Good move! When you have this many people thanking you for writing something, it's probably a sign.Originally Posted by HikerRanky
Very, very useful information. It's the type of write-up that makes Whiteblaze a great site for information. Thanks for putting it down for the rest of us to read.
I've got a Contrail and trying to locate a source for an 18" pole to use at the foot for Franco's storm setup... any suggestions? alluminum? graphite? where can I get that tip that will fit the end of the pole? got a link on the net?
my home town has crap for camping gear sales, all we have is a Sport Authority, I buy everything on the internet for hiking gear...
thanks and congrats on the thru hike this year!
Winton at Neels Gap ended up giving me an old section of a tent pole. The 18" measurement was an approximation. It was just basically the bottom section of a regular aluminum pole. If you can't locate one just hit up Winton when you get to Neels Gap after the first few days. He has all kinds of stuf lying around.
also the top of my particular pole section was female and I couldn't locate a tip on short notice either, so I would just jam two little chunks of a twig in making a y and put the guyline in the crotch of the two twigs, then staked it back.
I've heard of people not even using a pole and just grabbing a stick each night at the campsite and just using that. Just get all McGuyver on it.
Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement. Its nice to be able to give back to the site. It saved me from starting my hike with a 60 lb pack.
By far the best article I've read here yet! Thank you for the information as I have much of the same gear. Planning on 2014! I appreciate it!
great post good data
I carried a G9 too. Great camera, but it doesn't shoot HD video. Neither does the G10 or G11. Shame!
"I always told you I was more of a Westerner than an Easterner"
-Theodore Roosevelt
Appalachian Trail 2008
Colorado Trail 2010
This was incredibly helpful and much appreciated. Thanks McBride.
Fantastic article. That Zipp Sack sounds great, but is it waterproof?
Thanks,
Uncas
No, not waterproof. you could coat it with a 5-1 silicon/alcohol like a seamseal. But the bag doesn't need to be waterproof if you use ziplock freezer bags to sort your food.
where did you pack your 2L platy? inside your pack in the hydration sleeve? or on top or side of your pack?
Really a great resource. Thanks for putting this together.
One question; what did you treat your water with? Don't want to start a big war over it (please God no), just curious because I didn't see anything on your list.
He put it under the "Hygene" grouping. It was aquamira.
I had it hanging in the 'airspace' of the suspension of the pack. Look it up for a photo and it'll make more sense. the 50L osprey atmos. the only downside to that setup is the water would warm up as the day went on with my body heat, but it wasn't bad.
Actually after the smokies I didn't treat at all, but I still carried the aquamira. wouldn't recommend it but its what I did.
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as for the questions or comments about the maps, they did have the best side profile topo details but they weren't useful to me in general. My guidebook (appalachian pages) had detailed topo. If you do decide to do the map thing just get the first set and decide later on the rest. You can get them sent to a post office no problem.
Very helpful post............thanks
Thanks for sharing!
-Jason
Everyone else has said it already, but thanks for the insight, and the inspiration. My thru will be many years down the road, but at the rate it's burning inside me it may come out sooner than later......
Great stuff, thanks for your time to share, and congrats on your hike!
Great info, always nice to hear the opinion of gear from someone who done a thru hike. I'm going to have to check out those Dahlgren Alpaca socks that you recommend. Thanks.
Great job posting this and thanks for the info. I wish more thru-hike vets would posts lists like this!
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