I plan on doing this section of the trail in June, I am posting here so you guys can give me the most information possible about the hike! I am a moderately new backpacker who is 18 years old, I have gone on multiple 2 night trips with a friend so i have some experience and more importantly experience without a parent. I am doing this hike alone mostly because I want a more wilderness experience. I have acquired some very good gear over the past 2 years through buying and dedicating Christmas' to getting gear ( tarptent moment, steripen, mountain hardware lamina sleeping bag) Not that the nicest gear is important at all but i definitely spent time and money making sure I will have gear to last me this hike and a long time to come! I just have a few questions about packing food, water, staying at shelter/meeting people and some other questions!
- Would it be better for someone my age to set up a mail drop in the middle of the hike for food I need, or should I just plan on shopping at the local stores for the food?
- What kind of food do people bring on these long hikes? ( I usually bring cans and hot dogs on 2 night trips :P) I was thinking those rice paquets where all you do is boil them, any other ideas?
- How much water should i bring with me considering I have a Steri Pen? I was thinking 1 nalgene and 2 liter and a half soda bottles? I usually take a 750 ml water bottle and two 1 liter Gatorade bottles, but for this long of a hike and for june i may need more.
- Considering I am hiking south from new york in june, seems obscure but I live in PA and would rather put the burden on my parents to pick me up nearby our house rather than coordinate picking me up in NY. Am i going to meet people to hike with for awhile on the trail? I would love to meet up with hikers but it seems unlikely because of my section.
- I have a book that my dad had from early 2000s about the ny and nj trail sections, how accurate will this be shelter wise, and do most people plan what shelters they are staying at ahead of time?
Thanks for the help everyone! ill check this regularly and try to reply to everyone