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.
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
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.
Really well thought out write up. I particularly like the flexibility that you displayed and your emphasis on the fact that this is what worked for you. A couple of quick points:
* Cotton boxers at night; the most underrated piece of gear in my pack.
* 10 Ibuprofen were sometimes a single day supply for me!
* I carried maps. I can't tell you how many times they came in handy or how many times hikers who 'didn't need maps' borrowed mine.
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!
Wonderful - exactly what I wanted to see. Not just a list, but a honest review with some reasons and feedback Maybe it will encourage other thruhikers to be as transparent?
Formerly 'F-Stop'
If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one.
~ Dolly Parton
McBride...did you just do something productive?
AT - Georgia to Maine '09
PCT - Mexico to Canada '10
CDT - Canada to Mexico '11
how you been man?
AT - Georgia to Maine '09
PCT - Mexico to Canada '10
CDT - Canada to Mexico '11