Date: 2012-04-27
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Tecumseh, MI
Miles today: 0.0

I am back home for a prescheduled month break....I will resume at Harpers Ferry, WV in June.Gear Review:Shoes: Zamberlan Vioz GTThey did exactly what they were suppose to do for 1025 miles. Excellent wear, traction, comfort, blister free and warmth. I got one size larger due to feet swelling and wearing a sock liner and medium cushion Smaartwool sock. They weren't quite broke in when I started...therefore I developed a small hot spot on my left ankle..but nothing serious. The Gortex stayed true..no leakage. The only thing to remember is that these are a classic Italian hiking boot...therefore a little heavier than the trail runners and other boots...BUT a lot of the people wearing the trail runners got blisters and/or the shoes broke down MUCH quicker (some in 3 weeks)...Next they are Gortex, therefore when it rains and if you hike more that an hour or so...the rain or persperation will get in your shoes...takes a long time to dry out a Gortex boot. It only happened 3x in a 2 1/2 month I was on the AT...The 3 wool sock system work great for this. By the 3rd pair the boots were dry...and luckily for me it only rained for a day each time and the wet socks were drying on the back of my pack. If you don't mind a little heavier boot AND your feet fit well...the most imnportant thing. I would recommend them...espcecially during a winter start. I am thinking about going to a more airy shoe/boot when I return in June...but these boots still have a lot of mileage left in them.Socks: Smartwool (3 pairs) They worked great...I also used them as replacement gloves...I sent my gloves too early...they worked great as winter gloves. I did sock liners also (2 pair)...worked for me. One Smartwool pair was for wearing in my sleeping only...unless it was really needed to hike in them. Low Gator: ORKept twiggs, ect out...plus they added a little warmth in the winter. You don't need high gators. A lot of people did not have gators.Pant/Shorts combo: REI (1 pair)I liked them a lot...the legs were easy to put on or take off. They gave me about a 30 minute window when it rained (I would put on the legs) to get to a shelter before my boots would get wet inside. They were nice on cold mornings...I would hike a mile or two and take off the legs. I also brought a pair of running tights...worked great on cold days.Shirts and Shorts: no cotton Started with 2 long sleeve running shirts I got from running in marathons, 2 short sleeve Additas shirts, one pair of nylon shorts (cut the liner out)...later bought an additional pair of nylon shorts and short sleeve shirt at a Goodwill store in Pearisburg, NC for $7...they worked great. Bottom line...all my shirts and shorts were cheap...and they performed well...DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. JUST NO COTTON..IT IS THAT SIMPLE...USE WHAT YOU HAVE...take one winter cap and a headlamp (anybrand). Backpack: Gregory: Baltaro 65 literA little heavier than most, but carries well...AND fit very well. I had many 20+ mile days and one 30+ mile day. Lots of compartments. All my items fit inside the pack...nothing hanging on the outside, therefore my Sea to Summit pack cover fit really well. It is not for the ultralight person, but I did see a lot of hikers with this pack. I may go to a smaller pack (possible 40 liter) for summer, just because I will be bringing possibly less items.Sleeping Bag: Marmont Sawtooth 15 degreeFor me it was the perfect degree bag...never too cold or too hot. The sleeping bag acted as my cold weather jacket...many times I would get inthe bag a 4-5pm and stay there during the cold nights. I did have a hikers pillow..compressed foam...loved it. Stored both items in a Sea to Summit medium dry/compression bag. I will probably go to 40 degree bag for summer.Sleeping Pad: Thermarest Neo Air All SeasonI took the advice of other passed thru-hikers..get a good pad....4-5 months is a long time. I love this pad...very comfortable...not too heavy...a lot of hikers have the Thermarest...all different kinds...mine was one of the more expensive ones...great return policy.Tent: MSR Hubba Hubba I wanted some space and I got it for a few extra pounds. Worked well in the rain/wind, easy set-up and take down. My tent was my fovorite place to sleep..it was home. When my 6-2 nephew, Nathan, joined me on the trail...we slept comfortably. Great for raining days..lots of space to move about...bring gear in, ect. Food (no stove...sent it home in the first month) Ready Rice was my base meal (wild grain and Spanish was my favorite. I would add foil packets of salmon, tuna or chicken...with a little bit of honey. Tortillas with peanut butter, honey and salt and viniger chips...2x to 3x a day Various energy/meal replacement bars, lots of Snickers and Jolly Ranchers. Summer sausage, Mio water flavoring and block cheese (kept well). I would resupply about every 5th day. I would eat in towns or where ever hot food was sold...cold camping is very easy for me. Get a medium dry bag to hang your food at night...put your name on it...many hikers will have the same bag. The shelter mice WILL get to your food...they WILL eat through your pack or tent to get it. So if you stay in a shelter or tent near one..hang ALL your food properly!!! Water purification: Aqua Mira dropsA lot of the time I did not treat my water in the high country..above 4000 ft. It is a gamble, but many people don't treat their water at all...some people treat all the time...It's your call.   Sent my water pump home and went to the drops for weight and speed. Most of the time I do not carry water...they are enough springs and stream along the way...saved 2 pounds/liter...I got that strategy from past thru-hiker Wiggy. Overall:I would not change anything...I got to Harpers Ferry, WV..over 1000 miles quickly, comfortably and injury free...the first 100 miles I had some break in pain...knees and back but they all disappeared within a week. The ultra light people did not beat me by much. My pack with food and water was around 35 pounds. With the summer months approaching I am going to rethink my strategy on the second half of the AT....vist REI, Internet, chat with fellow thru-hikers, ect. Remember, I never hiked or ran to prepare for this journey...and I got the idea to do it 2 months before departure...I just left and got in shape along the way. There is a balance for EACH INDIVIDUAL as to pack weight and comfort on a 2,184 mile hike...EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT...I didn't mind the few extra pounds for the Zamberlan boots, larger tent, nicer pad, hikers pillow, larger backpack, paperback novel (great on raining days), IPod (loved it),camera and the Trek Pole camera attachment, journal, ect. Take a hat to shade you head from the sun. I liked the Treking Poles...most hikers had them. I found shaving was a pain, so I stopped after the second week. I always felt unconfortable hitchhiking, so I would just start walking toward the town and someone (fellow hikers) would always stopped. I started at 194 pounds got down to 171 pounds at he end of the first month...I stabilized at 171 pounds...171 at Harpers Ferry. The way to meet people is by staying in the shelters...I tented almost all the time the first month, then mixed up tenting and shelters. Thu-hikers for the most part do not hike together all the time...we mostly hike at our own pace then come together at the shelters....or tent near each other...stay in the same motel...go out to dinner together...thru-hikers get on and off the AT all the time for a myriad of reasons. I had no negative encounters..got awakened in the shelters by late arrivals, but that is about it...Thru-hikers and Section hikers look out for one another all the time. Lastly, FLUSHABLE wet wipes (don't buy non-flushable...hard to decompose) have many uses...better than TP. Hope that helped...Looking forward to the second half.