Any thru hikers?

It looks to be about 43.5 miles from Sams Gap (where it crosses I-26) to downtown Hot Springs. I live in Asheville, so I can get someone to drop me about at Sams Gap (which is about 30 minutes from my house), and pick me up in Hot Springs (which is also about 30-40 minutes from my house).

I think 10-11 miles a day is certainly able to be done looking at the terrain and elevation changes from start to finish.

The first day, I would try and make it the 11.2 miles to Flint Mountain Shelter and camp there.

The second day, hopefully make it to Little Laurel Shelter which is 12.7 miles from Flint Mountain Shelter.

The third day, I would hike the 8.6 miles to Spring Mountain Shelter and camp there.

Then on the fourth day, hike from Springer Mountain Shelter to Hot Springs which is 11 miles.

What do you guys think?
 
NCcummins said:
I had thought about dehydrating food items. The only reason I'm going to buy as I go is because I don't want to have it shipped to me in advanced. Some people do it that way, but for me, I don't want a time frame. If you don't make it to the post office in a certain time, they ship the package back to where it came from. If there was an easier way to ship the food without a time frame, I would be all over dehydrating food!
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I'm fairly confident that postmasters will hold the food for quiet a while. I've read anywhere from 15 to 45 days before they return it.


The mileage you are talking about is very good.

I'm interested to know the weight of your pack, minus water. I think mine came in at 30lbs, but I can't remember exactly.
 
loki_racer said:
I'm fairly confident that postmasters will hold the food for quiet a while. I've read anywhere from 15 to 45 days before they return it.
The mileage you are talking about is very good.
I'm interested to know the weight of your pack, minus water. I think mine came in at 30lbs, but I can't remember exactly.
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I thought it was much shorter than that. While I was at REI yesterday, the guy I was talking to thru hiked in '07. He said he tried shipping stuff and the first two times he got there a week or so late and they had already shipped it back. I was just basing off what I have heard so far.

I'm not sure what the exact weight of my back is yet. I'm shooting for 35lbs-38lbs maybe more (starting off). Of course when I get to Neels Gap, I'll be able to shake down what I don't need. Until then, I would rather be a few pounds heavier and have enough food and clothing with me.
 
I would highly recommend an inflatable pad. I used standard issue military pads for 10 years and assumed that's the best there was. My wife got an inflatable pad and it changed my view of backpacking overnight trips.
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Just to add to this...Make sure to get an insulated one if you're camping in the late fall/winter months. You'll hate yourself for trying to save forty bucks the first time you freeze your butt off all night and then have to hike the next day on almost no sleep (been there, done that!)

Nobody likes to spend money on a great sleeping pad, but it really is one of the more important items as far as making your trip enjoyable. A good comfy sleeping pad that keeps you warm can make all the difference in the world. Don't skimp.

For camping out of the car you can always take some old blankets and use them to line the floor under your sleeping bag though.
 
Fart said:
Just to add to this...Make sure to get an insulated one if you're camping in the late fall/winter months. You'll hate yourself for trying to save forty bucks the first time you freeze your butt off all night and then have to hike the next day on almost no sleep (been there, done that!)

Nobody likes to spend money on a great sleeping pad, but it really is one of the more important items as far as making your trip enjoyable. A good comfy sleeping pad that keeps you warm can make all the difference in the world. Don't skimp.

For camping out of the car you can always take some old blankets and use them to line the floor under your sleeping bag though.
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I agree on the pad. I bought this one yesterday for the thru hike:

http://www.rei.com/product/763953

It was $68 with a discount, but well worth it to me!
 
I believe for my Thanksgiving break hike, I'm going to drive up to Buena Vista, VA and hike south on the AT with a buddy that lives there for 45 or so miles. I haven't hiked any of the VA part of the AT, and it will be a great chance to break in some new gear. Sams Gap to Hot Springs would be cool, but I'll check it out on my thru hike:Rockon:

Hopefully, since it's closer to home, I can do Sams Gap to Hot Springs later in the year either solo or with someone.
 
^^ Good deal...I think I paid $60ish for mine several years ago. It's mostly been used for car camping, but it has certainly served its purpose and I'm glad I bought it. I've even had to break it out when I let too many friends crash at the house and there were no more couches/air mattresses to offer.
 
Fart said:
^^ Good deal...I think I paid $60ish for mine several years ago. It's mostly been used for car camping, but it has certainly served its purpose and I'm glad I bought it. I've even had to break it out when I let too many friends crash at the house and there were no more couches/air mattresses to offer.
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I can't wait to try it out next weekend!:beer:
 
FYI... should be rifle season around Buena Vista. A blaze vest wouldn't be a bad idea.
 
I went up to Buena Vista, VA on Wednesday. Ended up finishing our hike Saturday evening instead of Sunday morning as we hiked faster than planned. Stayed at Punchbowl Shelter which was great as eight SoBo thru hikers were also staying that night. Heard a lot of great stories and had a good time Thanksgiving night. I got a chance to test of most of my gear and all works great. I heard gun shots all weekend and saw a few hunters but never had any problems which was nice.

Here are a few pics from this weekend:
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and of course the brand new privy:
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I won't be able to do much hiking between now and the middle of Jan. but I plan to do Sams Gap to Hot Springs before I leave in March. Hopefully mid Feb.

Thanks again for all the posts in this thread and the helpful information and advice.

-Chris
 
I'm not a reader by any means. I never have been, and one would think being a college student, I would read all the time. This has changed recently with finishing "Awol on the Appalachian Trail" last week, and then today finishing "Just Passin' Thru." I liked both very much and couldn't put them down! I read David Miller's book in a weekend, and then started Winton's book yesterday and finished it today.

I'm sure there are a lot of readers on the board, and want to see what you have to say about the list of books before I start them. I'm going to read them all anyways, even if people say negative or positive things about them, just want to hear your thoughts is all.

I'll start the list with the book I'll be reading first and go from there. I'm done with school in two weeks, and I'll be off until I start my hike in March. I go to Maine for a month in December, so reading this winter is a must for me; and I enjoy the stories focused around the trail!

1. As Far As The Eye Can See - David Brill
2. How To Hike The A.T. - Michelle Ray
3. Long Distance Hiking - Roland Mueser
4. A Walk in the Woods - Bill Bryson
5. Ten Million Steps - M. J. Eberhart
6. Walking the Appalachian Trail - Larry Luxenberg, Mike Warren
7. Hiking Through - Paul V. Stutzman
8. Walking With Spring - Earl Shaffer
9. White Blaze Fever - Bill Schuette
10. The Road to Damascus..and Beyond
11. On the Beaten Path - Robert Alden Rubin

If you've read some of these books, heard about them, or know people who have read them, let me know what you think.

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

-Chris
 
Our buddy officially finished his thru hike on Sunday. He'd skipped a couple of sections going up (had to attend his brother's college graduation, etc.), so headed back south to pick them up. :beer:
 
Glad someone topped this, so I didn't have to go looking... I was wondering about an update, too. :beer:
 
Some of this may have already been covered but Skip the alchohol stove Way to slow Canister stoves do not work well below 20 degrees You have to keep them in your sleeping bag and they still suck Pour a little boiling water on them to get more fuel out of them/speed them up when cold Just bring long underwear and shorts Lot lighter than zip offs and long underwear Keep you warm without the extra weight You will notice every oz I wouldnt carry a tent Use a Tarp or I like my hennesy hammock Can be set up with hiking poles as tent if necesarry No pad needed in the summer with a hammock I would do iodine or a filter The problem with steripen or iodine is getting water from a tiny spring without picking up a lot of mud and sand You dont have that problem with a filter STERIPEN IS REALLY UNRELIABLE From my experience anyway Im a real big fan of my mountain hardwear phantom 15 sleeping bag Light waterproof shell I have slept in it to 0 degree with no problem Get a real light weight down bag for the summer Get really good rain gear Its also a great warmth layer especially on windy days Leave the bear spray at home U wont use it I have run into tons of black bears backpacking and they always run away with some yelling and normally slight movement Enjoy your trip ! I would reccomend reading Ray Jardines Guide to lightweight backpacking http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Backpacking-Jardines-Lightweight-Hiking/dp/0963235931
 
Vw buggy said:
The problem with steripen or iodine is getting water from a tiny spring without picking up a lot of mud and sand You dont have that problem with a filter
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Winner winner chicken dinner. I have dug holes next to springs in order to get a little puddle of water where I could submerge the filter pickup.
 
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