Answer this ?

[henry g wilgo]

Bears...mice...hang your bag....don't use the shelter...tent..stopping short or go past shelters..:-?

If it is raining,,,how/or/ can you "keep your bag and contents dry"????:-? (hanging in a tree)

? #2...how do you know..."when to get off the trail"...to get to a town???:-?
Guessing theres no signs to exit****

[FarmerChef]

#1 - To keep your bear bag dry you need to either purchase a bag specifically designed for this purpose or line your bear bag with a plastic trash bag. Same way you might put in a pack liner instead of using a pack cover.

#2 - Check the guide and/or map. Both major guides tell you which way to go based on the direction your heading, NOBO/SOBO, and give usually ample indications of when to make the turn. They also include map breakouts of the major stops to further help you find your way. Trail maps also indicate services available in town and can be used to find your way in.

And sometimes there even are signs :clap

[RED-DOG]

Why two THREADS ?

[henry g wilgo]

Thanks,,,#1...how to keep the outside of the backpack dry while hanging in a tree????
#2...i have the trail guides,,,,? Is how do you know at what point you actually make the turn for a town.
(perhaps i am missing something)...for example....town is east 3.0 miles...."where is this on the trail"???

[henry g wilgo]

​2 threads...error made

[Another Kevin]

1. I use a drysack for my bear bag. A lot of others just use a plastic grocery bag or something to line a stuff sack.

2. 3 cases. (a) The trail goes right to town (for example, Damascus, Duncannon, Hanover). You're there. No problem. (b) The trail crosses a road and the road goes to town. Your map or guidebook will tell you which way to turn (or in the alternative, which side of the road to put out a thumb). (c) There is an access trail off the A-T. In this case, your guidebook will tell you where to look for the trail; ordinarily the access trail will be blazed (often in blue), and there will usually be a signpost at the intersection. In New York, the signposts will be ridiculously detailed:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8427/7881561738_6cf173d928_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ke9tv/7881561738/)
IMG_2558 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ke9tv/7881561738/) by ke9tv (http://www.flickr.com/people/ke9tv/), on Flickr

[attroll]

Moved this thread/topic to the "General" forum.

[twilight]

henry g wilgo, my answer for question 1, I have just left my pack cover on my backpack when I've hung it from a tree in the rain. I use a plastic garbage bag to line the inside of my backpack and I always have my sleeping gear wrapped up in the bag in my pack, when i'm not using it. It generally doesn't matter to me if the outside of my pack gets wet, as long as what's in my plastic bag stays dry.

My answer for question 2, let's say your trail guide states that a town for resupply is at the next road crossing, but it's "3 miles to the east" . You may be hiking north on the AT(or some other trail) till the next road crossing, once at the designated road crossing, make a right and hike the 3 miles to town.

[max patch]

I put my pack cover on my pack at nite where I leave it leaned against a tree. Some people bring it inside their tent. I've never hung my pack from a tree. Food, yes. Pack, never.

[Bronk]

Don't put anything in your food bag that isn't already in a sealed plastic wrapper or a ziploc bag. When you resupply, repackage everything and throw away paper and cardboard containers before leaving town...example, buy a box of quart sized ziploc freezer bags and dump your box of mac and cheese in there and throw away the box. Granola bars come in mylar wrappers and will be fine on their own, just throw the box away.

Get a copy of the AT Data Book...it will tell you where all the road crossings are, where the water sources are, where the shelters are, which towns have a grocery store and motel and other services...and there are plenty of signs on the trail, though it isn't marked as well as most interstates.

http://www.amazon.com/Appalachian-Trail-Data-Book-Ed/dp/1889386839/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366174524&sr=8-1&keywords=at+data+book

[Coosa]

AWOL's AT Guide (http://www.shop.theatguide.com/main.sc) Also has Download ... you can put it on Google Drive and download to your Smart Phone.

ALDHA now has their Companion as an Online Download (http://www.aldha.org/comp_pdf.htm). free if you're a member, $8 if not.

The guides explain that Right means East and Left means West when you get to a road crossing. Of course if you're going SoBo, turn the book upside down and ... wait, that's not right. Just stand on the other side of the street ... :)

HOW DO YOU KNOW when to go into a town? When your food bag is empty or nearly so, when you need a laundromat, when you need a shower ... when there's an AYCE and you're starving.

Coosa

[henry g wilgo]

thankyou..this is exactly what i needed for info....on ("where") to leave the trail for resupply ...thanks so very much.henry

[henry g wilgo]

AWOL's AT Guide (http://www.shop.theatguide.com/main.sc) Also has Download ... you can put it on Google Drive and download to your Smart Phone.

ALDHA now has their Companion as an Online Download (http://www.aldha.org/comp_pdf.htm). free if you're a member, $8 if not.

The guides explain that Right means East and Left means West when you get to a road crossing. Of course if you're going SoBo, turn the book upside down and ... wait, that's not right. Just stand on the other side of the street ... :)

HOW DO YOU KNOW when to go into a town? When your food bag is empty or nearly so, when you need a laundromat, when you need a shower ... when there's an AYCE and you're starving.

Coosa damm goood advise,,,,thanks