[at-l] AT-L = 95% Junk

[Rcalkins at worldbank.org (Rcalkins@worldbank.org)]

Leaving March 14 from Springer (will overnight at the lodge Sunday 13th); NOBO
for convenience and timing -- will do 1st half this spring and 2nd half starting
May 06 as I have three kids at home I'm pretty involved with (cub scouts, boy
scouts and a venturing crew for my 14 year old daughter) and don't want to be
away for more than 3 months at a time.  I also volunteer as an EMT with a local
rescue squad and work with the Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group, and don't want
to be away from those obligations for six months either.  Then there is my
lovely wife, who is totally supportive of my hike, God bless her.  Of course,
being a guy, I know that life will actually be somewhat easier for her while I'm
away.  (One less kid to look after...)  Finally, my older son lives in Atlanta,
which makes for easy staging at that end come departure time.

I expect to use mail drops, BUT one of my questions for the group is to what
extent that is necessary these days in terms of the availability of appropriate
food supplies in towns along the way.

I'm about to get a pair of trail runners to use on a hike next month; as noted
in my original em, I've GOT to come up with a solution to the blisters problem.

I'm desperately trying to get my pack weight down, from my first ever
back-packing trip in August 2003 of 52 pounds (ooooffff) to something like 35
pounds including water (I need a lot, so use a 100 oz camelback reservoir and
another liter in a platypus bag) and four days food.  I just bought a gossamer
pack that weighs 17 ounces, down from my monster Gregory pack of 7 1/2 pounds.
I've also replaced my wisperlight with a titanium alcohol stove (I'm curious
about the best fuel bottles as I'm spilling too much fuel trying to fill the
darn thing).  I use one titanium pot, one spoon, and a mug w/lid as my kitchen.

Bag is an REI sub-kilo 15 degree mummy bag.  I'm not happy w/ how tight it is,
but starting in mid-March I have to be ready for winter weather and it keeps me
warm.  I'm trying to find a lighter tent than my 7.4 pound  REI Half Dome Plus
2.  I love the space, two doors, no sleeves/clip on for fast set up, and that
it's free-standing, but it just weighs too darn much.  My preference for free
standing is mostly convenience.  I am alleged to snore like a banshee, and thus
would not want to sleep in the shelters except for the Smokies where it is
mandatory, or when there is no one (or just one or two others) in the shelter --
in which case I've been known to set up my tent in the shelter, simply because I
have this problem with mice running over me.  (I know, I know, get used to it;
don't be a woooss, but it's my hike, right?)  Problem is I'm finding really
light weight tents, but not free-standing.  I suspect I'll end up just
down-sizing, giving up the extra weight of two doors, and end up with something
in the 3 pound range, but would welcome advice/experience with other lighter
weight tents.

I use a Pur water filter, and one of those free-standing scoop bags from
campmore to collect water in so I can pump more comfortably somewhere other than
at the stream or spring.

I own a can of bear (pepper) spay, but not sure if it's really worth packing
along.  My thought is it might come in handy with dogs or rabid animals, of
which one hears relatively little, so why bother. I figure my greatest
vulnerability is while I'm sleeping, and I sleep so soundly I probably won't
hear him until, like Jonah, I've already been swallowed.  That or I'll only
succeed in blasting myself with the spray trying to use it through my tent mesh,
and the bear will then be able to enjoy seasoned meat instead of plain....
Advice?

I don't expect to take my cell phone, partly for weight, mostly because I
haven't had much luck getting enough bars to make calls, but also as a matter of
philosophy.  I hate it when people are jabbering away on their cell phones in
restaurants and other places where I'm like, hey, I really don't want to listen
to that, do you mind??  So I wouldn't want to do that to other people, and
especially on the trail!  What I am wondering about is a personal locator beacon
cum GPS as a safety device.  Odds are (hopefully) that I would not have to use
it, but ya never know.  My EMT background reminds me that time can be of the
essence, and my SAR background tells me that the rescue part doesn't start until
they locate you.  Anyway, not on my A list to worry about, compared to boots and
a tent.

I'm still sorting out other gear, and will shortly be doing a (draft) final list
that I'd be delighted to have you all tuckerize.  I'll get back to you on that
-- and food -- in due course.

Other prep includes trying to stay in shape (weights and running -- was supposed
to run the Army Ten Miler this weekend, but will be going with my Scout troop to
Fort Loudoun in Pennsylvania for a camporee.  Hiking when I can.  I've done @
200 miles of the AT so far, from southern end of SNP to PennMar; longest was the
SNP, 104 miles in 8 days; longest day was a 20 miler.  Plan is, however, to go
pretty slow out of Springer, less than 10 per day for the first 10 days or two
weeks at least, until my conditioning allows greater distances.

Now I need to take a break.  Didn't mean to make this so long, but thank you,
Shelly, for asking.

cheers,
longhaul






                                                                                                                                   
                      "Shelly Hale"                                                                                                
                      <shellydhale@eart        To:       "josh wilkins" <jtwilkins@gmail.com>, <rcalkins@worldbank.org>            
                      hlink.net>               cc:       <at-l-bounces@backcountry.net>, <at-l@backcountry.net>                    
                                               Subject:  Re: [at-l] AT-L = 95% Junk                                                
                      10/21/2004 08:55                                                                                             
                      PM                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   




Longhaul, Josh, et al at-l newbies...

When are you planning to thru?
Will you be SOBO or NOBO?  Why?
Will you use mail drops?
What kind of pack do you use?
What is your overall weight at right now?
What kind of boots, trail runners, or other footgear do you use?
What kind of clothing right now?  And, when you thru?
Sleeping bag?  (mummy, down, synthetic)
Preferred shelter? (tent, tarp, shelter, hostel, motel, RV?)
Water purification system?  (filter, MIOX, Aquamira)
Personal protection...knives, guns, slingshot, pepper spray, hiking stick or
KellyGoVols when she's really ticked off?  ;-))
Favorite trail food?  Most hated trail food?
What (other than mucking around on the at-l) are you doing for preparation
for your thru?
What's in your wallet (make sure you carry a Capitol One card...I hear that
if you don't Vikings will come chase you down...LOL)?
Cell phone (for or against?)  <<<gasp....I can feel the heat from that
one>>>?

Want to provide a list of gear for a thru and let the list do an "online
tuckerization"?  OB and Mira as well as many others from the list are really
awesome tuckerizers.  I just haven't worked up the gumption to go under the
blade yet.  :~))

I'm sure there's many more questions I could ask...but I'll take a break
right now.

Shelly Hale