Azurescens
06-07-2011, 11:28
Hi, my name is Scott. I'm a college student from Michigan, preparing to begin at Katahdin on Monday, June 13th. I plan to stay that night at Katahdin Stream Campground and at Abol Bridge or Hurd Brook Lean-to on Tuesday. I wanted to post my gear list while there's still time for feedback:
REI XT 85 Backpack -- 5 lbs, 0 oz.
Sleeping Group
Foam sleeping pad -- 15.2 oz.
Warbonnet Blackbird double layer hammock with biners -- 26.9 oz.
Big Mamajamba tarp with biners, ridgeline and tent stakes -- 20.9 oz.
North Face Cat's Meow sleeping bag -- 42 oz.
Tools and Miscellany
Rope -- 3.9 oz.
Headlamp -- 3.3 oz.
Camp towell -- 2.0 oz.
Camera -- 7.8 oz.
Leatherman -- 8.2 oz.
Ziplock bag with first aid kit, gear repair kit, hand sanitizer, sun block, extra batteries, ink pen and chapstick -- 16.0 oz.
Toothbrush -- 0.2 oz.
Tweezers and hair comb -- .5 oz.
Compass -- 0.6 oz.
Journal, AT Data Book and AT Thru Hiker's Companion -- 17.2 oz.
Clothing
Cotton bucket hat -- 2.0 oz.
Mosquito hat/head net -- 2.6 oz.
Cotton bandana -- 1.5 oz.
Fleece hat -- 1.5 oz.
Liner gloves -- 1.2 oz.
Polyester gloves -- 1.6 oz.
Primaloft sweater -- 9.7 oz.
2 polypropylene pants -- 15.0 oz. total
Polyester long sleeve -- 5.0 oz.
Polypropylene long sleeve -- 7.6 oz.
Short sleeve hiking shirt -- 3.4 oz.
Cotton shirt -- 7.3 oz.
Nylon shorts -- 7.1 oz.
Nylon pants and belt -- 10.7 oz.
Camp sandals -- 11.4 oz.
Stuff sack -- 1.6 oz.
3 pairs Smartwool socks -- 5.9 oz. total
2 pairs liner socks -- 2.6 oz.
Kitchen
Food sack and biner -- 5.2 oz.
Titanium pot -- 7.5 oz.
Spork -- 0.3 oz.
MSR Pocket Rocket stove -- 4.0 oz.
3 full 8 oz. fuel cannisters -- 37.8 oz. total
Partially full fuel cannister -- 9.1 oz.
Empty 1-L water bladder -- 1.3 oz.
Empty 1-L Nalgene with duct tape wrapped around -- 5.3 oz.
MSR water pump -- 16.8 oz.
Food sack with biner -- 5.2 oz.
Food (so far)
Cous cous -- 65.5 oz.
Lentils -- 16 oz.
12 bags of ramen -- 38.5 oz total
2 plastic jars of banana chips -- 14.7 oz. total
Obviously this list includes things which will be carried on my person like boots, shorts, shirt, hat, camera and socks. But when I put the pack on the scale, filled with all the above gear (minus boots, plus 2 L of water) it weighed 38 lbs.
I only plan to carry one AT book. I will take both on the train with me and mail the other home, probably the heavier Thru Hiker's Companion. Also, I will bring one book for pleasure reading, buy a wrist watch and get a hold of two empty Gatorade bottles.
The only other items I need to pick up are food. Do I understand correctly that groceries are available at Abol Bridge and not again until Jo-Mary Road, 56 miles south of Katahdin? Then, not again until Monson, ME? I'm trying to decide how many days' food to take. Should I take enough to last me till Monson or should I plan to get off trail at Jo-Mary Road.
The other food I plan to grab are candy bars, oatmeal, peanut butter, summer sausage, cheese, and maybe a little mac n cheese, or something quick and tasty like that.
Other questions:
How many daily Calories (rough estimate) will a small to medium size man need to sustain himself on the trail?
Is 3.5 fuel cannisters to start overkill? Cous cous, ramen and oatmeal only need to be thrown in boiling water, then the heat can be turned off.
I would appreciate any more food ideas, such as high Calorie snack items or fast cooking, ready-to-eat meals.
I'm going to call and reserve a spot at Katahdin Stream Campground today. Do I need to make any other reservations at Baxter State Park or can I just sleep wherever after that?
At what point does a south bounder exit BSP?
I will be picked up by the AT Lodge and stay there Sunday night before they take me to KSC Monday morning. Has anyone dealt with the AT Lodge before. If so, what were your impressions?
Thank you for reading. Please leave any other comments/suggestions you can think of.
REI XT 85 Backpack -- 5 lbs, 0 oz.
Sleeping Group
Foam sleeping pad -- 15.2 oz.
Warbonnet Blackbird double layer hammock with biners -- 26.9 oz.
Big Mamajamba tarp with biners, ridgeline and tent stakes -- 20.9 oz.
North Face Cat's Meow sleeping bag -- 42 oz.
Tools and Miscellany
Rope -- 3.9 oz.
Headlamp -- 3.3 oz.
Camp towell -- 2.0 oz.
Camera -- 7.8 oz.
Leatherman -- 8.2 oz.
Ziplock bag with first aid kit, gear repair kit, hand sanitizer, sun block, extra batteries, ink pen and chapstick -- 16.0 oz.
Toothbrush -- 0.2 oz.
Tweezers and hair comb -- .5 oz.
Compass -- 0.6 oz.
Journal, AT Data Book and AT Thru Hiker's Companion -- 17.2 oz.
Clothing
Cotton bucket hat -- 2.0 oz.
Mosquito hat/head net -- 2.6 oz.
Cotton bandana -- 1.5 oz.
Fleece hat -- 1.5 oz.
Liner gloves -- 1.2 oz.
Polyester gloves -- 1.6 oz.
Primaloft sweater -- 9.7 oz.
2 polypropylene pants -- 15.0 oz. total
Polyester long sleeve -- 5.0 oz.
Polypropylene long sleeve -- 7.6 oz.
Short sleeve hiking shirt -- 3.4 oz.
Cotton shirt -- 7.3 oz.
Nylon shorts -- 7.1 oz.
Nylon pants and belt -- 10.7 oz.
Camp sandals -- 11.4 oz.
Stuff sack -- 1.6 oz.
3 pairs Smartwool socks -- 5.9 oz. total
2 pairs liner socks -- 2.6 oz.
Kitchen
Food sack and biner -- 5.2 oz.
Titanium pot -- 7.5 oz.
Spork -- 0.3 oz.
MSR Pocket Rocket stove -- 4.0 oz.
3 full 8 oz. fuel cannisters -- 37.8 oz. total
Partially full fuel cannister -- 9.1 oz.
Empty 1-L water bladder -- 1.3 oz.
Empty 1-L Nalgene with duct tape wrapped around -- 5.3 oz.
MSR water pump -- 16.8 oz.
Food sack with biner -- 5.2 oz.
Food (so far)
Cous cous -- 65.5 oz.
Lentils -- 16 oz.
12 bags of ramen -- 38.5 oz total
2 plastic jars of banana chips -- 14.7 oz. total
Obviously this list includes things which will be carried on my person like boots, shorts, shirt, hat, camera and socks. But when I put the pack on the scale, filled with all the above gear (minus boots, plus 2 L of water) it weighed 38 lbs.
I only plan to carry one AT book. I will take both on the train with me and mail the other home, probably the heavier Thru Hiker's Companion. Also, I will bring one book for pleasure reading, buy a wrist watch and get a hold of two empty Gatorade bottles.
The only other items I need to pick up are food. Do I understand correctly that groceries are available at Abol Bridge and not again until Jo-Mary Road, 56 miles south of Katahdin? Then, not again until Monson, ME? I'm trying to decide how many days' food to take. Should I take enough to last me till Monson or should I plan to get off trail at Jo-Mary Road.
The other food I plan to grab are candy bars, oatmeal, peanut butter, summer sausage, cheese, and maybe a little mac n cheese, or something quick and tasty like that.
Other questions:
How many daily Calories (rough estimate) will a small to medium size man need to sustain himself on the trail?
Is 3.5 fuel cannisters to start overkill? Cous cous, ramen and oatmeal only need to be thrown in boiling water, then the heat can be turned off.
I would appreciate any more food ideas, such as high Calorie snack items or fast cooking, ready-to-eat meals.
I'm going to call and reserve a spot at Katahdin Stream Campground today. Do I need to make any other reservations at Baxter State Park or can I just sleep wherever after that?
At what point does a south bounder exit BSP?
I will be picked up by the AT Lodge and stay there Sunday night before they take me to KSC Monday morning. Has anyone dealt with the AT Lodge before. If so, what were your impressions?
Thank you for reading. Please leave any other comments/suggestions you can think of.