Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail May 2015, 3-day (first timer, looking for critiques and wisdom)

That's an interesting tent–similar to my Copper Spur.

Assuming no bushwhacking and few deadfalls and not winter, I'd prefer a DriDucks jacket over silnylon. It's less durable, but much more breathable. Plan on using Tyvek tape or duct tape to patch it *when* you get holes or rips. It works for me as a wind shell for around camp or very windy.

I'd only bring 2 pair of socks, one stays dry for sleeping. The other stays wet most likely, although Gore-Tex socks might keep them just damp.

Some have reported warmth issue with the older BA Insulated Air Core. You do have the insulated one, right?

For May, my base layer is a short sleeve polyester Champion t-shirt from Target. Then, I bring a thin 50-100 weight fleece jacket which is either for cold hiking days or my only camp insulation.

I suggest considering these changes:

Add:
map
whistle
backup firestarter
sunglasses
trash compactor bag for pack liner

Cut down some of your toiletries and lotions to bare minimum, as in 0.5-1.5 oz including dropper bottle

Many carry a first aid kit which is around 1-3 oz.

You probably won't need to carry more than 1 liter of water, except at camp.

I like to use a 19" x 19" 1/4" thick foam pad as a sit pad (1.9 oz), and it doubles as extra insulation under my torso when sleeping. It's a section of green military sleeping pad.

Finding the right soil and a sturdy stick can replace a trowel.

Finding the right materials can replace TP.

I did the trail last summer and I considered it "luxury hiking" as it was well marked, maintained, easy logistics and good accomodations at each campsite. Great trail for a new backpacker, if you need help planning feel free to pm me.

– You can rent a primative shelter at each designated campsite for $5 a night. WELL WORTH IT. I didnt have to carry a tent and that was great! I did the trail in May and it was very warm. If it got cold, the shelters have a fireplace with stocked wood.

– All designated camp sites have a privys. Never had to "go in the woods" (trowel not needed), there is TP and Hand Sanitizer in each privy.

– Plenty of water, if you choose to use the wells at the campsites you will still need to filter it. We ruined two filters on this trip, there was a lot of sediment in the water that clogged filters very easily. I would reccomend bringing some type of additional pre-filter for your water.

– I only carried a mont-bell puffy jacket (not needed for the temp I experienced) and my rain jacket for additional layers. Otherwise I just had my hiking clothing, a fleece hat and two pairs of socks.

– If you decide to rent a shelter, bring a very thin piece of plastic to put your sleeping pad on. The floor can be a bit rough- I got a hole in my neo air.

– 8oz is quite a lot for a first aid kit, can you list what in that?

– Seems like a lot of kitchen stuff, you only really need a pot, stove, spork and windscreen.

– Ditch the lotion and just use the sunscreen for both (or ditch both, sunscreen isn't really needed, the trail is well covered)

– 4oz bear bag? That sounds like a lot, just need some cord and a stuff sack

Mike Clelland(NOLs instructor and author),he has some great free videos on lightening up be sure to watch(his clothing system,the entire contents of his pack,water treatment and part 1 and 2 on the dinky stuff for ideas),this is an article he wrote The fastest way to backpack weight loss ,this is pmags Lightweight Backpacking 101 and The Frugal Backpacker – The $300 Gear Challenge .These are some other articles and videos for you to check out

Backpacking for Cheap: Gear for the Gearless

Backpacking Checklist (Gear List): 3-Season, 3-Day

Lightweight Backpacking 101: An Introductory Manual for Lightening Your Load Today (1st Edition – August 2001)

Cheap Ultralight Gear List

Ultimate Hiking Gear & Skills Clinic

Oregon Field Guide: Ultralight Hiking

Lightweight Testimony: Lighter, Farther, Faster
Jamie Shortt talks about his progression and shows his gear list for each stage, Lightweight Testimony: My Journey into Lightweight Backpacking
CleverHiker Light weight Basics
CleverHiker Trail Skills

The laurel highlands is an excellent trail, especially in may. You will have a blast getting into backpacking on this trail.

I would:

leave the tent at home the shelters are great, just bring some cheapo blue tarps to hang on the doorways if there is going to be a big storm come through (I did a section of the trail in winter and there was 18" of snow over night up there, the pre-cut wood comes in handy)

only bring 2 pair of socks, there will be no stream crossing, they all have bridges

bring a filter and make sure to let the pump run for a few minutes before filling, most camp sites have streams that taste a lot better than the pump water

as for your base layer,
i just picked up a ECWCS genIII(military artic combat clothing) fleece for $10 at the surplus store. the level one has the exact same specs a patagonia capilene series, and the level two is the exact same specs as the R1 series. probably a couple ounces heavier, but one tenth the price is hard to pass up.

if you are looking for any specific pointers on what miles to do and the specific shelters give me a pm. i would be more than happy to help.

Martin

I'll start by first thanking everyone for the responses – this community is really great!

Andy F – I'm dropping the extra cash for something durable in the rain jacket department just because I really hate to replace gear, and also because I'm trying to watch every ounce. At this point I think 4.8oz for a vented jacket is about the best I can do, and for the area I can expect steady rainfall fairly often.

I think you're right about the socks – I can wash the day socks at the campsite and dry them out, I only need one pair for a 3 day hike during the days and since those will be coolmax socks, I'm going to pack a pair for sleeping that is thicker merino wool (open to suggestions there).

I do have what I believe is the newest insulated air core – it feels really warm when I tried it out at home, so I'm hoping there aren't any cool spots, I'll have to try it out out back before I take it on a 3 day trip though.

I think I'm going with the mont-bell synthetic long sleeve in place of a fleece, I think it'll weigh less and compress a bit more. If it turns out not to be warm enough I'll replace it with the wool version. I have a Columbia fleece and it is pretty heavy and won't compress well. I'm not sure what the weight of it is, it's what I think is the "standard thickness", if that's bigger than 100 weight I'm not sure.

I added my prescription sunglasses, whistle, and a 2nd bic mini – as well as a 2oz silnylon pack cover (instead of a trash compactor bag, I don't like a wet pack).

I've had a heck of a time finding detailed topo maps of the LHHT but will keep looking.

I'll squeeze out more of the lotion and bug repellent but I'm super white so I'm going to keep the 1.8 oz of sunblock – I put it on like 5x a day usually (it's the hippy dippy stuff so it needs re-applied constantly).

A few people brought up the first aid kit weight – I cut it by a remarkable 50%, it's still a lot heavier than other people's kits but having lived in DC and having carried practically a full EMT kit daily, it's still over what other people carry here – 4.5oz. Here's the current manifest:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wn1EchWpXchNAYeoqBnk38ZdrR9SwjCKOOIHmFwKkqQ/edit?usp=sharing

Good call on the water, I'm probably carrying too much given the amount of streams I'll pass.

Andy Schill – Good to hear it's luxurious hiking, it'll be a good way to start out. I'll definitely be PM'ing you soon as I firm up more plans for the LHHT.

I'm planning on camping between shelters for at least parts of the trail where there shelters spaced too far apart, thus the tent. Good to know about the stocked privys.

I'm thinking paper coffee filters for prefiltering before the water hits the Sawyer Mini.

The puffy jacket in may thing – I feel like I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. With my luck I'll freeze if I don't bring it but if I do bring it, I'm totally not going to need it with my luck.

I might bring tyvek regardless of shelter or tent – the Air Core seems really thin.

I ditched the bear bag for a coated silnylon 5L drybag and 40' of amsteel 1/16", dropped nearly 3oz.

Link – thanks for the links, I'm working through them.

Martin – thanks for confirming the bridge crossings info, that will let me drop my flip flops. I'll definitely be PM'ing you about which sections to take on first.

Thanks again all!

If you'll be wearing it while hiking, especially in the rain (under rain gear), fleece will perform better.

Will your sleeping quilt and warmest jacket stay dry if you fall briefly in the deepest stream you'll encounter?