It Looks like I finally have a start date for the AT.  March 19 I will set my trail runners toward North and keep them that way for 2185 miles.  Up until now it has taken me two seasons each to finish the PCT and CDT.  I am hoping by leaving the kid and husband behind I will get up earlier, cook less and hike more.  Right now I am working on a gear list and trying desperately to keep my pack light.  Should I bring the Umbrella or microspikes? Can I really afford to bring my heavy Kindle Fire? and what is up with nothing weighing what was promised.  I bought a pair of hiking poles at Christmas, 6 oz, 2 poles? Exped Lite 195 grams.  I put them on a scale, 9 ozs each! WTF.

MamaMoab’s AT Gear List

It’s official on March 19^th I will start my Northbound hike on the Appalachian Trail.  I have everything I will need but I can’t seem to stop getting stuff.  My final base pack Weight will probably be a bit heavier than I want.

I’ll start with my backpack, a circa 2012 Gossamer Gear Mariposa, after thousands of trail miles it has one Gorilla Tape patch that may have weighed it down a bit.  1.81 lbs or 821 grams

Shelter and Sleeping System:

REI Womens Joule Sleeping Bag  2.12 lbs or 964 grams

Therma Rest Prolite   .69 lbs 20 grams

Gossamer Gear Spinn Shelter .75 lbs or 22 grams

Equinox Bivie cover .43 lb or 195 grams

Eqiuinox  Mantis Ultralite Netting .25 lbs.  113 grams

Gossamer Gear Polycro tarp  .23 lbs  104

I think this system will be smart, the bivie and Mantis can be used in shepters and the Tarp for tenting.  It will be a very flexible system

 

Kitchen

Snow Peaks Titanium 700 ml pot .3 lb 137 g

Sawyer Filter set .26 lb 118 g

Aqua Mira in small squirt bottles 1 week worth .07 lb 33g

Whitebox Alcohol Stove .063 lb 29g

Platypus water reservoir and tubing

Titanium Snowpeaks  spork  .04 lb 17g

Gerber Flint and steel .08 lb 35g

Ziplock cozy .063 lb  29g

Ursack White S29 food bag with OpSack .5 lb 217g

Clothes

LL Bean 850 Down Puffy coat .875 lb 400 g

Montbell UL down Vest  .343 lb  155g

Marmot long johns .3 lbs 136 g

EMS long john top .4 lbs 181

Marmot Crystalline Rain Jacket .43 lb 195g

REI Rain Pants .66 lb 299g

Warm fleece hat  .01lb 5 g

Darn Tough Socks X 2 .1 lb 44 g each

 

 Toiletries

Weight on these varies by consumables and need.  This is my very basic kit.  .27 lb 122g

 

 

Electronics:

Anker 10000 mAu charger, charge cord, Sansa Clip with 64g sd card, Samsung s3 mini with 64g sd card. Petzl UL headlamp, headphones, wall plug 1lb 454 g

 

GPS

Garmin Oregon 450T with Apalachian Trail downloaded onto sd card

.47 lb 213g

 

OK that’s it.

14 lb base weight

Still missing:

Personal meds, repair kit and bear spray (my hubbie is insisting)

Food strategies: On the PCT I shipped everything.  What an expensive mess that was.  On the CDT I was smarter, a well supplied bounce box provides the support some of you lucky hikers have at home.  It will contain some vegetarian proteins from Harmony House, Broken in spare shoes, contacts, extra meds, Nido, some bulk Backpacker Pantry dinners, big 4 USB charging plug.  Then when I get to a largish trail town I can ship to any places that needs it. The shipping is usually cheaper that way.   This hike I have a tiny cookpot, a flint and steel, an alcohol stove, a small cup.  There will also be a ziplock cozy that I haven’t made yet.

 

I will also be shipping a bounce box.  A bounce box is a box you ship to yourself farther up the trail.  I put spare clothes, protein sources to add to meals, extravagant stuff like binoculars, a painting set, contacts if something happens to my glasses, a few pairs of shoes, a cute dress and clean panties and socks, flip flops or crocs. It will also contain bandaids and extra prescriptions.

To my friends and family,

One more thru hike! This year I will spend 6 months hiking the Appalachian Trail.  As in the past, I will be picking up mail and packages at a few places.  If you would like to drop me a line or a box of goodies while I am hiking you may follow this schedule.  To send mail to me address it to Vicky Mattson c/o General Delivery  <Town Name> <Town Zip>.  Please also write AT hiker and my appx arrival date on the package.

MamaMoab’s AT Post Offices

 

Mileage	date	Town	Zip	Ship by
107.7	4/3	Franklin NC	28734	3/14
151	4/7	Fontana Village, NC (ship resupply box as well)	28733	3/14
204	4/11	Gatlinburg,  NC	37738	3/25
463.5	5/3	Damascus, VA	24236	4/1
626.4	5/13	Pearlsburg VA	24134	4/15
993	5/28	Harpers Ferry WV	25425	5/1
1347	6/19	Vernon,  NJ	07462	5/15
1481	6/26	Falls Village, CT	06031	5/29
1691	7/11	Rutland, VT	05701	6/15
1881	7/23	Gorham, NH	03581	7/1
1991	8/3	Stratton,  ME	04982	7/15
2046	8/6	Monson,  ME (send Bounce home) Last mail drop	04464	7/15

 

Thank you Zach for giving me this blog space.  I am excited to be an official author.  If readers are interested in my previous hikes of PCT 2011 and 2012 or the CDT 2013 and 2014. You may find the photos and stories on my old blog vickyandjay.blogspot.com

I hope you enjoy this and future posts