Input on Exceedingly lengthy but good ? A.T Thru Hike Gear List for Mar/April 2011

Lengthy indeed.

So… this is what I would get rid of.

You don't need 2 lighters. "extra" and "just in case" items are dead weight.

You don't need a pack cover AND a liner. Go with the lighter one, which is on your list and pretty much universally the liner.

Leatherman? You won't need that. Light weight knife or just finger nail clippers should suffice.

If your gonna carry soap you don't need hand sanitizer too. Be sure you just bury the soap in the cat hole too.

You do not need to bear bag on the AT. Places w/ bears have bear protection things like cables and boxes.

Clothes line? Use some trees or shelter rafters.

Underwear? Running shorts + liner ftw. If you must have them, do you really need 2 pairs?

I don't use gloves and I think an April start would require them. Rain mitts seem like over kill. Although, I am forever caught in photos w/ my hands down my pants.

Sock Liners? Probably can live w/o those.

Sleeping insulation clothes? Whats wrong with your other cold weather gear? Very easily leave all of that at home. Keep the beanie/balaclava.

Personally skimp on 'First Aid' stuff. Personal preference for sure. Be careful w/ the vitamin I.

As far as cold weather worn. If your moving you will not be cold, shorts and SS shirt does just fine into the 30's. You do not need knee high gators Dirty Girls should do.

I got a little confused w/ the whole new list for summer. My 3 season becomes a 1 season by dumping my Cap3 and down jacket and just about everything else carries over. Simplifying is the name of the game. If you don't have time constraints starting later will put you in warm weather sooner than early March.

Lastly, and others will disagree for sure, but you do not need water treatment, least of all 2 types. You will be drinking from the most pristine water sources on the eastern seaboard. If you feel that its necessary just take the aquamira and I'm sure before you get through the Smokies and their snow melt springs you will have quit treating.

that's pretty darn close to what I'm bringing. 35 degrees doesn't seem like a "winter"bag to me though.

Maybe look at the foot care part a bit more- but maybe you have it super dialed in for your feet on that type of trip/weather/ shoe combo. I'd suggest adding some leukoptape P and some benzoin for blisters- pretty light weight – Since you are very fit at the start you'll be able to walk long days and may get more blisters than usual in the GTX boots.

Also maybe consider a bit more of a light (yeah- I said more…ha) for easier night navigation with shorter daylight at the start when you may want to night hike into the evening.

First off – thanks for you helpful and well thought out input guys !

@ Matthew – Probably right about the leatherman…and the pack cover (though I do like having a dry pack..maybe I'll ditch it)..and the clothes line….as for the sanitation / water treatment – having spent some time in Medical school learning all about the awesomeness of bugs / viruses / protozoa – and the like – and their, at times, rather nasty side effect– I'll stick to at least the AM / for now (I've seen the results of Giardia and other intestinal friends – and I'd rather take the weight) – and if I find myself not using it I'll ditch it……as for the bearbag – since I'll be doing kind of weird / long – stop to camp when I feel like it days – I'm wondering if I may need it in the event I don't end up at a shelter w/ bear hanging…as for the "sleeping clothes" my 35* sleeping bag has been very comfortable down to 14* with just a baselayer on and my down booties :-) …so I opted to bring a lighter sleeping bag that can fully unzip like a spring quilt – and make it a winter bag with the baselayer…I'm a cold hands guy in the wind / rain /snow – and light poly's while I'm moving with some overmitts for stopping or in actual snow/rain will be good for me…As for the OR Verglas gaiters to start – I kind of love them..so it will have to really not be a risk of tramping through snow drifts for me to leave them at home….but I'll consider it…

@Jack – I agree that a 35* bag seems light for the start – but with my listed "sleeping baselayer" (which can be sent home anytime) I've been toasty warm and slept like a baby down to 14* (New England Winter Excellence :-) Ice and Sleet come Free !!) which is probably even colder than I'd expect it to be the last week of March or first week of April…

@Ron – first off – Sweet Bag !! I've never had a frameless bag before and I don't think I'll ever need another as long as I can keep my weight down ! I love that it's size can be changed so much with how large or small the load is !! Regarding the Leukotape and benzoin – I'm actually going to get some when I get out to the store – so good to hear that seems like a good thought – I also think that the GTX and longer days may put me at risk for needing them..and I've got a BD Gizmo Headlamp (strong enough?) – two AAA and runs for days on the low setting – lots more light than the little ones…good thought – didn't think about the shorter daylight at the start.. Thanks for the thoughts everyone !!

It's late and your list is a bit overwelming for me right now, but you have done a thoughtful job.

As an AT section hiker with only 300 miles in VA left, here is what jumps out at me.

A 2 pound tent, even though it is a fine product from Henry Shires, will start to feel heavy when you know there are much lighter options available. Start with Ron Bell's site at Mountain Laurel Designs…NB he responded to your post and yet, never even put in a plug for his shelters, so I will.

I, too, started thinking I would avoid shelters, and I did. Then I started staying near shelters, but not in them. Then I started using them more and more. Not only did I enjoy the company, but the convenience, too. No need to fumble around in the rain with a tent or tarp. A nice place to organize gear. Saves time in the morning.

Suddenly when you start using shelters, you begin to wonder why you are lugging a two pound shelter.

But, sometimes shelters are full, or you recognize that hiker who snores, or you want to hike a distance beyond the neaerest shelter, having your own shelter is a must. Somewhere there were two shelters at one site and one had a sign that read "snore-free shelter"!
(Once in ME, I could not reach a shelter because I did not want to cross a swollen stream) Think tarp. A two person tarp gives you plenty of room at a weight less than a one person tent. Worried about mosquito season? A SMD Wild Oasis weighs 11 oz.
A tarp can be tied-off between two trees, don't even need your poles every time.
(I have used a tarp hung over me in a hammock skin which I do not have to unpack unless it starts to rain!)

Packs: I have used lots of frameless, but when out for two weeks (JMT), I was really missing a chance to the get weight off my shoulders. A variety of Granite Gear choices fit me well with the light, but effective frames ( eg. Vapor Trail)(Osprey packs are very popular, too, along with ULA and the long stand-by farmes of the Gregory's.) So far, I only remember seeing grey haired guys using Kelty exterior frames from the good ole days.

Keep in mind the cuben fiber pack and shelter options from Zpacks, I see you have a stuff sack from there.

A light with a strong spotlight option works best for me when looking for AT blazes at a distance in the dark. (see Ron Bell's comments) The dimmer lighter options do not work for my eyesight any more except around camp. The popular brands of headlamps have both options in one light.

When using just sticks for waste holes, the holes I dig usually do not get deep enough. Using a winter stake or small non-plastic potty shovel (eg.ProliteGear) really do a better job of it, especially among the roots and rocks. I use shelter latreens a lot even if just passing by. ( Some are only a few yards off the trail.)Many are odor-free composting out-houses with nice views and a door you can kick shut if another hiker comes along.)

You really do have a good list and the advantage of the AT is that it is not too hard to revise as you go. There are many post offices and outfitters along the trail,too. (Walasi, GA, Gatlinburg, one near the Fontana Dam, Standing Indian just outside the northern boundry of the GSNP, Hot Springs, NC (or is it TN?) Damascus,VA, at least one in MD, and Harpers Ferry, Duncannon PA, Port Clyde, PA (Cabella's not far off trail in PA), Delaware Gap, etc…All see thru-hikers everyday!

Seth,

Ultimately its going to come down to what your comfortable with. After a week or two you'll be getting rid of stuff like crazy, including the stuff that now feel like must haves. You'll figure it all out every thing that works for you and doesn't.

As for the bear stuff, you will more than likely only see them in GSMNP, SNP, and Jersey. You have to stay in designated camp grounds in the Smokies anyway, and they have cables. SNP has boxes and poles and Jersey had boxes as well (from what I remember). Again, its up to you but IMO it would probably be easier just to adjust your milage to suite.

I was putting off some work this afternoon and decided to line item veto your list.

"Sorry for the lengthy list — but any help – attaboy's – or input is appreciated — especially regarding Backpack / do I need for a stay system and / or – comfy hipbelt and shoulder strap ideas !"

To keep your shoulders happy with the Exodus I found that folding my sleeping pad(ridgrest 3/4 length) and stuffing it inside the pack between my gear(in it's garbage bag) and my back created a rigid stable load. I also ditched my stuff sacks early on the CDT and simply put my sleeping bag and clothes into my garbage bag liner. This really firmed up the Exodus by eliminating any deadspaces and preventing any shifting of gear throughout a 14 hour day of hiking.
I get pains in my shoulders to due to an old injury(fell off a roof). One trick i use with my Exodus is to occasionally tighten up the sternum strap all the way for a mile or so. Then release it back to normal. this seems to give my shoulder muscles a little break and it nearly always prevents the pain.
With the Exodus the pack sometimes hugs your back so close that you sweat a lot. What i do is loosen the shoulder straps a couple of inches and let the pack sag backwards off my shoulders for a mile or two to give my back a chance to air out. The "hugging" quality is a good thing as the weight is as close as possible to my center of gravity making for sure footed and upright walking.
The thing I can stress the most about the Exodus and other frameless packs I have used is that comfort level is directly affected by how you pack your gear. In order for the waist belt to take any load at all, your gear and sleeping pad need to create the "frame".
So I had my sleeping bag and clothes in a garbage compactor bag with my other gear and food on top and my sleeping pad inside shoved all the way down between my back and the gear. So long as nothing slips the pack stay stable and rigid as if it had stays or a frame. I never had to cram my gear in to achieve the stability.. just stuffed as if it were in a stuffsack.
One of the advantages the Exodus has is that it has a non-tapered main compartment. The Golite Pinnacle I used for the PCT was tapered more widely at the bottom and this caused my gear to loosen up through out the day and result in a crease forming in the back panel that led to all the weight being transferred to my shoulders.
The Exodus never let me down once on the CDT. By packing it with my pad between me and the load it remained stable and never sagged up to total loads of 25lbs. When i got heavier than that the extra weight seemed to all go to my shoulders. (usually this was temporary until i ate that large pizza i was luggin out of town ;)
Nice Gearlist!
I am headed out to the AT in Mid-March maybe i will see you on trail.
Cheers

@ Frank – so right about Ron – he's seems to be very humble about his obvious brilliance in his product designs and manufacturing – I'm looking at a SoloMid set-up for the cold start since I never zip the mesh up anyway in the cold – and I'll be bring a Polycryo ground sheet anyway in case I use a shelter – so add a light inner net and that may take of it…I'll test it out and see..but even with an inner net its 17oz. (netting 12" on sides) and add a head bug net and ground sheet – that's about 20 oz. for the tent – pretty tempting to try versus the (excellent) but heavier Rainbow at over 34 oz….Added a stronger BD Gizmo Headlamp – Thanks Ron – and considered other bags w/ stays – but seem pretty set on sticking with the Exodus – it has the look of a Ferrari – the reliability of a Audi – and the durability of Sherman ….or so it appears on initial tests..may try my 3oz. GSI Cathole trowel for cold start..but I usually can find a rock/stick big enough to get a good hole…..

@Matthew Z- I'll look forward to your line item veto :-P and I agree that it will all sort itself out in the first couple weeks !

@Matt E – Thanks so much for the helpful reminder about how to properly pack a frameless pack – particularly the Exodus — I'll try it out and look for great things from this method !

I hope to see any or all of you out on the trail at some point – my trail name is CTWhistler – I'll be watching for ya :-)

Good luck on the hike. I have trail fever so I bought plane tickets a week ago. So, if you find yourself somewhere between Franklin and I-40 between Mar 19 and 26 I can do the vetoing in person.

I totally hear you Matthew – I'm getting twitchy with all this ice/snow …mainly ice…. that we've been having on the east coast…I wanna go for some test hikes but the weather is crap…and I'm still waiting for some stuff to arrive that was ordered….If I'm in the Franklin area around that time i'll look for the guy with the long checklist and red marking pen :-P