j03210
10-30-2008, 19:56
I just went on my first solo hike this past weekend at Myakka State Park in Sarasota, Florida and learned a lot about backpacking that will help me to make it through the Appalachian Trail on March 1st, '09. First, I'll run through a list of the gear that I currently own and tested out this past weekend, then I'll talk about what I learned.
On my trip to Myakka, I ran with an Osprey Atmos 50 backpack, low-top Merrell Moab Ventilator shoes with Superfeet insoles, a Slumberjack 40 degree sleeping bag, Princeton Tec LED headlamp, Vargo 'Ti-Lite' mug 'Triad' stove set, Katadyn Hiker Pro water filter, 2-liter Platypus, raincover, 250 ml denatured alcohol container for stove, four 1-gallon ziplocks, a 4-liter Sea to Summit stuffsack for clothes, a Marmot PreCip shell, a Hennessy hammock, and a bunch of other random trinkets (lighters, TP, soap container, etc). For the most part, aside from the sleeping bag and hammock, these are the items that I plan to bring with me on my AT thru-hike. My list of gear is not nearly complete as of yet, as I still need maps, clothes, a sleeping pad, and tent, among other things that I am currently in the process of researching. When I get my full list of gear together, I'll post it for critique on this forum.
My adventure through Myakka was a learning experience. It was a six-day journey through straight wilderness with neglected and overgrown trails, lackluster trail markings, and abundant wildlife trails passing through the actual trails that'd confuse even the most experienced hikers. Overall, the park has some serious character, in an ancient, labyrinth-like way. As I was trudging through knee-deep wetlands during the fifth day of my excursion, on one of my many unplanned off-trial diversions that had arisen throughout the weekend, I remember having the recurring thought that there should be a slogan for prospective long-distance backpackers at Myakka: it should go something like, "Myakka State Park Primitive Camping - You Will Get Lost." I think I'm gonna propose it to the park rangers :rolleyes:.
The main difference between Myakka and the AT, from what I can gather, is that the AT is pretty much a straight shot - either you are on the trail or you aren't - at Myakka, there is plenty of (much needed) room for error. At Myakka you are wandering around on a large plot of land in a maze-like manner, turning onto side-trails and intersecting trails and bicycle trails and main roads, and often times bushwhacking your way to the nearest trail. On the AT you are still wandering around on a large plot of land, but in a more focused and linear fashion. I'm hoping that the AT doesn't require quite as much concentration and map-dissection as Myakka - it gives you a headache after awhile - but who knows, maybe. This is not to say that the AT is actually straight, as I'm sure some people will point out, but what I mean is that it's straight-forward, whiteblazes or no whiteblazes, you're either on your way to Katadhin or you're not.
For the first three days of the six-day hike I went with a partner, a girl from my school who was super enthusiastic about the idea of spending 3 days in the wild. For the last 3 days I was solo. Many people have asked me so far which one was better, being alone or with a partner, and all I can say is that it's not a fair comparison to make; it's not a matter of better or worse. The experience is just different, way different. I took in my experiences more deeply when I was alone, but at the same time had no one to share them with. When I was with a partner, things did not sink in quite as deeply and sort of rested on the surface, but I was able to share them with someone else who could reify them. Both have their benefits and disadvantages, and it's a matter of personal preference, of what you are attempting to make of the hiking experience, that should determine whether you choose to go solo or duo. For me, a solo hike it is.
The weather at Myakka was sunny and mild for the most part. It rained on the first day, which made the entire park wet for the next five days, but it made the experience all the more valuable. Since it rained on the first day, I realized what a big impact the weather can have on a hiker's morale. Morale should be nurtured and placed high up on the list of a hiker's priorities, because once morale begins to falter, all other things diminish shortly thereafter. In order to keep morale high, it was important for me to maintain a good, healthy diet - to eat warm food on cold days, for example - and not to push myself too hard, but to take a moment to relax and look around every so-often when the inspiration struck. Getting from one place to another, whether in backpacking or by any other means, is an experience that is fulfilled through both pushing and releasing - through going that extra mile, as well as through taking a moment to oneself. It seems to me that, while hiking, a positive morale is closely tied with one's relationship with the the conditions of the day, including terrain and weather, as well as personal factors.
Here is an example of what I mean:
The nights at Myakka were freezing cold, dropping down into the 30s for the first time this season. I didn't expect for the weather to be so severe, so I was really unprepared. First, my sleeping bag was a 40 degree bag that wasn't keeping me warm at all during the cold nights. Also, I regretfully didn't bring pants on the trip, so I was sleeping in shorts for the entire night. Needless to say, the nights were sleepless and frustrating. In the mornings, I would pack up all my stuff right away and hit the trails to warm myself up. The happiest and most uplifting day that I had on my trip was the last day, after the coldest night, when I woke up relaxed, lied in bed for a little while and watched the sunrise, and started a fire and cooked a hot meal in the morning before hitting the trail. This was one of the most important lessons that I learned at Myakka: that it is okay and often wise to take it slow.
As for my gear, the Atmos 50 held up really well. It's a sweet bag, and a perfect size for a solo hiker: not too big, not too small, and not too fancy. It's basic and simple, and that's why I like it. My Merrells held up really well in the cold rain, especially after trudging through knee-high water. They dried out quickly and are still in good condition; dirt and debris worked their way off of the shoes really well. They are also lightweight, flexible, and comfortable, which I hope will make them good thru-hiking shoes. The Superfeet insoles are durable and good for your feet and I'd recommend them to anyone. As I write this thread, a Mountain Hardware Phantom 32 sleeping bag is making its way to my doorstep by mail; I believe that this bag, along with a silk liner, will be more than enough support to get me happily through the AT. The Slumberjack 40 is sweet for sleep-overs, but not for anything long-term in the wilderness. The Princeton Tec LED headlamp is nice; it has 4 different intensities to choose from to prolong battery life, and an indicator that shows when the batteries are running low. The Vargo 'Ti-Lite' mug 'Triad' stove set is nice because it's small and lightweight, but it's tough to balance the mug properly on the stove. If you have to stir the contents of the mug, you have to hold the handles while doing so, and if flames are crawling up the sides of the mug, this can be a very painful endeavor. I'm still recovering from several burn blisters on my hands that resulted from my dealings with this stove. I'm hoping that with a well-fitted windscreen most of these problems will work themselves out, but I'll have to get back to you on this. It's a great possibility that I'll end up sending the whole stove set-up home and going cold at some point along the AT. The idea of warm food is nice, but once I'm out of the really cold weather, I think I'll be able to do without it. Also, my 250 mL container for denatured alcohol is too big to fit in the mug with the lid on it, so I need to find a smaller one. I think a squirt bottle for fuel would also be better instead of an open-lid design, because it's a pain when you're trying to fill the stove and you spill fuel on the ground and have to move it so you don't start a forest fire. I'd rather just get all of the fuel in the canister with minimal concentration and effort, and light it up. The Katadyn Hiker Pro is an awesome water filter; it's a great design, easy to use with the Platypus bladder, and it seems very durable and reliable. A 2L bladder seems to be more than enough for a day's hike.
If anyone has any comments, advice, or suggestions about clothing or gear, please share.
On my trip to Myakka, I ran with an Osprey Atmos 50 backpack, low-top Merrell Moab Ventilator shoes with Superfeet insoles, a Slumberjack 40 degree sleeping bag, Princeton Tec LED headlamp, Vargo 'Ti-Lite' mug 'Triad' stove set, Katadyn Hiker Pro water filter, 2-liter Platypus, raincover, 250 ml denatured alcohol container for stove, four 1-gallon ziplocks, a 4-liter Sea to Summit stuffsack for clothes, a Marmot PreCip shell, a Hennessy hammock, and a bunch of other random trinkets (lighters, TP, soap container, etc). For the most part, aside from the sleeping bag and hammock, these are the items that I plan to bring with me on my AT thru-hike. My list of gear is not nearly complete as of yet, as I still need maps, clothes, a sleeping pad, and tent, among other things that I am currently in the process of researching. When I get my full list of gear together, I'll post it for critique on this forum.
My adventure through Myakka was a learning experience. It was a six-day journey through straight wilderness with neglected and overgrown trails, lackluster trail markings, and abundant wildlife trails passing through the actual trails that'd confuse even the most experienced hikers. Overall, the park has some serious character, in an ancient, labyrinth-like way. As I was trudging through knee-deep wetlands during the fifth day of my excursion, on one of my many unplanned off-trial diversions that had arisen throughout the weekend, I remember having the recurring thought that there should be a slogan for prospective long-distance backpackers at Myakka: it should go something like, "Myakka State Park Primitive Camping - You Will Get Lost." I think I'm gonna propose it to the park rangers :rolleyes:.
The main difference between Myakka and the AT, from what I can gather, is that the AT is pretty much a straight shot - either you are on the trail or you aren't - at Myakka, there is plenty of (much needed) room for error. At Myakka you are wandering around on a large plot of land in a maze-like manner, turning onto side-trails and intersecting trails and bicycle trails and main roads, and often times bushwhacking your way to the nearest trail. On the AT you are still wandering around on a large plot of land, but in a more focused and linear fashion. I'm hoping that the AT doesn't require quite as much concentration and map-dissection as Myakka - it gives you a headache after awhile - but who knows, maybe. This is not to say that the AT is actually straight, as I'm sure some people will point out, but what I mean is that it's straight-forward, whiteblazes or no whiteblazes, you're either on your way to Katadhin or you're not.
For the first three days of the six-day hike I went with a partner, a girl from my school who was super enthusiastic about the idea of spending 3 days in the wild. For the last 3 days I was solo. Many people have asked me so far which one was better, being alone or with a partner, and all I can say is that it's not a fair comparison to make; it's not a matter of better or worse. The experience is just different, way different. I took in my experiences more deeply when I was alone, but at the same time had no one to share them with. When I was with a partner, things did not sink in quite as deeply and sort of rested on the surface, but I was able to share them with someone else who could reify them. Both have their benefits and disadvantages, and it's a matter of personal preference, of what you are attempting to make of the hiking experience, that should determine whether you choose to go solo or duo. For me, a solo hike it is.
The weather at Myakka was sunny and mild for the most part. It rained on the first day, which made the entire park wet for the next five days, but it made the experience all the more valuable. Since it rained on the first day, I realized what a big impact the weather can have on a hiker's morale. Morale should be nurtured and placed high up on the list of a hiker's priorities, because once morale begins to falter, all other things diminish shortly thereafter. In order to keep morale high, it was important for me to maintain a good, healthy diet - to eat warm food on cold days, for example - and not to push myself too hard, but to take a moment to relax and look around every so-often when the inspiration struck. Getting from one place to another, whether in backpacking or by any other means, is an experience that is fulfilled through both pushing and releasing - through going that extra mile, as well as through taking a moment to oneself. It seems to me that, while hiking, a positive morale is closely tied with one's relationship with the the conditions of the day, including terrain and weather, as well as personal factors.
Here is an example of what I mean:
The nights at Myakka were freezing cold, dropping down into the 30s for the first time this season. I didn't expect for the weather to be so severe, so I was really unprepared. First, my sleeping bag was a 40 degree bag that wasn't keeping me warm at all during the cold nights. Also, I regretfully didn't bring pants on the trip, so I was sleeping in shorts for the entire night. Needless to say, the nights were sleepless and frustrating. In the mornings, I would pack up all my stuff right away and hit the trails to warm myself up. The happiest and most uplifting day that I had on my trip was the last day, after the coldest night, when I woke up relaxed, lied in bed for a little while and watched the sunrise, and started a fire and cooked a hot meal in the morning before hitting the trail. This was one of the most important lessons that I learned at Myakka: that it is okay and often wise to take it slow.
As for my gear, the Atmos 50 held up really well. It's a sweet bag, and a perfect size for a solo hiker: not too big, not too small, and not too fancy. It's basic and simple, and that's why I like it. My Merrells held up really well in the cold rain, especially after trudging through knee-high water. They dried out quickly and are still in good condition; dirt and debris worked their way off of the shoes really well. They are also lightweight, flexible, and comfortable, which I hope will make them good thru-hiking shoes. The Superfeet insoles are durable and good for your feet and I'd recommend them to anyone. As I write this thread, a Mountain Hardware Phantom 32 sleeping bag is making its way to my doorstep by mail; I believe that this bag, along with a silk liner, will be more than enough support to get me happily through the AT. The Slumberjack 40 is sweet for sleep-overs, but not for anything long-term in the wilderness. The Princeton Tec LED headlamp is nice; it has 4 different intensities to choose from to prolong battery life, and an indicator that shows when the batteries are running low. The Vargo 'Ti-Lite' mug 'Triad' stove set is nice because it's small and lightweight, but it's tough to balance the mug properly on the stove. If you have to stir the contents of the mug, you have to hold the handles while doing so, and if flames are crawling up the sides of the mug, this can be a very painful endeavor. I'm still recovering from several burn blisters on my hands that resulted from my dealings with this stove. I'm hoping that with a well-fitted windscreen most of these problems will work themselves out, but I'll have to get back to you on this. It's a great possibility that I'll end up sending the whole stove set-up home and going cold at some point along the AT. The idea of warm food is nice, but once I'm out of the really cold weather, I think I'll be able to do without it. Also, my 250 mL container for denatured alcohol is too big to fit in the mug with the lid on it, so I need to find a smaller one. I think a squirt bottle for fuel would also be better instead of an open-lid design, because it's a pain when you're trying to fill the stove and you spill fuel on the ground and have to move it so you don't start a forest fire. I'd rather just get all of the fuel in the canister with minimal concentration and effort, and light it up. The Katadyn Hiker Pro is an awesome water filter; it's a great design, easy to use with the Platypus bladder, and it seems very durable and reliable. A 2L bladder seems to be more than enough for a day's hike.
If anyone has any comments, advice, or suggestions about clothing or gear, please share.