First Gear list shakedown (Harpers Ferry to Penn Mar Mid December)

[phaedrus]

As always this is a work in progress, but I am getting close enough to start dialing in the details. This will be for a 3-4 day trek, but I want to carry a full thru-hike load as prep for the future. Mileage is not an issue as I have a few options for campsites/shelters depending on pace/ trail conditions / weather with the extra winter poundage. Sorry the only weights I have aew from the manufacturer, need to get a scale.
Hit it up!

As far as sleeping warmth, will be testing this weekend (finally) since it hasn't really gotten that cold yet.

[phaedrus]

OK that cut and paste didn't work, gonna try again....

[phaedrus]

Big Three				Weight (oz)
	Backpack		golite pinacle	32
	Pack liner		Plastic trash compactor bag	1.2
	Sleeping bag & stuff sack		REI halo	31
	Tent		rei quarterdome	46
	Bag liner		Thermarest reactor plus	9.5
	Sleeping pad & stuff sack		exped7	32
	Hiking poles		moutainsmith
Water
	Bottles		gatorade (2)
	Water purification		aquamira
Kitchen
	TI Long spoon			0.3
	Stove wind break		homade Aluminum	`
	Dish towel		Clorox handi-wipe
	stove/pot/potstand		mini heat	2.5
	fuel		Alcohol
	Swedish FLint
	Bic lighter
Hygeine/First Aid
	Toothbrush
	Dental floss
	Toothpaste
	Toilet paper		partial roll and zip lock bag
	Hand sanitizer
	Towel		small pack towl	2
	First aid kit
Misc
	Wallet
	Zip-lock
	Credit card
	Cash
	Drivers license
	Pen
	Repair kit
	Rope		survival braclet
	Compass
	Trail guide/maps		section maps /companion on phone
	Biner/Knife
	Headlamp		black diamond spot	3
	Glasses case
	Trashbag
	Phone		Droid2	6
	Solar Charger		Solio	5
	aaa batteries		2 backup
Clothes
	Hiking Boots		asolo fugitive
	Hiking socks (thick, 3pair)		smartwool
	Heavy Weight Mid		Kavu Wool.
	Rain Pants		Marmot Precip	12
	Waterproof shell
	shorts		rei hiking	6
	puffy layer		patagonia down sweater	12
	Long underwear bottoms		Stoic merino
	Long underwear top		Stioc merino
	Underwear - 2 pair		under armor
	Long sleeve shirt		stoic poly
	Camp shoes		merril barefoot trail	12.4
	bandana/hat
	beanie		blackrock blackjack	0.74
	Glove liners		Northface Fleece
	Glove Shells		Northface Windstopers
	Balaclava

Big Three				Weight (oz)
	Backpack		golite pinacle	32
	Pack liner		Plastic trash compactor bag	1.2
	Sleeping bag & stuff sack		REI halo	31
	Tent		rei quarterdome	46
	Bag liner		Thermarest reactor plus	9.5
	Sleeping pad & stuff sack		exped7	32
	Hiking poles		moutainsmith
Water
	Bottles		gatorade (2)
	Water purification		aquamira
Kitchen
	TI Long spoon			0.3
	Stove wind break		homade Aluminum	`
	Dish towel		Clorox handi-wipe
	stove/pot/potstand		mini heat	2.5
	fuel		Alcohol
	Swedish FLint
	Bic lighter
Hygeine/First Aid
	Toothbrush
	Dental floss
	Toothpaste
	Toilet paper		partial roll and zip lock bag
	Hand sanitizer
	Towel		small pack towl	2
	First aid kit
Misc
	Wallet
	Zip-lock
	Credit card
	Cash
	Drivers license
	Pen
	Repair kit
	Rope		survival braclet
	Compass
	Trail guide/maps		section maps /companion on phone
	Biner/Knife
	Headlamp		black diamond spot	3
	Glasses case
	Trashbag
	Phone		Droid2	6
	Solar Charger		Solio	5
	aaa batteries		2 backup
Clothes
	Hiking Boots		asolo fugitive
	Hiking socks (thick, 3pair)		smartwool
	Heavy Weight Mid		Kavu Wool.
	Rain Pants		Marmot Precip	12
	Waterproof shell
	shorts		rei hiking	6
	puffy layer		patagonia down sweater	12
	Long underwear bottoms		Stoic merino
	Long underwear top		Stioc merino
	Underwear - 2 pair		under armor
	Long sleeve shirt		stoic poly
	Camp shoes		merril barefoot trail	12.4
	bandana/hat
	beanie		blackrock blackjack	0.74
	Glove liners		Northface Fleece
	Glove Shells		Northface Windstopers
	Balaclava

[Hoofit]

Are there two of you going?

[mgeiger]

Your list triggered me to add a few things I didn't have on mine. Thanks.

Note: If you're anything like me, you'll be using rope. Save the survival bracelet for real survival. For the benefits it offers, 40-50' of paracord isn't going to break your back.

[phaedrus]

Are there two of you going?

Yes. Still working on the partner, but if he falls through I'm not heading out alone on my first winter trip.

[gregb]

That's the trip I plan on taking next summer with one or both of my sons. I live in the area if you need support.

[Kingbee]

I hiked Pen Mar to HF in early Oct, with a little bit of cold weather at the start. It's a pretty easy hike, but you'll be facing colder temps.
Just go with one hat, and ditch the clorox wipe seeing as you already have a pack towel and bandanna.
Water bottles, go with Platypus or similar. You can fold them up small, and with the hose you can sip on the go.

[phaedrus]

I hiked Pen Mar to HF in early Oct, with a little bit of cold weather at the start. It's a pretty easy hike, but you'll be facing colder temps.
Just go with one hat, and ditch the clorox wipe seeing as you already have a pack towel and bandanna.
Water bottles, go with Platypus or similar. You can fold them up small, and with the hose you can sip on the go.

Thought about this, but then one more piece to buy and would save some weight. I know it is a short trip, but I want to prep and carry as if I was on a thru as much as possible.

[phaedrus]

First test of the sleep system was a success. Site was exposed as I wanted to put myself in the coldest conditions possible since the house was 20 yards away. Bag + Exped, mid weigth top and bottoms and socks. low hit ~32 and was toasty. Very pleased. I am a very cold sleeper so I had my liner, down sweater and down beanie on hand if needed. Now if it would only get colder I could test some more.

[Wags]

Items to leave:

-2nd pair of underwear. Just wash your pair when you get to camp (in a gallon ziplock filled w/ water, shaken vigorously). UA dries very fast. \
-Battery backups. Just use fresh ones. Keep headlamp someplace where it's not exposed to the cold (packed with your sleeping bag, inside a jacket you're wearing)
-long sleeve shirt (you have a merino base layer, a kavu wool mid, the patagonia down, and a rain jacket.) a good rule of thumb: if you can't wear all the clothes you are bringing at once then you are bringing too much.
-camp shoes - can you just take out your insoles and wear the boots loosely around camp?
-shorts - are you wearing these?
-liner - i personally don't like these. better to just sleep in more clothes and then not be FREEZING when getting out of the sleeping bag. if the bag itself isn't warm enough it's time to get a new bag.

something extra to bring: a 2nd pair of gloves. likely your pair will get soaked during the day. good to have a 2nd pair to wear while drying a pair in your pants pocket.

[Spokes]

Goggle : "pack man backpacker magazine" and look on page 4 of the article. Ignore any popups if you get any. Add a 100 weight fleece if you want and a trash compactor bag for a liner. Trim in summer to go lighter.

It's all the gear you really need to thru hike the AT....

Cheers!

[nsiderbam]

I did Harper's Ferry to a few miles north of Penn-Mar with two friends over Thanksgiving, and it was a blast. It took three nights, and the weather was gorgeous the entire time. Just as a warning, though -- there's a bridge out a mile or two south of Raven Rock Shelter right by a highway. I'm guessing the heavy rain the week before flooded the river, because we had to walk up and down for twenty minutes to find a crossing point that would keep us from getting wet. It might be fixed by now, though.

[phaedrus]

Big Three
Backpack golite pinacle
Pack liner Plastic trash compactor bag
Sleeping bag & stuff sack REI halo/dry sack
Tent Tarptent Notch
Sleeping pad & stuff sack neoair
Hiking poles moutainsmith
Water
2 liter camelback
Bottles 2x 20ml Coke Bottles
Water purification aquamira

Kitchen
TI Long spoon
Stove wind break homemade Aluminum
Dish Towel handi-wipe
stove/pot/potstand mini heat
fuel Alcohol in 20ml coke bottle
Swedish FLint
Bic lighter

Hygeine/First Aid
Toothbrush cut in 1/3
Toothpaste travel size
Hand sanitizer
Toilet paper partial roll and zip lock bag
Dr Bonners
Towel small pack towl
First aid kit neosp.bandages, meds

Misc
Wallet
Zip-lock
Credit card
Cash
Drivers license
Emergency numbers
pencil/waterproof paper
Survival Bracelet
Rope 50 Ft paracord
Compass rei keychain
Trail guide/maps section maps /companion on phone
Knife MiniLeatherman
Headlamp black diamond spot
Glasses case
Trashbag
Phone Droid2


Clothes
Trail Runners Inov8 295
Hiking socks inov8 mudsoc 2x, 1xsmartwool sleep
Heavy Weight Mid Kavu Wool.
Rain Pants Marmot Precip
Waterproof shell Lukes Ultralight
shorts rei hiking
puffy layer patagonia down sweater
Long underwear bottoms stoic composite
Long underwear top Stioc merino
Underwear - 2 pair under armor
Long sleeve shirt underarmor
Camp shoes merril barefoot trail
bandana/hat
beanie blackrock blackjack
Glove Shells Northface Windstopers



Now hit it hard!!!

[tuswm]

have you already purchased the changes on your gear list?

Also are you doing PA in may and june? I dont know what you mean by doing pa 5/6.
I have given up on rain pants of any kind. I have found that if I am moving and I have a shell on that keeps me warm enough.
I think the exped ul 7 is much better than the neo air and lighter on my scale despite advertised weights.
camp shoes?
compass on the AT?
I hate my REI sleeping bag.
But those things are all not picking and 6 of one half dozen of the other.
The only thing that I saw was that you mentioned thru hike load/ practice. Then I saw aqua mira. I dont mind chemicals for an over night but I would not want months worth of them going in to my body when I can help it. I used to pump but now I have a steri pen. I like that I can drink water all most as soon as i get to a creek. its much easier to carry water in your belly then on your back. thats all. like I said all minor things.

PS I heard they closed lock raven reservoir to mountain bikers is there any truth to that.

[phaedrus]

have you already purchased the changes on your gear list? All but the tent

Also are you doing PA in may and june? Probably May but Date TBA I dont know what you mean by doing pa 5/6. Sections 5 and 6
I have given up on rain pants of any kind. I have found that if I am moving and I have a shell on that keeps me warm enough. Will Ditch depending on temp/weather
I think the exped ul 7 is much better than the neo air and lighter on my scale despite advertised weights. Came down to comfort for me. Side sleeper and the baffle pattern on the neo works better for me.
camp shoes? Missed somehow, merrill barefoot
compass on the AT? has a thermometer with it. luxury item I guess
I hate my REI sleeping bag. Love mine
But those things are all not picking and 6 of one half dozen of the other.


The only thing that I saw was that you mentioned thru hike load/ practice. Then I saw aqua mira. I dont mind chemicals for an over night but I would not want months worth of them going in to my body when I can help it. I used to pump but now I have a steri pen. I like that I can drink water all most as soon as i get to a cre.ek I get 50/50 advise on that one. Gonna try aqua mira this time out, next time maybe pen it. its much easier to carry water in your belly then on your back. thats all. like I said all minor things.

PS I heard they closed lock raven reservoir to mountain bikers is there any truth to that.

No idea


Thanks!!

[tuswm]

i might be doing a pa or MD section the first weekend in march. But ill be doing it with some first timers. I think it will be low MPD.

[CowHead]

HF to Pen Mar is a great walk some do it in a day (not me) but i can do it in 2.5 and enjoy it alot, water always good, and the history of the area is great if your into the civil war.

[Maren]

I'm also planning a shakedown from HF to Pen Mar early March. I'm hoping by then to actually have some cold weather.

[Rayo]

if you can't wear all the clothes you are bringing at once then you are bringing too much.

One of the best pieces of advice I've gotten from WB. Thanks.