[at-l] tuckerizing

[spiriteagle99@hotmail.com (Jim and/or Ginny Owen)]

A word for those who are about to hike the trail -

It should be obvious by now that if two people tuckerize your pack, there 
will be three or more opinions about what you should carry.  The key to 
successful tuckerization is that you should take it with a large grain of 
salt. Lightening your pack is good (starting with the weight of the pack 
itself) - to a point. But when you start the trail you'll be accustomed to 
some definite 'comfort level'.  If you start the trail with gear that allows 
a 'comfort level' too far below what you 'need', it'll make the trail a lot 
harder than it has to be.  Not to worry - as you spend more time on the 
Trail, your 'comfort level' will decrease and your pack will become even 
lighter.  Take all the good advice, realize that it's given with the best of 
intentions and make your own decisions about what to carry - or not carry.  
If you've read the original "Tuckerization" story you know that Marty still 
carried one of the things that she 'needed' to be comfortable.  Anyone 
remember what it was that she sneaked back in her pack?

The real point of 'tuckerization' is to get those things out of your pack 
that are really not necessary or sometimes ridiculous (hair dryers for 
example) so that your pack has what you 'need' vs what you 'want', but 
doesn't weigh 110#.  There is a large difference. The pack weight problem on 
the AT is generally that hikers start with too much weight - but there's 
another side to that coin.  There are those who sometimes listen to the 
ultraliters and decide that they can also go ultralite.  And then they find 
out that they don't have the experience or 'comfort level' to match their 
pack weight - and they don't enjoy the hike.

Remember - you're the one who has to live with the results of the 
'tuckerization'.  And bottom line, it really doesn't matter whether your 
pack is a little heavy, or your rain gear isn't the best.  It isn't what's 
on your back, but what's in your head and in your heart that will get you to 
Katahdin.  Yes, I'm all for getting your pack weight down, but do what is 
comfortable for you, not what is comfortable for someone else.  We all have 
our comfort levels.  As you hike, you will figure out what yours is, and 
adjust your gear accordingly.

My experience before my first hike was limited.  I had no one to talk to 
about gear, so I more or less made up my gear list out of old camping books 
and magazines, using my desert experience as a base.  Accordingly, I had a 
huge pack (remember Chris, that huge red monster), mountaineering boots, two 
pairs of jeans, all cotton t-shirts and no tent. I hurt - frequently - 
because of the weight of my load and the fact that none of it fit my body. 
Even so, I made it to Katahdin - twice!  After four long hikes, I still 
carry more gear than the ultralights would consider reasonable - I like 
clean underwear and a pair of dry shorts to change into at night and enough 
socks that I don't get blisters from the filth.  I like to read a book in 
the evening and take photos as we hike, I use a water filter because I have 
an aesthetic dislike for cowdung in my drinking water (but no objection if 
it's in my cooking water - go figure) and carry a whisperlight because it 
works for me.

So don't worry if your gear list doesn't incorporate ALL the tuckerization 
suggesstions.  You'll figure out what works for you.  Concentrate more on 
the excitement of actually starting your trek, the beauties that await you 
and the good people you'll meet.  It's the head game - not the gear game 
that really matters on the trail.

Ginny & Jim


PS - I can tell some of you haven't read the Thruhiking Papers 
(http://trailwise.circumtech.com).


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