Need some quick backpacking advice.

[David@whiteblaze]

Hey, ill make it brief cuz' theres not much time left, 2morrow, i leave on a weeks vacation, and i need 2 no some basic tips for backpacking, gear comments need 2 b on b4 10:00 2nite, everything else b4 mon. morning. will have comp, so can check back on posts. I will use alky stove, granola (bars/straight) 4 lunch/brekky supper=ramen hot cocoa 4 brekky and supper. just any helpful pointers will... well... help (duh), 2 pairs of socks w/ boots. Hope to get on the pinhoti trail in Al. TY in advance, im discombobulated, so it needs descrambling.

[jmhouse]

Hey, I'll make it brief because there isn't much time left. Tomorrow I leave on a week long vacation and I need to know some basic tips for backpacking. Gear comments need to be before 10pm tonight, everything else before Monday morning. Will have a computer then so I can check back on posts. I will use an alcohol stove. Granola bars and loose granola for lunch and breakfast. Supper is ramen. Hot cocoa for breakfast and supper. Just any pointers will be helpful. I'll have 2 pairs of socks with boots. Hope to get on the Pinhoti Trail in AL. Thank you in advance.

Hopefully that helped to descramble.


Now, the info provided is kind of lacking. I guess you have some sort of pot to use with that stove? That food might be good the first couple days but I bet you'll be hungry and tired of it real quick.

[JaxHiker]

My head hurts after trying to decipher that teenspeak.

Not sure what kind of mileage you're looking at but imho ramen doesn't have much nutritional value. I can't tell. Are you eating ramen for breakfast and supper? For breakfast (ie brekky) I usually do 2 pouches of oatmeal (pour the water right into the pouch). Lunch is tuna and crackers or something similar. Last AT hike I did chicken avocado wraps the first day out. Shoot for high calories meals.

Tips
- change your socks often
- powder your feet when you change your socks
- when you think you can't go on anymore have faith...it'll get better :-)
- make sure you have a windscreen for your alky stove
- carry moleskin in case you get blisters
- two pairs of socks ain't enough for a week
- if you wear convertible pants you can wear the pants for protection but unzip the legs a few inches for air flow
- have fun

[David@whiteblaze]

Well, i forgot to mention that i havent ever gone backpacking before, the trip will be 3 nights, 3 days or so, and socks are two pairs in boot, 4 pairs extra (3 sets in all). I dont he the money for anything but base gear, duct tape should suffice for moleskin right? windscreen, check, convertibles, check, powder? the translation was good, jmhouse, just use that as what i said.

[Namaste]

Don't forget "Leave No Trace".

[Jester2000]

I second the questioning of Ramen, but I've never felt they had enough calories for me, while others seem to get along fine with them.

Don't know if you have these, but I recommend them, and I've forgotten them in the past:
headlamp, knife, TP, journal w/pen, and, of course, cheese.

[John B]

I am the certified expert on getting blisters and I can say without hesitation that duct tape works just fine.

I can't do teen math ("4 pairs extra, 3 sets in all" ??? hmmm...???), but it seems that you're carrying alotta socks. I'd wear a pair and carry a pair. That should be enough for 3 days.

[JaxHiker]

Ok, for 3 days I'll agree with John on the socks. Maybe a list of what you have would help us help you.

[David@whiteblaze]

ok, ill try. here goes:

1 Gregory Z55 Pack (too small, need new 65 liter.)

1 Cook set [alcohol stove, small and medium pots, 8 oz. cup, spork, potable aqua tablets, potable aqua plus tablets to remove iodine taste and color, pie tin for priming of stove (alcohol overspill=lit stove), alcohol can stove, windscreen]

1 Food(listed in first and second posts)

1 First Aid Kit (bandages, antiseptic wipes etc, inhaler, toothbrush, penlight.)

1 thermarest

1 Slumberjack 20* mummy bag

1 NF Backpacking Bivy

1 rain suit (pants, coat)

1 Tarp for bivy vestibule making

2 Nalgenes (one holds dry socks, the other water.)

1 camelbak 3 liter hydration bladder/system

1 knife (appalachian trail brand from Lowe's)

1 collapsible (metal) trowel w/ compass

1 bag of mountain money (TP)

1 ziplock trash bag

7 tent stakes (slim)

25 pounds of gear.

Forced upon me:

1 GPS

1 cell phone

other than that, its just clothes. but to clarify, i will wear 1 tall pair of socks and 1 short pair. (size 12 shoes from walmart, after 10, they dont come in half-sizes) The socks fill in the empty space in the boot to acquit blisters. If 2 pairs are worn at once, then 2 pairs are one set. 4 extra pairs are 2 extra sets. 6 pairs and 3 sets in all. I didnt get across the point of im wearing 2 pairs at a time did i?

[DirtBagger]

Water, shelter, food. Stay away from big black animals, fast moving water, and snakes that rattle. You'll be fine. Have fun.

[Six-Six]

Quick thoughts - ditch the rain pants, keep the rain jacket. And those WalMart boots scare me. I hope you don't have big-time problems with your feet in them. I would have said get thee to a pro and buy good hiking shoes. But, time and money is short....
Good luck and enjoy the outing. Don't over-think it - just cruise and enjoy.

[Six-Six]

Oh, and that Z-55 will do just fine. If you get the 65, you will just fill it with stuff you don't need. The 55 has plenty of places that expand and strap on.

[Rocket Jones]

Lose one of the pots.

Got a map?

Don't forget to let someone know your route and timeline.

[Rocket Jones]

Fire! You have a lighter, right? Matches?

[David@whiteblaze]

1 walmart stuff sack water carrier sack (designed by someone 'round here.)

[Six-Six]

And you dont need the trowel - use your boot heel or hiking pole or a stick. Be sure to turn off the phone and gps to save batteries and turn them on only when you need to.

[Hooch]

1 Gregory Z55 Pack (too small, need new 65 liter.)

1 Cook set [alcohol stove, small and medium pots, 8 oz. cup, spork, potable aqua tablets, potable aqua plus tablets to remove iodine taste and color, pie tin for priming of stove (alcohol overspill=lit stove), alcohol can stove, windscreen]Leave one pot behind, you only need one. Leave teh cup behind, you can drink from your nalgene. Leave the pie tin behind and prime stove with a couple drops of alcohol around the rim.

1 Food(listed in first and second posts)

1 First Aid Kit (bandages, antiseptic wipes etc, inhaler, toothbrush, penlight.)

1 thermarest

1 Slumberjack 20* mummy bag

1 NF Backpacking Bivy

1 rain suit (pants, coat)
Leave the pants, they're too hot this time of year.

1 Tarp for bivy vestibule making

2 Nalgenes (one holds dry socks, the other water.)
Put dry socks in a ziplock, much lighter. Exchange the other nalgene for a gatorade bottle, much lighter as well.

1 camelbak 3 liter hydration bladder/system

1 knife (appalachian trail brand from Lowe's)

1 collapsible (metal) trowel w/ compass
Leave behind, you can dig a cathole with a stick or the heel of your boot. You won't need the compass since you have a GPS unit.

1 bag of mountain money (TP)

1 ziplock trash bag

7 tent stakes (slim)

25 pounds of gear.

Forced upon me:

1 GPS

1 cell phone

other than that, its just clothes. but to clarify, i will wear 1 tall pair of socks and 1 short pair. (size 12 shoes from walmart, after 10, they dont come in half-sizes) The socks fill in the empty space in the boot to acquit blisters. If 2 pairs are worn at once, then 2 pairs are one set. 4 extra pairs are 2 extra sets. 6 pairs and 3 sets in all. I didnt get across the point of im wearing 2 pairs at a time did i?

Add a headlamp.

[David@whiteblaze]

and:
1 light kit (lighter, matches, glo-stick)

[David@whiteblaze]

1 small husky 9 led light w/ 3 extra AAAs (that's how many it runs on.

[David@whiteblaze]

small pot 4 hot cocoa, med. 4 ramen.