my first. in need of some major info

“So me and my lady don't have much bread to work with but she really wants to hike at least a portion of the trail. We got gear and a decent tent. But before I ventur forth to thee local grocery store for this amazing journy I would like some advice on what types of food we are going to be needing for a 70miles worth a hike”

“Also if you would be awsome enough to tell me if the abandoned coal mines and ghost towns are worth any time”

“It would help tremendously if you mentioned where you were planning on going...so I can avoid going there.”

“which trail? what section?

as far as dinners go, mess free meals include couscous, rice in a bag, box mac and chese (with the liquid cheese packet, not powder), instant potatoes. they can all be dressed up with any type of pouch meat (tuna, chicken, ham...etc) and different spices (crushed red pepper, garlic powder, grated cheeses, onion powder, bullion cubes...etc). just use your imagination. all of this can be done on the cheap. you can feed two from one pack of starches if you add the meat.

breakfast can be what ever you want. bagels and cream cheese or peanut butter. oatmeal, breakfast bars... coffee, tang....

lunches i usually just graze on things all day. homemade power bars or hard tack. pepperoni, trail mix, jerky....

it's all good and can be done cheap and relatively light. if you're planning on a week to do the 70 miles, make sure you take a mix of different meals. you should be able to carry a weeks worth, good mix of any of the above without too much weight. the same thing each day will get boring.”

“If this crap keeps up, people are going to think this is a backpacking site.”

“I'm headed from slatington, PA to the Appalation(?) Trail. The only thing we do not have is hiking boots. Good or bad?”

“And I'm also a real rookie at all this so now that food is done and kan be arranged what are the maine things I should be looking for? And are the shelters close to the trail? Or are there signs for the shelters?”

“Just go, and have fun. Don't sweat the unknown. You can always turn back :)”

“there are lots of rocks in that area.. lots, but I've done lots of hiking on the PA AT in trail runners. Your feet may pay for it.

I am not aware of coal mines on the AT in that area.

For food that is cheap, I take granola bars, fruit snacks and for dinner mashed potatoe pouches and add chicken or salmon.. sometimes take rice a roni or stove top stuffing and add chicken. for breakfast I eat quaker instant outmeal right out of the pouch. heat up some water, pour it into the pouch and eat it out of the pouch.”

“if the shelters aren't within sight of the trail, they are usually signed with distance to shelter. some of them can be up to a mile off the AT. i'm not familiar with that section of the AT. google it and you may find some good info.

as far as boots go, i've only worn boots on one trip in the last 8 years. i usually wear low cut trail shoes.



if you have a solid pair of trail shoes or trail runner type shoes, you should be fine as long as you watch where you're stepping.

even if you don't, wear what you have that you think will hold up. if you start to develop blisters, stick a piece of duct tape on the hot spot.”

“Ahh sweet. So I'm definetly buying a role of tape then. All we have is skating shoes. Are you normally hiking with just your party? Or do you often see others on the way or passing by?”

“How do the shelters work out? Free?”

“better watch out for trolls on that part of the trail. the idiots are everywhere.”

“Lol no seriously”

“seriously”

“oh boy... so if I travel by day I should be good is that what your saying? And at night have florecent lighting around my tent so those dude have no way of harming and turn to stone?”

“just not up to par.”

“the shelters are free on a first come basis.

you'll see other folks, but you'll have plenty of time alone.”

“and don't carry a whole roll of duct tape. just wrap three or four feet around your fuel canister/bottle.”

“Seriously though, trolls are everywhere.”

“LMAO I so want to hike with you.

when and where can I find you and your lady?
or should I just look for the BRIGHT GLOWING LIGHT at night.

haha to funny :)”

“Isn't this thread titled "My first period"? I'm no expert but I think you guys are giving some unrelated info.”

“I recommend the Diva Cup thread!!!!


'32oz”

“Did anybody mention pouches of Lipton noodles and tuna? Cheapest trail dinner going. It all makes so much more sense after a couple of trips. And newbies rarely get eaten by bears.”

“Toejam, I started doing pouches of salmon... I was sooooo sick of tuna!!!! Also for short trips, a can of small shrimp for the Raman noodles...

The lipton pouches are great too.. especially when they're on sale....

'32oz”

“On and on and on ...”

“I hope you have a good water filter. There are a lot more inexpensive option nowadays.

Doug”

“Damn. I went to bed for 6 hours and I get more people are talking mistacle creatures and awsome people wanting to just wing it with me and my lady. ahhh. I'm scared.”

“Oh and thanks dearly baume 66. I owe you!”

“here's the simplest meal plan that would meet all of your needs for a multi-day hike. It's for a cold camp with no hot food. If you bring a stove, you can swap out brekkie and din for something hot.

Brekkie: granola and instant milk

Lunch: PB&J

Dinner: Salami and chz sandwich

snacks: granola bar, jerky

Sweet: chocolate”

“hmm.



rob.



PA



hiker.



concerned with how a new person was treated.









nah.”

“Lol what kan I say eh?
last edited: 8/04/10 10:01:10 AM”

“Don't forget the first aid kit and do a little reading on how to use it. First timers tend to get all sorts of little maladies.

I would also suggest boots. Whether you wear them or not really has to do with your feet and what you are most comfortable wearing. I need hard soles and ankle protection, you may not. I would go to a trail store and check out several pairs of shoes and boots and make your decision on this.”

“Get a $14 EverReady headlamp at Walmart....

”

“I just take my shotgun and shoot game along the trail, take some flour or meal with ya and fri them tasty critters right up!”

“Thanks for the info. So let's say I wanted to do a 70m trip (140m there and back)... is it possible I kan live with just a hundred dollars worth of food for me and the lady? And if worse comes to worse I'll grab the shotty (jk)”

“Sure, but you'd have to carry two weeks of food on your back and that is a hard thing to do. Two weeks of food on your back is a lot of food and a lot of weight. Better would be to cache your food and pick it up along the way, either mail it and detour into a town or drive ahead and stash it somewhere or in something where it won't get eaten by criters.

I think the most food I've carried on my back was 10 days worth and that gave me about a 70 lb pack.”

“I think I might be able to handle 70lbs worth of food... thanks!”

“And as dumb as this may same.. you kan buy food and water at the shelter?”

“Just remember, if you come across any trolls, they make for great conversation.”

“i love that headlamp, all i've ever owned. i'm on my second one now as the first one was lost.”

“Why don't you go on a 5m hike (10m there and back) this weekend and see what you learn first?”

“I think your right I might just go to the first shelter and back. And godamn I had better watch out for the trolls. There a tad weird huh? But I'm gunna back sure I'm still surrounded by light.”