Fathers Day! Need clothes for a hike…

How far are you going to hike in a week? The trail doesn't hit 5000 feet until the Roan Highlands, about 80 miles south of Damascus. The first 50 miles is a pleasant ridgeline walk. In any case, August is hot, even at night, even in the mountains here. That 82/58 average seems low for Damascus — it's pushing 90 there this week, and it's only early June.

I hike in nylon shorts and a wicking s/s shirt, trail runners, light wool socks, and a nylon ball cap. I have a dry pair of shorts and a dry shirt in my pack so I can have dry clothes in camp and for sleeping. My hiking clothes will be completely soaked from sweat, covered in salt stains, and stink to high heaven. I'll rinse them out most nights and hang them to dry a little. I usually skip the rain shell in favor of just getting wet, but I do bring a wind shirt (usually Marmot Driclime, sometimes a Houdini) in case it gets chilly. If I think it might get below 40 at night I'll bring a Montbell down vest, which at ~5oz is a pretty good deal, and a l/s base layer shirt.

Non-clothes stuff:

My 3-season bag is a WM Megalite, which is overkill, but works well as a quilt. A 40-F bag should almost certainly suffice.

Expect afternoon thunderstorms every day, even if they are not forecast.

Expect high humidity. Energy-sapping, soul-sucking humidity.

Plan to stop at Kincora Hostel at Dennis Cove Road. It's an A.T. classic, and one of the few must-stay places on the trail. The owner, Bob Peoples, is an amazing guy. You can send a resupply box, or he can run you into town to a good grocery store.

Have fun. Damascus is a great trail town, and that section of trail is a good one.

Wow…lots of good info you are giving me. So I will ask you more questions until you cry wolf.

BTW…I just got my ounce scale and my base is the following:
* G4 Pack at 13 oz
* Old NorthFace Bag at 36 oz
* Blue Sleeping Pad at 10 oz
* Not got the tent/tarp/hammock yet

For Hiking Clothes…
I have a pair of very light nylon fishing pants with zip off legs and some compression running shorts. That is what I plan on hiking in. Otherwise it looks like I will need to get:
* wicking short sleeve shirt
* light wool socks
* wind shirt
Just wash them every night and hope they dry by morning.
Any particular good links for the shirts and socks?

For Camp Clothes…
Do I keep with the nylon or can I just use some of my regular lightweight cotton clothes (and crocs)?

As you can probably tell, I am not trying to save a little money and focus my purchases on what is most important.

Thanks again

Hi, James,

The nylon zip off fishing pants will be great. I know people who like compression shorts for hiking, though I would find them far too hot. Bring some powder for your, er, you know. I like Gold Bond powder, and apply it liberally throughout the day in the summer.

You can get a very nice wicking shirt at Target for about $10-12, or pay four times that at a running store or outfitter. Either will work fine. Target also has nylon wind shirts, but they tend to be heavier than I want. If you can find the Marmot DriClime Original Windshirt on sale somewhere, it's a good long term purchase. (Check Sierra Trading Post, Backcountry Gear, etc. They are often on sale.) Or just use a nylon fishing shirt if you have one. You can get the socks at the same place you get the wind shirt.

Cotton is okay in camp and to sleep in. I'm going to make an assumption here that you're not that experienced, and suggest that you take a fleece pullover or jacket on this hike. If the temps drop into the 50s or lower, you'll appreciate having it at night and in the morning. Plus it makes a nice pillow. I always take a very light fleece beanie and some gloves, even in the summer, though I guess I am not a "true ultralight hiker." Crocs are fine for camp shoes, I always take a pair (reprise "not a true ultralight….. :-)

The key is to keep your sleeping clothes dry. So in the morning you get to put on your wet, clammy hiking clothes (yay!) and pack your sleeping clothes into whatever waterproofing system you choose for your sleeping bag. (I like a trash compactor bag inside my pack. Sleeping bag and clothing go inside, then the top is twisted and folded under itself.)

You can wait until you hit Damascus and buy the socks and even the wind shirt at the outfitters there.

Thanks, I now pretty much know what clothes I have and what I need to get.

A couple more questions, if I may.

1. What water filtration system to you recommend?
2. I am thinking about skipping the whole cooking thing. I figure I can do dried fruits, nuts, and meats along with cereal and powdered milk. (And excedrin for my coffee habit). Is this going to make the week harder or potentially easier since the meal prep is simplified?
3. I am up in the air about tent/tarp/hammock selection. Just curious what you use.

Thank…

1. Water treatment: I use Aqua Mira drops for solo hiking. The set of bottles is light weight, costs about $15, and lasts me more than a year. For family hikes we take a Katadyn Hiker filter. My wife prefers filtered water, and I find it faster for two or three people than treating large amounts of water with AM.

2. Plenty of hikers don't cook hot meals in hot weather. The last thing I want at the end of a hot, sweaty day is a pot full of cheesy glop. Don't forget cheese, the little red baby bells will last a couple of days. Jerky is good, and gorp, and plenty of nuts and dried fruit. My favorite trail sandwich is a bag of tuna, several mayo packets, and a tortilla — works for lunch or dinner. Peanut butter will work, too, or Nutella. Flour tortillas are great for any of this stuff. We've also liked instant hummous with tortillas or pita bread — if you eat it for lunch the first day, bring a cucumber too. Makes a tasty high-protein meal. Chocolate covered espresso beans are my favorite caffeine supply device. But they might have a melting problem in the summer heat.

Overall I would think that you'd find meal prep easier without having to cook — at least I do under those conditions. Just realize that your overall food weight will be a little heavier.

3. I have and use all three shelters, depending on the conditions. In the summer, for solo hiking, I like my hammock — a Hennessy Explorer UL. It's eight years old and going strong, though I really only use it in the summer. I use a 3/4 length Ridgerest pad inside under my torso for warmth — you'd be surprised how cold it gets even in the summer in a hammock. The pad does double duty at meals and breaks and naps. The advantages of a hammock are: ease of setup anywhere there are two trees; weather protection; true sleeping comfort.

For the best all-around solo shelter, I would vote hands down for my Tarptent Moment. It's a single-wall tent with full mesh enclosure, great weather protection, and tons of room even for a large hiker (like me.) If I could have only one solo shelter, this would be it. Easy setup, good views, not too expensive, etc.

Good luck. It'll be a fun hike.

Ken,
Thanks for the good advice. I now plan on using the aqua mira. Also, I didn't even think about mayo/mustard packets, sealed tuna/chicken bags, and tortillas. Who knows, maybe some taco sauce packets, but only if they are mild.

I went ahead and got a couple of cheap 1 man biker tents for my son and I. My Father's Day list was already too expensive. I need to think about next year for gear upgrades…or my birthday…or Christmas.

Anyways, I got another question…what about bears? Do I need to tie my foot up PCT style or do I just bag the heck out of the food and trash and leave my back with me in my tent?

Thanks again.