Things I have learned hiking the A.T. for 6 years and 5000 miles.

[Terry7]

I have never had a blister from hiking. 2-3 months before I start hiking I rub my feet with rubbing alcohol, 2-3 times every day. This will toughen your feet and also your hands. I always wear mid range http://www.lowaboots.com/catalog/Sho...egory=3&Type=M with liner sox. As long as I keep my boots waxed my feet stay dry. If theres any rubbing it will be between your liner sox and outer sox, make sure your liner sox is smooth and form fitting.

My 3rd year hiking the A.T. and first atemp at a thru-hike I blew out my knee. Its called jumpers knee. It happens from all the down hill pounding. The next year I bought 2 Cho-Pat knee braces. http://www.cho-pat-store.com/chopat-...hoPDulAtn.html this is a must for any knee problems. Unlike other braces this has hard plastic tubes witch press in on your tendens. I always where these the first 2 months of hiking and I have not had any knee pain at all.

I am never without http://www.drugstore.com/products/pr...goobase_filler these wax ear plugs. They are the only ones that work. If your thinking why would I need ear plugs, Boy Scout troops, weekend hikers who dont understand about hiker midnight time, noisy shelters, snoring and anything eles that would keep you from sleeping.

Get 2 good hiking poles, they are will worth the money. Its like having 4 leggs and takes alot of the load off your knees going up hill or down hill. A staff is better than nothing but it is not even close to having 2 good hiking poles. These are poles I use. http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Trekki...rgon-SpeedLock

I always keep 3-4 new grocery bags in my pack. Good for alot of things.

No matter what, your sleeping bag and a base layer of clothing must stay DRY. Put your sleeping bag in a water proof stuff sax, sams with a base layer. After a wet raining day you got to be able to change into dry stuff and have a dry sleeping bag. In the morning you have to put the wet cloths back on again.

I always have a MP-3 player not an Ipod. At the libraries on the A.T. you can rip audio books and music without having to check any thing out. They always keep the cds in the case, just pick out what you want and use one of there computers. You can not do this with a Ipod because you need itunes on the computer.

Sham Wow cut into 2 pieces one for your body and one for your wet tent and gear.

Alcohol stove, light weight and you can always find denatured alcohol at any hiker place or hardware store or get Heet in the yellow bottle http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/heet/ at any auto parts store and every little town has a auto parts store.

When you go to town to resupply always get some town food for the camp that night on the trail. This way you will be eating more good food instead of the hiker stuff that gets real old after a couple months.

Dont get the Data Book or the maps. The best guide is AWOLs A.T. Guide it has everything you need. http://www.theatguide.com/

My trail name is Seven I will be starting Springer the first week in April. See you all out there.

[nitewalker]

When you go to town to resupply always get some town food for the camp that night on the trail. This way you will be eating more good food instead of the hiker stuff that gets real old after a couple months.


i usually do this same thing but i tend to add a drink of choice to the list....

[map man]

At the libraries on the A.T. you can rip audio books and music without having to check any thing out..

This kind of duplication is a violation of copyright law. I should know -- I work in a university library in a unit that checks out non-book materials like maps, DVDs, music CDs, audio books, etcetera. Here's a link to an article that explains this:

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stor...6_3AF76OG.html

I like a lot of your other tips, though. I, too, would not go on a backpacking trip with any serious hills without Cho-Pat knee straps.