Hello all, I've been lurking here for awhile and now I'd like to see if I can get a little advice from the pros here. I'm a 54 y/o male who has taken up hiking in the last few years. I've been reading journals and looking at maps and now I hope to take a short section hike on the A/T. I hope to do from Springer to Blood or thereabouts over 3-4 days during my spring break which is the first week of April. If ya'll don't mind I have several questions for you.
1. My pack is an Osprey Stratos 36 day pack. Do you think that will be sufficient for a short hike like this? I don't even have a stove yet and I'm thinking about going cold. Will this be big enough to carry what I will need for (hopefully) no more than 3 days and 2 nights on the trail?
I could probably, but I'm a gram weenie type. When you get your new sleeping bag, stuff it, your clothes, shelter, sleeping pad and 3 days of food inside.
2. I just ordered a 30 deg mummy bag and now I'm second guessing myself as to whether I'm gonna be warm enough with that. I got it because its light and packs really small, (and it fit my budget). Will I be okay with this bag, even if it means I have to sleep fully dressed including thermals?
You should be OK, if you can't stop shivering, start doing pushups and crunches.
3. I hope this isn't a stupid question but can anyone tell me what kind of grades I'll be facing? Around here it's all flat so the only experience I get on going uphill is on the treadmill at the gym. It goes up to a 15 degree grade and I'd like to have some idea of how that compares to the actual trail.
http://joomla.georgia-atclub.org/pub...T-Profiles.pdf
4. I currently don't have a hiking partner, though I'm planning to see if anyone I work with wants to go with me. Any reason I should be concerned if I have to go it alone? I'm guessing the trail will still be plenty busy the first week of April.
TONS of folks out that week.
5. Lastly, I need advice on shuttles. If I'm going to start at Springer and hopefully end up somewhere around Blood Mountain, what would be the best plan as far as where to leave my vehicle, and how to get to my starting or ending location?
Park at Springer FS 42 trailhead, walk to Neels Gap, when get to Mtn Crossings, tell someone you need a ride, they have lots of contacts to help you.
I hope it's not bad forum etiquette to ask all these questions on my first post but I really appreciate any help ya'll can offer. (unfortunately, I'll probably be back for more)