid the 55-200 as well, which is in the same class.

I definitely would use the range more if the clouds hadn't been sitting on my head most of the weekend. I have the non-VR 55-200, one of my first lenses from when I got my D5000 and my friend was selling his Nikon stuff. Barring all else, I might take some test shots with that on my D7000 and see how it looks... if it produces better results than the 55-300, that itself would be tempting to bring for the sake of it weighing only 9 ounces.

>>>if you could get by with only 28

Having tasted 12mm, I definitely wouldn't be able to do with 28mm as my widest sadly. That would have made the 28-300 a magic bullet, maybe even meant I'd carry TWO primes and that!

>>>I keep a lens pouch on my belt or a hip bag for the lens so it is easier to carry and swap out. ... Sometimes I take a really cheap $15 compact tripod for when I need one.

I'll definitely want something like a pouch for my other lenses on my front... I would definitely be taking more shots if it didn't mean having to take off / open up / hoist my pack as part of the process, even if my camera bag was right on top. I have trekking poles that also have a 1/4" 20 thread in the grip for quick 'n dirty monopod use. For tripod work, well, you can usually find a rock with a close enough angle somewhere nearby. And I'm good at being creative and hanging my camera off of branches if need be.

If I feel full of energy, I take the same thing you do but with a tripod, D300 & 60mm macro with the Tokina 12-24 and 70-200 VR1. The trade-offs of other lenses are something you have to weigh with image quality.

Other options that are light weight:
18-200vr
28-300vr with your Tokina.
16-85vr & 70-300vr

Adding a Macro prime would be a bonus and usually light.

On my really light days, many times I use my Tokina 12-24 & my 70-300vr and that is it. I may add a 35 or 50mm (equiv 50 or 75mm) or sometimes only take those or just my 105vr. I keep a lens pouch on my belt or a hip bag for the lens so it is easier to carry and swap out. I keep a flashlight in my bag and skip the flash as well. Sometimes I take a really cheap $15 compact tripod for when I need one. If I want to go really light I take my canon G11 but when the iso goes above 400 I really want my D300.

It's all about trade-offs when you get to this area. Generally speaking I prefer the IQ and will bare the pain the next day as it will disappear with the images.

I think you've highlighted the best selections already, but I can make a few comments. I myself use a variation of all of your options, depending on the circumstances.

If you are concerned about weight, I personally would leave the 70-200 at home- it's a nice lens but the solid metal build gives it a bit of weight. For low light, the 60/2 is a more practical option.

If you find that you are not using the wider end of your wide zoom, then I would leave it at home for a mid-range.

The 70-300 VR (I assume you are talking about the VR version, as the previous versions are no good) is a good option for reach and light weight if you need the range. If you find you never need the range, or could just walk closer, then you may want to consider leaving it at home. If you're not happy with the 55-300, then you should probably avoid the 55-200 as well, which is in the same class. The 28-300 is another option, as it's only a little bigger and heavier than the 70-300VR without too much losing very much, but the increase in weight would only be useful if it allowed you to drop a lens: if you could get by with only 28, then you wouldn't need the midrange or the wide zoom, but if you carry one of those just to get the wider angle, you are not gaining anything.

I did a shakedown hike of sorts this weekend, with 45# of gear including my D7000, Sunpak strobe, Tokina 12-24, 50/1.8D, and 70-200 VR1. The 12-24 was kept on my camera. I did not stop to switch off for the 70-200 very often but found myself wanting more reach than the 12-24. I'm thinking now of what other combinations of lenses I could bring to adequately cover the range of wide to telephoto without exceeding the weight of the combination I brought. I don't think I will bring the strobe as I found myself not using it very often.

The best I have thought of so far:

-Nikkor DX 16-85/f3.5-5.6 VR, Tamron 60/f2 macro, Nikkor 70-300/f4.5-5.6

-Tokina 12-24/f4, Tamron 60/f2 macro, Nikkor 28-300/f3.5-5.6 VR

I know I want more wide than 18mm, so I think I could happily trade off the 12-24 for the 16-85 to give me more reach. That also cancels out most DX superzooms unless I were to still carry the 12-24 or another wide zoom. I've also considered the 24-120/f4 VR lens but I'm not sure if the performance here is adequate to justify its weight. Also, I would still need more wide and more long.

I know with the 28-300 I would probably still be walking around with the 12-24 or other wider lens attached, since I will want wide more often than long.

The Tamron 60/f2 would be to have a fast lens for portraits / low light and roll that into a 1:1 macro lens.

I have the DX 55-300 which I could use in a pinch instead of the 70-300, but I am very underwhelmed by its performance on my D7000 and hear praise of the 70-300 all the time. I would also consider a 70-200/f4 if Nikon were to announce one of these between now and whenever I hit the trail.

Over the weekend, most of my shooting was wide with the 12-24 (often at 24, for want of more reach). 70-200 only came out when I'd stopped to deliberately take portraits or shoot at scenic vistas. I think it would have had more use if I hadn't been walking in a cloud for all of Sunday and Monday though.

Any input appreciated. I'm even mulling over carrying something like the Fuji X10 instead of a midrange lens, then just having wide and long for the D7000.