Mountain Crossings

[No Belay]

I started NOBO in early Feb and just left the trail last Thursday at Davenport due to a family situation. The hike was better than expected and most of the other hikers were great people and we all had a good time. The only negative of the trip was my dealings with the retail portion of Mountain Crossings Outfitters at Neel Gap. I contacted the owner by phone several weeks prior to my departure and he agreed to order a new double stay back sheet for my ULA pack and have it there when I hiked through. When I arrived "OOps, must of forgot about that." The Catalyst pack I bought was sent with an open cell back sheet which I didn't discover until I subjected it to 2 days of continuous rain after leaving Springer. The pack gained 5 pounds every time it got wet. I brought this to their attention at Mt. crossings and after they checked their other ULA packs in stock, it was determined to be a manufacturing mistake. Even though they were ULA dealers, I had to purchase the closed cell ensolite pad at an exorbitant price to fix the problem. I shopped the store and discovered a lot of things priced above retail price.

I write this with only one motive and that's to save folk's starting a NOBO a lot of hassle and money. Take the time to load your pack exactly how you're going to go carry it and then go to a another knowledgeable hiker or reputable outfitter and do a shake down with them. That way you won't carry a load of stuff you don't need for 40 miles and if there is something you're missing, you won't pay ridiculous prices to acquire it at Neel Gap. If you're going to resupply at Neel Gap, send a drop box. Even with the postage you'll come out way ahead and you'll be eating what you want, not just what's available. I would be very leary of ordering anything through the outfitter with expectations of it being there when you arrive.

The hostel at Neel Gap is run by Pirate and it's one of the best I ran across during my short trip. Pirate and RamblinMan do there best to make you feel at home and Pirate is the best damn cook I ran across in 30 days. They both make your stay amusing, comfortable and memorable. I dreamt about Pirate's sloppy joes for 2 weeks after I left there.

Good Luck to all of you and congratulations on having the courage to take that first step. Your life will never be the same.

Savor Happy!!

TaTonka

[Hooch]

Sorry about the problems with your pack at MTX, TaTonka. I'm willing to bet that if you call Brian at ULA and tell him what's up, he'll set things right for you. Hope that helps some. Good luck!

[UnkaJesse]

You know, I can't recall ever hearing anything negative about Mountain Crossing up to this point.

[FatMan]

Mountain Crossings' prices are not cheap, but my experience as well as every thing I know about them is that they are very helpful, and very fair. Universally they get very high marks for knowledge and service. Sorry you had a negative experience.

[Boudin]

You may be able to find cheaper prices somewhere on line, but you are not going to find an outfitter staffed with past thru-hikers that actually use the gear and know what the f*** they are talking about. The prices at Mountain Crossings are in line with any other retailer. I have always been treated fair and they have spent many hours with me over the years. I'm sorry things didn't work out the way you hoped, but s*** happens. I highly recommend those guys. There is no way in hell that I would trust my adventures, gear questions or get advise from the pimply faced kid at the mall that has only been car camping with his dad for a couple of weekends last summer.

[Bulldawg]

I've always gotten treated real well by Winton and his folks. Sure his prices are just a bit over what you can buy from REI, etc. But look at it this way, he is right there on the trail and not one outfitter I know of will spend as much time working with a hiker, whether he be a thru hiker, section hiker, or a weekend hiker. You can't get that kind of service even inside most REIs. So the slightly higher price is IMO on par.

TaTonka, I am very sorry you ran into an issue at MTNXINGs. I think Hooch is right about Brian. I am also sorry about the issue that caused you to get off the trail. I hope your family is well and healing as we speak.

[sticks&stones]

The prices at MTNXINGS are higher. Outfitting there for someone who knows better (which isn't many at that point of the AT) I liken to buying popcorn & coke from the concession stand at a movie theatre; very convenient, but extremely premium. But then again no one is holding a gun to the head of hikers who lay down the cash, it's brilliant capitalism if you ask me. As far as your problem w an open cell back pad I'm surprised it was even used in the manurfacturing of your pack, someone dropped the ball. A ULA dealer shouldv'e taken care of that problem, but then again why should they if you didnt buy it there? I'll bet you a buffalo nickel that if you'd said you were writing a book about the AT, or worked for a newspaper, they'd taken care of your problem.

[Pedaling Fool]

...it's brilliant capitalism if you ask me...

There's a fine line between Brilliant Capitalism and taking advantage of the suckers out there.

[stumpknocker]

Just another voice on this....I have been buying gear from Mountain Crossings since 2001 and have always had great service and never felt like I was paying too much. They go beyond what most outfitters will do to help out hikers and they have the knowledge it takes because they ARE hikers.

That first 30 miles of the Appalachian Trail can be so difficult for a nobo that they may get to the point of wanting to quit. The staff at Mountain Crossing have saved a lot of people's dreams of thru hiking by taking the time to go through their packs and lightening the load on their backs.

I would recommend Mountain Crossings for anyone wanting to get outfitted for backpacking.

Sorry you had a problem there TaTonka.

[Hooch]

Not to hijack anyone's thread, but does Winton and the rest of the MTX staff charge anything to "tuck" your pack?

[A-Train]

Not to hijack anyone's thread, but does Winton and the rest of the MTX staff charge anything to "tuck" your pack?

Nope.

[Boudin]

There's a fine line between Brilliant Capitalism and taking advantage of the suckers out there.

I've never seen anyone "taken advantage of" at MTX. The staff has always been professional anytime that I've dealt with them since 1990 and Jeff and Dorothy owned the business. The prices are in line with REI, the selection is better, the item quality is usually better and the staff is more knowledgeable. Don't get me wrong, I like REI, my daughter is an REI manager but if the local REI store had to make 90% of their income in 2 months of the year, they would make MTX's prices look dirt cheap. Maybe if you start buying the latest backpacking equipment at Wal-Mart you will be happier.

geek

[Pedaling Fool]

I've never seen anyone "taken advantage of" at MTX. The staff has always been professional anytime that I've dealt with them since 1990 and Jeff and Dorothy owned the business. The prices are in line with REI, the selection is better, the item quality is usually better and the staff is more knowledgeable. Don't get me wrong, I like REI, my daughter is an REI manager but if the local REI store had to make 90% of their income in 2 months of the year, they would make MTX's prices look dirt cheap. Maybe if you start buying the latest backpacking equipment at Wal-Mart you will be happier.

geek

My comment wasn't directed at MTX, just saying there's a fine line....besides, there is nothing wrong in taking advantage of suckers, it's a learning experience, that's how nature works.

[Desert Reprobate]

I doubt Winton is there just to enjoy the atmosphere. He's running a business. Capitalism is what makes the whole thing work. Either start the trail with gear you know will stand up or be ready to pay.

[Bilko]

No Belay, running any business relying on hikers is risky business. Look at the number of hostels, outfitters and restaurants that appear and disappear on the trail. It is a labor of love. MTX is a small place so they cannot sell or maintain alot of bulk. Think about those slow months when they get little or no traffic coming through. That means little or no income. Winton does his share of adding to the AT. He has put on free hiking and camping clinics around the North Georgia area, he hleps out any hiker coming through and treats them with respect. Local outfitters every where must compete agains the REI/Dick's Giants. They can buy huge amount of items and sell them for less than local outfitters can sell the same item. I wonder where alot of hikers would be if MTX closed down? I agree with you, plan ahead. But if there is an emergency we will pay more.

[ChinMusic]

For the expertise MTX offers they SHOULD charge more than REI. I have been VERY pleased with my dealings with them. When I get to MTX on my future thru I doubt I will need equipment changes. I pretty much have things worked out. Newbies on the other hand benefit greatly, and at some expense. It's a win-win.

I will not be mailing a drop box to them and will gladly pay for the convenient resupply.

[CrumbSnatcher]

one of the best outfitters on the A.T. sorry you had a bad experience.

[Sailor (The other one)]

I'm sorry you had that experience, TaTonka. When I was at Mountain Crossings last fall, I had exactly the opposite kind of experience. The staff encouraged me to go into town to resupply to save money, and Pirate volunteered to drive me. Alpine did shakedowns for my wife and I even though we were not thru-hiking and did not make any gear suggestions until we asked. When I wanted a ULA Catalayst for my wife, Alpine argued for a Granite Gear Vapor Ki, $80 cheaper than what I would have purchased if he kept quiet. He even volunteered to get me me a replacement for my GG Nimbus Meridian, which was too short for me and which I purchased elsewhere. Kept his word and got me a brand new replacement pack that fits.
I hope your experience is unusual and is never repeated.
And I hope you get back on the trail real soon.

[Boudin]

Yes, yes, yes...I'm at Boudin's ...and having a blast and both of us will be spending our money at MTX tomorrow!!!!!

geek

[No Belay]

I'm glad to hear the consensus that my experience was the exception and not the norm. As I said, the hostel there is phenomenal and I enjoyed my stay. Maybe the store would have been more impressive if I was a greenhorn but there are a lot more logical means of assuring that you're carrying the proper pack and equipment than waiting until you've hiked 40 miles down the trail ... and it doesn't involve pimply faced kids at the mall store. The jest of my post was that it's probably more advantageous and economical to be prepared when you hit the trail instead of waiting until you hit Neel Gap.

Enjoy your journey and Savor Happy !!

TaTonka