Great!! I don't mind bears at all and Skyline Drive is easy for pick up. Pretty easy hiking through there too.
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Great!! I don't mind bears at all and Skyline Drive is easy for pick up. Pretty easy hiking through there too.
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doeontrail...does SOBO from Harper's Ferry fit what you had in mind? You WERE the one who started all this
Hi ladies! I just came across this thread and would love to join you if it works out for me. I have been looking for other women who enjoy hiking as much as I do! I love the enthusiasm in all the posts!
Infinity
Some of life's greatest lessons cannot be pried from books--they must be experienced in your bones.
Kobi Yamada
The more the merrier, and safer too!!
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[QUOTE=dink;2055124]The more the merrier, and safer too!!
+1
I am doing my first shakedown trip in early September. Harpers Ferry to PA/MD line. 4 nights at about 8 to 10 a day. If ladies would like to hike with me, it will be very entertaining watching me going through the learning curve of my first trip.
I did that trip going southbound 2 summers ago...nice hiking!
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July 30 works for me. MamaSmurf you are right - hiking just begats more hiking!
I got the OK for vacation time off the 1st week of August...so excited!!
Sounds great! I am marking it on my calendar! I've already gone thru my gear and trying to decide what to change. I currently have a 2 man tent that my husband has always carried. I'm looking for something lighter that I can carry myself when hiking solo. Any suggestions? I'd like some input on hammocks too...
There is a learning curve with hammocks...took me some time on the hammock hangers web site to figure things out, plus going to a group hang to see thing in person.
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I think I might be able to make this also! I have another trip scheduled for Aug 8th so I may need to drop out a day early, but I am sure it will all work out. If anyone wants to start a few days earlier I'ld be interested in that too! Either South or North from Harpers Ferry works well.
Sounds like we are going to have a great group of ladies heading down the trail!
Mama Smurf and Dink-What hammock do you have and how do you like it? I've been watching you tube videos and researching for the last 2 days! AND...having a great time doing so!
I have a ENO double, a Yukon with an integrated bugnet, a 11' Dutch made, a Wilderness, a couple of others that I can't remember who made them, and of course a few bug nets and tarps...not all for me of course, 2 grandchildren to outfit too!!
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Edited because I forgot "how do I like it" part of the question...I need much more hanging time in each before I decide my favorite...but so far I don't really have a favorite, they all are just fine to me!!
Last edited by dink; 04-02-2016 at 20:22.
I have an ENO single, and a Trek Light Gear single. They are very similar. I will have a bug net net cocoon before I get to HF, for sure. Have two different tarps, as well. I had rain my first two nights out, and the first night I got a little wet (not too bad) the second night I did much better with the tarp (the smaller one, my daughter had the larger) and stayed dry. I was happy it only took one night to figure that out!!! I currently have an inflatable BA pad. no under quilt. really debating that one. I know on the AT there WILL be nights I go to ground, or need a pad for a wooden hostel bunk. These old bones DO NOT sleep well on a CCF pad. I expect I'll be buying a Ray Way kit for a top quilt soon. Probably 2 of them, different temp ratings. Summer version is only about $90, which is quite reasonable to me.
No going to ground or hard wooden platform for me...since I started hanging, I just can't bear to go back to "regular" camping!! I picked up a few Costco down quilts to make DIY underquilts for me and the grandkids so that is what I will be using on the AT this summer. I also carry a truck size windshield sun block thing if I just need a little extra insulation.
My Big Agnes air mattress makes going to ground bearable. I used it in the Smokies, b/c I did not meet the criteria to get a thru permit, so was constrained to shelters. It worked very well. That said, my best trail sleep has been hanging. I will be interested to see your sun guard add-on. I have some gear decisions to make still for a thru hike.
I hung my son's ENO double in the basement yesterday (It was 20 degrees with snowy winds blowing like crazy so I didn't want to go outside. Brrr..come back spring!). It is about 60 degrees in the basement and after lying in it for 15 minutes, my underside started to feel cool. I put in a exercise mat with my down quilt and was fine...at 60 degrees. I have watched a video on using the car sun reflectors on top of mats and I've watched a video on the Costco quilts for an underquilt. So many great diy ideas out there. Dink..! Wow, you have alot of hammocks! Do any have a double layer underneath to slide a pad into? Or do you think a single layer with an underquilt is a better system? I would definitely getting a bug net too. For those bringing tents..what do you have and how do you like them?