Early March Start -

Plan to use a base layer, poly pro aka all those commercial names

Shorts with liner

Have a techwick T

Rain gear

Any suggestions for the middle layer for trunk warmth.

I have a fleece shirt but it is bulky and heavy.

I nomally hike in shorts and longsleeve T between 45 and 60 degrees

Above 60 short sleeves

Any suggestions for the middle layer for trunk warmth.Try wool or synthetic (eg. acrylic) long-sleeve flannel. blair.com has acrylic flannels for $9.99. I've got two. They're great.

I carried a short sleeve shirt, capilene top and lightweight fleece top + raingear for a March 7 start. Worked for me.

You might want to consider cutting out the liner of those shorts. It's a chafing hazard. :eek:

MOWGLI6 -

That is pretty much what I have packed. SHorts with out the liner - Ouch!!! I can't take all that bouncing around. Never had a problem as long as I had a liner.

I've grown really fond of silk boxers. Lightweight, and oh so comfy.

I left Springer the end of the first week in March. I had called the hotel at the base of Springer and been informed they expected weather to be in the 50's and 60’s.

The second day on the trail, towns along the trail reported record low’s at 20 degrees BELOW zero. The AT, at a higher elevation, was colder.

Something to consider.

No long pants:confused:. BRRRRRRR!!!! You will certainly encounter days colder than 45F. I suppose rain pants (if you have them) will offer some warmth...You might consider some zip-off pants that are quick drying...

See you on the trail,
mt squid

My rain pants zip off and I have heavy poly pro long john bottoms. I have winter camped in the Whites with the same setup. Shorts and long johns once you get moving. Gaitors for snow.

If I am moving I am sweating. If I am stopped for very long in cold weather then I am camping and can get in my bag.

Sounds good. I was concerned you might actually turn into an iceman :D...

Stay warm and dry,
mt squid

It sounds like you know more than enough to do it correctly. The AT is not much different than planning any other backpack trip (gear wise). If you know what works, then stick with it. I'm surprised this post hasn't turned into fleece vs puffy jackets discussion. I hiked with the swim liner thing for underwear and if I were to do it again, I would go with the synthetic "bike shorts" (they're not really bike shorts since they dont have padding). Towards the end I got some chafing real bad and am not convinced the swim liners did anything to prevent it and might have contributed to it. Since you got some time, it might be worth checking out... Or not.
TB

Hat? Gloves?

I got my hubby a Patagonia micro puff vest for his core warmth. Weighs nothing.

Never heard of rain pants that unzip, interesting.

You can tell this is a guy's list. My list is double. Then again, I plan to be out a little roaming around at camp, getting water, eating, meeting other hikers, so I'm tucking in my down jacket for the first part.

Blissful –

Marmot Precip Full zip rain pants weigh around 10 oz. They actually weigh more than my DIAD jacket but I do not rush to put on rain gear. By the time I decide I really need it my boots are caked in mud and the ground is soaked so the full zip is a nice luxury.

I have to check out the micro puff stuff my pile shirt is about 12 years old.

I also have a fleece balaclava, a rain hat, and Performance windstopper gloves.

Blissful –

I have to check out the micro puff stuff my pile shirt is about 12 years old.



Just to let you know, I scored big on the micro puff vest on E Bay. Though it was a big guy's size, I got it for $17 with tags (still reeling over that one). So keep your eye open.

I have to check out the micro puff stuff my pile shirt is about 12 years old.



Iceman,

Fleece has changed a lot since 12 years ago. Wether you go puffy or fleece you'll see a big improvement warmth to weight wise.