Any thru hikers?

my dads doing alot of work with and for the NCT(north country trail) up in pa,if ya need anything up that way give me a holler.
 
Dead dream for me, until I retire.

Hiked the AT since '75. Back in the early 90's, started at Springer with a friend...few days at a time, usually over t-giving and easter weekends. Always started where we left off, 15 to 20-some mile days.

We were doing good until I got married in '02, and got away from it. For several years back in the 80's and 90's, I was hiking in the mountains or somewhere almost every weekend, plus a week or two, probably spending 100 nights a year camping. I've done all of the AT from Springer up thru PA. In the past couple of years, have started backpacking again. It's not as easy now.

Ah well, life gets in the way...do it while you can. Good luck with your hike!
 
Indy Will said:
No advice...just envy your trip.
We started our slow conquest of the AT a few months ago going bit by bit. Hope to be done by our late 30's.
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Sounds like a good goal! I'm heading to Springer tomorrow to hike the approach trail and check out the summit. Want to get a feel for where I'm starting in March as I'll be starting alone.
 
kaiser715 said:
Dead dream for me, until I retire.

Hiked the AT since '75. Back in the early 90's, started at Springer with a friend...few days at a time, usually over t-giving and easter weekends. Always started where we left off, 15 to 20-some mile days.

We were doing good until I got married in '02, and got away from it. For several years back in the 80's and 90's, I was hiking in the mountains or somewhere almost every weekend, plus a week or two, probably spending 100 nights a year camping. I've done all of the AT from Springer up thru PA. In the past couple of years, have started backpacking again. It's not as easy now.

Ah well, life gets in the way...do it while you can. Good luck with your hike!
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That is awesome! I would section hike, but since I'm taking the year off from college here at ETSU, and have the support of my family to help me out with the hike, I decided now was the best time to do it.

Thanks!
 
Hmmm, you asked for advice...

Don't be an ass. (I've seen many thruhikers that think they are privileged because they are a 'thruhiker'. It ain't so.)

Towns suck. As in a vortex that pulls you in. We've had to fight this on our section trips....stop for a burger, especially in the cold, ice, snow, rain...it's pretty hard to leave again. I imagine it's even harder after a few weeks of rain (it happens).

Hike your own hike. It is yours, do it your way. Nobody really cares, but you. That's life. Conversely, let others hike their hike, and let them do it their way. If somebody blue blazes, yellow blazes, whatever, and still calls himself a 2000-miler...well, that's his hike.

Stop and smell the roses. it's not all about miles (but they still have to be done).

Watch out for pink blazes.

Are you keeping an online trail journal?? Where?
 
kaiser715 said:
Hmmm, you asked for advice...

Don't be an ass. (I've seen many thruhikers that think they are privileged because they are a 'thruhiker'. It ain't so.)

Towns suck. As in a vortex that pulls you in. We've had to fight this on our section trips....stop for a burger, especially in the cold, ice, snow, rain...it's pretty hard to leave again. I imagine it's even harder after a few weeks of rain (it happens).

Hike your own hike. It is yours, do it your way. Nobody really cares, but you. That's life. Conversely, let others hike their hike, and let them do it their way. If somebody blue blazes, yellow blazes, whatever, and still calls himself a 2000-miler...well, that's his hike.

Stop and smell the roses. it's not all about miles (but they still have to be done).

Watch out for pink blazes.

Are you keeping an online trail journal?? Where?
Click to expand...

I think you took my quote the wrong way! I was saying thanks for the advice you had given me, not being an ass in any way or form, honestly. Don't know how you took it that way, but sorry you did.

I would have like to hike with someone for sure, but I think since hiking paces are so different, and I will have the freedom to stop where I want, hiking alone will be the best for me.

I can for sure see what your saying about the towns! I guess I can only wait and see how hard it is to leave them once I start to hike. I know when I hit Hot Springs, the hot tubs are going to feel good!

Thanks (on a serious note!) for the advice, everything I hear and read is taken into prospective to prepare for the hike.

-Chris
 
Got a buddy that is doing it this year. He just hit Katahdin a couple of weeks ago, now is backtracking to pick up a few hundred miles he skipped on the way north.
 
What are you guys using for gear on your hikes? Pack? Boots? Tent or tarp? stove (alcohol?), and so on.

I'm going be hiking in the Asolo Moran GTX boots, but maybe switch it up to the Merrell Phaser Peaks if I don't like the Asolo's. I have weak ankles, so need the support the Asolo's offer.

As for a pack, I will be purchasing one within the new few weeks. It's between the REI Ridgeline 65 or the Osprey Atmos 65. I like the suspension on the Osprey a lot better than the REI so I believe I'll be going with that pack.

I'm going to using a tent instead of a tarp. Maybe a hammock during the summer months (a ultralight weight one) as well as a tent. I have narrowed it down to three, just not sure which one yet.
 
NCcummins said:
I think you took my quote the wrong way! I was saying thanks for the advice you had given me, not being an ass in any way or form, honestly. Don't know how you took it that way, but sorry you did.
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Nope, didn't take it the wrong way, or any way at all...I was typing that up after my first post, and didn't even see your reply until after the second post.

That was just advice...applies to everyone. (even here) :D

I might make that my .sig line..."Don't be an ass!" :bounce2:
 
saf-t scissors said:
Got a buddy that is doing it this year. He just hit Katahdin a couple of weeks ago, now is backtracking to pick up a few hundred miles he skipped on the way north.
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That's great! So is he currently hiking right now SoBo? or is he going to start this year and thru hike? I did Katahdin the first week of Sept. and it was AWESOME! I used to live in Maine, and never hiked it while I did (not smart). That mountain is amazing.
 
I own an Osprey Atmos 65. Cyd has one also... except whatever the girl version is called. Mine's the older one where the springback stuff makes it somewhat tough to pack. Needs to be several small things rather than one big thing, etc. But the new ones are much better about this. I like it a lot, good compromise between having enough features and pockets to be easily organized and versatile, but light weight enough not to be a load in and of itself.

I've owned many pair of Asolo boots. Switched to Vasque several years ago. So long as you're in a well-built boot, the brand doesn't matter as much as the fit.

Biggest advice I've heard from people that have done it... is that sooner or later, you minimize the amount of crap that you have to do in camp every day. This usually means getting rid of the tent for a bivvy, then getting rid of the bivvy. Getting rid of the stove in favor of cold meals, getting rid of the filter in favor of iodine, etc.

I think the easiest way to find out is to start with what you're accustomed to carrying, and change as you go. No reason you can't ship the stove home for a month or two in the summer, etc.
 
Katahdin Sept. 2010:

k60.jpg

k66.jpg

k63.jpg

k27.jpg

k13.jpg

k10.jpg
 
NCcummins said:
That's great! So is he currently hiking right now SoBo? or is he going to start this year and thru hike? I did Katahdin the first week of Sept. and it was AWESOME! I used to live in Maine, and never hiked it while I did (not smart). That mountain is amazing.
Click to expand...

He did most everything this year going NoBo. He skipped a couple hundred miles in TN/NC (jumped north for Trail Days), and I think some in PA and some of the stuff near the end. The weather started to turn bad, so they jumped north to 'finish', and are now picking up what they missed. Not sure if he's going SoBo now or not... but I imagine so.
 
saf-t scissors said:
I own an Osprey Atmos 65. Cyd has one also... except whatever the girl version is called. Mine's the older one where the springback stuff makes it somewhat tough to pack. Needs to be several small things rather than one big thing, etc. But the new ones are much better about this. I like it a lot, good compromise between having enough features and pockets to be easily organized and versatile, but light weight enough not to be a load in and of itself.

I've owned many pair of Asolo boots. Switched to Vasque several years ago. So long as you're in a well-built boot, the brand doesn't matter as much as the fit.

Biggest advice I've heard from people that have done it... is that sooner or later, you minimize the amount of crap that you have to do in camp every day. This usually means getting rid of the tent for a bivvy, then getting rid of the bivvy. Getting rid of the stove in favor of cold meals, getting rid of the filter in favor of iodine, etc.

I think the easiest way to find out is to start with what you're accustomed to carrying, and change as you go. No reason you can't ship the stove home for a month or two in the summer, etc.
Click to expand...

I agree, and have read this also. The only reason I am going with a tent from the beginning is the black flies in the North, especially through the "100 mile wilderness."

I'm sure I'll be falling into the routine of eliminating items as i go as well. I wish there was a way to know exactly what I would use and wouldn't from the beginning, but that's part of hiking it right?

For a stove, I was going to go with the procket rocket from REI, but since decided on the Super Cat. Lightest stove available to hike with, and it's home made!

http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/SuperCat/index.html

Thanks for the info on the pack! I think I'll go with the Osprey as well. Sounds like it has worked great for you.
 
alh3.ggpht.com__07IZAVlHn2U_SeNgG6_cY_I_AAAAAAAABwc_X_40v0jtXRE_s1280_Jumpoff_20Pano_202.jpg

Jumpoff in the Smokies.

alh5.ggpht.com__07IZAVlHn2U_SeNjXEVtH9I_AAAAAAAAB0M_BpbKww2z9tY_s800_DSC02757.JPG

Big ass tree in the Smokies.

alh3.ggpht.com__07IZAVlHn2U_SeNi5ePiFgI_AAAAAAAABzQ_Y_8jd33aBp8_s800_DSC02729.JPG

Old RR Bridge in the Smokies
 
NCcummins said:
What are you guys using for gear on your hikes? Pack? Boots? Tent or tarp? stove (alcohol?), and so on.

I'm going be hiking in the Asolo Moran GTX boots, but maybe switch it up to the Merrell Phaser Peaks if I don't like the Asolo's. I have weak ankles, so need the support the Asolo's offer.

As for a pack, I will be purchasing one within the new few weeks. It's between the REI Ridgeline 65 or the Osprey Atmos 65. I like the suspension on the Osprey a lot better than the REI so I believe I'll be going with that pack.

I'm going to using a tent instead of a tarp. Maybe a hammock during the summer months (a ultralight weight one) as well as a tent. I have narrowed it down to three, just not sure which one yet.
Click to expand...

Pack...right now, old school gregory internal. Heavier than the newer stuff, but carries well. Go with the Osprey, nice stuff. Check out the ULA catalyst, too. Nice, but not too far into 'ultralight'.

Tent...I got a 2 man BA Seedhouse SL2 (2 man, but really about 1-1/2 man tent). I go solo, but like pulling everything in with me, and having some elbow room. Probably want to save the weight on a thru, and go with a 1-man. I like sleeping instead of swatting at night, so tent for me, no tarps.

Hammock, not into them...but wonder, March 15, you are starting with the crush of thru-hikers at Springer...many folks hammock now...wonder if it's easier finding a tent spot than two open trees, until the crowd thins out?

Boots...whatever works for YOU. I tried the trail runners, not for me. I am a 13AAA in a dress shoe, usually do a 14B hiking boot...that severely limits my choices. Right now, I am using the LLBean Cresta leather. Actually made in Italy. Most any boot nowadays won't go the full 2k...have a 2nd pair broke in and ready to ship to you.

Stove...for sections, MSR whisperlight in winter, snowpeak butane in summer. I'm not a fan of alcohol stoves...too slow for me. And I'm not so sure the weight savings is not offset by fuel consumption, given time to boil. With the butane, I get it to a boil in a couple of minutes and shut it off. Last trip, I was pretty well done eating before companion's alcohol stove was to a boil.

Water treatment....YES.

Sleeping pad...just about everybody carries a thermarest...I just do a cheap blue foam from walmart...just about as comfortable (to me), and lighter. Plus you can drag it out during a break and sit/lay on it...a thermarest doesn't hold up well to that.

Socks...smartwool.

Bear bells....stupid. Don't fall for it.
 
kaiser715 said:
Pack...right now, old school gregory internal. Heavier than the newer stuff, but carries well. Go with the Osprey, nice stuff. Check out the ULA catalyst, too. Nice, but not too far into 'ultralight'.
Tent...I got a 2 man BA Seedhouse SL2 (2 man, but really about 1-1/2 man tent). I go solo, but like pulling everything in with me, and having some elbow room. Probably want to save the weight on a thru, and go with a 1-man. I like sleeping instead of swatting at night, so tent for me, no tarps.
Hammock, not into them...but wonder, March 15, you are starting with the crush of thru-hikers at Springer...many folks hammock now...wonder if it's easier finding a tent spot than two open trees, until the crowd thins out?
Boots...whatever works for YOU. I tried the trail runners, not for me. I am a 13AAA in a dress shoe, usually do a 14B hiking boot...that severely limits my choices. Right now, I am using the LLBean Cresta leather. Actually made in Italy. Most any boot nowadays won't go the full 2k...have a 2nd pair broke in and ready to ship to you.
Stove...for sections, MSR whisperlight in winter, snowpeak butane in summer. I'm not a fan of alcohol stoves...too slow for me. And I'm not so sure the weight savings is not offset by fuel consumption, given time to boil. With the butane, I get it to a boil in a couple of minutes and shut it off. Last trip, I was pretty well done eating before companion's alcohol stove was to a boil.
Water treatment....YES.
Sleeping pad...just about everybody carries a thermarest...I just do a cheap blue foam from walmart...just about as comfortable (to me), and lighter. Plus you can drag it out during a break and sit/lay on it...a thermarest doesn't hold up well to that.
Socks...smartwool.
Bear bells....stupid. Don't fall for it.
Click to expand...

Good info on the stoves. I haven't bought one yet, but do have a alcohol stove made encase I don't buy one. Maybe I'll be using the pocket rocket with MSR fuel, not sure yet.

Smartwool socks are a must I think. Everyone I have talked to uses them.

Also good to know about the therm-a-rest. I see this on everyone's list as well, but not sure I actually need one, or even a full one. Maybe a 3/4, but I have some time to choose.

for sure bear spray, but no bear bells......

grizzly_bear_warning_sign.jpg
 
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