Gearing up for the AT

“I'm planning on soloing the VA section of the AT in July and August, I've already decided to lose the tent and go bivy, any other sugestions?”

“Wear shoes.”

“Wow,
What a concept gojo. I never would have thought of that one. ;P”

“be on the look-out for Sgt Rock!!!”

“I would get the AT data book, and plan out your food drops.

Get some hiking poles, and take a tarp if your going to bivy.

The shelters in the SNP get crowded, and you will want something to give you some privacy. I feel a little uncomfortable in my bivy, when I am in a crowded situtation.

You might want to take a stove since fires are prohibited in the SNP.

Also, you may want to keep an eye out for fires. The SNP is still smoldering from the fire on Old Rag.

Good luck!”

“Still working at HTO?”

“i told ya it's tarpy.

by the way, the 'jara' schtick was really pathetic.”

“If yer gonna bring a bivy AND a tarp - why not bring a tent instead? You'd not regret it while waiting out the inevitable p.m. thunderstorms...”

“A bivy and Tarp is much less weight than a tent!”

“how much would the bivy, tarp, and necessary tarp hanging equipment weigh?”

“My Standard OR bivy is 1 lb, 4oz
My Green Mountain tarp is maybe 2 pnds? I will have to weigh it!

My Kelty Zen tent is 5 pnds, 8oz.

Tarp Bivy combo = at the most 3 pnds

Tent = at minimum 5 pnds

5-3 = 2”

“speeking of Sgt Rock, where is he?
i have not seen him reply to any threads in the past few days.

Back to the Thread,
i don't no much about the AT, but i plane on doing it in to years.
make sure you use bare bags. Gett a water filter that will protect you from all the wacky stuff in your water, make sure that the shoulder sraps on your pack are sold and have no flaws, or rips, ***DIRNK LOTS
OF WATER***

Most important ^
BARE BAGS,
WATER”

“And I thought I had bad grammar!”

“"My Standard OR bivy is 1 lb, 4oz
My Green Mountain tarp is maybe 2 pnds...Tarp Bivy combo = at the most 3 pnds"

no, at the MINIMUM, 3lbs, 4ozs. then include guylines, etc. so, more than 3lbs, 4oz.

my eureka gossamer TENT is 2 lbs, 10 oz with everything i need.”

“"2 lbs, 10 oz with everything i need"

What, no beer? C'mon raddyface!”

“Rad carries a light tent so that he can carry beer!”

“My Eureka! Aurora weighs five pounds.

So. I'd carry it at half again that weight - that tent is ONE BAD MUTHA!

I've done the tarp thing a few times. In fact, I did a (very!) wintry two nighter at Cheaha Wilderness, AL, last year and left my tent behind to make room for a second sleeping bag. My shelter? Two ponchos - one for a ground cloth, and one for a lean-to.”

“Whatever works for you!

In the winter I take my bivy and my tent, so I guess it really is up to the individual!”

“Jester, You might consider taking a tube tent. A lot of AT hikers carry them for those occassions whenthey can't get into a shelter.

Campmore tube tent ”

“I'm here. I don't post a lot of the time. I like to watch. I've also been out defending the country of Cortina from invasion by the arrogant American Army.

Why do you have to watch out for me? I'm harmless - most of the time.”

“Jester, I did a south bound 1/2-hike of the AT in '97. Please feel free to e-mail me with any little question at "Walkincrow@aol.com" Many people helped me prepare for my hike so I'm always willing to pass the Karma on.

If I can get the time I'll try to throw a list together of good/bad shelters, hostels, hitches into town etc.

First and foremost, even before you buy a data book(must have) spend the money on a GOOD pair of boots and some virgin wool socks. I prefer Asolo boots and Smartwool socks. Two pairs of hiking socks and a cheap pair to wear with my Tevas around camp did it for me. Make sure your boots are completely broke in before you hit the trail. Also, bring a bit of rubbing alcohol and medicated powder aka gold bond rip-off(1/4 cup of each per week?). When you finish the day's hike rub your feet w/ the Alcohol and then the Powder, your feet will thank you. No matter what else you do, if your feet ain't happy, you ain't gonna make it.

Plan on spending AT LEAST a month on your hike. I did Virginia at the same time you will and never had trouble finding space in the shelters. There is a saying on the AT, when it's raining there is always more room in the shelter. I brought a bivy shelter but I was never forced to use it, although I did by choice a few times.

When you start out you will be in the midst of the wave of north bound thru hikers but by the time you pass Lynchburg you will pretty much have the trail to yourself. Pump the thru hikers for info but don't let them scare you with thier tells of The Priest(longest uphill section you will face). It will be the dog days of summer and you will be lucky if you share a shelter south of Lynchburg. If you do share a shelter with weekend hikers learn how to yogi(bumming stuff w/out actually asking) they are a great source of goodies you won't be hauling(and they don't want to haul out), fresh fruit, snickers bars and such. On the section between Roanoke and the Grayson Highlands I saw practically no one on the trail. I even did some nude hiking because I was alone on the trail so long the I quit even expecting to see anyone. That may seem odd on the AT but in VA. that time of year it can be very hot and humid and most folks stay home.

Yes, a water filter and a stove are a must. I only had trouble finding white gas for the stove once, Linden VA, other than that I wouldn't worry about it. Gas canister stoves can be much harder to resupply so stick w/ liquid fuel(whisper lite stove will do fine).

The shelters in Shenandoah are spaced oddly and you are required to stay in them so you will have to choose wether to do 20+ mile days or 10 mile days. Speaking of that, at least 2 months before you begin start walking at least 2 hours a day. This isn't totally nessicary but it will make you life easier. Plan to spend more money in Shenandoah than anywhere else, you will be walking past camp stores at least once a day and ice cream and a burger will be mighty tempting.

Bring a notebook for a journal and a camera. These will be things that you will treasure later.

You really don't need the maps but you DO need a data book. Skip the Guide books and maps unless you are really into that stuff. If you get lost on the AT for more than a mile you are too stupid to be in the woods. You will get confused occasionally and probably even take a wrong turn or miss a blue blaze once or twice but as long as you have the Data Book you'll can't get too screwed up.

Come to think of it; even more important that your feet will be your aditude. If you even entertain the thought of quiting you probably will. I had a stress fracture in my left foot, the doctor told me to quit but I kept hiking in some heavy pain through most of Virginia but I am SO glad that I did. Don't let stuff get to you, don't think that your pre-trip itinerary is carved in stone, enjoy the rain, after a week or so of misquito bites they quit itching.

I could ramble on and on. E-mail me and I'll send you my list of mail drops, the equipment I carried, more tips and the like. Like I say I am happy to help as best I can.”

“Wow,
Thanks Walkincrow, I figured that now would be the time to start gearing up for this. I spent most of the summer in the Grand Canyon putting miles on my boots, pack, and tent (which I never used). And I run about 1.5 to 2 hours everyday so I hope that I will be in good enough shape for this. Wild child, yep I'm still at HTO and now I work at Sportrock as a belay slave.
Rad did you know that if you can haul your butt all the way down to the river in the canyon that the rafting companies will supply you with the beer. :p”

“hot damn! i'll haul butt over there right now!”

“"...good pair of boots..." ~ Walkincrow

See?!
Told ya you'd need shoes! LOL!”

“Gojo,
There's a guy in the town that I grew up in who does all of his backpacking barefoot, he runs the aboginal school of survival in Prescott. Defiantley a interesting character to pack with.”

“oh, I butchered that one, aboridginal (I think)”

“aboriginal

sorry! just trying to be helpful!

hey JT, be sure to share pics when you get back!”

“Yeah -
I think there's even a barefoot hikers website.”

“Rad,
I've got tons of incredible pics and no way to get them onto my pc.”

“buy

a

scanner”

“Or get a digital camera!”

“Scanners are more cost effective.

digital cameras are more cost deffective.”