[at-l] Section Hike DWG-> Kent: Gear & Supply Evaluation

[papa_bear_nyc@yahoo.com (Papa Bear)]

Having just got back from our first of several AT section hikes of the =
season, I want to give a quick evaluation of gear, food, supplies, etc. =
before I forget.  This will help us (and maybe others) in getting ready =
for the next big section we plan on doing in about 3 weeks.

Topics:

Gear:
    pack
    tent
    stove
    bag
    pad
    filter
    hydration   =20
    belt pack (tummy pack)
    camera
    binocs
    shoes
    clothes
    rain gear
Stuff
    Food
    maps & guides

=20
Pack: Kelty Flight 4500.  Mixed review, it was light (3 lb 2 oz.) and =
generally comfortable but tended to shift on my back to the left side =
after a long day which hurt my left shoulder.  I'm going to see the =
Campmor "pack guy" next week to get some hints on adjusting and =
balancing it.

Tent: Sierra Designs CD Ultra Light-year.  Excellent.  Light (3 lb. 2 =
oz.), easy to set up, warm and dry (we had several 30 and one 20 degree =
night).  Slight problem: the tip to one of the poles came off.  The SD =
guy I called said he will send a replacement right away.

Stove: MSR Pocket Rocket.  Excellent.  Fast to start, fast to boil. =
Light (3 oz.) with fuel in 12 oz canisters which was good for 20 meals =
(10 days Breakfast & Dinner).  Downside - keep it warm - it won't start =
when the temperature of the cannister is below freeezing, definately not =
a winter stove.  But with it's light weight, fast action and long fuel =
capacity, I consider this a top choice for a stove.

Bag: Marmot Arroyo (30 degree).  Good.  Light (1 lb. 14 oz.). Inside the =
tent I was fine well below freezing.  I used a silk bag liner which =
helped keep it clean and made things warmer.

Pad: Thermarest 3/4 ultralight.  I was a bit uncomfortable, especially =
on the hard shelter floors.  Oh well, I guess I'll get used to the =
feeling.

Filter: MSR Miniworks.  Good.  But Bill's PUR was a bit lighter and =
pumped a little faster.  So I was a tinny bit jealous.

Hydration: Platypus Hoser.  No problems.  The MSR filter could connect =
directly to the Play's tube.  This system, which I've just started =
using, is far superior to the old canteen / Nalgene bottle, etc. way of =
doing things!
   =20
Belt pack (tummy pack).  Having the tummy pack was a good idea.  I kept =
camera, maps, first aid and odds and ends in it.  Easy access while =
walking was great.  The model (mine was the Outdoor Products =
"Roadrunner") was just about the right size. (300 cu in. 7 oz.).  Price =
was right: $9.95 at Campmor.

Camera: Nikon Coolpix 775.  Excellent. Over 140 pictures, very good =
quality.  1 battery lasted the entire 13 days (I had an extra).  Only =
6.5 oz.  This and the stove were the real winners of the trip!

Binocs: Brunton Lite-tech 8x22.  Perfectly adequate but I didn't use =
them enough to justify.  Next time I think I'll leave them home.

Shoes: New Balance 904 Trail Running Shoes.  Mixed review.  The first 3 =
days I was ready to throw them out.  The very rocky ground made them =
uncomfortable and I nearly got some blisters.  By the end they were =
actually much better.  Partly adaptation, partly less rocky ground.  The =
down hills were always tough - the shoes would crunch into the toes.  =
Next time I may go with more AND less.  Some lightweight flexible boots =
(maybe EMS) AND some sandals.  See how hiking in sandals really works.

Clothes: The Paramo Mountain Shirt was a great all around hiking shirt.  =
>From about 40 degrees to the 60s it was good. It was both warm enough =
and cool enough.  When it got hotter I used a coolmax T shirt.  =
RailRider pants and shorts were OK - maybe not worth the $$$.

Rain gear: Frogg Toggs were fine.  We used them on cold mornings and =
evenings to stay warm.  We were warm and dry the few times it rained .  =
One problem: slight rips at each pants pocket opening.  I sent them back =
and they promised a replacement.

Food: We went Freeze Dried which was an excellent choice for us.  Fast =
to cook, more variety than I could do myself, more tasty.  Cost more, =
yes I know.  This is the ideal solution for someone who wants good =
tasting variety with no work (sounds like a guy thing, no?). We took  4 =
brands.  Favorites: Mountain House and Backpacker Pantry.  Beef =
Stroganoff, Lasagna and Chicken w. Rice stand out.  Other food favorite: =
Swiss cheese.  Good when warm and a few days old (seriously - really =
flavorful and not "green" yet).  Bagels didn't work out: too chewy, =
stale tasting.

Maps & guides: we took Maps and a one page-per-section combination =
Guidebook / Databook / Companion which I put together.  No actual books. =
 Worked really well for us.  Each day the requisite Map and combo pages =
went into the tummy pack for easy access.  I actually like the extended =
trail descriptions from the Guidebooks - the Databook stuff is too =
sparse for me, but I combined both and the Companion pages so I had =
everything.  (Except the TH Handbook!  Did I miss much?).

Comments welcome.
Pb
  =20


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