I have 4 packs to choose from other than the one I bought. Various people who were supposed to go hiking with me have abandoned. And as an overpacker by nature, I REALLY needed this video!! I KNOW by watching the videos that trying to carry a pack of 45-55lbs is going to be a joke trying to get under, over those huge boulders and up those mountains!!
You are the utmost guru/professor of hiking reason and economy. I watch your videos just to feel the concise and practical advice and apply it to any conundrums I may be dealing with. Thank you!
A heavy duty Trash Bag works really good as a inexpensive pack liner to waterproof the items packed inside it. Just line the inside of your pack with it and stuff your items in it. Then twist the open end closed and fold the twisted part over to one side. Wet items can go on the top after you twist the top of the bag closed. Or under it if you like it that way. The Hammocks tarp after the 1st night is in a snake skin ( a long tube of nylon ) , rolled up and carried in the outside mesh pocket on the back of the pack. The hammock is dry and inside the pack. Using a Alcohol burner has several benefits , the alcohol is clean burning , readily available at car supply places ( Heet , Yellow Bottle ) and Hardware stores ( Denatured ) . It also is a good disinfectant ( just control your screaming when using it ) and bug remover.
Perhaps the first question to ask is "why are we doing this hike?" The answers are diverse, but they will tell us what we need beyond the minimum you list, and even a few articles on your list. Some hikers want to spend maximum hours moving, and minimize all else. Others enjoy the subtle beauties that emerge when you sit still in a spot for 15 minutes. Photography, drawing, cooking, journals, fishing, exploring, visiting towns, making videos, all have their adherents. I started as a speed hiker, and paradoxically, as my ability to speed increased, I slowed down to enjoy the more subtle beauties of nature I encountered on the trail. I like photography, even though I expect no one to really look at more than a few of my pictures. I like to enrich my hike with diverse pleasures, mostly in nature itself, more than man made attractions. I try to experience every step of the trial fully, enjoying whatever I can. This takes a bit more gear. Also, size matters, with load as a % of body weight a main consideration. A heavy load for a small person may be light for a very large one, despite the fact that much of the gear will be the same for both. Big hikers have a bit more leeway on loads. I realize that others might be as uncomfortable hiking by my philosophy as they would be wearing my clothes. Our own fits each of us best. But we all share in the necessities that you have so ably listed. Thanks for another great video..
your very valid point of purpose aside, the size thing isn't as true as you'd expect. Larger people are carrying larger amounts of food and water and body weight. I know, as I am large. I'm 6'3 and 240lbs. My sleeping bag is oversized (4.5 lbs) I've had to consider my shelters very carefully as something that appears big enough leaves me against the ends gathering condensation on my sleeping bag. Then there is the fact that a smaller person can be as strong as a much larger man, with much less body weight to carry per mile. The "large size as an advantage" thing is mostly a fallacy in long distance endeavours. To enable myself to hike easier with less injury, I need to lose 50 lbs off of myself. That's a big ask, I'm not really that overweight now. I often envy average sized people, where things fit right off the shelf, where that super light gear IS useful, because you aren't too big for it haha. I'm loving hiking, but I am definitely finding it a challenge to lighten the load
+flatbrokeoutside You have one of the most down-to-earth approaches to presenting AT thru-hike information. I always look forward to watching your videos. :)
I've been putting a lot of thought into comfort items that I could bring that will help me when I hike the AT in 2017. The list would include a camera, journal, MP3 player, harmonica, folding chair, cotton t-shirts, satellite phone, heavier air mattress, extra flashlight, and maybe a solar radio. I'm trying to decide if the "comfort" is worth the extra weight. Thanks for another great video!
+Pilgrim777 Weight is a drag and no cotton. Buy a Klymit static V air mattress and Cush pillow/sitting pad. Both very affordable and lightweight. A good smart phone (no iPhone)with removable battery and large memory card compatible will take care of camera, mp3 player, minor use flashlight and radio. As well you can purchase the AT guide in PDF for use on your smartphone. Carry an extra phone battery and 5,000 Mah battery supply and you're set. A good headlamp with red lamp option will suffice for a long use flashlight.
I'm surprised at the number of times I've heard someone on a video mention headlamps or flashlights. I have great night vision but I d NEVER go without a headlamp or flashlight.
Thanks for the tip about Advil and imodium, I didn't think about taking that. I am not even going to a town unless it's to take a shower and wash clothing. I am not dropping my food anywhere, I am carrying it all with me from the start. Also, I am not even going to take a headlamp, instead I am ordering two hat clip lights that use CR2032 batteries, they last 20 hours for every 2 batteries. I am ordering a hundred of those, that's enough batteries 104, to make it so I can hike day or night as much as I want too. I am clipping both of them on my hat as the batteries last 20 hours for each set of two, and if one dies all I need do is turn the other one on, and keep on rolling. The next day I can replace the batteries in the dead light.
flatbrokeoutside I plan on 90 days, that's 24 miles a day, but as I am not a spring chicken anymore either, it will probably take longer, but I plan to fish and pick berries and such too. I haven't weighed spices and flour and stuff yet, and keep in mind I will lose about 80 pounds on this trip which I counted as calories, so this is a figure for me personally. Right now it's about 50 pounds, however I am not taking a tent, too many clothes are any of that extra stuff not needed that many take. So my food it set up for 90 days, but that don't count anything I catch or pick along the trail, which will extend the time. Keep in mind though, I will be dropping about 1 pound a day of weight every day, so it will get lighter and easier as each day passes.
***** Sure, for people doing normal hikes with normal food it is, but if you know what to pack you can carry much less, in fact if I was happy just eating Peanut Butter, I could go even lighter than it already is.
FullSpectrum Survivalist As of 9-2017 you can get the little hat brim led lights @ any W/M for $1 and they always have a BIG box of them! So much cheaper than buying replacement batteries for the same light. Go figure!
I wonder what people who rely on shelters do when they are packed like a can of sardines. I guess they just cowboy camp. Those inflatable pads sure are comfortable for us older hikers. One drawback is they lose air overnight. If some hikers don't carry extra clothes what do they wear at the laundromat? Maybe they buy another set when they get to town and burn the old set. In my opinion what every man should have in his pack is a stick of Body Glide or similar product. I've recently noticed outfitters and even hiker hostels that have a store are carrying it. I wish I had some on my first section hike back in May 2014 on the AT in North Carolina. It was far worse than blisters. When you start feeling that burn in your straddler you AIN'T GOIN' NOWHERE!
+Appalachian Swede Roger that on the Body Glide. The National Park Service has an AT Facebook page and they posted this - appalachiantrail.com/20151217/the-hiker-bubble-on-the-appalachian-trail-must-burst/ - that said 50 to 70 hikers can pile up at a single shelter in the south in the spring! Yikes. One hiker lady showed me her AT photos and in a laundromat she had on a rain jacket and a skirt that looked homemade out of the same stuff sweat pants are made from. She might have used it for a sleeping bag liner. I didn't ask when a guy once made a similar remark. And thanks again for watching1
im going to do the AT this spring starting around the last week of march i think.. i'd like to be under 20 lbs with 3/5 days of food. thats with a 3.5 lb tent and a cheapo walmart backpack cut down to lighten it.. (i know ill have to replace it but until i know what i want ill make due) my sleeping bag is for 0 degrees F but its the one i use year round on all my adventures and weighs 24 oz in its stuff sack. ( its a hammock top quilt that opens into a blanket for warmer weather. also stuffs down tiny. really nice would never go back to a zippered style) my first aide kit is my lighter super glue/tape soap (dish soap used for everything). my stove was made as i watched the video out of a coke can.. i may use a larger 24 oz soda can with the top removed as my cook pot sense ill only be boiling water for tea/coffee and oatmeal/noodles and its replaceable anywhere with some calories to boot ill bring 3 plastic garbage bags, 1 to line my pack. 1 to keep my sleeping bag in just incase all other attempts to keep it dry fail. and the last ill use as a rain skirt/ ground cloth, it will get ripped and torn oh well super light cheap replaceable. I use a frog toggs jacket top. its cheap light replaceable. as far as electronics i have my phone sg5 a fold up solar panel thats amazing and will charge my phone in 2 hours on a cloudy day. diy battery bank 2 usb cords 1 wall plug one set of ear buds, and my headlamp witch uses one of the batteries from my diy battery bank. total weight under 3 lbs DIY battery bank ftw btw super cheap and light. dont buy a 70$ battery bank to power your phone buy the 10$ kit and 4 18650 9800mah batteries from ebay for 7$. then you can swap batteries around with your headlamp and not have to carry AAA's and your dead ones will charge the next day (i can keep my phone charged and 4 hours of lights pretty much for ever like this with Minnesota sun witch is pretty poor. the solar would not be a good idea for most people first because most are to small to be of any use on the trail and you will spend enough time in town to charge things regularly. I however dont plan on staying in town for longer then it takes to resupply and so the extra pound or so will be req for keeping the music and lights on.. all of witch a person doesnt really need. this is what i use for year round adventures, anywhere these feet can take me wow lol guess i started that book ive always wanted to get around to... sorry
john doegh i see you posted this comment a year ago. how did it go? how long did the walmart bag last? any changes to the gear list you made here, or something you would of done different? i'd love to know. thanks.
I started feb 6th 016 and finished oct 12th i replaced my pack and switched to a hammock early on. was the best 8 months of my life. I'm actually going to sc in a few weeks to hike the palmetto trail and then rehike a bunch or all of the AT. i have almost all new gear at this point. still the same quilt witch i love. If i could talk myself out of coffee i would not carry a stove. i would fire cook or eat cold food. i mostly do anyways. oh and dont bother with solar once the trees get leaves. until then its great.
im using a Gregory zulu 55 right now, its kinda heavy, fits nice though.. might replace it at some point in the future i dont want to limit myself to light loads by getting a frameless pack, i keep things light so i can carry extra things like whiskey or real food sometimes,
Sleep on your stomach or side on a CCF pad once and only once because after you'll buy an inflatable. I agree for back sleepers they're fine, light and great all around but as a thin stomach sleeper I can't do it. I do however agree with the hot food bit. Whats the point of being an advanced species if all you eat for 6 months is essentially Lunchables? Or even a couple of days. I applaud your pragmatism overall.
Those who need an inflatable pad absolutely should use one. I've never used one on the AT, I sleep on my side and stomach, I used to be more skinny than I am now. What counts is that we get decent sleep, it's a personal choice how we do it. As long as I'm on the subject, I'll add that whenever possible I toss the pad on the ground and try out a spot before I pitch the tent. I got into the habit because I might find myself sliding downhill if I don't first pay attention to what the ground is like. A side benefit is if there are rocks that I didn't notice at first, I find out before I pitch the tent, so I can try elsewhere. And thanks for watching.
@@flatbrokeoutside6921 You sir are a special type of durable. I wake up with a horrible pain in the side of the hip I slept on if I use a ccf. I did so for many years camping with my father who refused to spend "unnecessary money" haha. Hey as long as you slide feet first right? I look forward to more content as an experienced camper but newbie backpacker.
I plan a video on various tips and doodads and I can include this info there. I can tell you however, that if there is a trick to making a stuff sack, it's to install the draw cord as the very first step. I just pin the cord in place, fold the fabric over and sew it down, leaving the draw cord sliding inside a fabric 'tube' the likes of which we see in any stuff sack. I also actually hem the ends of this tube-like section before sewing the tube area. I also pin the draw cord to the fabric so it won't slide out complete during the sewing. Then I fold over the sack and sew it up, inside out. I put seam sealer on all the seams and use one of these or something like it - www.amazon.com/Bluecell-Single-Sliding-Shoelace-Backpack/dp/B009B3E2II/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1464656400&sr=8-3&keywords=sliding+cord+locks - They slide along the draw cord and close the sack snugly. There are a variety of these sold on amazon.com and I have seen them for sale in some outdoor stores. Like I said, the sacks are highly water resistant sil nylon. Hope this helps and thanks for watching!
i just watched this vidoe again... its been awhile lol.. after hiking it when he says he wants to leave famp with 3 L of water in the mornings i got shivers dowm my spine i never carried more then 2L and rearely more then 1L
When I've done that it's allowed me walk all day without making one of those steep climbs down and back from a water source ... or any other stop for that matter. As I've said in other videos, I've done sections in late summer and fall when water is less abundant. Remember, in late 2016 the whole southern half of the trail was under fire watch because of drought, many springs dried up, fires broke out in multiple places and fires killed people at Gatlinburg. This was not the first AT drought in recent memory, but it was the most nasty. Let's hope drought does not become an annual occurrence.
PA NJ and NY were pretty dry in 2016, when i started feb 6 of 16 until PA there was never a water issue, i doubt i carried more then 1L more then 1 time in hte south. and in PA NJ and NY there was trail magic water at every road crossing. there were a few times i carried the 2nd Liter of water during this part but that was mainly to be safe. im comfident i could do the entire trail and NEVER carry more then 1L of water at a time
I have never been in the bubble and trail magic water is a thing I have never seen when springs were going dry. And if the kind of thinking in this article spreads east, who knows if I ever would - www.pcta.org/2015/problem-water-caches-pct-27677/
If you do the math, there is less energy expended carrying 2 pounds of water 5 miles than taking your entire body a mile down a steep hill and back up just to get a similar amount.
What about hammock vs tent? It seems like it would be hard to find flat spots. I live in the Ozark's and between the rocks and uneven terrain, there is almost no place to pitch a tent. The AT seems a little like that for a large portion.
Yes, the AT is like that for a large portion. But a couple of details - ONE: On my last section hike I decided to look for and count the number of flat spots I passed that would hold a tent. In three days I videoed 10 of them before I basically lost interest. Speaking for myself, on the AT I pay so much attention to the ground right in front of me I wondered if I wasn't noticing such spots. So I paid attention and found quite a few. I also found one not next to the trail, but slightly uphill. I couldn't see the bottom of the trees and decided it had to be flat up there. Maybe 15 yards off the trail it was flat and I camped there. (I show this in my recent section hike video - ruclips.net/video/e3wBpahXMW4/видео.html ) SO. I concluded the best thing we can do is get into the habit of looking for flat tent spots all the time. Because we get better at finding them. TWO: Anybody who loves using a hammock should by all means carry one on the AT. Hammock-worthy trees are much easier to find than flat spots. Many shelters I have seen have trees close by that would handle one. I saw one guy use a hammock at a Shenandoah National Park campground. ALSO: More than a few spots along the trail don't allow camping and that includes hammocks - So we have to watch out for that. I might do a video about my flat-spot trailside inventory. And thanks for watching!
This is the only video where I thought you might talk about sleeping bags and the like. I was wondering if you have ever heard of a Selk'bag ... it is a kind of sleeping bag space suit with removable hands and feet and a kangaroo pouch. They seem heavy relative to what you are suggesting with the down sleeping bag, and possible hot on a warmer day. I was searching on Amazon and ran into them. Have you ever tried one and what do you think? Could one get buy with no tent or a just an insect screen type tent? I'm just wondering what kind of an alternative this is. If you got bothered by an animal it sure would be a lot easier to jump up and do something, fight back or run back away, or get your bear repellant.
+justgivemethetruth I talk about sleeping bags in more detail in the "Bed time on the Appalachian Trail" video. On the face of it, an approach like the Selk'bag certainly can work - some high altitude mountaineers would sleep in their down suits with half sleeping bags that came up to their waist. They used to, anyway. The great liability of the Selk'bag is the weights listed on their website are far in excess of what you can get with a normal sleeping bag of the same temperature rating. In some applications this won't mean much - on the AT, however, it is far from ideal if we try to cover long distances. Also on the AT - if we hike in spring or summer for a week or more the odds of getting pounded by rain are pretty good - and sometimes that rain will last all night. I didn't see anything on the Selk'bag website that suggests they are designed to sleep in the open in a thunderstorm. One detail is I stopped zipping myself up in a sleeping bag a number a years ago, no matter how cold it is. I stick my feet in the bottom of the bag, zipped up maybe 15 inches or so, and just drape the rest of it over me like a blanket. I'm also on a sleeping pad. I started doing this because if I moved in my sleep the bag often got wrapped more tightly around me, waking me up. This new approach put a stop to that. So these days if I ever need to wake up and jump up, I could do it pretty quick. But I have never needed to and doubt I ever will. Thanks again for watching.
Agreed. You busted me. My only excuse is that was a stealth camping spot. Some folks don't hang at all while stealth camping, the idea being it's the heavily used shelters that interest bears and most stealth spots are used infrequently, if at all. Even so, I still hang while stealth camping. At shelters, I do a better job of keeping the food bag hanging a distance from the tent.
+Terry L You're right, I need to be more hammock inclusive. They certainly work and can be an asset on the AT where there are far more trees than shelters and flat campsites. It's still on my list to one day get one and try it out a few times. I know hammocks are economical - it's paying for a big tarp that's been my hurdle so far. And thanks for watching!
+Vincent Miceli Many areas along the AT have no cell service, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy tells us. In my "Are we there yet" video I discuss in detail the ATC's maps and guidebooks and the two currently available commercial guidebooks, each of the latter covering the entire trail. All road and trail intersections are in these guides, with many other features mentioned as frequently as several per mile. It's easy to total our daily mileage with these guides. Particularly when we consider most hikers start their day at a shelter and end it at another shelter. There's at least one smart phone app I know of and the video mentions it. It can be downloaded and used when there's no signal and the phone's batteries haven't gone dead. And thanks again for watching.
+mwillblade Then carry one; those knives are cool. Many if not most long-distance AT hikers are trying to walk high mileage over really rough terrain and it's an enormous amount of work. Such hikers tend to do only what's absolutely necessary - very few see any need to build fires or make something out of wood. Building a fire would mean more work in an already tiring day and in many (if not most) areas of the AT campfires built on the ground are banned. Backpacking hunting is a different story - I plan a video on that and I'll show a bunch of fixed blade knives. And thanks for watching.
+Brady Inman The following is the exact model I have. If the edges are a bit fuzzy when I get them, I use a very sharp pair of scissors to cut just a tiny hair off the edge, so I am left with a straight line that yields a sharp edge. I haven't always had to do that, but I've done it a time or two. Assuming the edge is OK, I have used them year after year. I have removed burnt stuff with them. But if burnt food is caked in the pot pretty bad, might be best to loosen it up with a titanium spoon or something before using the scraper. Hope this helps. www.amazon.com/Harolds-Kitchen-Nylon-Pot-Scrapers/dp/B0006IA0ME/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1456805381&sr=8-6&keywords=nylon+pot+scraper
+Molon Labe Is that why the people make more money, are in better health, are more intelligent too? Gee, sounds like a decent trade off unless you think you cannot hack it in honest competition ML?
I really appreciate real world approach you use in making these videos. This one is no exception. Thanks a bunch
+Jeremy Baity Thanks again for watching!
I have 4 packs to choose from other than the one I bought. Various people who were supposed to go hiking with me have abandoned. And as an overpacker by nature, I REALLY needed this video!! I KNOW by watching the videos that trying to carry a pack of 45-55lbs is going to be a joke trying to get under, over those huge boulders and up those mountains!!
+Christine Coletta Glad you like the video and thanks again for watching!
You are the utmost guru/professor of hiking reason and economy. I watch your videos just to feel the concise and practical advice and apply it to any conundrums I may be dealing with.
Thank you!
Thanks for the endorsement and thanks again for watching!
Nice real world advice! on a side note for some reason your voice reminds me of Linus for the peanuts cartoons! love it!
The Great Pumpkin never showed up for me, either, the ^%$@#%&(*! :) And thanks a million for watching!
Good stuff. I am enjoying every video you are posting. Look forward to your next one.
Thanks.
Tom
+Tom Bebee Thanks again for watching!
A heavy duty Trash Bag works really good as a inexpensive pack liner to waterproof the items packed inside it. Just line the inside of your pack with it and stuff your items in it. Then twist the open end closed and fold the twisted part over to one side.
Wet items can go on the top after you twist the top of the bag closed. Or under it if you like it that way.
The Hammocks tarp after the 1st night is in a snake skin ( a long tube of nylon ) , rolled up and carried in the outside mesh pocket on the back of the pack. The hammock is dry and inside the pack.
Using a Alcohol burner has several benefits , the alcohol is clean burning , readily available at car supply places ( Heet , Yellow Bottle ) and Hardware stores ( Denatured ) . It also is a good disinfectant ( just control your screaming when using it ) and bug remover.
+Chuck Littleton Thanks again for watching!
Perhaps the first question to ask is "why are we doing this hike?" The answers are diverse, but they will tell us what we need beyond the minimum you list, and even a few articles on your list. Some hikers want to spend maximum hours moving, and minimize all else. Others enjoy the subtle beauties that emerge when you sit still in a spot for 15 minutes. Photography, drawing, cooking, journals, fishing, exploring, visiting towns, making videos, all have their adherents. I started as a speed hiker, and paradoxically, as my ability to speed increased, I slowed down to enjoy the more subtle beauties of nature I encountered on the trail. I like photography, even though I expect no one to really look at more than a few of my pictures. I like to enrich my hike with diverse pleasures, mostly in nature itself, more than man made attractions. I try to experience every step of the trial fully, enjoying whatever I can. This takes a bit more gear.
Also, size matters, with load as a % of body weight a main consideration. A heavy load for a small person may be light for a very large one, despite the fact that much of the gear will be the same for both. Big hikers have a bit more leeway on loads.
I realize that others might be as uncomfortable hiking by my philosophy as they would be wearing my clothes. Our own fits each of us best. But we all share in the necessities that you have so ably listed. Thanks for another great video..
+tom jackson Good points and thanks again for watching!
well said, different reasons drives each of us.
your very valid point of purpose aside, the size thing isn't as true as you'd expect. Larger people are carrying larger amounts of food and water and body weight. I know, as I am large. I'm 6'3 and 240lbs. My sleeping bag is oversized (4.5 lbs) I've had to consider my shelters very carefully as something that appears big enough leaves me against the ends gathering condensation on my sleeping bag. Then there is the fact that a smaller person can be as strong as a much larger man, with much less body weight to carry per mile. The "large size as an advantage" thing is mostly a fallacy in long distance endeavours. To enable myself to hike easier with less injury, I need to lose 50 lbs off of myself. That's a big ask, I'm not really that overweight now. I often envy average sized people, where things fit right off the shelf, where that super light gear IS useful, because you aren't too big for it haha. I'm loving hiking, but I am definitely finding it a challenge to lighten the load
Another concise and incisive video in this series.
+Random Button Pusher Thanks again for watching!
When you go with a larger pack there's a tendency to fill it up with unnecessary items.
+Hiker63 True enough. Thanks again for watching!
1st buy your shit. Then choose the pack that fits.
Thank you for another great video. One of these days I have to start from the beginning.
+Warren Davidson Thanks for watching!
Excellent information! Direct and to the point. Well done. Thanks for sharing.
+Sleeves Glad you liked it and thanks again for watching!
Just subbed. Thanks for the info. Looking to start this year with several week long hikes on the AT. Your information is most helpful.
+RedDogBushCraft I like your channel. Best wishes on your hikes and thanks for subbing!
I'd also like to see one on "things you think you'll need but never do". I really enjoy your videos!
+Jim Cook Great idea! I'll do it. And thanks for watching!
+flatbrokeoutside You have one of the most down-to-earth approaches to presenting AT thru-hike information. I always look forward to watching your videos. :)
+Jim Cook Thanks, man!
Wow... That's some serious and awesome information. Thanks.
+Joe Lucero Glad you liked it and thanks for watching!
I've been putting a lot of thought into comfort items that I could bring that will help me when I hike the AT in 2017. The list would include a camera, journal, MP3 player, harmonica, folding chair, cotton t-shirts, satellite phone, heavier air mattress, extra flashlight, and maybe a solar radio. I'm trying to decide if the "comfort" is worth the extra weight. Thanks for another great video!
+Pilgrim777 I would expect you'll have the answer in the first 40 or 50 miles. Have a good hike and thanks again for watching!
+Pilgrim777 Weight is a drag and no cotton. Buy a Klymit static V air mattress and Cush pillow/sitting pad. Both very affordable and lightweight. A good smart phone (no iPhone)with removable battery and large memory card compatible will take care of camera, mp3 player, minor use flashlight and radio. As well you can purchase the AT guide in PDF for use on your smartphone. Carry an extra phone battery and 5,000 Mah battery supply and you're set. A good headlamp with red lamp option will suffice for a long use flashlight.
+Pilgrim777 Are you hiking or moving ?
REALY great REAL advice
Swamp gal
Glad you liked it and thanks for watching!
I'm surprised at the number of times I've heard someone on a video mention headlamps or flashlights. I have great night vision but I d NEVER go without a headlamp or flashlight.
+Christine Coletta Me neither.
Thanks for the tip about Advil and imodium, I didn't think about taking that.
I am not even going to a town unless it's to take a shower and wash clothing. I am not dropping my food anywhere, I am carrying it all with me from the start. Also, I am not even going to take a headlamp, instead I am ordering two hat clip lights that use CR2032 batteries, they last 20 hours for every 2 batteries. I am ordering a hundred of those, that's enough batteries 104, to make it so I can hike day or night as much as I want too. I am clipping both of them on my hat as the batteries last 20 hours for each set of two, and if one dies all I need do is turn the other one on, and keep on rolling. The next day I can replace the batteries in the dead light.
Curious - How many days do you plan to hike while carrying all food from the start? Any idea of the food's total weight? And thanks for watching!
flatbrokeoutside
I plan on 90 days, that's 24 miles a day, but as I am not a spring chicken anymore either, it will probably take longer, but I plan to fish and pick berries and such too. I haven't weighed spices and flour and stuff yet, and keep in mind I will lose about 80 pounds on this trip which I counted as calories, so this is a figure for me personally.
Right now it's about 50 pounds, however I am not taking a tent, too many clothes are any of that extra stuff not needed that many take. So my food it set up for 90 days, but that don't count anything I catch or pick along the trail, which will extend the time.
Keep in mind though, I will be dropping about 1 pound a day of weight every day, so it will get lighter and easier as each day passes.
about 2-3lbs of food per day is typical
*****
Sure, for people doing normal hikes with normal food it is, but if you know what to pack you can carry much less, in fact if I was happy just eating Peanut Butter, I could go even lighter than it already is.
FullSpectrum Survivalist
As of 9-2017 you can get the little hat brim led lights @ any W/M for $1 and they always have a BIG box of them! So much cheaper than buying replacement batteries for the same light. Go figure!
Another gem!
+Hiker63 Thanks again for watching!
thanks for this video. i like your others as well! :)
Glad you liked it and thanks for being a viewer!
good advice, for me it's reading glasses.
+ZEROmg I'd probably stumble off a cliff without my glasses. And thanks again for watching!
I wonder what people who rely on shelters do when they are packed like a can of sardines. I guess they just cowboy camp. Those inflatable pads sure are comfortable for us older hikers. One drawback is they lose air overnight. If some hikers don't carry extra clothes what do they wear at the laundromat? Maybe they buy another set when they get to town and burn the old set. In my opinion what every man should have in his pack is a stick of Body Glide or similar product. I've recently noticed outfitters and even hiker hostels that have a store are carrying it. I wish I had some on my first section hike back in May 2014 on the AT in North Carolina. It was far worse than blisters. When you start feeling that burn in your straddler you AIN'T GOIN' NOWHERE!
+Appalachian Swede Roger that on the Body Glide. The National Park Service has an AT Facebook page and they posted this - appalachiantrail.com/20151217/the-hiker-bubble-on-the-appalachian-trail-must-burst/ - that said 50 to 70 hikers can pile up at a single shelter in the south in the spring! Yikes. One hiker lady showed me her AT photos and in a laundromat she had on a rain jacket and a skirt that looked homemade out of the same stuff sweat pants are made from. She might have used it for a sleeping bag liner. I didn't ask when a guy once made a similar remark. And thanks again for watching1
+Appalachian Swede Gold Bond Friction Defense...much more affordable.
Wiggys of Colorado best bags and equipment on the planet
Don't forget to bring a gas spectrometer.
Bring all you need, carry all you bring.
your a real trail dog my friend!
+MrBac00 Thanks for watching!
im going to do the AT this spring starting around the last week of march i think.. i'd like to be under 20 lbs with 3/5 days of food. thats with a 3.5 lb tent and a cheapo walmart backpack cut down to lighten it.. (i know ill have to replace it but until i know what i want ill make due) my sleeping bag is for 0 degrees F but its the one i use year round on all my adventures and weighs 24 oz in its stuff sack. ( its a hammock top quilt that opens into a blanket for warmer weather. also stuffs down tiny. really nice would never go back to a zippered style) my first aide kit is my lighter super glue/tape soap (dish soap used for everything). my stove was made as i watched the video out of a coke can.. i may use a larger 24 oz soda can with the top removed as my cook pot sense ill only be boiling water for tea/coffee and oatmeal/noodles and its replaceable anywhere with some calories to boot
ill bring 3 plastic garbage bags, 1 to line my pack. 1 to keep my sleeping bag in just incase all other attempts to keep it dry fail. and the last ill use as a rain skirt/ ground cloth, it will get ripped and torn oh well super light cheap replaceable. I use a frog toggs jacket top. its cheap light replaceable.
as far as electronics i have my phone sg5 a fold up solar panel thats amazing and will charge my phone in 2 hours on a cloudy day. diy battery bank 2 usb cords 1 wall plug one set of ear buds, and my headlamp witch uses one of the batteries from my diy battery bank. total weight under 3 lbs
DIY battery bank ftw btw super cheap and light. dont buy a 70$ battery bank to power your phone buy the 10$ kit and 4 18650 9800mah batteries from ebay for 7$. then you can swap batteries around with your headlamp and not have to carry AAA's and your dead ones will charge the next day (i can keep my phone charged and 4 hours of lights pretty much for ever like this with Minnesota sun witch is pretty poor.
the solar would not be a good idea for most people first because most are to small to be of any use on the trail and you will spend enough time in town to charge things regularly. I however dont plan on staying in town for longer then it takes to resupply and so the extra pound or so will be req for keeping the music and lights on.. all of witch a person doesnt really need.
this is what i use for year round adventures, anywhere these feet can take me
wow lol guess i started that book ive always wanted to get around to... sorry
+john doegh Have a good hike and thanks for watching!
john doegh i see you posted this comment a year ago. how did it go? how long did the walmart bag last? any changes to the gear list you made here, or something you would of done different? i'd love to know. thanks.
I started feb 6th 016 and finished oct 12th i replaced my pack and switched to a hammock early on. was the best 8 months of my life. I'm actually going to sc in a few weeks to hike the palmetto trail and then rehike a bunch or all of the AT. i have almost all new gear at this point. still the same quilt witch i love.
If i could talk myself out of coffee i would not carry a stove. i would fire cook or eat cold food. i mostly do anyways.
oh and dont bother with solar once the trees get leaves. until then its great.
john doegh ..cool! so what pack did you switch to? i have a light load, and i haven't decided on a pack yet.
im using a Gregory zulu 55 right now, its kinda heavy, fits nice though.. might replace it at some point in the future
i dont want to limit myself to light loads by getting a frameless pack, i keep things light so i can carry extra things like whiskey or real food sometimes,
Sleep on your stomach or side on a CCF pad once and only once because after you'll buy an inflatable. I agree for back sleepers they're fine, light and great all around but as a thin stomach sleeper I can't do it. I do however agree with the hot food bit. Whats the point of being an advanced species if all you eat for 6 months is essentially Lunchables? Or even a couple of days. I applaud your pragmatism overall.
Those who need an inflatable pad absolutely should use one. I've never used one on the AT, I sleep on my side and stomach, I used to be more skinny than I am now. What counts is that we get decent sleep, it's a personal choice how we do it. As long as I'm on the subject, I'll add that whenever possible I toss the pad on the ground and try out a spot before I pitch the tent. I got into the habit because I might find myself sliding downhill if I don't first pay attention to what the ground is like. A side benefit is if there are rocks that I didn't notice at first, I find out before I pitch the tent, so I can try elsewhere. And thanks for watching.
@@flatbrokeoutside6921 You sir are a special type of durable. I wake up with a horrible pain in the side of the hip I slept on if I use a ccf. I did so for many years camping with my father who refused to spend "unnecessary money" haha. Hey as long as you slide feet first right? I look forward to more content as an experienced camper but newbie backpacker.
Can you do a video on how you make your own stuff sacks ?
I plan a video on various tips and doodads and I can include this info there. I can tell you however, that if there is a trick to making a stuff sack, it's to install the draw cord as the very first step. I just pin the cord in place, fold the fabric over and sew it down, leaving the draw cord sliding inside a fabric 'tube' the likes of which we see in any stuff sack. I also actually hem the ends of this tube-like section before sewing the tube area. I also pin the draw cord to the fabric so it won't slide out complete during the sewing. Then I fold over the sack and sew it up, inside out. I put seam sealer on all the seams and use one of these or something like it - www.amazon.com/Bluecell-Single-Sliding-Shoelace-Backpack/dp/B009B3E2II/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1464656400&sr=8-3&keywords=sliding+cord+locks - They slide along the draw cord and close the sack snugly. There are a variety of these sold on amazon.com and I have seen them for sale in some outdoor stores. Like I said, the sacks are highly water resistant sil nylon. Hope this helps and thanks for watching!
I snore loudly, so bring ear plugs folks !
i just watched this vidoe again... its been awhile lol.. after hiking it when he says he wants to leave famp with 3 L of water in the mornings i got shivers dowm my spine i never carried more then 2L and rearely more then 1L
When I've done that it's allowed me walk all day without making one of those steep climbs down and back from a water source ... or any other stop for that matter. As I've said in other videos, I've done sections in late summer and fall when water is less abundant. Remember, in late 2016 the whole southern half of the trail was under fire watch because of drought, many springs dried up, fires broke out in multiple places and fires killed people at Gatlinburg. This was not the first AT drought in recent memory, but it was the most nasty. Let's hope drought does not become an annual occurrence.
PA NJ and NY were pretty dry in 2016, when i started feb 6 of 16 until PA there was never a water issue, i doubt i carried more then 1L more then 1 time in hte south. and in PA NJ and NY there was trail magic water at every road crossing. there were a few times i carried the 2nd Liter of water during this part but that was mainly to be safe. im comfident i could do the entire trail and NEVER carry more then 1L of water at a time
I have never been in the bubble and trail magic water is a thing I have never seen when springs were going dry. And if the kind of thinking in this article spreads east, who knows if I ever would - www.pcta.org/2015/problem-water-caches-pct-27677/
If you do the math, there is less energy expended carrying 2 pounds of water 5 miles than taking your entire body a mile down a steep hill and back up just to get a similar amount.
What about hammock vs tent? It seems like it would be hard to find flat spots. I live in the Ozark's and between the rocks and uneven terrain, there is almost no place to pitch a tent. The AT seems a little like that for a large portion.
Yes, the AT is like that for a large portion. But a couple of details - ONE: On my last section hike I decided to look for and count the number of flat spots I passed that would hold a tent. In three days I videoed 10 of them before I basically lost interest. Speaking for myself, on the AT I pay so much attention to the ground right in front of me I wondered if I wasn't noticing such spots. So I paid attention and found quite a few. I also found one not next to the trail, but slightly uphill. I couldn't see the bottom of the trees and decided it had to be flat up there. Maybe 15 yards off the trail it was flat and I camped there. (I show this in my recent section hike video - ruclips.net/video/e3wBpahXMW4/видео.html ) SO. I concluded the best thing we can do is get into the habit of looking for flat tent spots all the time. Because we get better at finding them. TWO: Anybody who loves using a hammock should by all means carry one on the AT. Hammock-worthy trees are much easier to find than flat spots. Many shelters I have seen have trees close by that would handle one. I saw one guy use a hammock at a Shenandoah National Park campground. ALSO: More than a few spots along the trail don't allow camping and that includes hammocks - So we have to watch out for that. I might do a video about my flat-spot trailside inventory. And thanks for watching!
This is the only video where I thought you might talk about sleeping bags and the like. I was wondering if you have ever heard of a Selk'bag ... it is a kind of sleeping bag space suit with removable hands and feet and a kangaroo pouch. They seem heavy relative to what you are suggesting with the down sleeping bag, and possible hot on a warmer day. I was searching on Amazon and ran into them. Have you ever tried one and what do you think? Could one get buy with no tent or a just an insect screen type tent? I'm just wondering what kind of an alternative this is. If you got bothered by an animal it sure would be a lot easier to jump up and do something, fight back or run back away, or get your bear repellant.
+justgivemethetruth I talk about sleeping bags in more detail in the "Bed time on the Appalachian Trail" video. On the face of it, an approach like the Selk'bag certainly can work - some high altitude mountaineers would sleep in their down suits with half sleeping bags that came up to their waist. They used to, anyway. The great liability of the Selk'bag is the weights listed on their website are far in excess of what you can get with a normal sleeping bag of the same temperature rating. In some applications this won't mean much - on the AT, however, it is far from ideal if we try to cover long distances. Also on the AT - if we hike in spring or summer for a week or more the odds of getting pounded by rain are pretty good - and sometimes that rain will last all night. I didn't see anything on the Selk'bag website that suggests they are designed to sleep in the open in a thunderstorm. One detail is I stopped zipping myself up in a sleeping bag a number a years ago, no matter how cold it is. I stick my feet in the bottom of the bag, zipped up maybe 15 inches or so, and just drape the rest of it over me like a blanket. I'm also on a sleeping pad. I started doing this because if I moved in my sleep the bag often got wrapped more tightly around me, waking me up. This new approach put a stop to that. So these days if I ever need to wake up and jump up, I could do it pretty quick. But I have never needed to and doubt I ever will. Thanks again for watching.
shot at sunrise, ha!
Can you do a video on how you make your own stuff sacks ? thanks. take care.
Yes. I will add it to the to-do list. And thanks again for watching!
thanks.
Is 9:50 real? A bear bag that close to a tent is not a good idea.
Agreed. You busted me. My only excuse is that was a stealth camping spot. Some folks don't hang at all while stealth camping, the idea being it's the heavily used shelters that interest bears and most stealth spots are used infrequently, if at all. Even so, I still hang while stealth camping. At shelters, I do a better job of keeping the food bag hanging a distance from the tent.
No mention of Hammock sleeping. Thoughts?
+Terry L You're right, I need to be more hammock inclusive. They certainly work and can be an asset on the AT where there are far more trees than shelters and flat campsites. It's still on my list to one day get one and try it out a few times. I know hammocks are economical - it's paying for a big tarp that's been my hurdle so far. And thanks for watching!
No mention of a GPS or other tech device to measure distance, speed, etc. Do you estimate how far you hike in a day by using a map, cell phone?
+Vincent Miceli Many areas along the AT have no cell service, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy tells us. In my "Are we there yet" video I discuss in detail the ATC's maps and guidebooks and the two currently available commercial guidebooks, each of the latter covering the entire trail. All road and trail intersections are in these guides, with many other features mentioned as frequently as several per mile. It's easy to total our daily mileage with these guides. Particularly when we consider most hikers start their day at a shelter and end it at another shelter. There's at least one smart phone app I know of and the video mentions it. It can be downloaded and used when there's no signal and the phone's batteries haven't gone dead. And thanks again for watching.
Cannot see trecking through the woods without a good light weight belt knife .
+mwillblade Then carry one; those knives are cool. Many if not most long-distance AT hikers are trying to walk high mileage over really rough terrain and it's an enormous amount of work. Such hikers tend to do only what's absolutely necessary - very few see any need to build fires or make something out of wood. Building a fire would mean more work in an already tiring day and in many (if not most) areas of the AT campfires built on the ground are banned. Backpacking hunting is a different story - I plan a video on that and I'll show a bunch of fixed blade knives. And thanks for watching.
Where do you get the scraper?
+Brady Inman The following is the exact model I have. If the edges are a bit fuzzy when I get them, I use a very sharp pair of scissors to cut just a tiny hair off the edge, so I am left with a straight line that yields a sharp edge. I haven't always had to do that, but I've done it a time or two. Assuming the edge is OK, I have used them year after year. I have removed burnt stuff with them. But if burnt food is caked in the pot pretty bad, might be best to loosen it up with a titanium spoon or something before using the scraper. Hope this helps. www.amazon.com/Harolds-Kitchen-Nylon-Pot-Scrapers/dp/B0006IA0ME/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1456805381&sr=8-6&keywords=nylon+pot+scraper
+flatbrokeoutside thank you for taking the time to answer me. i am begining to prep for my AT adventure. your videos have been a wonderful resource.
+Brady Inman Glad the videos help! Have a great hike and thanks for watching!
smh in wonder
Spending
$1k a month ? ! on the AT
seems to be a far cry from flatbroke !
The reason why the AT gets more expensive in the north is because of liberal government excessive taxation and over regulation.
+Molon Labe
Is that why the people make more money, are in better health, are more intelligent too? Gee, sounds like a decent trade off unless you think you cannot hack it in honest competition ML?
+justgivemethetruth please clue me in - how did a discussion on the AT evolve into a Macro/Micro debate??