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Clarification: It's OK to have them, but you shouldn't have to depend on them to the point of needing a solar panel on a roof at a shelter. If your battery dies for a few hours, you will be OK.

Its a wonder how everyone hiked the trail the first 70 years with no electronic gadgets. My guess is that someone or some animal will vandalize it within the first year.

I say if you can't...

I mostly hike in N.GA and NC before GSMNP. In shoulder seasons, I take a baselayer, rainjacket, and synthetic jacket (REI revelcloud). I also take a wool vest I picked up at Goodwill just in case...

Sometimes I fret at not being able to afford the latest weight reducing backpack, tent, bag, thingie, etc, and then I get the privilege to watch a presentation today at the Amicalola Kickoff by Gene...

I use a Owyhee synthetic over quilt from Arrowhead Equipment (Kick Ass Quilt) in shoulder seasons in GA. I'm a tosser/turner so it works well for me. Keeps me warm to about freezing. I take a liner...

I've missed a switchback or two on the AT. The giveaway was the trail got rougher and I quit seeing the white blazes, which are the most helpful part. Also, once you hike a while, your "sixth...

Oware sells different sizes of foam pads. see shop.bivysack.com for their products. I have a nice silnylon tarp from them.

I've had a Prolite Plus for 4 years at about 20 nights a year. I'm planning on getting something more expensive when it breaks, but it still working. I fold it in half lengthwise and roll it up and...

hike naked.

I use a cat food can stove, aluminum foil windscreen. I can get it, a 4 oz fuel bottle, and a shortened spork inside of my med. titanium cup w/ lid. Andrew Skurka has a good video on making one. ...

Georgia is hit or miss with bad weather. May be good, may be bad. I have the luxury of waiting til the last minute to hit the trail. For others, I recommend the average temps posted on accuweather....

My grandfather, who passed away at 98 last year, told me that he heard a few scream at night when he was a young man growing up and roaming the woods in N. GA, so that had to be in the 1930's.

I bought a pair of nice black diamond poles on sale and said I would start using them when my Walmart poles broke. Going on three years of 200+ miles/yr hiking and haven't touched my new poles yet.

Never do anything that requires you to say "Watch this".

i have a glock, but I leave it at home. Weighs too much for backpacking. More likely to get struck by lightning, get lyme disease, or catch hypothermia than get attacked by a bear or crazed redneck.

I also agree with jimmyjam. For emergencies, I also take a couple of esbit tablets or wetfires on every hike. makes a good firestarter, too, especially when the wood's wet and its slow to get it...

In an emergency, it's amazing what you can do with a few twigs for fuel and small rocks for a stand.

After the big three, I don't worry too much until I'm at my ideal body weight. Losing a pound or ten of body weight doesn't really cost much and is a lot cheaper than spending hundreds extra to save...

If you are the least bit out of shape or overweight, then lay off the cookies and quarter pounders for cheap weight loss. Can't beat the price, either.

As another old schooler here in "rooty/rocky" GA, I used to wear boots (Lowas) all the time. I now only wear them in winter for the extra warm. I found that I instinctually raised my foot up when my...

Most hikers nowadays just hike through this section. It's not a stretch. Going NOBO, you have plenty of shelters and campsites before you hit it and Mountain Crossings/Neels Gap at the end. Also, ...

A cheap hammock like the Grand Trunk Ultralight can be had for about $20 on Amazon. Hang it up with any ropes you have laying around before graduating to more expensive suspension methods. Also,...

I like to sing "Country Roads" by John Denver, especially while walking through berry patches during spring. My singing not only scares bears, but humans, too! (Note: If you are under 30, you may...

I like to sing "Country Roads" by John Denver when walking through berry patches in the spring. Of course, my singing would probably scare humans, too!

Here's some funny ones I heard recently (not meant to be taken seriously):

Bear Burrito: Hammock
Bear Fortune Cookie: Tent