10 Days to the Trail and Counting and thoughts on the under quilt.
by
, 03-20-2013 at 01:26 (2137 Views)
Even though I've hiked the trail before and hiked other trails for years, I still obsessively review my gear, my plans, my food plans. I pack, repack; weigh and reweigh my pack. I go through my clothing and then head for the thrift shops looking for lighter shirts, or better vests or silk shells that are more comfortable than cotton t-shirts.
When it gets really hot, the silk is wonderfully light and breathable. Thrift store silk shells are less than a couple bucks. I toss them when they get worn or dirty. Some things can't be recycled.
This time I'm using a down under quilt instead of a sleeping pad. Pads work just fine, but they do slip or buckle and you can roll off them during the night creating some very uncomfortable cold spots.
To test the under quilt, I put up the hammock and practiced using the quilt in sub-freezing temperatures. It is amazingly warm and I look forward to sleeping better than last year.
I only wish I were already on the trail instead of writing about it. :-)
Keep walking