Choosing Our Gear for this Hike

The idea of hiking thousands of miles and bringing everything you need on your back is a bit mind boggling.  What do you bring and how does one figure that out?  For us it was a matter of education, shaking down those gear purchases, and misadventure resulting in knowledge gain.

Education

We made our way out to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy HQ in Harpers Ferry and spoke to several AT alums but found the hikes they described as varied as the speakers.  Between the two of us, we were able to pick up some hints, a good guidebook, some great vlogger and site recommendations, and were able to rule out some of our other ideas.  We joined the ATC and thoroughly read the A.T. Journey magazine and Guidebook.  We read the Trek site and saw what other successful hikers were carrying.  Also, we went to some events at local outfitters and REI where trail clubs discussed their experiences and their recommendations.  Many of the presenters and some of the salespeople had also walked the trail.  Overall, this formed the basis of how we chose our equipment.

Shaking down the Gear and the Associated Costs

We took our gear for 20+ mile multi-day romps on the Pine Mountain Trail in GA, the Smoky Mountain National Park in TN, a 77-miler with the Foothills Trail in SC, section hiked the entire Palmetto Trail, and took it to multiple state parks in SC and VA.  We still don’t have it entirely worked out, and I guess that’s the point.  This journey is an evolving process and as we grow as hikers, our gear changes.  Based on our experiences, this is some of the gear we will be bringing with us:

Our Big Three

Packs – I have an Osprey Atmos 65L.  MaWampus has a 55L Gregory Maven.  We spent hours at REI walking up and down stairs under staff observation.  When we started, we filled those bags – even with canned goods once – and learned even if the bag can take it, we cannot.  Knowledge cost:  6 weeks of chiropractic visits and a broken pack strap.

Housing – We have a 3P Marmot Tungsten UL. It’s heavier at 4lbs, but it fits us both and our stuff.  The vestibule keeps boots dry and doubles as a cooking area in extremely wet weather.  Lots of online complaints about leaking, but on the Foothills we camped by a beautiful creek, and later awoke to a thunderstorm and flooding.  While the tent sat in an inch of water, we remained dry inside it.  The one issue we have seen is to make sure you don’t step on the ample netting during assembly/disassembly.  Knowledge cost:  Lots of bug bites.

Sleeping System – We use the NEMO Tempo 20 and a liner.  These synthetic bags can be zipped together.   We use the Thermarest trail scouts sleeping pads.  I resisted the sleeping bag idea until I was schooled on R values on a summer trip to Jones Gap SP, where it dipped to 40 F.  Since using the system, there was one night on the Foothills where the temp dropped enough to freeze my sweaty hat to the branch I had left it on; however, despite the cold, I slept like a baby.  Knowledge cost:  A sleepless night followed by a crap hiking day at beautiful Jones Gap SP.

What We Wear

Boots – I plan on wearing my Merrell’s (Moab 3) while MaWampus is wearing Timberland Outdoor Performance – Gortex boots with some Dr. Scholl’s RUN insoles.  Lots of conversations on boots vs trail runners.  We found out on a hike up Mt. Mitchell (NC) and another in the Smokies that we are not coordinated enough to avoid the rocks when we are tired.  There were tears.  We need boots, roomy boots, not tight fitting.  Knowledge cost: 1 large toenail and a painful 10-mile hike out of the Smokies.

Clothing:  MaWampus continues to work out her clothing choices, but one thing going for sure is her Kuhl Born in the Mountains puffy.  Dual zipper and extremely warm, it’s great for even unexpectedly cold days.  She also has a homemade knitted merino sweater with built in neck/face gaiter.  For me, merino socks by Toughland, old convertible zip off pants, synthetic hanes, and nylon/rayon shirts made by MaWampus.  Also have an REI puffy, which I resisted for quite a while.  In the Smokies, with coyotes howling in the distance, I told MaWampus they were Dire Wolves from Game of Thrones, which seemed apt vengeance for the whole Australian Drop Bear thing.  However, standing around in a fleece and your skivvies at 3 AM in 38F, waiting for your wife to finish going pee, is not winning.  Knowledge cost:  See above but in the Smokies

Staying Dry

Rain Gear:  Still evolving for me but trying the Packa.  MaWampus will be using a Outdoor Research Aspire 2 Gore-Tex jacket and a Tyvek skirt self-creation.  Ma Wampus has a pack cover, and I have the Packa.

Rain jackets leave me sweaty, so I used a cheap poncho on the Foothills Trail.  During our flooding incident, I advanced a plan to exit the tent, pull the stakes, advise accordingly, and then together, we would pick up the tent and move it up the hill.  After I exited the tent, the howling wind caught my poncho like a sail and ripped it right off and straight up.  In fact, it might still be flying around like some sort of jacked up dementor.  Should you see it, just remember your Patronus charm, and you should be fine.

For the remainder of the hike, about 3 days, I had to take out one of the trash bags I use as a bag liner and make a makeshift field jacket with it.  MaWampus, however, referred to it as my little trashbag dress.  Here we learned not to camp right by the river and the cons of a poncho. Knowledge cost:  Some charging cords, our deuce of spades trowel, and my dignity.

Eating and Drinking Equipment

Kitchen:  We use the BioLite CampStove.  There was a lot of discussion over its weight between us and finally MaWampus said it was her deal and she was carrying it.  She has carried it for hundreds of miles.  It’s heavy but we get 2 hot meals each day, our tea in the morning, and it charges our electronics – especially our emergency comms.  We are not dependent on getting to town to charge something – we make our own power.  Yes, we know the counters, but we are keeping it.

We increase that weight by taking along a bear canister.  It’s my issue.  At Jones Gap SP SC we were told to use a canister or hang our bags.  I hung the bags, finally, and fully impressed MaWampus with my capabilities of swearing in multiple languages.  Our neighbor did not bother to hang his food and his camping trip ended early.  The ranger told us the bear involved might be a recidivist, which could be a problem for the bear.  We never want to be the problem for the bear, so I will carry the extra weight.   Knowledge cost:  The neighbor’s weekend and maybe a bear.

Hydration:  I carry a couple of smart water bottles, and MaWampus uses a bladder and one smaller bottle.  For filtration we use the Sawyer Squeeze and Cnoc. I didn’t know about Cnoc during our initial hike in a hot and dry July, on the Pine Mountain Trail in GA.  Using the Sawyer water collection bag in essentially a mud puddle that used to be a stream, I was convinced that Sawyer had some sadist working for them.  Cnoc has been awesome – just watch the Sawyer O ring so as not to lose it.  Knowledge cost:  Blood pressure spike.

Other Necessaries

Comms:  Garmin Inreach Mini and two phones.  On the Palmetto Trail, after some heavy blowdowns, we lost the trail.  I saw something I thought was a trail that went down a cliff side, like Old Rag VA, and headed that way. Nope.  I turned to go back and the rock I was standing on slipped, and I slid.  Unsuccessfully clawing at roots and plants, I finally hit something hard with my foot, was briefly airborne, and landed on my back.  The fall was about 8 ft, but the slide and scramble was a good 15.  No air in the old lungs, I thought I might just take a moment.  MaWampus came running after hearing the commotion and saw her husband on his back not moving, about 20 ft down a cliff.  Tears.

After our hug out back at the top of the cliff, we concluded that we needed a more pragmatic emergency response. Homemade Wanderlust has a great video on this topic.  Knowledge cost:  Felt that one the next day.

Misc:  We have some other odds and ends.  Some have been tested, others not as much.  I have an electric lighter and the Packa – untested.  We have a rather spartan first aid kit, 2 extra lighters, couple of camp mugs (Tea is a thing), a cloth and a chamois, some hygiene items (hand sanitizer/soap, TP, P-Style, trowel, toothbrushes and paste), and a little paracord – tested.  There are also two power banks – a zippo heatbank that doubles as a flashlight and a hand warmer, and a Zendure 10k amh. That’s really about it for us.  Our base weight comes in around 20 lbs each.

Not Everything Made the Cut

Many things will be left behind.  Some evolved – ex. puffy replaced fleece (I decided I don’t need both).  Other items were too heavy and or of questionable utility – a large knife, solar panels, monocular, fire starters, sit-upons, books, a skillet, canned goods, a first aid kit that could address a sucking chest wound, and extra clothes.

This is IT – Maybe

The gear we have chosen fits our style of hike; however, we are under no illusion that our choices will remain unchanged throughout our journey and our future inevitable little misadventures.  Fortunately, gear replacement or procurement, due to the number of towns with outfitters on the AT and or internet shopping combined with modern era mail service, provides flexibility in this area.  Regardless, our current choices have led us to this point in our journey, and we are anxious, but excited, to see what tomorrow brings!