Apparel

“Well guys, real question.

2 - 3 of backpacking AT VA - GA.

How many sets of T-shirts, socks, ...

I'm guessing like 3 x T-shirts, 1 x long sleeve fleece, 1 x wool sweater, 1 x thermal long underware, 2 x convertible pants, hat, rain(wind)jacket, poncho...

hmmmm...”

“is that weeks or days?”

“He's not making it all the way from VA to GA in 3 days. When are you leaving? That whole area is still covered in snow right now.”

“It also depends on the time of year. For a early spring or late fall trip my list is something like this…

Worn:
Long sleeve poly shirt
Fleece vest (only if it’s down in the 30s during the day)
Zipp off pants
Bike shorts liner
Hat
socks

Packed:
Long sleeve poly shirt
Long johns bottom
Socks
Fleece jacket
Shell

Clothes are the easiest thing to over pack on. The two rules I follow to keep the weight down is #1: stinking is OK and #2: as long as I have the ability to be dry in camp, that’s all I need. I’m always amazed at how relative cold is when hiking. We run from heated house to heated car to heated work place but when I get out on the trail I can stand around in a fleece jacket when it’s 30 degrees out. Dry is very relative too. Good polyester clothes dry very quick.”

“sorry, ... 2 - 3 MONTH...
(JULY) - AUGUST - SEPTEMBER”

“Oh, OK. Yeah a complete change of clothes would be called for then. A great way to get a snese of what ya might need is to look up some packing lists that through hikers post. See what they're carrying.”

“You can read A Walk In The Woods by Bill Bryson to find out what NOT to bring on the AT.”

“Long Hikes take 2 sets.
One wet one dry.

Wear one set every day, rinse or wash out frequently to get the salt and smell out (well, ..less anyway) and just dry it by wearing it.
The dry set is something to wear in camp.”

“Very important to have dry clothes to sleep in at night. Especially when it's cold, but it shouldn't be cold at all in July. You should be miserably hot actually. August in TN...I think I lose about 5lbs a mile when I hike. Bring 2 gallone jugs for water...you'll need them.”

“Yep Two sets to hike in, One set of polypro long johns for sleeping.

Might take three pair socks though so I could change out during the day or have one dry pair to change into at the end of the day.”

“To dry wet socks, wrap them around your neck while you hike. Especially if the sun is out, they will dry by the time you stop for the day.”

“That will help keep you healthy too, as few people will approach someone with dirty socks around their neck close enough to transmit disease.”

““To dry wet socks, wrap them around your neck while you hike. Especially if the sun is out, they will dry by the time you stop for the day.”
wounded knee
10:30:47 AM
3/09/05
ignore this user

I'll have to try that. I've also found placing the socks over your trekking polls over night works too.”

“so let me get this straight WK first pisses on his socks and then he wears them around his neck all day? I gotta hike with this guy!”

“Yep zac, I have done that too. I have found that the heat from your neck dries them faster though.

Exactly Bit. People pass and look at you like you have a huge scab on your neck.

Ha Ha Nigel!”

“No, you only pee on your socks if you are expecting a chlorine gas attack. Then you have to breathe through it.”

“If my socks aren't too wet I'll throw them in the bottom of my sleeping bag at night. Many times the clothes that I use as a pillow dry that way just from the heat of my big ol' pumpkin head.”

“Hey Nigal,

please, hook me up with some link for backpack lists.

Also, in hot summer the most heaviest part of load must be water, right???

Is this kind of water carierr or similiar appropriate?

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=23634&hvarDept=350&hvarEvent=&hvarClassCode=4&hvarSubCode=9&hvarTarget=browse”

“This might be working better...

http://www.platypushydration.com/product_detail.aspx?ProdID=2”

“I would like a change (of clothes) for everyday but this is not always possible. Sometimes I only come out of the woods because my wife will be furious if I don't & call the rangers on me.

Cellphones (even the old 3w bag phones)& occasional borrowed SAT phones have saved me, calling from the peaks.

I used to like wool (years ago) but long replaced by fleece.100# shirts, 200# for spring/fall & 300wgt for cold weather. Why bring a poncho if you have a rain jacket? For the pack?

If I was going to bring a LOT of anything it would be socks. I wear 2 pr also. A padded hiking sock with a liner sock against my skin. About the only time I have a fire is to dry clothes or VERY cold weather.

I will take GREAT pains to put nothing wet inside my sleeping bag including drinking water in winter. Moisture (even breath) lowers the insulating (heat) value of the bag. I'll compensate with 4x6" chem heat packs in below zero weather on the 3rd-4th day. About the only exception (for me) is a snow cave or igloo. These are actually HOT in very cold weather.

I sweat way TOO much to dry anything on my neck. I wear a turtle fur (headband) or bandanna to catch some of it. THen I switch to another & attempt to dry them on my pack.”

“Sivek- i'm sorry if you've already been harrassed about this, but...

are you really planning a 3 month trek on the southern AT? in the middle of summer? is that not the driest time down there? have you thought about water availability?

have you done any big/long trips before?”

“helinka,

i haven't been in long trip like that.
and I do rely on water sources on and around the trail.

my ideal plan is to start in august but it might happen that i'll start in during July”

“never heard of putting socks around your neck to dry while hiking. How are they going to dry when your sweating like crazy esp in the summer.”

“That's what I thought Ewk. I just put them on wet cause I know 1/2 a mile down the trail they'll be wet again somehow. At the most I'll attach them to the pack for the day to dry. But then again we are talking about Wounded Knee here. He pees on his socks after all. LOL!”

“Hey, Helinka, are you going to the car camping cook-off in WV this year?”

“so is there a difference in color of socks?
well... on white you can see bloody stains...

what is so great on hiking socks for 18 $ a pair???”