Date: 2008-08-26
To: Gear That Worked For Me
Miles today: 0.0

Well, just five more days before Trail Boss and I start our cruise. But now there is an interesting development - Hurricane Gustav. Hopefully it won't impact the cruise. Here are some comments about the gear I used during the hike - gear that really worked well for me. This is highly subjective and I'm sure there are many other opinions. But I throw this out to you, anyway.Pack ¢ I used the same pack (Osprey Aether 70) until I was in the middle of Virginia. But I started during January so I needed to keep my extra clothing/gear longer. When I cut back on my gear I began using a Granite Gear Nimbus Ozone. Plenty of storage room and about 2 pounds lighter than the Osprey. The even lighter GG Vapor Trail is a great pack but you have less storage space and almost no suspension system (just foam). The Nimbus Ozone has a framesheet. Tent - MSR Hubba. Reasonable weight, very weather-resistant, and you have plenty of interior room ¢ you can sit up in it. The pole structure is excellent. It is free-standing. I also carried the groundsheet (footprint) primarily to protect the floor of the tent from rocks, etc. Regardless of what you choose try to get a free-standing tent. Also, ask yourself how often you plan on tenting. Just when shelters are full? Or preferring tenting to a shelter. That can determine the tent you select. Sleeping Bag ¢ It mainly depends upon when you start. An early start (prior to March 1st) and you probably will want a bag rated lower than 20 degrees. A later start and I think a 20-degree bag (with a liner for the beginning and end portions of the hike) should be fine. I used a zero degree Mountain Hardware Phantom and then switched to a 32-degree Mountain Hardware bag when it got warmer. Down or Synthetic Bag? ¢ I used to be a 100% supporter of down ¢ I¢d pay the extra cost for the lighter weight and warmth. But it can be really easy to get a down bag wet on the trail ¢ then it is useless from an insulation standpoint. And in the winter months it is very difficult to dry a sleeping bag out. The synthetic bags handle wet weather much better and still provide insultation. They are cheaper but far more bulky and are heavier. Warmer Weather - If you use a 20-degree bag and liner (I¢d use a micro-fleece or silk liner) you should be fine EXCEPT when it starts getting warmer. At first you will just unzip the bag and use it as a blanket. But then it gets even warmer and you still need something to keep you warm, but the bag is too much. The liner may cover that need. Some hikers decide to buy and use two bags. You have to factor in the cost factor of doing so. Try to buy the best quality bag that you can afford. Again, I used zero and a 32-degree bags. Gear Switchout - Traditionally, March/April starts will switch out their gear no sooner than the north-side of Mount Rogers. Some wait later, say Pearisburg. Some (to save weight) switch out in Damascus but I think that¢s a big mistake unless you start in late April. Even then, you can get freezing temps and snow around Mt. Rogers. Traditionally, most hikers will switch back to their winter gear (or some of it) when they get to Hanover, NH. From a time period standpoint, I¢d switch gear no later than Labor Day.I know weather fluctuates yearly but I'd rather be warm than freeze. Depending upon when you start, consider a 20-degree bag and liner. If you are too cold, there are outfitters at Neals Gap, Hot Springs, and Damascus that can sell you a warmer bag. Also, I have often used REI and had gear mailed to my nearest upcoming post office. Works very well. Insects - You will probably need a tent (or something else) for the bugs. Keep in mind that you will also need bug protection sleeping in the shelters (even if you normally use the tent there are times you will opt for the shelters). My solution then, and while hiking during the day is to use DEET. Yes, it¢s not supposed to be good for you (they say) but it does work. You can buy it all the way up to 100%. Look for the red, plastic bottles that say ¢Ben¢s¢ Insect Repellant. Make sure to get the bottle with a pump ¢ a lot easier (and less messy) to put on. Unless you get an unusual stretch of warm/wet weather early, the bugs shouldn¢t become an issue prior to (I¢d say) Massachusetts. Depends on when you start. On my two, prior hikes (going southbound) the bugs were TERRIBLE in Maine and part of New Hampshire (that was in July). Jetboil stove - Main drawback is extra weight and locating fuel canisters. I learned to live with the weight and eventually didn¢t notice it. It can be difficult to find fuel cannisters other than at outfitters. I always had them mailed to me. (It is legal to mail them, they just have to be sent by ground. The biggest hassle is with the Postal Service. FedEx is better about it). I wasn¢t that picky about what I ate . For the entire six months I ate the absolutely same thing for breakfast ¢ instant oatmeal and poptarts. The JetBoil served to heat my water (but very quickly). I think there are some custom recipes available on the JetBoil web site. Weather Radio - I¢d swear to the benefit of a weather radio. Back in February it saved my ass when a significant snow storm came into Tennessee. The radio also helped me pick the day to climb Katahdin so I¢d have no rain and a clear view. I started with the Midland weather radio that REI sells. The on/off switch quickly broke. We thought the switch problem was a fluke and bought another one. That switch also broke. Trail Boss then found a different brand on the web. Made by ¢Pro Bass Shops¢, is bright yellow plastic, about 2x4 inches, telescoping antenna and has 7 different channels. I think it cost around $12 ¢ cheap. I thought it would be rinky-dink at first but it has worked flawlessly. Get one (you will have to Google where to find it). Cell phone - I always carried a cell phone but often didn¢t have good or any service. It¢s an iPhone with AT&T service. I¢d have to charge it wherever I found an AC plug. But I could usually find one and it would charge in little more than an hour. Down south it seemed like the folks with Verizon had better coverage than I did. Posting journal entries - Journal entries were handled one of three ways. If the iPhone had great (internet) reception I would hand-enter them into Trail Journals. If I just had cell phone reception, I¢d call home and leave my journal entry(s) on our answering machine during the day. Trail Boss would then enter them later. If I was near an internet computer (all libraries and some hostels) I¢d use them to post the entries.