Backpacking and hiking gear

[mechanic]

I'm making preparation to hike a portion of the Appalachian trail.  I'm no stranger to camping or hiking, but not on this scale.  Obviously, lighter is better.  My questions are what gear is best suited for my needs?  I'm looking at stoves, are the pocket stoves with solid fuel best?  I'll be packing freeze dried food stuffs of course.  What about water filters?  Are the portables worth the trouble, or should I just use tablets or boil water?  Boiling water for drinking involves more fuel, which means more space and weight.  I have my tent, shoes, etc. worked out, but there are some things I've just never had to use.  I've done two and three day ventures, but this is something entirely different.

This spring, I will be hiking some local trails that encompass over 50 miles of mountainous terrain to get a feel for what works.  On these trips, I will never be more than 15 miles from help.  I need to make sure of what works before I really get "out there".

I would appreciate any pointers from those of you with experience.

Thanks,

Ben

[Empty Quiver]

I think I would go with the alchohol fueled stoves. If for no other reason than availability of fuel at any hardware store or Walmart. Are you able to put out the tabs or compelled to expend all or none if you need a bit more heat?

I would certainly get to a super nerd hiking outfitter like REI to check out their opinion. They have always been quite helpful when I have had questions. Being younger and many times college students they definitely understand budgets, and the idea of bang for the buck. Look for the goofy guy with dreads he seems to be the one I always talk to!

As far as purifiers go, "dreads dude", highly recommended the water bottle with the built in filter cartridge. (Katydin I believe)  Dip it into the creek and suck through the filter as you use it. It is all self contained, nothing to lose, and will filter a bunch of water. His opinion was that if water was frequently available why lug around all the stored water from a pump system plus the pump. But in an arid place the pump might be the better idea or if you are using one filter for a group.

Find "dreads dude" he studies this stuff.

[teamnelson]

Ben, I'm jealous. I wanted to hike the GA section of the AT with my son at one time, and it's not looking like it's gonna happen. I wish you well!

For water, check out Sawyer products as well. They rate their filter at a million gallons. As for stove, depending on the season, you might look at a wood gas stove - uses a small amount of dried kindling to produce a hot sustainable flame. Fuel is on the ground, or pack some pellets. There's also a hobo stove.

Mahalo, Rob

[zeke08]

I live TN and hike in the Smokies right regular. I agree with empty on the dreads dude lol. I have used a MSR  Whisperlite International stove for bout 13 years and NEVER had one problem yes it is a little heavier but I think well worth it. I also use a MSR filter pump that attaches to my wide mouth bottles. Along the the AT usually your never far from a shelter but if you have to make do I carry a 6x8 tarp and just use it as a lean to with a Western Mountaineering down bag rated for 5 degrees if its nasty I will put my gore-tex on. In the late 80's we did a lot of visual man tracking training up there and a hell of a lot of off trail camping compass work the hemlocks make awesome fire starter and shelters. I think the AT tries to keep you wet and cold even in the summer it can get nasty quick up there guess that's why I love it so much she is never gentle on you. Hope this helps good luck and enjoy!

[rdmallory]

How light?

You can take some iodine tablets and forgo the water filter.
Take a coffee can and heat the water on a small wood fire at night when you eat.
You can get by with just a sleeping bag and bivy sack and sleep in the shelters on the AT.  (I don't like doing that too may rodents).
Food: Raymen Noodles, beef jerky, country ham, a couple eggs, dried hash browns from grocery store, noodles and canned chicken in the small foil pouches.

This first day you can eat good while all your friends are eating dried food. Go buy a nice steak and vacuum pack it, freeze it solid and roll it up inside you sleeping bag. It will stay frozen for 10-12 hours with a good bag. I always carried a small grate for sitting my coffee can on the fire, which also make a nice grill for your steak. And if you really want to show off have a ear of corn rolled up in foil to go with it.  I would not want to carry enough for a three or four day trip but can can eat good the first day.


Doug

[Lost Farmboy]

  Mechanic did you make the AP hike? How did it go? What local trails did you practice on and how did they compare? Inquiring minds want to know.

[mechanic]

I've walked the Pine Mt. trail a couple times, and some shorter trails locally.  The AT has not yet worked out for me, but hopefully this fall as the heat breaks I can do a portion of it.  I don't mind cold, but some of that trail could be dangerous at high elevation and cold  I'm thinking.
 
Since I'm not as young as I would like to think I am sometimes, I will do it in sections, probably 50-100 miles as I can get off work.....
 
I can make the Pine Mt. trail, 23 miles in one day of "forced march", but I could not hold out at that for any length of  time. 
 
Ben

[Lost Farmboy]

  I don't see the Pine Mt trail on my map. I don't think I am ambitious enough to walk the AT. I thought I might take a few days this fall and walk one of the shorter ones with a shotgun. Do a little hunting. I haven't back packed for over 30 years and then I usually cheated (used a horse).


I was looking at the Amicalola Falls to Springer Mt trail or maybe one of the smaller ones in the Cohutta Wilderness. Have you tried any of these?

[mechanic]

I walked the Amicalola some years ago.
 
Here is a link for the Pine Mt., but no hunting there.  Camping at marked sites only.  They will tell you when you check in if ok to have a fire.  Some sites have little or no water, others have an abundance.
 
It's a beautiful walk though and well worth it.
 
http://www.pinemountaintrail.org/?page=1
 
Ben

[Lost Farmboy]

  Thanks Mechanic. There are a lot of good trails in N Georgia. I hope to walk some of them. Unfortunately I will have to go alone. I married a city girl. Last year I got a wood tic tending the bees, she thought it was a monster. She was afraid to leave the house for months. If you walk any new ones I hope you can give us a report here.

[quasne.inc]

When I was growing up in AL in the boy scouts we hiked the AT a couple of times.  Did the Amicalola Falls to Springer Hike.  Second time I thought I could cut down on weight by taking a hammock, blanket and tarp.  In the middle of July a cold front came in and I thought I was going to freeze to death at night.  I dont know how I would do now that Im twice the age I was when I did all my hiking in the Scouts, but from my experiences back then I would rather take a little too much and take it slow then to get up there and not have something that you need.  I am all about the minimalist approach, but some things you just gotta take to make it enjoyable.  Its not fun if you are freezing and/or miserable the whole time. 

[mechanic]

Yep, I'm getting a little long in the tooth, I have grandchildren in college so any serious hiking I'm gonna' do I've got to get it done.  I don't really try and push myself most of the time.  I did make the 23 mile PM trail without an overnight, but I kinda' overdid it and suffered for it.  I'm gonna' slow down and enjoy the walk.
 
The lighter and smaller the necessities I carry, the more luxuries I can take along.  Coffee is a must.  Small tent or at least a bivy as well.  I've spent enough nights huddled against a tree in a poncho in the rain.
 
As I sneak up on 60 I find it takes more food for me too, so at least three squares a day of trail food, and lots of water....I sweat like a horse.
 
My wife won't come along, and really she is not able.  She can't understand my compulsion but I feel it's now or never for me.
 
Ben
 

[quasne.inc]

You wont regret going, but you might regret not going.  The best day I had on the AT was the day we decided to take our sweet time and enjoy all the great scenery.  We got to camp about three hours after everyone else but had a blast and we werent all that tired.