Modified G6 for Oct Hike

Bill – After having talked about this hike for the past few months, it must have been GREAT to get out there and do a full-on gear shakedown.

Sam,

You are so right. It was really great being back in the woods. It had been over three years.

I am looking forward to my next hike. I hope to go for at least 30 days next time. If I work it right I might be able to go from Springer Mt to Mt Katahdin in 2007. I can’t be gone longer the 3 months without a follow-up exam but may be able to stop my hike for a couple of weeks to do the exams etc and then continue on.

I am playing with some designs for some new gear for colder weather. If all goes well I might start as early as Jan 2007 going north (AT) for 30 to 60 days or so for a gear test.

My cold weather gear goal is Sub 5 ?? pounds if it is possible. I really want my gear lighter than that but I am not sure I can get lower and stay alive.

What’s the longest between re-supplies along the AT? That’s a great long distance trail for going SUL.

Bill,

I love your removable front pocket/bear bag idea. Brilliant!

Sam,

On the AT I would try and re-supply about every 3 to 5 days. If I use something like Dry Ensure I will need to mail it ahead. I need about one pound of the dry stuff per day. I look at a hike as just so many resupply cycles so it is just 3 to 5 days at a time. In mild weather – temperature wise – SUL should not be that big a deal. I would not die to prove a point so if I had to carry more for awhile to stay warm I would. I slept on the ground without pads two nights on my hike in GA and was OK.

Michael,

Thanks. I exchange emails with Glen Van Peski about Sub 2 pound gear lists and modifying my G6. He mentioned that he used a mesh bag for things in his pack and at night used the mesh bag as a bear bag. That was the spark for the idea to use the mesh Pack pocket also as a bear bag so Glen gets the credit for the basic idea. What I did was make a way to attach the mesh bag to the pack so it could be removed without a lot of trouble.

Bill,
I agree with Michael, the mesh pocket/bear bag idea you and Glen came up with is one of those forhead-slapping “why didn’t I think of that” ideas which I believe should be integrated into future production SUL packs. You mentioned returning to hiking after a 3 year absence, I returned to hiking after a 10 year absence; and I can totally appreciate the good feeling of being back in nature again.

Bill, I just wanted to say how happy it makes me to see you out on the trail. Congratulations and happy trails.

Bill,

Congrats on your health allowing you to be out there. I truly enjoyed seeing the pics of you on the trail – felt very happy for you and want to thank you for sharing your pics with us and for allowing me to experience vicariously some of your joy.

If you don’t mind the company, hope to be able to hook up with you on the AT for a few days in ’07 when you get nearer to CT on your push to Katadhin.

Take care.