Could have just taken vacation for the first couple weeks, (if you could), and that way if it didnt work out, you wouldnt have ever quit.
Last edited by MuddyWaters; 03-17-2013 at 19:28.
You do have a tapeworm, I thought so !
Blisters are caused by increased use of the feet, that the skin on the feet is not accustomed to.Originally Posted by jcheil
Weight, mileage, footwear fit, footwear flex, socks, footwear breathability, even sock fit or type, all can play role
Even thru hikers who have made it far up north can get blisters if they do several much longer mileage days in a row than they are used to. The real cause, is subjecting the foot to more than it is used too.
I dont get blisters, I wear only the thinnest socks I can find (no cushion cyling /running mesh top), and highly breathable trail running shoes.
I carry a light pack, always under 25 lbs, and dont mind hiking in water or with wet feet at all.
I generally keep my shoes fairly loose as well, except for downhill.
Last edited by MuddyWaters; 03-17-2013 at 19:27.
Well, the company i work for filed Chapter 11, 3 weeks ago also. So although they MAY survive, I would be so crushed to miss this 'window" to leave for a hike if we all lost our jobs in June. So, in a way, it's a calculated risk.
Just like AWOL
The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
Richard Ewell, CSA General
You may want to look into getting some Spenco Inserts (Hiker is the model as I remember). These are much better than the insoles that come delivered with New Balance type trail runner shoes. By the way, you take out the existing trail runner insoles before you put the Spenco Inserts into the trail runners -- you don't put the Spenco Inserts on top of the existing inserts.
I used Spenco Inserts the entire length of my AT thru-hike (as well as the length of the Pacific Crest Trail) and they are so much better than the insoles delivered with trail runners.
Datto
Also, If I were you I'd consider buying trail runners one size larger than you're currently wearing to allow your feet some expansion room as you hike north carrying that backpack. Your feet may start flattening out and if you don't have room inside the trail running you could get blisters when the waterlogged skin becomes soft and easily rubbed raw while carrying that backpack.
Trail runner type shoes usually last me 500 miles or so -- you'll want to be able to get resupplied with new trail runners periodically up the Trail.
Datto
That's why I'm going to be "Awol v2.0" or just "two point oh" for short
BAN-ZA-A-A-I-I-I-I-I- !!!!!
Go for it - sounds great. Datto has a lot of GREAT advice. I wore boots my 500 miles last year (- same brand - same type - 4th set over 6 years, 1 set still in the box, broken in and waiting for my next attempt -) never had a blister until my soft tissue injuries forced me to compensate by limping. I just hate wet feet.
Ridgerest closed cell pad did great for me. Finally got used to sleeping on the ground! SoLong 6 tent for room - LightHeart Gear dot com.
Log onto steep and cheap dot com - sign up for their alerts - some pretty good deals on name brand stuff you may want, but it's catch as catch can. You have to see it to grab it. The Black Diamond headlight is so great I've gotten 4. Got a 20* bag (down), compression bags, etc. The Honey Waffles on sale with Lance Armstrong's face on them are pretty good and pretty cheap right now.
Keeping a journal?
Good luck. Happy hiking.
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?
Yes, that was going to be one of my questions (the journal). I plan on writing a very detailed one. I'm a software engineer, so that means I overthink everything, and over-detail everything thus my journal will end up being in size competition with "war and peace"
I'd like to find a journal site/app where I can create my journal entries, attach pictures, GPS coordinates, etc while I am "offline" (i.e. if I have no cell/internet service) and then when I finally do have service, hit a button and they all get uploaded and any replies get download to me. I know I could do it manually with a variety of notepad apps, etc, but it would be awesome if someone wrote a journal/pix/gps app already (Android OS).
2.0 wish I was going with you, but I can't do a thru hike this year. I will be hiking March 30 -April 5 but farther north.
When you are spending your money on gear. Best spent on tent, sleeping system, pack. The rest can be changed out at any time and even thrown away when worn out. Get a good pair of hiking boots and break them in now.
Happy hiking.
Datto's got a LOT of great advice.
You'll have a lot of fun.
Shoes/boots: probably, start with the trail runners you have now. Don't use cotton socks, just wool or synthetic. You need to figure out if they are too short for going down hills -- do your toes hit in front going down steep hills. If you don't have hills, find a steep ramp or bank, or even just raise one end of a board a foot or two.
Start walking more, with a bit of weight in a pack, BUT DON'T OVERDO IT. You don't want to start out with blisters or injuries. Increase weight and distance gradually. If your trail runners do OK with this, you're all set for shoes. You will need to replace them down the trail and you might need go up in size if your size grows.
Somettimes those snap decisions are the best ones - I did the same thing in 2010, was reading a hiking book in Barnes and Noble one day, my wife said"go do it!", four weeks later I was was being dropped off at the Springer approach trail! ha!I had always planned to do a thru hike sometime around 2018 or 2019.
But for some unknown reason, or force within me, I sat at my cube typing away as a software developer last Friday afternoon and suddenly just said, "to hell with all this...life is too short". I went into my boss's office at that moment and told him I needed a Leave Of Absence for 4-5 months. I explained what I wanted to do and kept my fingers crossed.
Well, let's just say, my trail name could be "Awol v2.0" because they do not offer LOA's. However, he told me that he'd hire me back the day I return, so I guess it's not all that bad. And the irony of the "Awol v2.0" thing is that as you can tell from the little bit I mentioned above, my story/life is exactly, except for the slight ages in our children, the story of David Miller (Awol). So maybe I'll just shorten my trail name to "2.0" (two point oh)
So, I'm planning on leaving April 10th. I'm on a mad shopping spree right now to get everything I need. So suggestions are welcome.
I used to camp/hike (weekends) all the time back when I was a teenage living in Western Massachusetts, but have never hiked since then. Oh yeah, and been in FLorida since then too - so I am fearing the cold!
I will be asking a bunch of questions over the next couple of days so please bear with me and thank you for your answers.
And if anyone is leaving around that time, please let me know. I am hiking alone, but my Girlfriend and I are staying at the AFSP Lodge on the 9th and I start walking on the 10th.
This is the craziest, most snap decision I have EVERY made; but it just feels like the right thing to do at this point in my life.
Jay
Well I got 1200 miles before tha dear tick took me out, in Pennsylavania.
Be warned!!!
It, the "Trail", is very addictive and you may spend the rest of your waking hours either on the trails or home, fine tuning your next hike!
Do your self a favor and don't put a time limit on your thru-hike unless it is absolutely neccesary, you have until the middle of October to ascend Katahdin...
All the best - hope to see your picture back here at the top of Katahdin later in the year!
There are as many gear suggestions as people, but it comes down to what's right for *you* so a few questions before I offer any suggestions:
1) What gear do you already have that might be suitable to bring?
2) What is your approximate gear budget?
3) How important is comfort to you? How much discomfort are you willing to endure, on a daily basis, for several months?
4) Do you have any physical or health issues that might affect how much you can carry?
5) What do you know about your hiking style? For instance, do you walk fast or take your time? Are you a "grinder" that wants to walk every daylight hour or do you want leisure time?
1) What do I have now - I currently have, the pair of Smartwool Trekking socks I brought yesterday
2) Budget for gear - $3k-4k
3) Comfort - I've been in Florida 25 years. I HATE cold. That is my BIGGEST fear on this whole trip.
4) Health Issues - I have some spine discs in my neck (oh yeah, I *MUST* have a pillow) and lower back that can annoy me if i over-do-it, but a couple days of pain meds always fixes that.
5) Hiking style - I'd say I really like to push. I generally like to get an early start and would likely walk till dark, perhaps with some 9extended maybe) breaks in the middle. And I am a fast walker in general. BUT, I think I'd like to *TRY* to change that. I've been in a hurry my whole life. I think this is the perfect time for me to smell the roses.
And thanks so much everyone. I am sure you have given this advice many times before.
I am a 57 yr old who has had a lifelong dream to hike the AT. I am so with you on this adventure. I am seriously considering next year (2014) for my thru-hike. Hike on!
That is a pretty serious gear budget, which is awesome. It means you can go pretty light while maintaining a high level of comfort.
Here are some general suggestions that might help you get started, but never rely on the advice of folks you've never met. Pick one piece of equipment you want to start with (pack, perhaps?) and visit all of the gear shops in your area. Tell them what you're doing, and the info you just posted about your needs, and ask them to help you select something. Don't buy anything that first trip - just visit all the stores and you'll quickly get an idea who knows what they're talking about and who's just a bunch of college kids on break. Then go back and work with them.
Pack - For you, probably not the area to go ultralight. Minor back issues could quickly become major ones with the wrong pack, and advil won't get you through 2200 miles because you won't have a few days to recover. Start with the Deuter ACT Lite, REI Flash and Osprey Atmos. Heavier but possibly more comfortable options include the Gregory Contour and Osprey Aether. There are others in the same classes, but these are the most popular and good places to start. With your back, avoid anything frameless.
Shelter - If you want to stay warm, skip the tarp and hammock options and stay with the classic backpacking tent. There are many, many options that will weigh about 2-3 pounds and vary in price from $200-$500. Some top picks: anything by TarpTent (I like the Moment for comfort), and the Big Agnes Fly Creek Platinum. Spend lots of time online to narrow these down. Unfortunately a lot of them aren't stocked at most retailers for you to lay around in and get a feel for.
Sleep System – Spend your money here. Most people carry a bag rated around 30 degrees for a thru-hike. Supplement that with a silk liner, or a slightly heavier but warmer synthetic liner, and you can add 10 degrees to that rating. I recently did a lot of research on bags when I upgraded, and settled on the Mountain Speed at 32 degrees, on sale for $240, and 15.5 oz - the downside is it's pretty narrow. Mountain Hardwear, Western Mountaineering, and Montbell all make good bags. The North Face Cat's Meow has been popular for a while (but is heavier!). I'd recommend a down bag with a silk liner - just take care not to let it get wet. For a pad, avoid the closed-cell and inflatable kind and go for a self-inflating mattress for the most consistent warmth. Thermarest is the big dog in this market, and the Prolite is a warm, comfortable, and supremely durable pad.
Footwear – Make sure that it’s designed for your feet. It’s hard to find someone who truly knows shoes, but when they start talking about rands and lasts, start listening. There is no “best” shoe because there is no standard foot. I really like the Merrell Moab for its design and durability…but alas! It’s the wrong shape for me. So I don’t wear them anymore. Try on lots until you know what fits. One caution: avoid minimalist trail runners with next to no cushion; you will likely pay for the weight savings with back pain. Rocks are hard, and the shock will transfer up your skeletal system.
Cooking - Another question I should have asked is your level of outdoor experience. If it's low-medium, go for the Jetboil (I prefer the Zip; the starters seem to always wear out anyway) which has an integrated pot/mug. They're perfectly designed for boiling water quickly and with an absolute minimum of hassle. I held out for a long time but am a firm convert after last summer. If you like to tinker or experiment, try a homemade alcohol or beer can stove. Guys that have these tend to love them - probably because the end product is the result of their own energy, which is more satisfying. It's not for me - I just want hot water, right now...Jetboil.
Water – Filters are nice in that you can carry less water and drink from any source. They’re also heavier. I used exclusively filters until switching to Aqua Mira for a week last summer. I found it forced me to take more breaks while I waited the 5 minutes for it to mix. Steripens are another option that’s become popular. If you expect to carry water with you regularly, use AM or a steripen. If you expect to “camel up” at each source, you’re probably better off with a filter.
That’s the big stuff. You can pretty much just bargain hunt for clothes, raingear, and accessories like a headlamp. As a techie, you might be tempted to bring the office to the woods – don’t. Solar chargers won’t work on most of the AT because of the shade, for one. Plus, you’ll miss half the experience. My dad came out and spent two weeks on trail with my friend and I last summer – and we spent most of it laughing at him when he stopped to check his phone’s AT app and GPS. We’d argue over where we were, and our hiker’s intuition won every time. Bring a phone – but keep it in your pack, not your pocket. A kindle is a nice bit of gear if you’re a reader. Maybe a small ipod. Beyond that, skip the gadgets.
Hope this has been helpful. I’d love to hear how it goes, and if you have any other questions I’m happy to help!
Since you have $3-4k go to your local running store or Dick's Sporting goods. Get some Patagonia Capilene 1 or set of long underwear, some synthetic shirts (a single ss and ls), a pair of long hiking pants and a pair of shorts. Then go to Mountain Crossings (http://www.mountaincrossings.com/default.asp) and let them help you get the rest. You'll drop about 1500-1800. But you will have the right gear, it will all fit and it will mostly be lightweight stuff.
If you decide to do it some other way (and there are almosts infinite other ways to do it (from thrift stores to mail order to REI)). Here's a good tried and tre gear list to guide you: http://www.backpacker.com/november_0...s/12659?page=4
Here's what has caused the worst blistering for me:
1. Hiking too fast (I try to hike around 75% of what I could do given the terrain so instead of say 3.5 MPH on a flat I go about 2.75)
2. Boots
3. Lacing too tight (switching to wide width trail runners was huge)
4. Hiking socks (tried a lot and they all make my feet sweat too much - I mostly hike in cheap WalMart socks now)
5. Sock liners. Too restrictive and cuts down on the toe box wiggleability
Pain is a by-product of a good time.
A couple of other things to consider taking:
1) Earplugs so you can get some sleep in the shelters. Animals making sounds out in the woods, things scratching along the back baseboard and all the snoring may keep you awake.
2) Body Glide -- should be able to get a small (couple ounces or so of weight) container/stick from Dick's, REI or similar. Body Glide will come in handy when those shoulder straps or the waist belt or something else starts grinding a groove into your groove.
Datto
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