[at-l] Kelty Cloud and pollen

[thornel@attglobal.net (W F Thorneloe)]

If you like the old bag, look at it real carefully. What is on it that you 
don't need or use? Cut it off! Weigh the trash as you go along with this 
exercise.

A through hike is little more than a series of section hikes - other than 
the malnutrition, weather, emotional upheavals, and those other little 
things. If you have a bag good for that, you probably have a bag ready for 
a thru hike. Now if you have DJD in back or neck, you really need to do 
some planning on your gear and a lot of attention to boots and socks. I'm 
wondering what about your pack or neck interact to hurt, and just how much 
weight is too much for you. I have a friend who has had 1 lumbar disk and 2 
cervical disk repairs, does marathons at 66 years old and carries a 1975 
Kelty external frame pack - with more weight than I would like. He does the 
over-the-head pack throw to put it on.

The bulk of the pollen is the stuff your car hates, but not the prime 
allergens. Those are coming in about 3 weeks. If you start having a lot of 
neck pain and spasm when you sneeze, plan to trade the chiropractor for a 
neurosurgeon. Be very careful of neck manipulations, in any case. I have 
seen one hangman's fracture (fatal) via chiropractor about 20 years ago. 
Don't want to see another.

OrangeBug
Getting older beats the alternative

At 08:09 AM 4/10/2001 -0400, Linda Benschop wrote:
>... I do love the old Kelty I have been using (paid $88 at
>R.E.I. a few years ago).  Great for short and section hikes, but I do want
>something lighter for my thru hike.  I have some degenerated disks in my
>neck and am in agony when I carry too much weight.  I am really trying to
>tuckerize and prepare.  I am going to a chiropractor to work on my neck as
>it seems to be getting worse lately.  Getting older is tough!
>
>Anyone having trouble with allergies lately?  The pollen count here in North
>Georgia is out of sight.  I went outside yesterday and had trouble
>breathing.  The vehicles outside are covered with yellow.  Not great hiking
>weather for folks with allergies or asthma.  Going to Tray Mt. this weekend
>and hoping that the pollen count is down.