Like you, I found out recently I don't wanna wait until the AT to strengthen my ankles. I've been daily walking/hiking with a back pack filled with full Nalgeens and SmartWater bottles, and avoiding sidewalks/roads as much as possible. Even a walk around a grass field - can def tell my ankles/stabilizer muscles get a workout. I'll def still need to get my trail legs built up when actually on trail, but I consider ankle strengthening injury prevention (I hope 😅).
I had that same collarbone pain. The culprit was my pack didn't fit me well. Make sure your hipbelt is in the right spot it should take the weight off your shoulders.Excited to see your gear changes!
From an old guy who had hiked the smokies when it was cold like 10 below, and often in the shoulder months colder than predicted, get a 10 degree sleeping bag that you can add a simple liner and a zip lock bag to hold your dry sleeping clothes my suggestion merino top and bottoms at least one pair of warm socks and a wool tabagon. Good luck for the love🥾🥾
A couple pieces of advice about sleeping in the cold. Hydrate before going to bed. If you are dehydrated in the least it makes it almost impossible to get warm and stay warm. Also a high energy snack. A full belly kicks in your internal furnace. Also stay away from wearing your rain gear to sleep. It may help you feel warm at first, but it will hold moisture in and you would wake up freezing in the middle of the night. I hope you do well on the AT. I am looking forward to watching your adventure.
I had no idea that you should not wear your rain gear to bed. I would have thought that was a good idea. Thanks for this comment it might have saved me some pain later on lol
This is good advice. I’ve been taught similar methods in the military. Staying hydrated in cold weather situations is so important. Sounds like you needed a sleeping bag rated for colder temps. Should be able to get warm with just your base layer on. Good luck! Hope you meet your goals.
Good video! I know everyone is different, but for me, I start out with 5-6 mile hikes each year, then after a couple weeks I’m back up to 10-12 and the occasional 16 or 19. When you hit the AT, there will be a lot of what I’ll call “aggressive personalities” talking about 15-16 mile days, but for me, that made me feel like I was behind everyone else and it totally bummed me out. NOW, I just take my time and enjoy what I’m seeing. That’s much more enjoyable for me. There’s no reason to stress out. Have fun, hit the hostels, eat tasty food. There are no bonus points for making it hard. You got this!!!!
Indeed. The AT has a higher than average wannabe mile freaks that think they are god's gift to the hiking communittee. 99% of them never did a thru hike. They are just there to show off. Ignore them. This is from someone that is considered to be a "fast hiker".
The beauty of a through hike is that you have PLENTY of time to build up to big mile days. Start with 5 miles max and work up and before you know it, a 20 mile day feels pretty comfortable - as long as you never push yourself more than a little bit each day. Otherwise, you risk injury, and an unintended zero day (or days) will bring your average miles down really fast. Just take it slow and listen to your body and you'll be a happier hiker.
I too have really prominant collar bones. I have found to keep my pack from making me miserable, do the following: Cinch the shoulder staps as TIGHT as you can. This lifts the pack up high. Put on the stirnum strap and snug it. Put on the hip belt and snug it tight, making sure it is above your natural waist. LOOSEN your should straps slightly. This will drop almost ALL the weight down on your hips. You only want enough on your shoulders to keep your pack against your back. This has saved my shoulders SO MUCH since I learned it. IF you do this and find your pack slipping down, either your hip belt is not tight enough or your pack length is too long so that your belt is starting too low.
Here’s a tip about your water filter. After you return from a hike flush it out of course but after the water runs clear make sure you run through it distilled water in both directions before you store it for any length of time . If it sits with municipal tap water in it the minerals can build up and make it hard or impossible to use after time . Also take enough tablets with you in your emergency kit in case you have it fail.
I am a fan, for sure! You are not the only one who has made those mistakes. I need the full Mt. Everest summit suit to stay warm. A lot of the you tubers in shorts out there must be cold-blooded. I'm not and glad to see you keeping it real! Thanks. 👊👍🇺🇲
With pack weight, consider your resupply strategy - food is heavy! Carrying 6 days versus 3+ is a big difference. Happily the AT has many resupply points, instead of staying in town each time you can go into town, get more food, then hike back out. Though take as much town time as you need/budget allows during the cold beginning. I hiked in 2013 and also kept the miles low at the beginning, if you are able to hike farther earlier it will be a nice surprise! I didn’t feel like I had my trail legs (hiking >15 miles a day) until after the Smokies. For sleep, definitely strap that quilt down, makes a huge difference! I can’t sleep when my feet are even slightly cold so love my down booties unless I’m hiking in the summer. Love your vlog so far, excited to follow your journey!!
Check out the granite gear perimeter 50 backpack. Total game changer. The adjustability on that pack is not seen on any other pack on the market. I switched from a osprey and the difference is night and day. Plus, it's reasonably inexpensive for a lightweight pack. Has a frame and load lifters too. Shoulder pain was always the worst for me. Now I don't even need to take my pack off for breaks 🤷♀️
Just a couple of comments concerning some of your issues you had: I use a bandanna any time I'm hiking for wiping what ever is wet at the time. Your problem might have been using a new bandanna. I had to wash mine several times to soften it up to where it was not rough when using. It helps. I also have experienced shoulder pain because of the pack weight. What works for me is to put as much weight as possible on my hips and just use the shoulder straps for keeping the pack pinned to my body. That gives me more freedom of movement in my arms and shoulders. I need that as I always use trekking poles when hiking. Just some thoughts that might help. Looking forward to following your journey.
I also am a bandana user due to my hay fever. I tend to use 100% cotton but have been trying out a Buff lately. The Buff is softer for sure and also dries faster. Plus is very soft on the nose.
Was going to mention the same thing. Wash the bandanna a few times and it will soften. I use one on trail, and it was definitely stiff when new. Now it is quite soft.
Agree with all here. A bandana will soften up nicely after about 4 wash and dry cycles, but 53and4k is also dead on the money. A wool Buff (neck gaiter) is not only softer than the bandana will ever be, but also dries faster and doubles as a neck warmer/pot holder/whatever. I haven't used a bandana on trail since the first time I took a Buff. But your instinct about wearing some bright orange was spot on. A lot of my gear is bright red for the same reason - colors not found in nature, even though I'd never wear those colors off trail.
Tough few days, but much knowledge gained! Couple things: 1) late Feb/March, you will see nightly Temps in the upper 20s, as well as some nights lower. Most of the trail is at elevation, so cold. Can't always bail to a hostel. I have a set of 4.0 base layers for sleeping in, plus a down balaclava for my head. Also, sometimes, if you are overdressed in your bag, it causes you to sweat, which makes you cold. Finally, eating something high in fats/oils (take longer to break down to energy) just before bed will tide your metabolism over once the carbs run out. A great excuse to eat a big snickers, nuts, etc. before bed. 2) Had the same filter issue at last year's start. The dialysis tubing gets dried out...I ran warm water thru it both ways and it came back to life after 2 days...buy a new one before you head out and use it a couple days before you go. And as previously said, keep it in a ziplock and take it into your sleeping bag at night so it doesn't freeze--also on cold days you have to keep it in an inner pocket of your jacket. Freezing will rupture the tubes that do the filtering, thus allowing dirty water to pass. 3) Your first few weeks on the trail, you'll be going shelter to shelter (maybe + a mile or two), so about 8 miles a day. That will get better as you get tuned up, physically. Focus on getting your pack right and your night warmth right....those will make or break you... the rest is little stuff!
Lots of good information! Any hike where you make it back to your car is a success, no matter how you got there! Just a heads up that you can have that same issue with the BeFree filter. I always speak mine overnight before heading out on a trip just to make sure the membrane is wet and working. Once you get on trail it won't be an issue because you'll be using it every day. Counting the days with you until you start!
If its subzero (Celsius) your water filter may have frozen unless you slept with it (you've gotta keep those suckers warm!). The shoulder pads are a good idea, but the weight should be getting carried on your hips, with only around 20 percent on your shoulders. I know the Mariposa claims 35lbs carry, but it's almost definitely a lot less than that, so the weight + pack was likely the culprit (the frame was overloaded, leaving your shoulders to do the work). Spot on with lightening your load mate. Aim for 10lbs base or as close as you can get (my winter load out is 4.5 kilos so around 10lbs, it's totally do-able). Your shoulders and feel will thank you! When it comes to being cold, it really helps to eat something hot before bed. Your metabolism picks up after eating, and this warms you up quicker (especially with down, because it relies on your own body heat to warm you). A cheaper alternative to a new sleeping bag is getting a light (350gram) Apex Quilt rated at 50 degrees (and use that as an over-bag). Same weight as one of those fleece liners, but 4 times the warmth (by CLO values). I've got a MLD Spirit 48 for this purpose, and it doubles as my summer bag (it gets hot here in Australia). Best of luck with your hike next year! Will be watching from Oz getting pointers for my attempt in 2024. Take care :)
Hahahaha you are too funny! But take it with a grain of salt 🧂… I’m different than every other person who is hiking. I did add camp soap so I won’t be a noro spreader. I’m sure you will be happy about that 😂 I thought of you while buying it.
Great video. Knowledge is power. Sleep system. I learned that if you are freezing, use an emergency Mylar blanket. Help keep body heat in and with hot hands, it will help keep warmth in. Hope that helps.
If you can, go to Mountain Crossings with all your gear and pack. They can see if your pack is adjusted properly. You've used it before with no issues but this time you did. So maybe something was adjusted differently on the pack. It may save you from buying another pack. Thread a sock through the opening on your footbox on a cold night to keep drafts off your feet. Foothills trail is no joke, you did well.
Thanks! I actually went to REI the other days and decided my current winter gear weighs too much for the gossamer Gear. I will more than likely be going with a different pack. When summer comes around I may switch back to my gossamer Gear. We shall see
trail name suggestion: Anywho lose the bandana and blow snot rockets! looks like your hip belt is way too lose, really yank on those straps to get the weight off your shoulders and onto your hips.
Jay of Jay wanders out used aqua Mira during the coldest month instead of the sawyer squeeze so he didn't worry about freezing or slow flow rate. May work instead of the sawyer.
I agree on the elevation! I got to a point on the AT where I stopped looking at how many miles I had left for the day, I would just pay attention to how much more elevation I had to climb 😰
Work out and build the muscles in your shoulders. Adding strength will help relieve this issue. I did it before hiking the everglades and I live by it.
I completed this trail in Oct 2022 going west to east. Beautiful trail but very challenging days. Great job on your attempt, hope u can finish soon. Good luck on your AT prep for 2023.
Well, you made it farther than I did! I attempted this trail last week (with Ramdino's group), also eastbound, and had to bail after Day 2 (mile 23.9). I was more confused than disappointed, like, Why is this trail kicking my butt so hard?? Ultimately I decided it was a dozen little things (too tedious to list) that piled up on me. I will tell you about one, though: I usually get started way before sunrise, and on Day 2, as I was adjusting my headlamp, the lamp popped off the strap and tumbled down the hillside about 50 feet. The light was on, so I could see where it was. But I had to stand there for several minutes deciding if it was worth the risk to try and retrieve it. It was only 4 AM; what if I slipped down the hillside and couldn't get back up? I'd have to sit there, without my pack, and wait for someone to come down the path after sunrise, 3 hours away. Finally, I decided to try. I took off my pack, got my solar charger which has a flashlight, and spent about 2 minutes in the dark feeling around on the thing, trying to remember how to turn on the flashlight. Once I got it on, I scaled the hillside, hanging on to trees at the base, planting my feet carefully, etc., made it down to the headlamp, grabbed it, and went back up. The stress of the whole thing was exhausting, esp. in 20 degree temps. Ugh. By sunrise, my water filter/flask froze (couldn't remove the top nor filter water through) and I had nothing to drink for about an hour. But you know what? You said something here that made me realize: I used a Hot Hands in bed the night before; I could have used that to thaw my flask.
I'm no expert but it seems like you'd need an additional layer for the cold. Freezing at night is no fun. I think the body aches and pains will subside as you get stronger. Keep at it, you got this!
For cold weather, instead of using the thin pad under your air mattress, use a therm rest z light or Nemo switch back it’ll add a little extra warmth UNDER you . Also a sleeping bag liner will help and add some r value to your sleep system. I’ll be watching you! Good luck!
Fantastic update Laura. I will reiterate what I said last week. This was successful . The amount you learned is exactly what needed to be done. I really think had you crushed this whole trail you would have not corrected anything and maybe even got over confident. Just my thought. Now you know what it takes and what has to be done. Perfect. Sounds like you know what you need to work on. I don't call them mistakes, or failures just thing's that you need to work on for a successful trek. I can tell you are going to do great and once your hiker legs get going on trek you will crush. Proud of you. The only thing I would as is if you watched any videos on backpack weight distribution? Like the heavy stuff needs to be against your back and in the middle. I had to learn all that. ANyway's , getting excited for you and can't wait for next week. You got this.💪
im so glad you did this shakedown! knowledge is power and now youre gonna be even more prepped for your grand adventure! You, CobwebRose, Gabi, and Gabby (journey to the destination) have me getting excited for the 2023 hiking season! I hope to trail angel for you gals somehow, some way, somewhere along the trail. I was born and raised here in maine, where I am now, but lived for over 25 years in the Mount Washington Valley so perhaps that might be where I can make some magic happen.. I loved that google docs form that Gypsy and Fern had so folks could "apply to angel" for them during their 2022 thruhike, (hint hint, wink wink)
Hi Laura another really good video. Another important consideration when figuring miles for the day is not only elevation but terrain (rocks, roots, boulders, mud, water) ect.. That of course doesn't show up on the elevation profile but people do comment on such in far out. Comes into play more in the northern section of the trail. So always allow for that as well. And yes you can do this and will be just fine!!
I made this comment to one of your earlier videos. Seems to apply to this video as well. I think you should try to find a way to cut 3 to 5 lbs off your base weight. Consider if you replace the anker 26800 with two nitecore nb10000 gen2 you could save 7 oz, have redundant batteries, and they would charge faster (the anker takes 6 hours if you use both charging inputs). Your fleece lined leggings are one pound. Maybe you could use down pants (~6oz but $$) or kuiu has merino wool leggings from 9.5oz down to 5.5oz, montbell has fleece pants at 7.6oz. Do you need a base layer shirt, a mid layer jacket, a puffy jacket, rain jacket and a thermal fleece? That's five "tops", maybe you could find a way so you only need three or four.
@@lauraevelynashley I would say that you were cold, so maybe they didn't work. Or that maybe they could have worked better. I am sure you will find the right combination. Remember to stay flexible. Just cause you start your hike with some gear, doesn't mean you need to finish your hike with the same gear.
When it's cold, the ground is your enemy! That is where you lose heat! Bring a mylar space blanket for ground insulation. Make sure your pack weight is on your hips via your hip belt. Your shoulder straps should not be tight with that type of pack.
Hey Laura - If you don't have one, I would recommend the AT Guide. I think it weighs maybe 8oz and it tells you absolutely everything. To me, it is better (esp. for planning) than being 100% App dependent. It is essentially the AT Bible. It has anything you can think of, and probably some things you won't. I know you were in a bit of a time crunch, but particularly when you start don't over-plan miles upfront and always listen to your body. Some days you may fall short, but once you get your trail legs there will be days you feel like you can go all day. Glad you enjoyed the trail - it is really a great sample of what the AT will look like from the start up into Va.
The Guthook app will give you all that information plus up to the minute updates from users (on water sources, trail conditions, etc) and it weighs absolutely zero grams since it lives on your phone. Read the book before you go, but for the trail, I'd recommend the app.
For shoulder pain try adjusting your waist strap/belt. This was something that was taught to us in the military with our body armour. Tanke a deep breath, shrugg your shoulders, then tighten your waist belt. This will allow the trunk of your body, abs and hips to carry a majority of the weight and the shoulder straps will be more for stability of the pack. My body armour speficically weighed about 35lbs stripped down. That is the vest, soft armour, throat collar, groin panel, front ballistic plate, rear plate, and 2 side plates. Once you add standard ammo loadout, trauma kit, weapon and small-medium pack, 75-80lbs wasnt uncommon. I am not a back pack hiker yet and I do not have any experience with backpack hiking but the gear has to be better than "lowest bidder" for the military. I do have a goal and I am takiing this year to get gear and everything else together to do an AT thru hike in 2024. Good luck!
Just found ya. Good luck. You got some grit, I'll give ya that. I have watched AT hikers for many years and I have a suggestion. Most focus on views, food, views, food and repeat. Understandable, that is your life. Few even attempt to focus on the social aspect and life in towns on zero day for example. But most importantly, do you.
In checking your lighter pack list, I see you are using an Xlite(4.2r) maybe consider changing to an XTherm (6.2r) to help with the cold. You could change back when the weather warms. I would have expected your current system to work considering you used the Xlite with a closed cell pad. Let's take a quick look at your quilt, the EE 10d long/regular. I know you are tall, but the long is 84 inches and designed for someone that is 6 foot and over. Keeping that extra space warm might be part of your issue. You might be better off with a regular/regular. Also, you mentioned the straps to secure the quilt to the pad. These are required for most people to stay warm. Others commented on some of the basics like hydration, and food before you go to sleep. Often times I do some simple calisthenics to get my blood moving and my body warm. I have found that if I get into my bag clod, I have trouble warming up. I am sure with a little more work, you will find the perfect setup for you!
Try merino wool as your base layer, it's more effective than synthetics at keeping you warm, moisture wicking, and antimicrobial, which will keep you smelling at least a little better on trail, also I hear alpaca wool is good as well but both pricey, God bless your trek.
When its to cold to sleep pack up and hike .It takes me a week or so to get use to my pack till pain goes away. Its all a mental game . As I right this im in the grayson highlands in my tent . Headed south to sobo the B.M.T .
I 100% did the same thing with my quilt and also froze. I didn't realize how big of a difference the straps would make! Thanks for all of the great information!
As another petite female who has done a large section of the AT, I suggest trying to get your base weight down to 13-15 lbs. As I'm sure you realized quickly water and food weight A LOT, and your shoulders will thank you if you can stay under 25lbs fully loaded. Even at 24 lbs on my first few days I was thinking of everything I could possibly get rid of. I can look through your lighter pack list. You might not have a kitchen scale but it's worth the 10$. I weighed all of my fleeces to take the lightest one haha. But I know from owning the same Columbia fleece that it's nearly 1lb. I made the personal choice to go stoveless to cut down on weight. I think often med kits and personal hygiene stuff is a good place to cut back. Good luck! Learning and figuring out what works for you is half the fun!
I haven't read any of the other replies so I dont know if any of these points have been addressed Heres my feedback: Ankles twisting: due to previous ankle injuries I cant wear trail runners. I go with mids for more support and I wear a compression sleeve over the bad ankle to give it stability from twists and strains. Works well for me. Packing list: I'm old school and use a clipboard and a physical paper list of what I'm taking. I check it off the list on a layout and then double check as I pack. Shoulder pain: if the new shoulder pads dont work out,......22 years in the infantry, with pack weights heavier than your typical AT hiker. I wont hump those weights again now that I'm in my 60s, but what we used to do is cut a GI brown towel in half length-wise...those towels are much shorter than a civilian bath towel... soak it in water and lay it across your shoulders. Good relief on a hot day and it adds a minimalist layer between you and the straps that helps. Sawyer issues: I've had the same problems on trail. Check your filter before you leave the house. Carry a spare disinfection method like tablets in case your Sawyer fails. I've had giardia, its no fun. Rough kerchief: mine are the same way when they are new. You need to take a broken-in kerchief on trail. Freezing: always pays to spend a night in the back yard or on a simple overnight to test gear. I just spent an overnight in a local lean-to a couple of weeks ago testing out some winter gear. Lot easier to bail if you're in the back yard or a mile down the trail at a local lean-to.
Pack choice: no idea how well your pack is fitted to you, which alters whether you are carrying the weight on your shoulders, or your hips/legs. A light pack with minimal padding and no frame could wear/tear you down much faster than a pack that is a couple of pounds heavier (but also very well padded and comfortable to carry). This "weight debate" applies to sleep systems and everything else. There's a point at which reducing weight starts to hurt you, not help you. If you end up freezing and never sleeping - and it's because you didn't want to carry quilt straps and a heavier base layer, then make the compromise. Good job sorting this all out now (instead of later!). I was really conflicted about trying to get a lighter pack, but I think I'm going to stick to my Osprey Aether 70L. It might be a lot bigger than truly needed - but I already know it's comfortable when fully loaded down - and it helps my overall hiking budget not buying another expensive item. Plus, I can leave off parts of the pack (like the top compartment) that I won't need, to reduce weight. I made the same choice with my tent - I already have a Mountain Hardware Drifter 2 - and even though it's got double walls and poles (and heavier than a single wall with no poles) - I have enough experience with single wall tents (stakes, lines, condensation) that I'll go with what I have (and save money on a big exoense item). I need to sort out my sleep system and base layers, too... That's what I'm really nervous about - SLEEP. But I'm going to do my testing in my backyard garage lol. I'll just come back inside and switch out or add a layer until it "works".
This is excellent advice! So many people want to shame you into ultralight, but if you can't sleep or ur pack hurts you it's just not worth it. I tried ultra light packs without a frame and 25 pounds in them and it just doesn't work for me. I think no frame needs 20 pounds or less. U went with a frame and 25 pounds and it feels great. In the end, you do you. You CAN NOT let others bully you into ultra light if it doesn't work for you. 2200 miles in pain...no thanks!
Try looking up off-season failure for your Sawyer. It's probably mineral build-up on the membranes. If it is, its reversible. Basically warm water+vinegar soak. Give it a go before buying a new filter.
Hey Laura! Nice update :) You'll definitely want those straps for your quilt. It's a 10 degree right? You were likely cold at night due to drafts - the straps will ensure the material of the quilt wraps around your sleeping pad and keeps all that air inside. Also, be sure to snap the top end of the quilt around your neck and cinch it down tight - this will help trap more of that warmth. Another tip to stay warm at night - if you have a Nalgene bottle or something similar you can pour hot water into it and use it like a mini radiator. Keep it down between your thighs and it'll keep you toasty all night. Cheers and best of luck!!
Thanks for these tips! I didn't think to plan miles by elevation either. And I hadn't thought about hidden roots under leaves; that's rough! I also didn't know you could get a refund for the parking. I'm a little concerned with how cold you felt even with a 10degree sleeping bag. I plan on hiking the AT and I cannot handle the cold. I bought a 0degree EE Quilt, but your video made me realize I need to invest in good sleep clothes and maybe even a different pad. Great video!
Laura - sometimes with big elevation changes you need to plan on less miles for those days. Greatvideo. I can tell that you've really thought about your hike and analyzed it, both good and bad. Learning to let your body tell you when it is time to stop for the day will be beneficial for you also. I can tell you're really getting excited for the trip. Oh one more thing I thought of, both on the first day of your hike and as you did this video, is that you might want to not travel for such a long time and try to start hiking the same day. You're already tired, then you hike, not sleep well that night then try to hike bigger miles. Horrible sentence structure but do you understand what I'm saying? Anyway, it's getting closer. Won't be long now. Stay safe.
I also get very bruised hips and collar bones every time. It takes me a number of days before my body hardens. For my hips I pre-emptively use leukotape to stave off blisters but for my shoulders I just transfer way more weight to my hips. Hense the blistered hips! But I also have chronic shoulder problems so the sore hips are the lesser of two evils. You will figure out what works best for you, I promise!
One of the most important factors for sleep warmth is your pad. You need an insulated pad with a high R value. As for your Rookie mistake in not considering elevation I will give you a reluctant pass because you're a Florida girl but every hike I've done I research the trail. I know rating, elevation gain, distance and average hike time (I'm slow). I will also give you a pass on the "rock, root" issue because you are a Florida girl but every New England hiker knows there is a season in late fall when leaf litter is treacherous. You are young and healthy and after a month on the trail you will be an expert. Best wishes
Shoulder pain. One thing that got me is that I didn't realize I could adjust the pack better using the load lifters. I kept trying to adjust the sternum strap and waist strap and completely forgot about the load lifters. Also don't order a pack. Go to an outfitter and get fitted by pros.
Just found your channel and took me a bit to review your stuff. Really great content. Here are my two cents for what it's worth. You have a 10° sleeping bag and a liner and you were still cold. Would suggest you may have been warmer with your pad straps as that keeps your quilt close to your body. Even at 5'11 a long quilt, maybe too long for you. At 5:10 I have a regular length enigma, in my 30° will take me down to 30° with a Nemo tensor sleeping pad. Your body heat has to warm all that space. Investing in different sleep clothes may sound like a good plan but will cost you in money and weight. Where as 0° bag or quilt will only add a few ounces. I know you had issues with your Sawyer. For the Foothills trail in much of the AT you probably only need to worry about carrying one to one and a half liters of water unless there is a long water carry. On my first section height I insisted on carrying 3 l. Way too much. Once you get comfortable you'll know how far you get out of a liter. Water is pretty heavy. Food is also heavy and Taz does offer a resupply. As you plan to start your hike and February it may be a good idea to get in another shakedown. Even an overnighter will be helpful.
We also experienced an unexpected temperature drop (21 degrees fahrenheit) in the same camp area. Spent all night stuffed as far in our mummy bags as we could freezing. When we woke early morning I got up quickly to make a small fire for breakfast and ice/snow fell out of my hair. In the summer. lol Good ol condensation froze what hair i had sticking out of the bag. I was so happy to get moving and warm up because it stays cold for a good part of the day in between those two mountains by the river.
I'll offer maybe a different view on the big things at least. 1. Perhaps the pack does not sit well. But there are several things that are probably happening. It might be that the pack sits too high or too low because you did not adjust it properly; you packed your gear inside the pack in a way that is not ideal; and the most important aspect that newbies keep miss is that your body is not in any trail shape. 2. Touching on the last point, which is the most important of all in my opinion, it takes an average hiker about 6 weeks to get into trail shape. Whether it's trail legs, toughen shoulders, lose access weight, mental toughness. What you felt probably has something to do to the fact that your body is not used to all this. It takes time. That's why shakedown hikes should be taken with a grain of salt. 3. The mental part is the most important one. Shakedown hikes should not be used to test mental strength, but in my opinion, pure gear tests. One reason if you want is that typical shakedown hikes are several days long. You already have a state of mind, even before starting, that "it's over in a few days". Even if you're not consciously thinking it. It is a whole different ball game when you are facing 6 months of thru hiking. A lot of people break exactly because of this point. They trust their "awesome shakedown hike" which they felt they are on top of things and then when they are faced with the reality of a 6 months journey, they break. Advice? Don't put so much emphasis on shakedown hikes. It's good to debug things but don't look at it as some sort of ultimate preparation for a long distance thru hike. Good thing about the AT and that's why it is a newbies trail, even though it is physically demanding, is that it's an easy trail to get through. Nothing is going to kill you, logistics are a joke, (too) many people around all the time. So, just relax, hit the trail and you'll figure it out as you go along.
Thanks for you input. Yes I agree the pack wasn’t fitting the best. However, I have used it before and it wasn’t as painful as it was this time. But as you said, I will figure out out once I’m on trail.
Not all puffy jackets are equal. I have a 750 fill North Face puffy jacket and I bought some puffy ski pants off EBAY that swish down to the size of a beer can. I try to save my puffy's for sleeping as dry clothes.
I encourage you to go as light as possible and that you can afford and still feel safe and comfortable I'm 52 and don't want to carry any weight on my shoulders if I could help it my pack base weight is around seven pounds and another pound and a half in a fanny pack I'm way happier on trail than the old days
I think the chest bag is a great idea if for nothing else for snacks. Fumbling with waist pockets and trying to see what is in it, isn't always that great
AT class of '21. One thing I learned was to bring sunblock even in the colder months. sunburn in the colder months is very real. No leaves means no cover from the sun. The trail will continue to teach you as you go. Listen to your body. Don't listen to the nay-sayers. You've absolutely got this!
Thanks for sharing! So wise to learn these "pre-game". 2 thoughts from the cheap seats...we like the Katadyn BeFree filter. So much faster than the Sawyer but doesn't last as long, but can just replace it. Also when freezing fits nicer in the pocket or quilt with the empty soft bottle on, so leaking not an issue. CNOC makes a 2 or 3 L bag that fits it too. Second, we like to carry an emergency blanket...very light and can lay it over the quilt on extra cold nights. Also a good layer if rain/wind/snow is blowing into the shelter. Condensation could be an issue, so it's really only for exceptional cold! Happy trails
@Laura Evelyn Ashley Awesome! Just fyi, we've kept the flow strong by cleaning it in some white vinegar and/or distilled water when in town. I think the other down side is gotta baby the water bottles since won't just fit on any gas station water bottle...needs a 42mm mouth. We carry the .6L soft flask it comes with, a 2 or 3L CNOC, and a 1L HydraPak Flux. We filter into 2x 700ml Smartwater bottles for shoulder carry and use the rest for dry camping or longer water carries. I hike on the AT with a dog so carry more than most. Hope this was somewhat helpful! Happy trails
For your shoulder pain - I have three things to consider and I'd do them in this order: 1. Lighten your load - you'll wind up doing this anyway over the first 50-100 miles as you start to look at pieces of gear and realize you haven't used that doohicky for two weeks. Other than first aid and gear repair, you shouldn't be carrying much of anything you don't need to use every single day, and if any piece of gear only has one purpose, see if you can figure out how to ditch it and do that thing with something else in your pack. 2. Get an expert to help see if your pack fits properly and get it adjusted or replaced if it doesn't - I don't mean REI employees - some of them are great, but most are kind of so-so and it's rare to find a backpacking expert at an REI. I mean genuine mountaineers and through hikers. This is the kind of thing it would be worth driving some hours to a well known outfitter that specializes in backpacking. If you're in FL, driving up to Neels Gap for Mountain Crossings is within reach and would be my recommendation, and if you go, take your fully loaded pack with you - while helping you figure out the pack fit, they can also help figure out ways to lighten it up. It's what they do every year with the new class of AT no-bo's as they pass through. Plus, you NEVER want to do a pack fitting with an empty pack - it's pointless. 3. Accept that some discomfort/bruising is going to come with the territory, especially for the first couple hundred miles while you really dial in your pack fit and build the muscle and callouses. Leukotape will help a LOT - put it on any skin that is dealing with a lot of friction. Bottom line though, if you were needing to take breaks that often to drop the pack, it's probably both too heavy and not fitting well. Packs are so personal I hesitate to make recommendations, but if you need to buy a new one, look into ULA packs. I haven't met a ULA user who doesn't love their pack, plus they are cheaper and more durable than many of the much more expensive popular brands like Zpacks and HMG.
@@lauraevelynashley Nice! I hope it works out for you. It took me about 5 different packs before I finally found "the one" that really worked with my body typed and gear load. I'm a new sub and look forward to following your hike. In the end, remember also not to overanalyze and just have fun. Your body and habits and technique will all grow and adapt - and continue to adapt the entire time you're out there. I've been packing for almost 40 years, and I still learn things (and sometimes re-learn old things) nearly every time I hit the trail.
I had that same issue with the bandana being a bit rough on my nose.. Two things fixed it for me .. Switched to a softer Buff as a sweat/nose rag..and used my lip balm as "nose balm" .. just put some on your finger and cover the whole lower part of you nose (nostrils, tip, sides), repeat it frequently. Hope it works out for you as well.
I had a failed FHT hike last year. I made the mistake of carrying all of my food instead of posting half of it at the halfway mark. My pack weighed too much also. My trail weight was 27.48 lbs. My new pack load out is 9.8 lbs base weight and around 12.5 lbs trail weight. The temp was supposed to be in the high 20's to low 30's the first night so I brought my 20°F set of quilts. It was colder than that when we hit the trail and snowing. That night dropped to -8°F and I froze. Although I know the water bottle trick and many other ways to stay warm my mind was numb and all I did was hunker down. I also made a huge mistake and had forgotten my winter jacket ! I learned a valuable lesson in eating. I ate a MH chili vegan meal (I'm not vegan) by mistake that did not agree with me AT ALL ! I exited the hammock three or more times to run to the woods each time freezing my butt off literally. I became dehydrated and got a touch of pneumonia. I was using TP tablets that used water to open up for wiping and the water was frozen. Also, they froze immediately when opened when I used the water from the stream. I went through a weeks worth of immodium and tp in one night ! Lastly, Alka-selter cold and cough doesn't dissolve well below zero degrees and the bubble froze in my cup. I was off trail on day two after twelve miles and spent five days in bed afterwards on meds. Lessons learned :)
Video of shake down hike.. right after you called yourself a dummy .. I noticed that your shoulder belt in view was pulling back.. meaning the hip belt is not taking the majority of the weight.. day 2 around the 4 minute mark.. you see the pack material pulling again showing weight on the shoulder belt instead of the Hip belt..
@@lauraevelynashley They mean that you did not put and adjust the pack properly. Not that you had too much weight. Most of the pack weight should sit on the hip and not the shoulders. And different weights require pack adjustment. There is no one adjustment to rule them all.
Love your channel sis. I believe you took a huge gamble with reusing your sawyer water filter. I might be wrong but if a water filter does its job and blocks a parasite, then you store it for months. It still has bacteria that can grow. You got lucky. I'd change your filter out periodically just for safety. Backflushing is for the sediment it collects, it does nothing for the bacteria that's stored inside.
You look to be WELL on your way to being ready. Hiking 12 miles with that shoulder pain shows that you can (reasonably) push through inevitable issues. Water filter - you may not need a new one. I have learned that washing out at home then storing it can leave mineral deposits in your filter that can clog it up. After long term storage, I am sure to soak my filter in vinegar for about an hour then rinse thoroughly and keep it moist until trail departure. This has kept my filter (BeFree) working well. Be sure to have backup (Aqua Mira, other tabs, a spare LIGHT filter, etc). Shoulder pain - how much pack weight did you transfer through your hip belt? I frequently adjust shoulder and hip straps to prevent overloading one muscle group or "pinch point."
My base weight is 15lb and I still get sore shoulders the first few days. It does ease up. I get cold. I use the Xtherm with a closed cell pad under. S2s reactor liner. Custom tier gear quilt. Wool thermal long sleeve and pants. Angora socks. I wear my mid layer( Patagonia) wool gloves and beanie. I also have two NxN wool kerchiefs and 2 puffy jackets I will use over my hip/chest area.(mine and my partners). I found that as time went on I got less cold at night, even when the temp went lower.
If you need another shakedown hike I would suggest the Pinhoti Trail. It is on Far Out and the terrain is similar to the AT, but a little more forgiving. The Alabama portion of the trail is nicer and generally has more support available. Good luck this year.
Hi Ms. Laura, I would recommend to factor the actual time spent wearing your pack vs just miles/elev....etc Especially starting out after xXx hours its time to give the body a break/rest no matter the mileage completed. This will help to reduce overuse injuries and the body needs time to rest and recover.
I'm caught up with your playlist. If you didn't realize it, Dixie "Homemade Wanderlust" had never made an overnight back pack trip before she started the Appalachian Trail. Based on what I've seen in these videos You should be well prepared to take on this adventure. Good luck to you and Cheyenne.
Definitely get to a good outfitter and have them (or another hiker) help you fit your pack. With the weight you're carrying there shouldn't be so much load on your shoulders. Women luckily have hips so the belt sliding down is less of a problem than us guys. Typically on the trail I've got probably 80% of the weight on my hips. In your videos the pack looks a little short for your torso but that's hard to tell. A good fitting and trying a different pack might make all the difference.
Read the instructions on the Sawyer bag that came with the filter to get the flow rate back. Tells how to store it after use. I run water through mine every few months and for sure right before a walk. Lots of videos on here to get flow rate back as well. I would try several things before I just bought another one.
like others have mentioned, most of your pack weight should be on your hips, not your shoulders. In fact the shoulders should just be used to keep it from falling off your back. Think of holding a bird in your hands, that's how your shoulder straps should hug your body. Be it from where it rests on your hips, weight distribution inside the pack, to load lifter adjustments, sternum and shoulder strap adjustments, side compression straps, play around with them with your full load, you'll be amazed at how light your pack feels when it's not "hanging" from your shoulders. Also about the filter - it does no good to thaw it out after it freezes, it's already ruined and not filtering anymore. As for being cold - I know you're 5' 11" (I am too), but those long quilts are doing more bad than good for you. I had to switch to a regular and it kept me warmer. (less air to warm up around my body/feet, etc). If you must keep the long quilt, make sure you keep your feet near the very end of the footbox. Keep the loft, but minimize dead (cold) air space down there. My first big hike was on the Foothills Trail as well (back in '18). It's my first set of vids on my channel, check them out if you like. Like you, I only made it 30 miles. I also had some issues (including my inexperience with pack distribution, I had sore shoulders too) but mainly my issue being out of hiking shape. But I felt very accomplished. I've come a very long way since then, and so will you. Good luck!
With the pack, you gotta learn to put the weight on ur hips. You can also switch the load around to shoulders for awhile, hips, shoulders so on... tighten your hip belt and release ur shoulder straps a small bit
Shakesdpwns are always worthwhile! A few additional thoughts ... first, I think you made the correct decision--no sense in enduring soul-crushing, frozen evenings once you know your kit doesn't handle it well. I wondered about your pad: at 4.2, it was right around the R-rating limit for those temps, and cold from beneath is a killer in the winter. Second, I take a Nalgene Ultralight bottle on winter trips because I can fill it with boiling water, wrap it in a shirt, and stick it at the bottom of my quilt for a heater most of the night. In the morning, I have unfrozen water to drink and cook with. It isn't ultralight, but I think it is valuable for winter trips. I wondered about your pack fitting: did it hug your back? Was the majority of the weight on your hips through your hip belt (it should be)? Did the load-lifters pull the pack close to your shoulders at the top, preventing fatigue from the pack "pulling" you backward (from weight hanging away from your body)? Aside from that, on day 3 I finally learned to fuel my body--water every 15 minutes, a pack-off snack break every hour--that's what I needed. I wondered about your caloric intake since I was booking over that same stretch of trail from not consuming/hydrating enough. On my third day, I hiked Burrell's Ford to the campsite just outside the Whitewater River corridor (I was crying myself at the end of that day, having battled heat exhaustion in the later afternoon from pushing too hard), and except for the end, I felt good about how I pushed myself but also fueled myself, in contrast to the two previous days when I let fatigue get the better of me and discourage me from eating enough. Finally, if you do decide to finish the FHT, you might consider the elevation profile from Antigravity gear (antigravitygear.com/shop/product-category/pocket-profile-foothills-trail-elevation-profile-map/) a great quick reference for planning for elevation. I kept it handy and pulled it out often to conserve battery life on my phone. There are also two good guidebooks of the trail as well as an excellent map, all useful for educating yourself about the trail. I'd be happy to share the links if you're interested at some point. Kudos on a courageous shakedown effort! Btw, I don't think that was bear poop--it looked more coyote-like to me, although I'm no expert, but I have seen a bunch of bear poop while hiking! If you educate yourself about bears, it will reduce your fear and anxiety--they are highly intelligent creatures who have little interest in humans other than careless campers; food and simple innate curiosity. Learning bear sign (poop and scratches) can be useful, although I confess I set up next to a bear scratching post tree on my first night on trail and was so spooked I almost stepped on a Copperhead (also minding its own business), which was more of a threat than the bear would have been. This fall, though, I watched two bears eat in a field less than 100 yards from me. They kept popping up to look my way, but they were focused on eating, and I was treated to watching them for 45 minutes without incident. Sorry for the ADHD ramble of unsolicited advice! Good luck with the remainder of your AT prep!
Laura or anyone with TRAIL/TREKKING experience, have you ever used a life straw water filter and if so how does it compare to the sawyer water filter systems?, Thanks for the advice in advance, and looking forward to your adventures Laura you are awesome!!!! 🙂
You learned a lot in 3 days, by that time on the AT you should be at/near Mountain Crossings and they'll help with a shakedown of your pack and you'll probably be shipping things home or buying lighter weight items there. Someone already gave you advise about doing a good cleaning of your Saywer and storeing it damp. Hope you tried that before buying a new one. I also wonder if the shoulder pain was because your pack wasn't riding on your hips properly or you load lifters weren't fully adjusted. Those two adjustments can really help with relieve shoulder pain.
Be careful "pushing through" physical pain. Listen to your body and remember, a through hike of a long trail is a marathon - you have to pace yourself properly to avoid injury. Probably the number one reason hikers don't finish the trail is injury. Build the miles slowly and be very deliberate about paying attention to the pain so you can make good decisions about when to rest, whether that's for a few minutes, or whether it's taking a full zero day to recuperate.
I'm gonna take a guess and say your quilt is a 20 degree quilt. That's the most common. That's a survival rating, not a comfort rating. My system: 20 degree quilt for nights down to 40 (ish). If I expect it to freeze over night or get close, I take my -20 degree quilt (that can zip up fully) and leave it unzipped. If I expect it to get below 10 (or I wake up due to cold) I zip up the cold quilt. ALSO - what is the R rating on your pad? At 20 degrees, you really need a fully insulated pad (R5 or 6), or some second insulating layer underneath, or it won't matter much what the temp rating is on your bag/quilt because the ground will pull heat the out of you. Below 40 and I'm taking my insulated R6 pad. With the system above, I rarely need to worry too much about layering. Sleeping in my base layer with good sleep socks is generally plenty warm, though if I'm zipping up the cold quilt (
@@lauraevelynashley You may be a cold sleeper. I'd recommend either gearing down to a zero degree (if the budget allows) or just bringing a liner and a higher R-value pad. You'll likely be in some even colder nights as you get to the end of the AT. Depending on your tent model, you may also be able to get some extra heat retention by tightening the pitch lower to the ground. And one last bit of advice for cold nights - choose the location wisely. Avoid high ground, and find spots secluded/protected from wind. Even just in the lee of a big rock can make a huge difference.
Hi Laura, Do you adjust your pack during the day when you hike? I tend to make small adjustments throughout the day to relieve pressure. Sometimes I carry more weight on my hips, sometimes my sternum strap is tightened, sometimes my shoulder straps are more to the outside of my shoulders, etc . . . It can help prevent soreness and injury from overuse. Still, I typically get sore in my shoulders for the first 2 - 4 days of backpacking. If the trip is longer, my shoulders get stronger and don't bother me afterward. But it is something I expect on every trip. The other thing that doesn't get mentioned enough is that it's hard getting used to being outside and away from home all the time. You could be a professional athlete with tough as nails mental game and there still will be an adjustment period when things are more difficult. This tends to drag on your energy and mood. Clearly you are doing an incredible job prepping physically, mentally and gearwise. Don't forget to give yourself credit managing taking care of yourself when you’re outside on a trip. It's harder than most people think. Congrats on the shakedown hike. Sounds like you learned about your strengths and areas for improvement. And you still want to go on a big adventure. Nice work!
No problem. Try adjusting the straps on you pack, in particular the load lifters (the ones that connect your shoulder straps to the top of the main pack compartment). If those are too tight, especially with heavier loads, your shoulders will get overworked and start hurting. Happy new year.
I wont say its easy but the first part is not that bad especially the first 10 miles is fairly flat definitely not like the AT as far as elevation Sassafras was the best area to see what elevation you are in for the AT is way harder
Great video, thanks. But me no understand something?! You have a 10* quilt and you say it was 20* the first night and expected 20’s for the duration of the trip. I don’t see how that wasn’t adequate enough especially as you were wearing all your layers including your puffy? You weren’t wet were you? How was your pad? Is it a insulated.. Tensor, Neoair X-lite? For maximum R-Value was it fully inflated? Hope you’re warmer next time! Happy New Year
Hi Laura, this might have already been addressed but have you double checked your wearing your hip belt correctly? And your torso length is correct? Shoulder problems can be most commonly caused by this. The goal as I'm sure you know is to put all the weight on your hips - not your shoulders.
Yes I have, I just have too heavy of a winter gear set for this pack. I will probably use it in the summer months when I can get ride of my winter layers 😂
Agreed, you should only be taking 20% of the weight on your shoulders. If you were carrying too much weight in total your hip belt would be slipping or you would have bruised hips. I switched from a 2lb frameless pack to a 5.5lb internal frame pack. I would now go for an Exped Thunder or Lightening pack. I now do day training walks out to 27 miles before a multi day walk. You need the strength before you start a multi day walk if the walk itself is going to be fun.
Is your pack/pack weight adjusted so you're carrying the weight on your hips/hip belt? I hardly bear any weight at all on my shoulders. Sounds like it was a very productive/useful shakedown!
Didn’t anyone ever teach you the one nostril snot rocket? Basically you just cover one nostril with a finger and blow hard till the snots gone then cover the other and do the same. If you use this method make sure your nose missile doesn’t land on your shoe. 😂
I’m so glad I went out on this shakedown hike to learn more about my gear. What lessons have you learned while hiking? 😊
Like you, I found out recently I don't wanna wait until the AT to strengthen my ankles. I've been daily walking/hiking with a back pack filled with full Nalgeens and SmartWater bottles, and avoiding sidewalks/roads as much as possible. Even a walk around a grass field - can def tell my ankles/stabilizer muscles get a workout. I'll def still need to get my trail legs built up when actually on trail, but I consider ankle strengthening injury prevention (I hope 😅).
@@WitcherOnTrail yessss good job
I had that same collarbone pain. The culprit was my pack didn't fit me well. Make sure your hipbelt is in the right spot it should take the weight off your shoulders.Excited to see your gear changes!
From an old guy who had hiked the smokies when it was cold like 10 below, and often in the shoulder months colder than predicted, get a 10 degree sleeping bag that you can add a simple liner and a zip lock bag to hold your dry sleeping clothes my suggestion merino top and bottoms at least one pair of warm socks and a wool tabagon. Good luck for the love🥾🥾
A couple pieces of advice about sleeping in the cold. Hydrate before going to bed. If you are dehydrated in the least it makes it almost impossible to get warm and stay warm. Also a high energy snack. A full belly kicks in your internal furnace. Also stay away from wearing your rain gear to sleep. It may help you feel warm at first, but it will hold moisture in and you would wake up freezing in the middle of the night. I hope you do well on the AT. I am looking forward to watching your adventure.
Thanks! My rain gear was completely dry so it wouldn’t have been wet at the time, but I’ll keep that in mind
@@lauraevelynashley The moisture from your body is what I was referring. Your rain gear would have trapped it.
@@FrankWolfe ahhh okay.
I had no idea that you should not wear your rain gear to bed. I would have thought that was a good idea. Thanks for this comment it might have saved me some pain later on lol
This is good advice. I’ve been taught similar methods in the military. Staying hydrated in cold weather situations is so important. Sounds like you needed a sleeping bag rated for colder temps. Should be able to get warm with just your base layer on. Good luck! Hope you meet your goals.
Good video! I know everyone is different, but for me, I start out with 5-6 mile hikes each year, then after a couple weeks I’m back up to 10-12 and the occasional 16 or 19. When you hit the AT, there will be a lot of what I’ll call “aggressive personalities” talking about 15-16 mile days, but for me, that made me feel like I was behind everyone else and it totally bummed me out. NOW, I just take my time and enjoy what I’m seeing. That’s much more enjoyable for me. There’s no reason to stress out. Have fun, hit the hostels, eat tasty food. There are no bonus points for making it hard. You got this!!!!
Thanks. I agree with you
Indeed. The AT has a higher than average wannabe mile freaks that think they are god's gift to the hiking communittee. 99% of them never did a thru hike. They are just there to show off. Ignore them. This is from someone that is considered to be a "fast hiker".
The beauty of a through hike is that you have PLENTY of time to build up to big mile days. Start with 5 miles max and work up and before you know it, a 20 mile day feels pretty comfortable - as long as you never push yourself more than a little bit each day. Otherwise, you risk injury, and an unintended zero day (or days) will bring your average miles down really fast. Just take it slow and listen to your body and you'll be a happier hiker.
I too have really prominant collar bones. I have found to keep my pack from making me miserable, do the following: Cinch the shoulder staps as TIGHT as you can. This lifts the pack up high. Put on the stirnum strap and snug it. Put on the hip belt and snug it tight, making sure it is above your natural waist. LOOSEN your should straps slightly. This will drop almost ALL the weight down on your hips. You only want enough on your shoulders to keep your pack against your back. This has saved my shoulders SO MUCH since I learned it.
IF you do this and find your pack slipping down, either your hip belt is not tight enough or your pack length is too long so that your belt is starting too low.
Thank you:)
Here’s a tip about your water filter. After you return from a hike flush it out of course but after the water runs clear make sure you run through it distilled water in both directions before you store it for any length of time . If it sits with municipal tap water in it the minerals can build up and make it hard or impossible to use after time . Also take enough tablets with you in your emergency kit in case you have it fail.
For sure! Thanks!
And don't ever let it freeze! Sleep with it if necessary.
Tablets...great thought!
I am a fan, for sure!
You are not the only one who has made those mistakes. I need the full Mt. Everest summit suit to stay warm. A lot of the you tubers in shorts out there must be cold-blooded. I'm not and glad to see you keeping it real! Thanks. 👊👍🇺🇲
Haha of course! Gotta keep it 💯
With pack weight, consider your resupply strategy - food is heavy! Carrying 6 days versus 3+ is a big difference. Happily the AT has many resupply points, instead of staying in town each time you can go into town, get more food, then hike back out. Though take as much town time as you need/budget allows during the cold beginning. I hiked in 2013 and also kept the miles low at the beginning, if you are able to hike farther earlier it will be a nice surprise! I didn’t feel like I had my trail legs (hiking >15 miles a day) until after the Smokies. For sleep, definitely strap that quilt down, makes a huge difference! I can’t sleep when my feet are even slightly cold so love my down booties unless I’m hiking in the summer. Love your vlog so far, excited to follow your journey!!
Thank you! I actually just purchased down booties the other day.
Check out the granite gear perimeter 50 backpack. Total game changer. The adjustability on that pack is not seen on any other pack on the market. I switched from a osprey and the difference is night and day. Plus, it's reasonably inexpensive for a lightweight pack. Has a frame and load lifters too. Shoulder pain was always the worst for me. Now I don't even need to take my pack off for breaks 🤷♀️
Sweet maybe
Just a couple of comments concerning some of your issues you had: I use a bandanna any time I'm hiking for wiping what ever is wet at the time. Your problem might have been using a new bandanna. I had to wash mine several times to soften it up to where it was not rough when using. It helps. I also have experienced shoulder pain because of the pack weight. What works for me is to put as much weight as possible on my hips and just use the shoulder straps for keeping the pack pinned to my body. That gives me more freedom of movement in my arms and shoulders. I need that as I always use trekking poles when hiking. Just some thoughts that might help. Looking forward to following your journey.
Thank you:) yes bandana def needed to be washed!
I also am a bandana user due to my hay fever. I tend to use 100% cotton but have been trying out a Buff lately. The Buff is softer for sure and also dries faster. Plus is very soft on the nose.
Was going to mention the same thing. Wash the bandanna a few times and it will soften. I use one on trail, and it was definitely stiff when new. Now it is quite soft.
Agree with all here. A bandana will soften up nicely after about 4 wash and dry cycles, but 53and4k is also dead on the money. A wool Buff (neck gaiter) is not only softer than the bandana will ever be, but also dries faster and doubles as a neck warmer/pot holder/whatever. I haven't used a bandana on trail since the first time I took a Buff.
But your instinct about wearing some bright orange was spot on. A lot of my gear is bright red for the same reason - colors not found in nature, even though I'd never wear those colors off trail.
Thanks for sharing your journey.
Thanks for watching
it took about 10 washes before my cotton bandana softened up
Oh I’m sure! I’m just going a different route, but I may end up switching to a bandana at some point
Tough few days, but much knowledge gained!
Couple things:
1) late Feb/March, you will see nightly Temps in the upper 20s, as well as some nights lower. Most of the trail is at elevation, so cold. Can't always bail to a hostel. I have a set of 4.0 base layers for sleeping in, plus a down balaclava for my head. Also, sometimes, if you are overdressed in your bag, it causes you to sweat, which makes you cold. Finally, eating something high in fats/oils (take longer to break down to energy) just before bed will tide your metabolism over once the carbs run out. A great excuse to eat a big snickers, nuts, etc. before bed.
2) Had the same filter issue at last year's start. The dialysis tubing gets dried out...I ran warm water thru it both ways and it came back to life after 2 days...buy a new one before you head out and use it a couple days before you go. And as previously said, keep it in a ziplock and take it into your sleeping bag at night so it doesn't freeze--also on cold days you have to keep it in an inner pocket of your jacket. Freezing will rupture the tubes that do the filtering, thus allowing dirty water to pass.
3) Your first few weeks on the trail, you'll be going shelter to shelter (maybe + a mile or two), so about 8 miles a day. That will get better as you get tuned up, physically.
Focus on getting your pack right and your night warmth right....those will make or break you... the rest is little stuff!
Exactly!
Excellent advice!
Lots of good information! Any hike where you make it back to your car is a success, no matter how you got there! Just a heads up that you can have that same issue with the BeFree filter. I always speak mine overnight before heading out on a trip just to make sure the membrane is wet and working. Once you get on trail it won't be an issue because you'll be using it every day. Counting the days with you until you start!
Sounds good 👍🏻
If its subzero (Celsius) your water filter may have frozen unless you slept with it (you've gotta keep those suckers warm!). The shoulder pads are a good idea, but the weight should be getting carried on your hips, with only around 20 percent on your shoulders. I know the Mariposa claims 35lbs carry, but it's almost definitely a lot less than that, so the weight + pack was likely the culprit (the frame was overloaded, leaving your shoulders to do the work).
Spot on with lightening your load mate. Aim for 10lbs base or as close as you can get (my winter load out is 4.5 kilos so around 10lbs, it's totally do-able). Your shoulders and feel will thank you!
When it comes to being cold, it really helps to eat something hot before bed. Your metabolism picks up after eating, and this warms you up quicker (especially with down, because it relies on your own body heat to warm you). A cheaper alternative to a new sleeping bag is getting a light (350gram) Apex Quilt rated at 50 degrees (and use that as an over-bag). Same weight as one of those fleece liners, but 4 times the warmth (by CLO values).
I've got a MLD Spirit 48 for this purpose, and it doubles as my summer bag (it gets hot here in Australia).
Best of luck with your hike next year! Will be watching from Oz getting pointers for my attempt in 2024.
Take care :)
Thanks. :)
Weight on the hips, YES!!! I came to the comments to suggest just that. ♥️
*me writing all this down*
Hahahaha you are too funny! But take it with a grain of salt 🧂… I’m different than every other person who is hiking. I did add camp soap so I won’t be a noro spreader. I’m sure you will be happy about that 😂 I thought of you while buying it.
@@lauraevelynashley HAHAH I love that I appreciate you
Great video. Knowledge is power. Sleep system. I learned that if you are freezing, use an emergency Mylar blanket. Help keep body heat in and with hot hands, it will help keep warmth in. Hope that helps.
Ohhh 😮 that’s a good idea
Great and fantastically elaborate topic, you are just great creator! Enjoyable upload 🔥
Thanks so much :) I try 😂
If you can, go to Mountain Crossings with all your gear and pack. They can see if your pack is adjusted properly. You've used it before with no issues but this time you did. So maybe something was adjusted differently on the pack. It may save you from buying another pack.
Thread a sock through the opening on your footbox on a cold night to keep drafts off your feet.
Foothills trail is no joke, you did well.
Thanks! I actually went to REI the other days and decided my current winter gear weighs too much for the gossamer Gear. I will more than likely be going with a different pack. When summer comes around I may switch back to my gossamer Gear. We shall see
trail name suggestion: Anywho
lose the bandana and blow snot rockets!
looks like your hip belt is way too lose, really yank on those straps to get the weight off your shoulders and onto your hips.
Lol I love that trail name! That’s too funny! If I don’t get one on trail, I may adopt that one
Very nice video. Your learning your mistakes now. Some many have done the same thing. 👍
For sure!
Jay of Jay wanders out used aqua Mira during the coldest month instead of the sawyer squeeze so he didn't worry about freezing or slow flow rate. May work instead of the sawyer.
👍🏻 totally
I agree on the elevation! I got to a point on the AT where I stopped looking at how many miles I had left for the day, I would just pay attention to how much more elevation I had to climb 😰
Such as easy thing to forget when your in Florida 😂
@lauraevelynashley true!
Work out and build the muscles in your shoulders. Adding strength will help relieve this issue. I did it before hiking the everglades and I live by it.
Thanks good idea
Smart you went on a good shakedown. Most people don't and end up miserable on trail. Good luck!
For sure
I completed this trail in Oct 2022 going west to east. Beautiful trail but very challenging days. Great job on your attempt, hope u can finish soon. Good luck on your AT prep for 2023.
Thank you thank you! Congrats on finishing the trail
Well, you made it farther than I did! I attempted this trail last week (with Ramdino's group), also eastbound, and had to bail after Day 2 (mile 23.9). I was more confused than disappointed, like, Why is this trail kicking my butt so hard?? Ultimately I decided it was a dozen little things (too tedious to list) that piled up on me.
I will tell you about one, though: I usually get started way before sunrise, and on Day 2, as I was adjusting my headlamp, the lamp popped off the strap and tumbled down the hillside about 50 feet. The light was on, so I could see where it was. But I had to stand there for several minutes deciding if it was worth the risk to try and retrieve it. It was only 4 AM; what if I slipped down the hillside and couldn't get back up? I'd have to sit there, without my pack, and wait for someone to come down the path after sunrise, 3 hours away.
Finally, I decided to try. I took off my pack, got my solar charger which has a flashlight, and spent about 2 minutes in the dark feeling around on the thing, trying to remember how to turn on the flashlight. Once I got it on, I scaled the hillside, hanging on to trees at the base, planting my feet carefully, etc., made it down to the headlamp, grabbed it, and went back up.
The stress of the whole thing was exhausting, esp. in 20 degree temps. Ugh. By sunrise, my water filter/flask froze (couldn't remove the top nor filter water through) and I had nothing to drink for about an hour. But you know what? You said something here that made me realize: I used a Hot Hands in bed the night before; I could have used that to thaw my flask.
Wow! That’s rough! But atleast you got out there
I'm no expert but it seems like you'd need an additional layer for the cold. Freezing at night is no fun. I think the body aches and pains will subside as you get stronger. Keep at it, you got this!
Yes I changed out my sleep clothes for sure
For cold weather, instead of using the thin pad under your air mattress, use a therm rest z light or Nemo switch back it’ll add a little extra warmth UNDER you . Also a sleeping bag liner will help and add some r value to your sleep system. I’ll be watching you! Good luck!
Thanks for the advice :) I appreciate it
Fantastic update Laura. I will reiterate what I said last week. This was successful . The amount you learned is exactly what needed to be done. I really think had you crushed this whole trail you would have not corrected anything and maybe even got over confident. Just my thought. Now you know what it takes and what has to be done. Perfect. Sounds like you know what you need to work on. I don't call them mistakes, or failures just thing's that you need to work on for a successful trek. I can tell you are going to do great and once your hiker legs get going on trek you will crush. Proud of you. The only thing I would as is if you watched any videos on backpack weight distribution? Like the heavy stuff needs to be against your back and in the middle. I had to learn all that. ANyway's , getting excited for you and can't wait for next week. You got this.💪
Thanks for your support
Toy make great great points. Ty for commenting. I plan on doing AT in2028, so I'm taking notes from ur comments 👍🙃
im so glad you did this shakedown! knowledge is power and now youre gonna be even more prepped for your grand adventure! You, CobwebRose, Gabi, and Gabby (journey to the destination) have me getting excited for the 2023 hiking season! I hope to trail angel for you gals somehow, some way, somewhere along the trail. I was born and raised here in maine, where I am now, but lived for over 25 years in the Mount Washington Valley so perhaps that might be where I can make some magic happen.. I loved that google docs form that Gypsy and Fern had so folks could "apply to angel" for them during their 2022 thruhike, (hint hint, wink wink)
Haha that’s awesome! I’m def open to some trail magic! Do you have Instagram?
So sweet of you!
Great video! I feel your freezing-night-pain. 😅 I cut a trip short last Monday on the Benton Mackaye trail after trying out new gear in
Yikes! Sounds rough
Hi Laura another really good video. Another important consideration when figuring miles for the day is not only elevation but terrain (rocks, roots, boulders, mud, water) ect.. That of course doesn't show up on the elevation profile but people do comment on such in far out. Comes into play more in the northern section of the trail. So always allow for that as well. And yes you can do this and will be just fine!!
Thanks !! I didn’t think about that :)
I made this comment to one of your earlier videos. Seems to apply to this video as well.
I think you should try to find a way to cut 3 to 5 lbs off your base weight. Consider if you replace the anker 26800 with two nitecore nb10000 gen2 you could save 7 oz, have redundant batteries, and they would charge faster (the anker takes 6 hours if you use both charging inputs). Your fleece lined leggings are one pound. Maybe you could use down pants (~6oz but $$) or kuiu has merino wool leggings from 9.5oz down to 5.5oz, montbell has fleece pants at 7.6oz. Do you need a base layer shirt, a mid layer jacket, a puffy jacket, rain jacket and a thermal fleece? That's five "tops", maybe you could find a way so you only need three or four.
I def needed all my layers for clothes. I was very cold so they all helped. :)
@@lauraevelynashley
I would say that you were cold, so maybe they didn't work. Or that maybe they could have worked better. I am sure you will find the right combination. Remember to stay flexible. Just cause you start your hike with some gear, doesn't mean you need to finish your hike with the same gear.
When it's cold, the ground is your enemy! That is where you lose heat! Bring a mylar space blanket for ground insulation. Make sure your pack weight is on your hips via your hip belt. Your shoulder straps should not be tight with that type of pack.
Thanks :)
Hey Laura - If you don't have one, I would recommend the AT Guide. I think it weighs maybe 8oz and it tells you absolutely everything. To me, it is better (esp. for planning) than being 100% App dependent. It is essentially the AT Bible.
It has anything you can think of, and probably some things you won't.
I know you were in a bit of a time crunch, but particularly when you start don't over-plan miles upfront and always listen to your body. Some days you may fall short, but once you get your trail legs there will be days you feel like you can go all day.
Glad you enjoyed the trail - it is really a great sample of what the AT will look like from the start up into Va.
Already have one :)
The Guthook app will give you all that information plus up to the minute updates from users (on water sources, trail conditions, etc) and it weighs absolutely zero grams since it lives on your phone. Read the book before you go, but for the trail, I'd recommend the app.
For shoulder pain try adjusting your waist strap/belt. This was something that was taught to us in the military with our body armour. Tanke a deep breath, shrugg your shoulders, then tighten your waist belt. This will allow the trunk of your body, abs and hips to carry a majority of the weight and the shoulder straps will be more for stability of the pack. My body armour speficically weighed about 35lbs stripped down. That is the vest, soft armour, throat collar, groin panel, front ballistic plate, rear plate, and 2 side plates. Once you add standard ammo loadout, trauma kit, weapon and small-medium pack, 75-80lbs wasnt uncommon.
I am not a back pack hiker yet and I do not have any experience with backpack hiking but the gear has to be better than "lowest bidder" for the military. I do have a goal and I am takiing this year to get gear and everything else together to do an AT thru hike in 2024. Good luck!
Will do :)
Just found ya. Good luck. You got some grit, I'll give ya that. I have watched AT hikers for many years and I have a suggestion. Most focus on views, food, views, food and repeat. Understandable, that is your life. Few even attempt to focus on the social aspect and life in towns on zero day for example. But most importantly, do you.
Thanks 😊
In checking your lighter pack list, I see you are using an Xlite(4.2r) maybe consider changing to an XTherm (6.2r) to help with the cold. You could change back when the weather warms. I would have expected your current system to work considering you used the Xlite with a closed cell pad. Let's take a quick look at your quilt, the EE 10d long/regular. I know you are tall, but the long is 84 inches and designed for someone that is 6 foot and over. Keeping that extra space warm might be part of your issue. You might be better off with a regular/regular. Also, you mentioned the straps to secure the quilt to the pad. These are required for most people to stay warm. Others commented on some of the basics like hydration, and food before you go to sleep. Often times I do some simple calisthenics to get my blood moving and my body warm. I have found that if I get into my bag clod,
I have trouble warming up. I am sure with a little more work, you will find the perfect setup for you!
Thanks! I am 5’11 so I def need the long quilt. But thanks for the pad suggestion
Try merino wool as your base layer, it's more effective than synthetics at keeping you warm, moisture wicking, and antimicrobial, which will keep you smelling at least a little better on trail, also I hear alpaca wool is good as well but both pricey, God bless your trek.
Yes! Already purchased them :)
When its to cold to sleep pack up and hike .It takes me a week or so to get use to my pack till pain goes away. Its all a mental game . As I right this im in the grayson highlands in my tent . Headed south to sobo the B.M.T .
Thanks
I 100% did the same thing with my quilt and also froze. I didn't realize how big of a difference the straps would make! Thanks for all of the great information!
I know right! The smallest piece of equipment gives a big pay off 😆
As another petite female who has done a large section of the AT, I suggest trying to get your base weight down to 13-15 lbs. As I'm sure you realized quickly water and food weight A LOT, and your shoulders will thank you if you can stay under 25lbs fully loaded. Even at 24 lbs on my first few days I was thinking of everything I could possibly get rid of. I can look through your lighter pack list. You might not have a kitchen scale but it's worth the 10$. I weighed all of my fleeces to take the lightest one haha. But I know from owning the same Columbia fleece that it's nearly 1lb. I made the personal choice to go stoveless to cut down on weight. I think often med kits and personal hygiene stuff is a good place to cut back. Good luck! Learning and figuring out what works for you is half the fun!
Haha I am not petite. I am 5’11 😂
Thanks for sharing
Of course :)
I haven't read any of the other replies so I dont know if any of these points have been addressed
Heres my feedback:
Ankles twisting: due to previous ankle injuries I cant wear trail runners. I go with mids for more support and I wear a compression sleeve over the bad ankle to give it stability from twists and strains. Works well for me.
Packing list: I'm old school and use a clipboard and a physical paper list of what I'm taking. I check it off the list on a layout and then double check as I pack.
Shoulder pain: if the new shoulder pads dont work out,......22 years in the infantry, with pack weights heavier than your typical AT hiker. I wont hump those weights again now that I'm in my 60s, but what we used to do is cut a GI brown towel in half length-wise...those towels are much shorter than a civilian bath towel... soak it in water and lay it across your shoulders. Good relief on a hot day and it adds a minimalist layer between you and the straps that helps.
Sawyer issues: I've had the same problems on trail. Check your filter before you leave the house. Carry a spare disinfection method like tablets in case your Sawyer fails. I've had giardia, its no fun.
Rough kerchief: mine are the same way when they are new. You need to take a broken-in kerchief on trail.
Freezing: always pays to spend a night in the back yard or on a simple overnight to test gear. I just spent an overnight in a local lean-to a couple of weeks ago testing out some winter gear. Lot easier to bail if you're in the back yard or a mile down the trail at a local lean-to.
Thank you!!!
Pack choice: no idea how well your pack is fitted to you, which alters whether you are carrying the weight on your shoulders, or your hips/legs. A light pack with minimal padding and no frame could wear/tear you down much faster than a pack that is a couple of pounds heavier (but also very well padded and comfortable to carry).
This "weight debate" applies to sleep systems and everything else. There's a point at which reducing weight starts to hurt you, not help you. If you end up freezing and never sleeping - and it's because you didn't want to carry quilt straps and a heavier base layer, then make the compromise. Good job sorting this all out now (instead of later!).
I was really conflicted about trying to get a lighter pack, but I think I'm going to stick to my Osprey Aether 70L. It might be a lot bigger than truly needed - but I already know it's comfortable when fully loaded down - and it helps my overall hiking budget not buying another expensive item. Plus, I can leave off parts of the pack (like the top compartment) that I won't need, to reduce weight. I made the same choice with my tent - I already have a Mountain Hardware Drifter 2 - and even though it's got double walls and poles (and heavier than a single wall with no poles) - I have enough experience with single wall tents (stakes, lines, condensation) that I'll go with what I have (and save money on a big exoense item).
I need to sort out my sleep system and base layers, too... That's what I'm really nervous about - SLEEP. But I'm going to do my testing in my backyard garage lol. I'll just come back inside and switch out or add a layer until it "works".
For sure! Thanks for your input
This is excellent advice! So many people want to shame you into ultralight, but if you can't sleep or ur pack hurts you it's just not worth it. I tried ultra light packs without a frame and 25 pounds in them and it just doesn't work for me. I think no frame needs 20 pounds or less. U went with a frame and 25 pounds and it feels great. In the end, you do you. You CAN NOT let others bully you into ultra light if it doesn't work for you. 2200 miles in pain...no thanks!
Try looking up off-season failure for your Sawyer. It's probably mineral build-up on the membranes. If it is, its reversible. Basically warm water+vinegar soak.
Give it a go before buying a new filter.
Thanks
Hey Laura! Nice update :) You'll definitely want those straps for your quilt. It's a 10 degree right? You were likely cold at night due to drafts - the straps will ensure the material of the quilt wraps around your sleeping pad and keeps all that air inside. Also, be sure to snap the top end of the quilt around your neck and cinch it down tight - this will help trap more of that warmth. Another tip to stay warm at night - if you have a Nalgene bottle or something similar you can pour hot water into it and use it like a mini radiator. Keep it down between your thighs and it'll keep you toasty all night. Cheers and best of luck!!
Thanks
Great tips and advice. Thank you for sharing your experience Laura!
Of course! I just want to be honest and share my experience as a newbie :)
Thanks for these tips! I didn't think to plan miles by elevation either. And I hadn't thought about hidden roots under leaves; that's rough! I also didn't know you could get a refund for the parking.
I'm a little concerned with how cold you felt even with a 10degree sleeping bag. I plan on hiking the AT and I cannot handle the cold. I bought a 0degree EE Quilt, but your video made me realize I need to invest in good sleep clothes and maybe even a different pad. Great video!
Yessss sleep clothes
Laura - sometimes with big elevation changes you need to plan on less miles for those days. Greatvideo. I can tell that you've really thought about your hike and analyzed it, both good and bad. Learning to let your body tell you when it is time to stop for the day will be beneficial for you also. I can tell you're really getting excited for the trip. Oh one more thing I thought of, both on the first day of your hike and as you did this video, is that you might want to not travel for such a long time and try to start hiking the same day. You're already tired, then you hike, not sleep well that night then try to hike bigger miles. Horrible sentence structure but do you understand what I'm saying? Anyway, it's getting closer. Won't be long now. Stay safe.
Yes for sure!
I also get very bruised hips and collar bones every time. It takes me a number of days before my body hardens. For my hips I pre-emptively use leukotape to stave off blisters but for my shoulders I just transfer way more weight to my hips. Hense the blistered hips! But I also have chronic shoulder problems so the sore hips are the lesser of two evils. You will figure out what works best for you, I promise!
Ouchie
Try a different pack. Your body will thank you when you find the right one. Hip and collar bone pain are not necessary.
@@elizabethcastillo1158 did you see my latest video 😜
Your going to do great!
Thank you
One of the most important factors for sleep warmth is your pad. You need an insulated pad with a high R value. As for your Rookie mistake in not considering elevation I will give you a reluctant pass because you're a Florida girl but every hike I've done I research the trail. I know rating, elevation gain, distance and average hike time (I'm slow). I will also give you a pass on the "rock, root" issue because you are a Florida girl but every New England hiker knows there is a season in late fall when leaf litter is treacherous. You are young and healthy and after a month on the trail you will be an expert. Best wishes
👌🏻
I see you have a Hardwood Floor. Find a Spot in the Corner And Sleep there Using the Bag and Sleep Pad (Air Mattress ?) Up till your start date.
Haha sounds good
Shoulder pain. One thing that got me is that I didn't realize I could adjust the pack better using the load lifters. I kept trying to adjust the sternum strap and waist strap and completely forgot about the load lifters. Also don't order a pack. Go to an outfitter and get fitted by pros.
Just found your channel and took me a bit to review your stuff. Really great content. Here are my two cents for what it's worth. You have a 10° sleeping bag and a liner and you were still cold. Would suggest you may have been warmer with your pad straps as that keeps your quilt close to your body. Even at 5'11 a long quilt, maybe too long for you. At 5:10 I have a regular length enigma, in my 30° will take me down to 30° with a Nemo tensor sleeping pad. Your body heat has to warm all that space. Investing in different sleep clothes may sound like a good plan but will cost you in money and weight. Where as 0° bag or quilt will only add a few ounces. I know you had issues with your Sawyer. For the Foothills trail in much of the AT you probably only need to worry about carrying one to one and a half liters of water unless there is a long water carry. On my first section height I insisted on carrying 3 l. Way too much. Once you get comfortable you'll know how far you get out of a liter. Water is pretty heavy. Food is also heavy and Taz does offer a resupply. As you plan to start your hike and February it may be a good idea to get in another shakedown. Even an overnighter will be helpful.
Thanks!!
We also experienced an unexpected temperature drop (21 degrees fahrenheit) in the same camp area. Spent all night stuffed as far in our mummy bags as we could freezing. When we woke early morning I got up quickly to make a small fire for breakfast and ice/snow fell out of my hair. In the summer. lol Good ol condensation froze what hair i had sticking out of the bag. I was so happy to get moving and warm up because it stays cold for a good part of the day in between those two mountains by the river.
Crazy right!?
I'll offer maybe a different view on the big things at least.
1. Perhaps the pack does not sit well. But there are several things that are probably happening. It might be that the pack sits too high or too low because you did not adjust it properly; you packed your gear inside the pack in a way that is not ideal; and the most important aspect that newbies keep miss is that your body is not in any trail shape.
2. Touching on the last point, which is the most important of all in my opinion, it takes an average hiker about 6 weeks to get into trail shape. Whether it's trail legs, toughen shoulders, lose access weight, mental toughness. What you felt probably has something to do to the fact that your body is not used to all this. It takes time. That's why shakedown hikes should be taken with a grain of salt.
3. The mental part is the most important one. Shakedown hikes should not be used to test mental strength, but in my opinion, pure gear tests. One reason if you want is that typical shakedown hikes are several days long. You already have a state of mind, even before starting, that "it's over in a few days". Even if you're not consciously thinking it. It is a whole different ball game when you are facing 6 months of thru hiking. A lot of people break exactly because of this point. They trust their "awesome shakedown hike" which they felt they are on top of things and then when they are faced with the reality of a 6 months journey, they break.
Advice? Don't put so much emphasis on shakedown hikes. It's good to debug things but don't look at it as some sort of ultimate preparation for a long distance thru hike. Good thing about the AT and that's why it is a newbies trail, even though it is physically demanding, is that it's an easy trail to get through. Nothing is going to kill you, logistics are a joke, (too) many people around all the time. So, just relax, hit the trail and you'll figure it out as you go along.
Thanks for you input. Yes I agree the pack wasn’t fitting the best. However, I have used it before and it wasn’t as painful as it was this time. But as you said, I will figure out out once I’m on trail.
I download my Lighter Pack list to Excel, print it out, and use it as a checklist when I'm packing.
Great tip! Thanks
Not all puffy jackets are equal. I have a 750 fill North Face puffy jacket and I bought some puffy ski pants off EBAY that swish down to the size of a beer can. I try to save my puffy's for sleeping as dry clothes.
Same here!
I encourage you to go as light as possible and that you can afford and still feel safe and comfortable I'm 52 and don't want to carry any weight on my shoulders if I could help it my pack base weight is around seven pounds and another pound and a half in a fanny pack I'm way happier on trail than the old days
Cool 😎
I think the chest bag is a great idea if for nothing else for snacks. Fumbling with waist pockets and trying to see what is in it, isn't always that great
👍🏻
AT class of '21. One thing I learned was to bring sunblock even in the colder months. sunburn in the colder months is very real. No leaves means no cover from the sun. The trail will continue to teach you as you go. Listen to your body. Don't listen to the nay-sayers. You've absolutely got this!
Yes I already have sunblock packed
there's nothing quite like falling into the Chattooga river to sober you up real quick on the FHT. Just me? lolll
i also had a huge water filter problem on the FHT back in May... smh
Oh my goodness!
Thanks for sharing! So wise to learn these "pre-game". 2 thoughts from the cheap seats...we like the Katadyn BeFree filter. So much faster than the Sawyer but doesn't last as long, but can just replace it. Also when freezing fits nicer in the pocket or quilt with the empty soft bottle on, so leaking not an issue. CNOC makes a 2 or 3 L bag that fits it too. Second, we like to carry an emergency blanket...very light and can lay it over the quilt on extra cold nights. Also a good layer if rain/wind/snow is blowing into the shelter. Condensation could be an issue, so it's really only for exceptional cold! Happy trails
Yes I actually got a be free to replace my sawyer
@Laura Evelyn Ashley Awesome! Just fyi, we've kept the flow strong by cleaning it in some white vinegar and/or distilled water when in town. I think the other down side is gotta baby the water bottles since won't just fit on any gas station water bottle...needs a 42mm mouth. We carry the .6L soft flask it comes with, a 2 or 3L CNOC, and a 1L HydraPak Flux. We filter into 2x 700ml Smartwater bottles for shoulder carry and use the rest for dry camping or longer water carries. I hike on the AT with a dog so carry more than most. Hope this was somewhat helpful! Happy trails
Get some light dumbells and do high rep shoulder shrugs daily, this may help. Your doing a great job preparing, enjoying your videos!
Thanks so much
For your shoulder pain - I have three things to consider and I'd do them in this order:
1. Lighten your load - you'll wind up doing this anyway over the first 50-100 miles as you start to look at pieces of gear and realize you haven't used that doohicky for two weeks. Other than first aid and gear repair, you shouldn't be carrying much of anything you don't need to use every single day, and if any piece of gear only has one purpose, see if you can figure out how to ditch it and do that thing with something else in your pack.
2. Get an expert to help see if your pack fits properly and get it adjusted or replaced if it doesn't - I don't mean REI employees - some of them are great, but most are kind of so-so and it's rare to find a backpacking expert at an REI. I mean genuine mountaineers and through hikers. This is the kind of thing it would be worth driving some hours to a well known outfitter that specializes in backpacking. If you're in FL, driving up to Neels Gap for Mountain Crossings is within reach and would be my recommendation, and if you go, take your fully loaded pack with you - while helping you figure out the pack fit, they can also help figure out ways to lighten it up. It's what they do every year with the new class of AT no-bo's as they pass through. Plus, you NEVER want to do a pack fitting with an empty pack - it's pointless.
3. Accept that some discomfort/bruising is going to come with the territory, especially for the first couple hundred miles while you really dial in your pack fit and build the muscle and callouses. Leukotape will help a LOT - put it on any skin that is dealing with a lot of friction.
Bottom line though, if you were needing to take breaks that often to drop the pack, it's probably both too heavy and not fitting well.
Packs are so personal I hesitate to make recommendations, but if you need to buy a new one, look into ULA packs. I haven't met a ULA user who doesn't love their pack, plus they are cheaper and more durable than many of the much more expensive popular brands like Zpacks and HMG.
Yes too heavy. Already got a new pack
@@lauraevelynashley Nice! I hope it works out for you. It took me about 5 different packs before I finally found "the one" that really worked with my body typed and gear load. I'm a new sub and look forward to following your hike.
In the end, remember also not to overanalyze and just have fun. Your body and habits and technique will all grow and adapt - and continue to adapt the entire time you're out there. I've been packing for almost 40 years, and I still learn things (and sometimes re-learn old things) nearly every time I hit the trail.
I had that same issue with the bandana being a bit rough on my nose.. Two things fixed it for me .. Switched to a softer Buff as a sweat/nose rag..and used my lip balm as "nose balm" .. just put some on your finger and cover the whole lower part of you nose (nostrils, tip, sides), repeat it frequently. Hope it works out for you as well.
Good idea!!
Good Job Lady
Thank you
Try the Platypus Quick Draw filter. I love it.
Maybe after I try my be free
Not the Duce of spades as a SPOON hahaha. Gotta eat 🤷♂
Lol luckily I didn’t use it yet
I had a failed FHT hike last year. I made the mistake of carrying all of my food instead of posting half of it at the halfway mark. My pack weighed too much also. My trail weight was 27.48 lbs. My new pack load out is 9.8 lbs base weight and around 12.5 lbs trail weight. The temp was supposed to be in the high 20's to low 30's the first night so I brought my 20°F set of quilts. It was colder than that when we hit the trail and snowing. That night dropped to -8°F and I froze. Although I know the water bottle trick and many other ways to stay warm my mind was numb and all I did was hunker down. I also made a huge mistake and had forgotten my winter jacket ! I learned a valuable lesson in eating. I ate a MH chili vegan meal (I'm not vegan) by mistake that did not agree with me AT ALL ! I exited the hammock three or more times to run to the woods each time freezing my butt off literally. I became dehydrated and got a touch of pneumonia. I was using TP tablets that used water to open up for wiping and the water was frozen. Also, they froze immediately when opened when I used the water from the stream. I went through a weeks worth of immodium and tp in one night ! Lastly, Alka-selter cold and cough doesn't dissolve well below zero degrees and the bubble froze in my cup. I was off trail on day two after twelve miles and spent five days in bed afterwards on meds. Lessons learned :)
Solid
Video of shake down hike.. right after you called yourself a dummy .. I noticed that your shoulder belt in view was pulling back.. meaning the hip belt is not taking the majority of the weight.. day 2 around the 4 minute mark.. you see the pack material pulling again showing weight on the shoulder belt instead of the Hip belt..
Yep. Def had too much weight for this pack
@@lauraevelynashley They mean that you did not put and adjust the pack properly. Not that you had too much weight. Most of the pack weight should sit on the hip and not the shoulders. And different weights require pack adjustment. There is no one adjustment to rule them all.
Love your channel sis.
I believe you took a huge gamble with reusing your sawyer water filter.
I might be wrong but if a water filter does its job and blocks a parasite, then you store it for months. It still has bacteria that can grow. You got lucky.
I'd change your filter out periodically just for safety. Backflushing is for the sediment it collects, it does nothing for the bacteria that's stored inside.
Thanks for the tip
You look to be WELL on your way to being ready. Hiking 12 miles with that shoulder pain shows that you can (reasonably) push through inevitable issues.
Water filter - you may not need a new one. I have learned that washing out at home then storing it can leave mineral deposits in your filter that can clog it up. After long term storage, I am sure to soak my filter in vinegar for about an hour then rinse thoroughly and keep it moist until trail departure. This has kept my filter (BeFree) working well. Be sure to have backup (Aqua Mira, other tabs, a spare LIGHT filter, etc).
Shoulder pain - how much pack weight did you transfer through your hip belt? I frequently adjust shoulder and hip straps to prevent overloading one muscle group or "pinch point."
Just tried my new pack today and didn’t experience that pain at all. I think it just put too much weight in the pack for the packs carrying capacity.
My base weight is 15lb and I still get sore shoulders the first few days. It does ease up. I get cold. I use the Xtherm with a closed cell pad under. S2s reactor liner. Custom tier gear quilt. Wool thermal long sleeve and pants. Angora socks. I wear my mid layer( Patagonia) wool gloves and beanie. I also have two NxN wool kerchiefs and 2 puffy jackets I will use over my hip/chest area.(mine and my partners). I found that as time went on I got less cold at night, even when the temp went lower.
Sore shoulders is no fun, but unfortunately I was experiencing stabbing pain. Don’t worry I ended up getting a new pack
If you need another shakedown hike I would suggest the Pinhoti Trail. It is on Far Out and the terrain is similar to the AT, but a little more forgiving. The Alabama portion of the trail is nicer and generally has more support available. Good luck this year.
Thanks
Hi Ms. Laura, I would recommend to factor the actual time spent wearing your pack vs just miles/elev....etc Especially starting out after xXx hours its time to give the body a break/rest no matter the mileage completed. This will help to reduce overuse injuries and the body needs time to rest and recover.
For sure!!
I'm caught up with your playlist. If you didn't realize it, Dixie "Homemade Wanderlust" had never made an overnight back pack trip before she started the Appalachian Trail. Based on what I've seen in these videos You should be well prepared to take on this adventure. Good luck to you and Cheyenne.
Thank you!
The filter just needs to “rehydrate” 24 hr before you need to use it, put some water in it. After 24 hours it will work.
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Definitely get to a good outfitter and have them (or another hiker) help you fit your pack. With the weight you're carrying there shouldn't be so much load on your shoulders. Women luckily have hips so the belt sliding down is less of a problem than us guys. Typically on the trail I've got probably 80% of the weight on my hips. In your videos the pack looks a little short for your torso but that's hard to tell. A good fitting and trying a different pack might make all the difference.
Thanks
Read the instructions on the Sawyer bag that came with the filter to get the flow rate back. Tells how to store it after use. I run water through mine every few months and for sure right before a walk. Lots of videos on here to get flow rate back as well. I would try several things before I just bought another one.
I ended up getting a katadyn.. was wanting to try one anyways
@@lauraevelynashley wanting to try new platypus..
like others have mentioned, most of your pack weight should be on your hips, not your shoulders. In fact the shoulders should just be used to keep it from falling off your back. Think of holding a bird in your hands, that's how your shoulder straps should hug your body. Be it from where it rests on your hips, weight distribution inside the pack, to load lifter adjustments, sternum and shoulder strap adjustments, side compression straps, play around with them with your full load, you'll be amazed at how light your pack feels when it's not "hanging" from your shoulders. Also about the filter - it does no good to thaw it out after it freezes, it's already ruined and not filtering anymore. As for being cold - I know you're 5' 11" (I am too), but those long quilts are doing more bad than good for you. I had to switch to a regular and it kept me warmer. (less air to warm up around my body/feet, etc). If you must keep the long quilt, make sure you keep your feet near the very end of the footbox. Keep the loft, but minimize dead (cold) air space down there. My first big hike was on the Foothills Trail as well (back in '18). It's my first set of vids on my channel, check them out if you like. Like you, I only made it 30 miles. I also had some issues (including my inexperience with pack distribution, I had sore shoulders too) but mainly my issue being out of hiking shape. But I felt very accomplished. I've come a very long way since then, and so will you. Good luck!
Thanks for the advice
With the pack, you gotta learn to put the weight on ur hips. You can also switch the load around to shoulders for awhile, hips, shoulders so on... tighten your hip belt and release ur shoulder straps a small bit
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Shakesdpwns are always worthwhile! A few additional thoughts ... first, I think you made the correct decision--no sense in enduring soul-crushing, frozen evenings once you know your kit doesn't handle it well. I wondered about your pad: at 4.2, it was right around the R-rating limit for those temps, and cold from beneath is a killer in the winter. Second, I take a Nalgene Ultralight bottle on winter trips because I can fill it with boiling water, wrap it in a shirt, and stick it at the bottom of my quilt for a heater most of the night. In the morning, I have unfrozen water to drink and cook with. It isn't ultralight, but I think it is valuable for winter trips. I wondered about your pack fitting: did it hug your back? Was the majority of the weight on your hips through your hip belt (it should be)? Did the load-lifters pull the pack close to your shoulders at the top, preventing fatigue from the pack "pulling" you backward (from weight hanging away from your body)? Aside from that, on day 3 I finally learned to fuel my body--water every 15 minutes, a pack-off snack break every hour--that's what I needed. I wondered about your caloric intake since I was booking over that same stretch of trail from not consuming/hydrating enough. On my third day, I hiked Burrell's Ford to the campsite just outside the Whitewater River corridor (I was crying myself at the end of that day, having battled heat exhaustion in the later afternoon from pushing too hard), and except for the end, I felt good about how I pushed myself but also fueled myself, in contrast to the two previous days when I let fatigue get the better of me and discourage me from eating enough. Finally, if you do decide to finish the FHT, you might consider the elevation profile from Antigravity gear (antigravitygear.com/shop/product-category/pocket-profile-foothills-trail-elevation-profile-map/) a great quick reference for planning for elevation. I kept it handy and pulled it out often to conserve battery life on my phone. There are also two good guidebooks of the trail as well as an excellent map, all useful for educating yourself about the trail. I'd be happy to share the links if you're interested at some point. Kudos on a courageous shakedown effort! Btw, I don't think that was bear poop--it looked more coyote-like to me, although I'm no expert, but I have seen a bunch of bear poop while hiking! If you educate yourself about bears, it will reduce your fear and anxiety--they are highly intelligent creatures who have little interest in humans other than careless campers; food and simple innate curiosity. Learning bear sign (poop and scratches) can be useful, although I confess I set up next to a bear scratching post tree on my first night on trail and was so spooked I almost stepped on a Copperhead (also minding its own business), which was more of a threat than the bear would have been. This fall, though, I watched two bears eat in a field less than 100 yards from me. They kept popping up to look my way, but they were focused on eating, and I was treated to watching them for 45 minutes without incident. Sorry for the ADHD ramble of unsolicited advice! Good luck with the remainder of your AT prep!
Haha that’s dope about watching the bears!
@@lauraevelynashley they’re soooooo cute! You just have to respect them and use common sense when coexisting with them. But yeah, I was entranced… 😜
Laura or anyone with TRAIL/TREKKING experience, have you ever used a life straw water filter and if so how does it compare to the sawyer water filter systems?, Thanks for the advice in advance, and looking forward to your adventures Laura you are awesome!!!! 🙂
One of the girls we hiked with had a sawyer straw system.. it did not work well.
@@lauraevelynashley thanks for the info, do you have any good recommendations?
You learned a lot in 3 days, by that time on the AT you should be at/near Mountain Crossings and they'll help with a shakedown of your pack and you'll probably be shipping things home or buying lighter weight items there. Someone already gave you advise about doing a good cleaning of your Saywer and storeing it damp. Hope you tried that before buying a new one. I also wonder if the shoulder pain was because your pack wasn't riding on your hips properly or you load lifters weren't fully adjusted. Those two adjustments can really help with relieve shoulder pain.
No the pack just had too much gear and weight in it. I had close to 38 pounds the first couple days due to carrying about 7 days worth of food.
@@lauraevelynashley Like you said, a extra day for parking your car, caching food and shuttling to your trail head would have helped for sure!
Be careful "pushing through" physical pain. Listen to your body and remember, a through hike of a long trail is a marathon - you have to pace yourself properly to avoid injury. Probably the number one reason hikers don't finish the trail is injury. Build the miles slowly and be very deliberate about paying attention to the pain so you can make good decisions about when to rest, whether that's for a few minutes, or whether it's taking a full zero day to recuperate.
Sounds good 👍🏻
I'm gonna take a guess and say your quilt is a 20 degree quilt. That's the most common. That's a survival rating, not a comfort rating. My system: 20 degree quilt for nights down to 40 (ish). If I expect it to freeze over night or get close, I take my -20 degree quilt (that can zip up fully) and leave it unzipped. If I expect it to get below 10 (or I wake up due to cold) I zip up the cold quilt.
ALSO - what is the R rating on your pad? At 20 degrees, you really need a fully insulated pad (R5 or 6), or some second insulating layer underneath, or it won't matter much what the temp rating is on your bag/quilt because the ground will pull heat the out of you. Below 40 and I'm taking my insulated R6 pad.
With the system above, I rarely need to worry too much about layering. Sleeping in my base layer with good sleep socks is generally plenty warm, though if I'm zipping up the cold quilt (
I have a 10 degree
@@lauraevelynashley You may be a cold sleeper. I'd recommend either gearing down to a zero degree (if the budget allows) or just bringing a liner and a higher R-value pad. You'll likely be in some even colder nights as you get to the end of the AT. Depending on your tent model, you may also be able to get some extra heat retention by tightening the pitch lower to the ground. And one last bit of advice for cold nights - choose the location wisely. Avoid high ground, and find spots secluded/protected from wind. Even just in the lee of a big rock can make a huge difference.
Cheering ya on! Just subscribed. Maybe see ya on trail. -Matador
Thanks :)
Hi Laura,
Do you adjust your pack during the day when you hike? I tend to make small adjustments throughout the day to relieve pressure. Sometimes I carry more weight on my hips, sometimes my sternum strap is tightened, sometimes my shoulder straps are more to the outside of my shoulders, etc . . . It can help prevent soreness and injury from overuse. Still, I typically get sore in my shoulders for the first 2 - 4 days of backpacking. If the trip is longer, my shoulders get stronger and don't bother me afterward. But it is something I expect on every trip.
The other thing that doesn't get mentioned enough is that it's hard getting used to being outside and away from home all the time. You could be a professional athlete with tough as nails mental game and there still will be an adjustment period when things are more difficult. This tends to drag on your energy and mood. Clearly you are doing an incredible job prepping physically, mentally and gearwise. Don't forget to give yourself credit managing taking care of yourself when you’re outside on a trip. It's harder than most people think.
Congrats on the shakedown hike. Sounds like you learned about your strengths and areas for improvement. And you still want to go on a big adventure. Nice work!
Thank you:)))
No problem.
Try adjusting the straps on you pack, in particular the load lifters (the ones that connect your shoulder straps to the top of the main pack compartment). If those are too tight, especially with heavier loads, your shoulders will get overworked and start hurting.
Happy new year.
I wont say its easy but the first part is not that bad especially the first 10 miles is fairly flat definitely not like the AT as far as elevation Sassafras was the best area to see what elevation you are in for the AT is way harder
Cool 😎
Great video, thanks. But me no understand something?! You have a 10* quilt and you say it was 20* the first night and expected 20’s for the duration of the trip. I don’t see how that wasn’t adequate enough especially as you were wearing all your layers including your puffy? You weren’t wet were you?
How was your pad? Is it a insulated.. Tensor, Neoair X-lite? For maximum R-Value was it fully inflated?
Hope you’re warmer next time!
Happy New Year
Thanks!
Hi Laura, this might have already been addressed but have you double checked your wearing your hip belt correctly? And your torso length is correct? Shoulder problems can be most commonly caused by this. The goal as I'm sure you know is to put all the weight on your hips - not your shoulders.
Yes I have, I just have too heavy of a winter gear set for this pack. I will probably use it in the summer months when I can get ride of my winter layers 😂
Agreed, you should only be taking 20% of the weight on your shoulders. If you were carrying too much weight in total your hip belt would be slipping or you would have bruised hips. I switched from a 2lb frameless pack to a 5.5lb internal frame pack. I would now go for an Exped Thunder or Lightening pack. I now do day training walks out to 27 miles before a multi day walk. You need the strength before you start a multi day walk if the walk itself is going to be fun.
Is your pack/pack weight adjusted so you're carrying the weight on your hips/hip belt? I hardly bear any weight at all on my shoulders. Sounds like it was a very productive/useful shakedown!
It wasn’t that issue. I had too much weight in my pack for the carrying capacity.
Didn’t anyone ever teach you the one nostril snot rocket? Basically you just cover one nostril with a finger and blow hard till the snots gone then cover the other and do the same. If you use this method make sure your nose missile doesn’t land on your shoe. 😂
Thanks lol
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You used your deuce of spades as your eating utensil !
Lol yes I did
Gotta make sure your hip belt is tight to take that weight off your shoulders.
For sure