Date: 2015-12-09
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Miles today: 0.0

So I had several great emails regarding my tent seam and base layer pontifications, enough to suggest that 1) I am not the only one who has ever invested hours agonizing over tent seams and base layers and 2) people actually read my cyber-dribble. So as I wait for the United States Postal Service to deliver my latest batch (Smart Wool base layers (top and bottoms) from REI) I sit will here and put another one up for you.As a side note, I am not a fan of REI¢s, ¢higher than a Phish Phan¢ prices. And let¢s face it folks, the year-end dividend is basically a tossed up bone that puts you just close to break-even. The catch is, both the ringleaders of Recreational Equipment, Inc. and you know that you will plow that dividend check right back into their coffers (and probably for something dumb that you already have two of). Damn they are smart.   However, and this is a big however¢¦. the ease of changing one¢s mind is simplified by the fact that they just don¢t ask. And man has my mind changed throughout this process. Hell, I probably owe them a dividend. Come hell or high water, I am starting on April 6th. And since neither hell nor high water will greet me a Springer, this trip is on! So, what to hump for the cold temperatures of April and May in the Appalachian Mountains? The following is what is on my clothing list as of today. Like my very next REI purchase, my decisions are subject for further review, manipulations, substitutions and analysis.   Here we go from head to toe:Sun-visor. What, baseball hates make you look like a redneck, but like to keep the sun out of your eyes? Then like me, the visor is for you. As an added bonus mine says NWTF (National Wild Turkey Federation) and since my hike is going to help raise some loot for the turkeys, it multi-purposeful!Beanie. I think this might make the round trip. My acrylic/polysester String Cheese Incident beanie. Its warm, its light and it will help win the granolas back if they see me wearing my camouflaged LL Bean fleece pullover.Ultra-Light Balaclava. I don¢t see many people listing these, but for less than 2 ounces this gem can serve as a neck gaiter, hood or even come in handy if I have to rob a bank or storm a crack house along the way.Patagonia Nano Puff Hoodie. Aka, ¢the big gun¢. For what it¢s worth, I skeptical on just how warm this puffy is.LL Bean Micro Fleece Pullover. My only article of clothing from the hunting pile, and that¢s a big pile. As I already mentioned, its camouflaged and by wearing it I violate myself imposed ¢no camouflage unless you are actively hunting¢ rule. I will be glad to tell you why such a rule exists if you really have to know.   REI Polyester Long Sleeved Shirt. This will be my go to hiking shirt. Under Armor Long Sleeved Shirt made out of whatever Under Armor is made out of. This will be my camp shirt. I am up in the air about carrying two long sleeved shirts. Anyone, anyone?Light Weight Polyester Long Johns. Okay, maybe there are TWO items from the hunting pile that will make the cut. I am not sure of the brand on these, but they are light-weight warm and make my legs look hot when worn with shorts. Midweight Smart Wool Top.Midweight Smart Wool Bottoms. But wait a minute¢¦the Smart Wool really has to pass the skin test. Wasn¢t it Merino Wool that helped me decide I hated wearing suits early on in my career?   The jury is out, but as I said, these bad boys are in route from REI and if they fail, back they go¢¦no questions asked. I had one responder say that these will be too heavy starting in April. So I am still uncertain and may go with something a little less severe. As a side note, I love how people claim wool smells less. That¢s not really a concern based on what I have been told¢¦.I will stink.Gloves ¢ Lightweight Liners by Manzella. They are called Ultra Max so they gotta be good. Nuff said.Two Pairs of Exoffico Underwear.   My test pair seems to ride up a tad on my back and if they are not careful they will be tossed in the drawer like a bad Christmas sweater and my standard Under Armor brand will make the hike.Three Pairs of REI Wood Sox. I plan to carry three pairs of sox. Two for hiking and one for camp. The camp pair will be the heavy style and the hiking will be the light. I know, I know, everyone hiking the AT loves Darn Tough Sox. In fact, the AT hikers¢ love affair with Darn Tough may be the ONLY THING that is universal and agreeable by all. On my ¢list to-do¢ is to migrate over to the sock section the next visit to REI and ponder Darn Tough. Boy, wait until I show up with a bunch of used REI sox to return. On a serious note, when so much good things are said about a product one has to listen. Here is to you Darn Tough!Two Pair of REI Silk Liner Sox. And they came in white so they won¢t look grungy!Kuhl Liberator Convertible Pants. I have invested the better part of a 2015 into thinking and rethinking convertible pants and hiking pants in general. A lot can be said about the El Camino of the hiking pant¢¦not all of it good. Is it a truck or is it a car, who knows? Facts are most of them make you look like your wife finally won the ¢how dumb can I dress my husband when we go to Europe this summer¢ contest. Shit, it¢s a wonder they don¢t all come with a matching fanny pack. But not Kuhls, because they are, well, cool. Let¢s see how these work. They seem a little more suitable for spring as opposed to the wafer thin Exofficio¢s I bought at Whole Earth Provisions (a place I go whenever I want to feel good about REI¢s prices).Marmot Precip Rain Jacket. I went with XXXL. The XXL seemed tight and since this is my emergency ¢damn is it cold¢ shell, it better be able to fit over the Puff Hoodie.Marmot Precip Rain Pants. Whereas the Darn Tough Sox plan is agreeable by all, the rain pant debate certainly has its two camps. I will bet anyone a Knorr that mine are sent back home before June. Let it rain, rain rain!!!! Serious, in an April or May rain storm, I will be glad that I have them.Finally, and don¢t try to talk me out of it, are a very light pair of Under Armor shorts. I think they are sold as running shorts. I don¢t care what the folks at Under Armor wanted them to be used for, I love these things for hiking, camping and just relaxing. They weigh in at about 6 ounces and I can see these as my go to pants on nice days or when summer¢s here and the time is right for dancing in the streets.So that¢s my clothing as of today. I have heard several people say you should be able to wear everything all at once. I would say I can come close, although it sure would suck wearing five pairs of sox. Aside from the sox, I could pull it off, so I am confident I am on the right track. Thanks for your input.