Date: 2008-10-05
From: Palmerton

To: South!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

All the signs of fall have arrived. I am still hiking with Bookworm and we both have noticed the geese "honking" as they fly over us heading south. I envy their speed and very light pack..plus the geese "draft" off each other. There is no drafting in backpacking.In addition, the leaves are turning at a prodigious rate. The fall foliage is beautiful with all the reds, golden yellows and even orange. God's selection in colors is awe inspiring.Finally, the last giveaway that fall has arrived is the temperature. It is now in the low sixties during the day and mid-thirties at night. I am working hard not to add winter gear to my pack....it adds weight. My pack with food and water is between 28 and 30 lbs. But that is because I'm carrying a wind jacket and pants...those items weigh around 3 oz each (6oz total) were a full on precipt rain jacket and pants are 12 to 13 oz each (26 total). That is over 2lbs. As long as it doesn't rain the wind jacket and pants are warm enough.   Hmmm..We stayed at Palmerton last night. The town has a community building that is used to house everything, city government and community government, to include the town jail. I roamed down to the basement, where the hikers hostel is located, to find "women's night" for the indoor firing range. I was quickly asked in and given a pistol and allowed to join inthe fun. Thank-you Palmerton!Speaking of Equipment, since I am almost finished with the hike, this would be a good time to give a run down on what worked and what did not work.Best = "Love it" from personal useGood to best = "Others like it"...also means I am repeating what other hikers...hanging around raved about.Poor to bad = "Not recommended". I used it and did not have good results.Packs:- Granite-Gear: Love it   -adv- adjustable- Osprey: Other's liked it- Six Moon Design: "Not Recommended" I started with a Six Moon Design backpack and hurt my back. I personnaly know of three other hikers who had problems, to include ripping. If you use this pack you MUST stay well under 25 or it will collaspe in the support area.Stoves: Alcohol vs fuel canister? I switched back and forth between the Jetboil and the trango alcohol stove. I highly recommend you do not use a white gas (Dragon fly type). These are heavy and work well for group (boy/girl scouts) camping, but these stoves are heavy. The alcohol stove with fuel and pot is slightly lighter then a jetboil for ONE person. The jetboil with the small canister is slightly lighter for TWO people.   The alcohol stove requires time and some "fiddling". But if you are on a serious budget, the alcohol version is less expensive, especially if you make your own. Jetboil = I love it. I have had mine for four years - first version..takes a drop and still keeps cooking. I could alway find canisters..maynot specific jetboil canisters, but the red ones work.Trango Alcohol: I love it. Make sure your pot is big enough to sit on the legs.The Primus just came out with a jetboil version: Other's like it. It is getting good reviews from other hikers. The big advantage is the pot is shorter then the jetboil, so it is easier to cook inside the pot.Tents:Big Agnes SeedHouse 1: I love it.   I used it for the first third of the hike with great results. But, it weighs in over two lbs.Tarp Tent by Henry Shrier: I LOVE IT.It is not free standing, but is barely over a pound..yes one pound. It has as much or more room then the SeedHouse. I was worry about this tent since it is a single wall tent. In the past, I have had bad experiences with single wall tents in the rain. The New England states experienced record rain fall this year and the Tarp Tent was just as dry as the Big Agnus. I am impressed and will use this tent again.Hubbad? I hope I spelled that correctly. This was in the top three for tents on the trail. Everyone who has one loves the head room. The Hubbads are about the same weight as the Big Agnus and no one complained of leakage.Ok ..that is all for this journal. i will touch on sleeping pads and water filters next time.Tigger