new hiker

“ya know, people used to throw 60 lbs of gear in a canvas rucksack and go out and hike the trail without a ... GASP .... trail guide and survive all the time. But now people think you have to have high tech this and low weight that, and this guide book, and these resupply points and bla bla bla ....

I remember last year (or perhaps the year before) there was a thread about some guy southbounding that someone here met in a shelter south of the whites. The dude was wearing blue jeans and other low tech stuff and a massive pack. veryone was talking about how he was never going to survive that way, bla bla bla, and totally disregarded the fact that he had already hiked through the whites in the same get up.”

“know, people used to throw 60 lbs of gear in a canvas rucksack and go out and hike the trail without a ... GASP .... trail guide and survive all the time. But now people think you have to have high tech this and low weight that, and this guide book, and these resupply points and bla bla bla ....

because thats what was available. you dont get points for degree of difficulty. if theres a better, safer way to do it, then you should do it, ESPECIALLY on a supermax long distance hike. hes not talking about going out for a weekend or a week, hes talking about being out there for WEEKS, hiking all day. thats different than the weekend warrior stuff most of us do”

“Are you recommending that he disregard the advice he was seeking?
last edited: 9/12/07 7:19:22 AM”

“exactly. he asked. we told. thru-hiking is hard enough already, without willfully making it more difficult”

“most of the advice isnt even get hi-tech this or hi-tech that, cuz he has no gear money. we're telling him to ditch some of his stuff, not get any more or different gear, for the most part”

“difficulty is a matter of perspective

Carrying a walkman adds weight, but adds to the enjoyment. Do they call 'em walkmans these days?

Shedding the weight is great advise. It's just not always everyone's goal. For me it is, but some people it isn't, and it's probably not as big of a deal as some people make it out to be. Again, ... good advise on here though nonetheless.”

“hiking with a 55 pound pack is more difficult than hiking with a 45 pound pack, i dont care what perspective youre looking at it from, unless the 10 pounds you jettison are your tent, sleeping bag, and kitchen, and the other 45 pounds is all rocks”

“That's true, while you're hiking. What about the rest of the day and night though?”

“My thinking is that there is balance each backpacker has to find between comfort on the trail and comfort at camp. The shorter the hike, the more camp comforts I tend to carry. The longer the hike, the fewer comforts.”

“cd nailed it. for myself, im not suggesting he gets rid of all the creature comforts. a person should keep one or two. but things like the two tarps and more clothes than he needs are unnecessary.”

“true dat”

“joisey, i hope youll consider my advice of mailing some stuff ahead to yourself. you dont need all that winter stuff now. heck, you could run out of money before winter gets here. if it was possible for me to do, i would even volunteer to be your "base" person, but im a LEETLE far away to do that. anyways, mail some stuff ahead to a post office down the trail. mail it to general delivery. write "hold for hiker" with your ETA on it. make sure its a town you know you wont quit before you get to it”

“Hey, bud...

Listen up...

If you fail to heed the advice here (have you noticed how many people responded here? THINK, man...), you will very likely spoil the sport for yourself, and never attempt it again.

You are clearly inexperienced at this higher level of the sport. You must trust the experience of the people here, for many of them have been doing this, most likely, far longer than you think.

But, what do WE know? We're only backpackers on a backpacking website which, among other goals, seeks to enhance the activity for all with, fundamentally, the many voices of experience you read in here.

Remember:

The wise man learns from experience... the WISEST learn from the experiences of OTHERS!
last edited: 9/12/07 8:28:54 AM”

“he DID change his mind about northbounding, give him credit for that. or rather, we changed his mind”

“Many outdoor careers started with doing things the wrong way, or the tough way, but you might as well not punish yourself, or set yourself up for failure.

I led a 28 day trip for 12 people in 1971, the John Muir trail, and we charged $50 each for food and gas. A dollar would go further in those days, but 28 days worth of food for $50? We had a lot of noodles, top ramen, and macaroni. We also went to bed hungry more than once. We also spend some time trying to kill marmots for food, and fished with added enthusiasm.

The grits were so awful we added grape drink to it to make it edible. I can't eat oatmeal to this day because of that trip. However, we did it, and the trip was epic for everyone on the trip. However, we had the gear figured out, which you are still working on.

My father-in-law hiked with a trapper nelson pack (http://patentpending.blogs.com/patent_pending_blog/2005/01/the_trapper_nel.html)in Hells Canyon, and hiked to the Seven Devils from the canyon bottom, and carried a handgun, an axe, a saw, wool clothes, and canned foods. Then they hiked to the town of Riggins about 20 miles away. Talk about pain and punishment!

If I were you I would go to a thrift store and find nylon pants, a nylon down coat that is light and has good loft, and a brand name rain coat. I have found all of those things in good thrift stores. I still shop thrift stores looking for gear for boy scouts.”

“Dude... if you don't know what wingfoot is you have no business being out on the AT in the north in the winter. That's not a put down. It is a warning


oh please. I have never heard of 'wingfoot' so does that mean I'd die in the winter on the AT?

There was a thru hiker a few years back named wingfoot, but I suspect your not referring to her. ;)

such drama!”

“I don't know if anyone has touched on footwear here yet, if so, ignore this?

Jersey - what are you taking are footwear?
Boots
Trailrunners

If you are wearing boots, you better be breaking these in now because you don't want to be doing this on the trail. You need to keep your feet as dry as possible while hiking as to avoid blisters.

My feet sweat buckets while hiking so I use deodrant on the bottoms before I get started. Powder will help as well.

The minute you feel a "hot spot" STOP! Cover the spot with moleskin, a bandaid or duct tape.

If your socks get soaked with sweat by noon, change into a dry pair at lunch and when you start up again, wrap the morning pair around your neck so they can dry out.”

“around his neck? whats that for? to keep the vampires away?”

“oh please. I have never heard of 'wingfoot' so does that mean I'd die in the winter on the AT?


such drama!”
Roam Around
11:59:24 AM
9/12/07

Put it in context roam. You? No you'd probably be fine. But you are not a complete newbie. You know how to read trails. You have a lot of ground under your feet.

I'm not a complete newbie, but I would no sooner undertake this kind of trip without a guide book than I would walk down a superhighway blindfolded.”

“around his neck? whats that for? to keep the vampires away?”
crash bang
9:12:27 AM
9/12/07

No, the heat that comes off your neck will help dry them faster.
last edited: 9/12/07 9:21:12 AM”

“O RLY!”

“Alrighty then! We're taking jerseynewhiker for a walk...now that he believes I'm a real person... ;D

He will need a new name. That's too long to type.

Culvers Gap, NJ at 309 SOBO...

Jerseynew..check your email...I'm thinking a Fri start to accomodate your drop off needs and my childcare. I will still end at 33 in Wind Gap, but will be available for limited support for the rest of PA, ok?

Let's hike. heh heh 8)”

“Culvers Gap, NJ at 309 SOBO...

Jerseynew..check your email...I'm thinking a Fri start to accomodate your drop off needs and my childcare. I will still end at 33 in Wind Gap, but will be available for limited support for the rest of PA, ok?

Let's hike. heh heh 8)”

Wish I had time to play. :)”

“Can't swing a weekend in before you ditch us? It's just a wee little 44 mile stroll.

And we'll have to hike slow too. This one smokes. ;)”

“I know Rev, its just a pet peeve of mine to see such blanket statements. I knew what you meant.

---

Let's hike. heh heh 8)”
spindlette

wow, that almost sounds..... ominous........”

“Ominous? nooooo... I love this stretch of trail. My home turf, you know?

It's pure enthusiasm!”

“Can't swing a weekend in before you ditch us? It's just a wee little 44 mile stroll.

And we'll have to hike slow too. This one smokes. ;)”
spindlette
10:32:55 AM
9/12/07

Wish I could...I'm already running out of time to do the things I have to do, forget about what I want to do. The process of this moving thing sucks.

Hike slow? Huh?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Never!”

“It's just a wee little 44 mile stroll.

Ok that lets me out. I could manage some of that but not a 44 mile weekend. Sorry about that. But my offer of a spot ride still stands. Let me know.”

“Darn! At least there's a reward at the end of all that moving misery, eh? ;)

I was kidding about the "slow" bit. ;)

He'd keep up. Long legs and all that.

And we're just short little women. It balances out. ];)”

“Damn, I never had a Spindlette to show me the ropes ... on the trail ... I mean.

But seriously, very nice thing to do (but I said that already).

Jersey - I think it's a cool thing your doing overall. The only dumb thing was heading into a new england winter. The rest you'll learn as you go - and fall is prolly the best time to learn it too. You'll learn a lot about yourself as you go too.”

“Spindlette, you looking at Saturday night at the Kirkridge Shelter? I could handle that. maybe even Kirkridge to wind gap on Sunday if that's the plan.”

“I'm not saying don't offer advise, I am just saying if the guy still wants top do it his way doesn't mean he is gonna die.”

“That's probable Rev.

FYI, Kirkridge to Wind Gap is 9 miles of pristine PA rock in all it's glory.

Pennsy hates it with a purple passion. You will too I'm guessing. ;)”

“theres an old saying if everyone tells you no you should listen i might be alittle nuts but i'm not stupid”

“Nor does playing Russian Roulette Hyway.”

“Smart man.

9:30am good for you? I'm all arranged here.”

“god I hate those rocks.”

“So I have gathered spindlette.....”

“yeah 930am sounds good to me”

“Spindlette... do you have any guess as to when you might the water gap. I'm thinking migth start from there and hike up to kirkridge with you.

You have set an impressive schedule for a guy who thinks 7-10 miles a day might be his limit. But what the hey, a little pain never hurt anyone after the pain stops.”

“is that why you said to watch out”

“She's harmless.....

well..... let's put it this way... you'll have a pretty good idea of what you limits are. In all honesty... she has been wonderful to hike with and has kept my butt safe numerous times when my enthusiasm got unbridled.”

“oh ok you guys make it seem like shes the wicked witch of the woods lol but if thats the case i should have to much to worry about”

“Hardly. They are just teasing you. :)

Rev, no worries, we'll have a look at what he packs before we set out and make adjustments.

There are only so many suitable places to camp in both NJ and PA. He'll make the miles or we'll be very uncomfortable. Not many options.

15-17 mile days are not unreasonable for AT hiking if you're hoping to make a shelter or water.

If he's not ready for that we'll go hike the Old Loggers Path instead.”

“How you gonna let me know if you do the OLP. I would join you on that in a whipsnatch. Plus it's a loop so if I crap out I can get back to my car. hehehe”

“I don't know. We just sorted out details for the AT section. We'll let you know one way or the other before Friday of next week.”

“i'm up for the challenge no pain no gain right”

“Oh to be 25 again... but wait that means I'd have to go through the thirty years between then and now all over again? No thanks... I'll stay where I am.”

“No pain means you're having a zero day.

Except for when you try to stand and walk or whatever. You get used to it.”

“dang, is it fall yet there ? I love ROCKS!”