Packing Lists

[kelham]

Hey, lets see what you guys started with in springer/
whole pack lists + weights if possible
Im trying to get ideas of what/ and how much to put into my own pack list
Regards

[mountain squid]

Not sure how much that will help you. Frequently, what hikers start off with, doesn't make it past Neels Gap (of course, it might help you to decide what not to take). It might be better to know what they ended with.

As far as what to take, some suggestions:

continue to do research here
ask specific questions about specific items of gear
next yr head down to Neels Gap during thru-hiker season and see for yourself what everyone carries
talk with Mountain Crossings (http://www.mountaincrossings.com/) staff while there
only carry what you need
check out the articles section (left pane on homepage) for packing list ideas

Good luck with the planning.

See you on the trail,
mt squid

[Froggy]

Mt Squid, my thoughts exactly - how about pack lists of what you carried by the end?

[Johnny Thunder]

Mt Squid, my thoughts exactly - how about pack lists of what you carried by the end?

Here's what I'd be starting with on April 1

Golite LiteSpeed w/o framesheet or stays
Mountain Hardware Phantom 15
5x8 Tarp (w/6 stakes and groundsheet) or Shires Rainbow (w/6 stakes)
8 inches of Ridgerest
Sil Pack Cover
Garbage Bag

40 ft paracord
24 oz Grease pot
Zelph stove (w/stand and flashing for windscreen)
Spoon
Two stuff sacks for food
8 oz Nalg for fuel
2 oz Nalg for Bronners
8 oz Nalg for Olive Oil
Bottle for Water
4 Liter MSR Drom Lite bag
Water Drops

Mini Leatherman w/scissors
Glasses Repair Kit and spare specs
Petzyl E-lite w/spare batteries
Camera w/spare Batteries and charger
Cell phone w/charger
Needle and thread
Duct tape
Clear tape used for sil and sleeping bag patching
Vitamins, Ibuprofen, and Allergy meds
Hand sanitizer

Rain jacket
Rain Pants
Shorts
Running tights
Mid-weight bottoms cut to long shorts
1/4 zip shirt
Collared thrift store polyester shirt
Knit hat
Running glove liners
Montbell synthetic jacket
Two pairs of socks
One pair liner socks (as a light weight spare)

FOOOOOOOOD!

[Blissful]

For my March 5th start I took -

down jacket, hat, gloves, balaclava, rain jacket, rain pants
convertible pants, one t-shirt, one smartwool long sleeve shirt, polartec pullover, polartec pants and long sleeve shirt for camp and sleep, three pairs of socks, three pairs of undies

Bag, liner, tarptent, extra line, tyvek, big agnes aircore, two cocoon pillows, one thermarest seat cushion

snowpeak pot, spoon, lighter, msr pocket rocket with canister, pot cozy, bear bag stuff, multi knife

one coke bottle, playtpus set up, Aqua mira

first aid, meds, sm film canister of soap, headlamp, glass case, earplugs, two hand warmers, TP and wipes

journal, map, data pages, credit cards, license, small bible, pen, camera, cell phone

pack, sil nylon pack cover, Reynolds oven bags, 2 small msr towels, sil nylon bags, hiking poles

food for four days usually

(hope I thought of it all!)

[Slo-go'en]

Don't forget sun block! First warm, sunny day with a T-shirt and your arms will get burnt - trust me on this! And I highly recommend a bottle of "New Skin" liquid bandage. The best darn blister healer there is!

[Spider]

Johny Thunder, I noticed that you don't have a poncho on your list. Is a water resistant jacket good enough? Or would a poncho be more recommended?

JW for my trek of Shenandoah this summer.

[Johnny Thunder]

Johny Thunder, I noticed that you don't have a poncho on your list. Is a water resistant jacket good enough? Or would a poncho be more recommended?

JW for my trek of Shenandoah this summer.

I personally don't like Ponchos since I enjoy deciding how much coverage I can have on while hiking or in camp. If it's hot and raining I'll likely hike in just my t-shirt w/a pack cover. When I stop I'd put on the rain jacket and the pack would still be covered. With a poncho it's either on or it's off. Does that make sense?

There were other hikers who used a disposable poncho and a garbage bag pack liner. Maybe if i was just heading out for a week this would be the route I'd go. In reality it's probably the lightest setup and at the end of the week you could toss it.

[Spider]

The latter is what I used for a weekend trip. It did rain, and I was well protected. For my 11 day trek this summer I am worried that a disposable poncho may be too keen to ripping. Since then I bought a nice jacket from my sister's college. http://lehigh.bncollege.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&categoryId=40049&parentCatId=40015&storeId=13051&langId=-1&topCatId=40000&productId=400000016641&level=2
I originally bought it for running but since then I realized it might make a nice lightweight jacket. I haven't tested it for waterproofness though, so I'm not sure, but it seems like it would be.