April AZT thru – help trim!

[Haiku]

Hey all-

Pretty close to dialed in here on AZT list.  I would like to trim a lil if possible due to water concerns this year but not really sure what options there are.  Main thing I was thinking was taking like a 150 merino LS instead of patagonia cap hoodie.  I guess there’s always no cook but every thru I’ve done so far I’ve ended up cooking more as I went on instead of less.  Also not really sure what best battery bank option is- I don’t own one yet, I’ve previously always used replaceable batteries, but current phone doesn’t have this.  I need at least some capacity bc I’m gathering data for Adventure Scientists.

PS I tend to sleep cold, this setup was good for me on PCT last year.  I don’t know how a mid-May start there differs with early April start on AZT.

Ideas?

https://lighterpack.com/r/evzgxr

[HkNewman]

Right now the desert southwest is experiencing a heat wave/new drought, so you may look at more water and maybe bouncing your puffy across the hotter parts of the AZT, letting a much lighter wind jacket (I’m trying out the EE Copperfield in 10d) serve as “warmth”.  Your  10°F quilt alone should serve more than enough camp warmth in AZ April unless you in Flagstaff for a snowstorm.  The Huachuca Mtns at the southern start and maybe the Mogollon could be cold too if a front comes through Easter time like it always does in neighboring New Mexico.     Also added water carriage like an additional 2L bladder or a 3L platypus inside the pack to avoid “sharpy” punctures.

I’m keeping watch on a possible rain storm mid-Feb doing part of the AZT or surrounding trail real quick here.  It’s roughly 10°F  hotter than warmer normals throughout the desert starting out in 2018.

[Matthew / BPL]

I’ll second what HK says. Here in Phoenix I’m pretty sure we have only had one day of rain since September and the forecast for Thursday is 90°.

Typically the roads on the Mogollon Rim closes each year from approximately 12/1–4/1 due to snow. The roads never closed this year.

I believe Flagstaff had it’s first snow right around New Years and it melted off quickly. No snow since then.

 

[Haiku]

I think the water carries should be like 40 miles at most, at least that’s what people are saying in the FB group, right?  I tend to do 10-12 miles/L in desert conditions (maybe 15mi/L when night hiking) so I was thinking 4+L would be good (cooking only at water sources).  Do y’all think there will be more than 40 mile carries?  When/where would those be?

Also about puffy- I used it most nights (even hiked in it a few days) hiking the PCT with mid-May start last year.  It would have been a mess if I didn’t have it on the PCT.  I figured April in AZ will be similar if not colder than mid-May in SoCal?  Is this very off?

I HATE wind jackets so I don’t think that’s an option for me.  I do sleep very cold I will mention, my first week at least on the PCT I slept in all my clothes including puffy.

[Matthew / BPL]

I go through more than 1 liter per 10 miles in dry conditions when the temps get into the 80s and the sun is on me. It never occurred to me to measure water by mileage but when I think about hikes and trips I’ve been on I go through more than that.

I know there’s a big carry north of Flagstaff. I’d be more concerned about the low elevations between Mexico to the Superstitions.

Disclaimer: You’ve done way more long distance hiking than I have.

[David Thomas]

Seems like you have most everything very dialed in already.  If your food needs to be cooked, I’d carry the extra 11 grams for another mini-Bic, maybe kept in your first aid kit.

I don’t see sunscreen or toilet paper called out, maybe those are elsewhere under consumables.

I like the umbrella, even if it is 8 ounces – I feel 10F cooler under one.  Remember that during a break you can deploy it on top of a bush or tree branch for hands-free, 100% shade instead of mottled sunlight through the foliage.

I’m brainstorming here, but if you only have 1-2 long water carries, how about one or two quart zip-locks, supported by your Opsack, for that last liter or two?

if you bring some heavy-duty aluminum foil, or, ideally, some pre-cut Ti foil, to provide a windscreen around the Starlyte and Epigas 800ml, you might save more alcohol weight and be less sensitive to wind.

You asked about battery banks but I’m going to talk about chargers and cables.  IMNSHO, an ammeter is VERY helpful for assessing the relative merits of different cables and chargers.  I’ve had charger/cable combinations that seemed weird – like my phone barely charged on them.  And others that seemed to charge things very quickly.  Once I put an in-line USB ammeter on the assembly, it was immediately obvious that in the same situation (same phone in the same state of charge, because I was plugging it into and out of different charger/cable combos), that not all chargers nor cables are created the same.  One might be doing 0.92 amps into the same phone that another combo only charged at 0.18 amps.  Whatever battery bank and phone you have, you’ll want them to charge quickly at a gas station, grocery, restaurant, or hostel.  Use one of these ammeters to assess your chargers and cables in advance.    $2.85 each with free (slow) shipping, they’ve been a stocking-stuffer for all my gear-geek friends for a few years now.  Don’t bring on the hike, but use it, as one would a digital scale, to rate your gear in advance.

 

https://www.ebay.com/i/152823394225?chn=ps

[Haiku]

Hm.  Interesting about the charge things.  I start to glaze over a lil with tech speak but I think I get the gist of it; I think I had an issue like this early on the PCT so will look into it.

Matthew K I tend to do 10-12 miles a L in open sun/with deployed umbrella in temps anywhere from mid 60s to 90sF.  At night if it’s like 70s or something I’ve done as much as 20 miles on a L.  IDK why but I’m a camel for whatever reason. I used 3L of water twice on the PCT, one on a 39 mi carry (granted, mostly at night) to give an idea (tho would have liked more than 2L of capacity @ Hat Creek Rim, I’d long since tossed my extra bottle since I never used it.  It was 105 that day.)  I’ve tried drinking more and I always feel like junk, I’m over it, and try to be grateful.  I’m just more concerned does 40 mile stretches seem right?  Or might it be even more?  It’s hard to get good info on the FB page sometimes bc there are a lot of section hikers, and people with heavier packs that I think have more water requirements for toting that stuff, or doing shorter distances.

The section I did in Nov from Flag to Grand Canyon FWIW I got water every 20-25 mi, many sources dry, I never used caches and was just fine with 2L supply (I cooked at the sources).  Though obviously it was colder (but also didn’t have umbrella).  I’m also not doing that section again- subbing some post-hike wandering in South Coyote Buttes and maybe Buckskin Gulch too.

I don’t use sunscreen bc I have an umbrella, I rarely get burnt, and often get rashes from sunscreen.  I use natural materials excepting a few wet wipes for pd week which for me I count as consumable.

I’ve used a windscreen off and on (just tin foil folded up) and I find it’s just not necessary, I just try to find a really sheltered spot (or create with my legs around it or something) and it seems not to make a huge difference in fuel.

With not having a puffy…hmm…I just am unsure about what to sub and if I would get too cold.  Or where would get it back.  I’m looking at Payson for instance outside of Phoenix, it says typical April lows are in the 30s-40s at night? Same @ Sierra Vista.  Also then you were saying to do cap hoody + wind jacket for the warmth, is that right?  I’ve tried wind jackets several times over just my dress and just don’t seem to like them, I don’t find them all that warm, but sweat like right away, making me take it off and on a million times before I say screw it.  I thought it was just the cheap ones I had at first but it was like that even with a Tachyon (just sold).  Maybe I’m doin it wrong?  IDK.

[Matthew / BPL]

David, I’m very interested in your post about cables. I ordered a usb ammeter from Amazon and I’m be VERY curious to see the differences between different setups I’ve used in the past. I may hit you up for more information on the topic at a later date.

Regarding water, it sounds like you have it figured out for you. I can’t advise you on the length of dry stretches.

You mentioned Payson in relation to cold temps. Look at weather in Clint’s Well, which is 1000’ higher on top of the rim. The AZT passes maybe 10 miles to the north of CW as it heads towards Stoneman Lake, and Mormon Lake towards Flagstaff. I’d expect historical lows to be in the around freezing in that area during April based on trips in the area each spring over the last few years.

[Haiku]

“I’d expect historical lows to be in the around freezing in that area during April based on trips in the area each spring over the last few years.”

Guess I’m bringing that puffy lol.

 

 

[Matthew / BPL]

5/1/2016 on the Cabin Loop about two miles east of AZT Passage 27. It was colder two weeks earlier but was snowing less. Obviously a couple of cold weekend in April does not represent all April hiking in all of Arizona but if you are prone to getting cold then yes, bring the puffy.

[Author]

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