WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Page 1 of 8 1 2 3 4 5 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 156
  1. #1
    Registered User pyroman9's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-25-2011
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Age
    35
    Posts
    161

    Default Are you ready for your thru hike? Need help - Stop in!

    Hello everyone,
    My name is Bomber - I thru hiked the Appalachian Trail this past year. I am currently proudly serving in the USAF and itching to get back on the trail and hike somewhere.... unfortunately i have lots of training left and will unable to for some time.. So I figured I could offer some help.

    Before hiking the trail I worked at two different outdoor retail stores, I have also climbed the grand teton, aconcagua (22,851ft), and many other mountains. I am knowledgeable about the gear and techniques. That being said though I will give you my opinion and reasoning on whatever you ask, this does not mean it is the best/only way. Just my way. I will try and present other ways when I am able to.

    The trail:
    Start Date: March 15th, 2012
    Finish Date: July 4th, 2012
    Average miles per day: 20+
    Longest day: 62.4 miles
    Total Days: 112 days
    Pack base weight: 11.65 lbs (varied earlier on)
    Gear List: http://www.geargrams.com/list?id=5703

    Now that you know my setup, this gives you a little base knowledge of where I come from and used. Please ask away. I urge everyone to make their gearlist on geargrams. It is free and very easy to use and allows for a very organized chart which is essential to getting it right the first time. I only dropped a few pieces of gear from the start - it avoided the initial holy sh** to much gear at the start.

    My slideshow:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAiRo...ature=youtu.be
    That is a 35 minute video I made documenting my trip on the A.T. Take a look at it to see all about the trip. Please take the time to leave a comment on it and like/dont like. I appreciate the favor it helps get the video out there more.

    My Trailjournals:
    www.trailjournals.com/ericmckinley
    I documented my trip daily and posted informative post nearly every day - great to see how i felt along the trip and how i kept going every day.

    And on that note... ask away.
    ------------------------------------
    Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
    I took the one less traveled by,
    And that has made all the difference.
    ~Robert Frost

  2. #2

    Default

    Very Nice Bomber!! Hope u will be able to get back to the woods again soon.

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    10-10-2012
    Location
    Mechanicsburg, PA
    Posts
    21

    Default

    Great job Bomber and a great video! Sorry about the loss of the camera.


    TRU ...

  4. #4
    Registered User pyroman9's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-25-2011
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Age
    35
    Posts
    161

    Default

    Why would you be sorry about the camera... i mean yea i lost a bunch of pics.. but my pack was nearly 10 oz lighter once i ditched the charger and spare battery for it!!!!
    ------------------------------------
    Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
    I took the one less traveled by,
    And that has made all the difference.
    ~Robert Frost

  5. #5
    Registered User Persie's Avatar
    Join Date
    10-13-2012
    Location
    So. Central, Ohio
    Age
    58
    Posts
    43
    Images
    1

    Default

    Very cool. Gonna pop over and watch your video and check the gearlist site. Thanks for posting! And thank you for your service, my boy too is in the USAF.

  6. #6
    Registered User Old Hiker's Avatar
    Join Date
    07-10-2009
    Location
    Tampa, Florida
    Posts
    2,593
    Images
    5

    Default

    Hey, Bomber.

    You and Salt Bomb blew past me somewhere while I was attempting my thru.

    What's your AFSC? Got your 1st base assignment yet? I was SP for 5.5 years - cross-trained into computers - was tired of ND winters!

    Good luck!
    Old Hiker
    AT Hike 2012 - 497 Miles of 2184
    AT Thru Hiker - 29 FEB - 03 OCT 2016 2189.1 miles
    Just because my teeth are showing, does NOT mean I'm smiling.
    Hányszor lennél inkább máshol?

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    08-31-2011
    Location
    dresden, ohio
    Age
    43
    Posts
    215

    Default

    did no one else notice the 62.4 mile day? wow that one hell of a day

  8. #8

    Join Date
    05-05-2011
    Location
    state of confusion
    Posts
    9,866
    Journal Entries
    1

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by trapper View Post
    did no one else notice the 62.4 mile day? wow that one hell of a day
    Yah, but most heard about it a couple months ago.

    I will go ahead and say I strongly urge future thru hikers to leave the rubber chicken at home.

  9. #9

    Default

    I'm curious as to what section of your hike the single day 62.4 miles was? That is an amazing feat!

  10. #10

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Magic_Rat View Post
    I'm curious as to what section of your hike the single day 62.4 miles was? That is an amazing feat!
    I'll wager a guess and say it was the 4 state challenge. They hike thru 4 states in 1 day (24 hrs)

  11. #11
    Registered User pyroman9's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-25-2011
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Age
    35
    Posts
    161

    Default

    Your wager is wrong....

    http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=377408

    Its was from Quarry Gap Shelter to Duncannon.

    And Muddy Waters... I am ashamed of you. HENRY GOES EVERYWHERE! NO NEGOTIATIONS! He is a very loyal rubber chicken, actually he is here now at my base. He is enjoying the air force also.
    ------------------------------------
    Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
    I took the one less traveled by,
    And that has made all the difference.
    ~Robert Frost

  12. #12

    Default

    Hey now... I see that NOW!! u gotta admit that was a good guess!

    Good for u carrying the rubber chicken & keeping it with u now. That chicken has been places that others will never go.

  13. #13
    Registered User pyroman9's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-25-2011
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Age
    35
    Posts
    161

    Default

    Heck yea! Henry kept me safe, I have made it through so many sketchy areas with that dang thing. Mt Aconcagua, 48 state road trip, grand teton, gannett peak, caving, sky diving, presidential range in the winter... all sorts of stuff, and now the AT.

    It was a good guess. I was very confident in doing long days and did 26 mile days quite regularly. At harpers my family came and visited so i took my time through there. I did not hike for any records or challenges.. i just hiked my hike. That long day just kinda happened... as you read the journal entry from that day it was kinda a fluke and last minute decision. I loved the challenge though.
    ------------------------------------
    Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
    I took the one less traveled by,
    And that has made all the difference.
    ~Robert Frost

  14. #14

    Join Date
    05-05-2011
    Location
    state of confusion
    Posts
    9,866
    Journal Entries
    1

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by pyroman9 View Post
    Your wager is wrong....

    And Muddy Waters... I am ashamed of you. HENRY GOES EVERYWHERE! NO NEGOTIATIONS! He is a very loyal rubber chicken, actually he is here now at my base. He is enjoying the air force also.

    Your pack was light enough to afford the luxury of a rubber chicken. Most newbs arent.

  15. #15
    Registered User pyroman9's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-25-2011
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Age
    35
    Posts
    161

    Default

    Muddy - I carried my rubber chicken in Argentina where my pack was 80lbs... and carried it to the summit at 22,851ft. Henry is always worth the extra weight!! Again non-negotiable. However everyone has their own "Henry".. whether its a lawn gnome... a slinky... bubbles... a flag.. rubiks cube... or even a rubber ducky.... got to have the mascot of the trip!
    ------------------------------------
    Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
    I took the one less traveled by,
    And that has made all the difference.
    ~Robert Frost

  16. #16

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by pyroman9 View Post
    Heck yea! Henry kept me safe, I have made it through so many sketchy areas with that dang thing. Mt Aconcagua, 48 state road trip, grand teton, gannett peak, caving, sky diving, presidential range in the winter... all sorts of stuff, and now the AT.

    It was a good guess. I was very confident in doing long days and did 26 mile days quite regularly. At harpers my family came and visited so i took my time through there. I did not hike for any records or challenges.. i just hiked my hike. That long day just kinda happened... as you read the journal entry from that day it was kinda a fluke and last minute decision. I loved the challenge though.
    I'll go back and read ur journal from start to finish soon. You hiked it your own way and looks like u enjoyed it 2. Congrats AGAIN on finishing what u started.. I wish u the best on the next chapter in ur life. Thanks for ur service, now, to our country. btw... thanks for coming back to WB to share what u learned.

  17. #17
    Registered User pyroman9's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-25-2011
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Age
    35
    Posts
    161

    Default

    Anytime hiker mom, I loved it then and I love it now. The job is great, it keeps me out of trouble....

    my next hiking goal...

    Mt McKinley (Denali I know... but my last name is McKinley)
    ------------------------------------
    Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
    I took the one less traveled by,
    And that has made all the difference.
    ~Robert Frost

  18. #18

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by pyroman9 View Post
    Anytime hiker mom, I loved it then and I love it now. The job is great, it keeps me out of trouble....

    my next hiking goal...

    Mt McKinley (Denali I know... but my last name is McKinley)
    YOU are something else... Your parents must be so proud!!

  19. #19
    Registered User pyroman9's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-25-2011
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Age
    35
    Posts
    161

    Default

    Just wait until you read my journal from cover to cover.... my mom says i am something else also!
    ------------------------------------
    Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
    I took the one less traveled by,
    And that has made all the difference.
    ~Robert Frost

  20. #20
    POPEYE
    Join Date
    01-05-2010
    Location
    JACKSONVILLE, NC
    Age
    49
    Posts
    33

    Default

    awesome video

Page 1 of 8 1 2 3 4 5 ... LastLast
++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •