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Re: [at-l] tidbits

Download & Nexmo:  Thanks for the tidbits.  I read some of your 96
thruhike journal entires on your web page today and enjoyed them very
much.  It seems that your weekly posts served to help keep people informed
about your fellow hikers as well as yourselves--a nice service to your
trail compadres. Did you post the updates to your web page as you emailed
them, or is the web page an "archive" created later?  If you did post them
on-the-fly, how?  TCJ
PS I chuckled when I read what Nexmo stands for!

On Mon, 17 Feb 1997, Richard Kushman wrote:

> Amidst all this gear talk I'd like to mention some of the little things
> I found helpful.
> 
> Gold Bond powder is super for chaffing
> 
> Vaseline---wonderful for chapped lips, "monkey butt", rubbing toes, even
> for use when working on equipment.
> 
> "Aquaphor" is a super product for chapped, cracked, chafed, or dry skin.
> I pretty much works wonders over night. I got a sample from my
> dermotologist. Great stuff. If you have problems in that area try it.
> 
> Large safety pins (the old fashioned diaper kind) are great for quick
> repairs or for fastening wet clothes to your pack so they will dry as
> you hike.
> 
> Duct tape (an obvious must) wrap it around your water bottles. Great for
> quick repairs and for covering blisters. For extra padding on a blister,
> cover it with moleskin then wrap area well with duct tape----should last
> for days. I had a problem with friction on my heels, esp when my feet
> were wet. I lined the heel of my boots with duct tape and voila, no more
> friction or hot spots.
> 
> Needle and thread---very handy----I carried the sewing kit that comes
> free in most hotels---very light. I ended up sewing for other hikers!
> 
> Baby wipes----I know they are heavy but I was thankful many times over
> that I had them. We humans can experience some messy things when it
> comes to our bodies.
> 
> For the women---always carry tampons-----even if you are super regular,
> you will cease to be and surprises are uncomfortable. (the baby wipes
> come in real handy here!!!!)
> 
> Also for the women hikers. If you are going to wear underpants might I
> suggest Duofold CoolMax (Campmor has them). They offer a terrific fit,
> hold their shape, dry quickly, and are super easy to clean. I've tried
> the EMS brand also and ended up tossing them out.
> 
> Camp soap etc.----never used it on the trail after the first day. It
> takes a lot of water to rinse out the soap residue. Nothing worse than
> having soapy tasting meals. I didn't meet too many hikers who used soap
> on the trail. It's heavy too. (Never got sick from not using soap and my
> meals tasted much better)
> 
> Camp shoes----wouldn't be without them.  In the early months of hiking
> you will experience wet boots, sore feet and wet, muddy camps. Think
> about stopping for the night. You put on dry socks, you wriggle your toes
>  around----feels good----then what do you do if you have no camp shoes---
> -walk in the cold wet or mud or snow, put on your wet boots???? There are
>  light sandals out there other than Tevas (and less costly).
> 
> If you are using mail drops you might include in them things that will
> make your town stay more comfortable. Sample size mouthwash, dental
> floss, shampoo, powder, skin cream
> are some things I liked. Also include some favorite town clothes-----they
> really make you feel good. These items could be repacked and sent
> forward to your next town stop.
> 
> One personal extravagant item I carried was a book. I always made sure
> there was one included in my mail drops too after I learned that the
> trail towns from GA to southern VA offer nothing in the way of reading
> material. 
> 
> A comment on water filters for those of you who don't mind slow
> filtering systems because "you have all the time in the world..." Take a
> practice run tomorrow at dusk---you don't even need a filter to do this-
> --- find a close by brook, crouch yourself down low to the water, (no
> gloves on mind you) and practice your pumping motion for about ten minutes
> ---think about the filter tubing that isn't staying just where you
> want it, think about holding that water bottle between your feet or knees
> ----stay low mind you because the filtering tubes are not very long and
> if you move too much, things pop loose. Think about filtering your water
> during the rain or worse an impending electrical storm.  Not all water
> sources offer optimum "seating" for the hiker, in fact most don't. Just
> >from our experience, the Pur Hiker worked perfectly and we were finished
> in far less time than most other hikers. Never had a problem, never had a
> clog, never had anything go wrong and we were filtering water for two
> people (occasionally for other hikers too who had broken filters or whose
> filters pumped too slowly).
> 
> Nexmo
> Kathy Kushman
> 
> 
> 
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> 

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