I am reading Bill Bryson’s “A Walk in the Woods” for a second time through and at work it acts as a conversation piece (while the customers pick out their fruit I read). Inquisitive folks ask “What are you reading?” Bryson fans exclaim “Oh, awesome book!” one elderly woman reminisced “Whenever I want to feel good I bring out his book” One guy jokingly asked “so when are you going to hike the AT?” and was surprised to learn of my endeavor. A few people have suggested contacts. One woman said that she would include me in her prayers.
Today a “frequent fruiter” came in to the stand and handed me “The Ultralight Handbook: 30 Tips and Gear to Make Switching easy” from the editors of Backpacking Magazine. We had discussed my perspective trek the week before and when he came across the handbook he thought of me. I thanked him. “Not everybody hikes the AT” he said. It was the nicest compliment and I felt good that I was making my plans for June public.
So of course I dove right into the handbook and it offered “a 10-step plan for getting your base pack weight under 15 pounds.”
- Question Everything- It suggests that I "start from scratch and select only the gear that’s absolutely critical for the conditions (i’ll) face. If in doubt leave it out.”
- Weigh It All- I am supposed to only select the items that have multiple uses and get rid of any duplicates. Andy McCarron started off his hike without a sleeping pad but learned that your sleeping bag compresses under your weight and looses its isolative property, thus a sleeping pad is a must. It also can be used as a splint and bum pad. An extra pair of socks can double as mittens, an emergency space blanket can triple as a ground cloth, sleeping bag and shelter and a bandanna can serve as a tourniquet, rag and towel.
- Rethink Shelter- Since there are shelters about every 8 miles on the AT I may want to skip bringing a tent. I am looking into tent alternatives such as tarps and ponchos that can double as rain gear.
- Change Your Bedding- For an ultralight hike I am supposed to choose a sleeping bag that is rated for not the coolest but the average temperature I will encounter. When it is cold I should dress in extra clothes and begin hiking at dawn (the coldest part of the day).
- Layer Down- Below is a list of what my ultralight wardrobe should consist of:
- Rain shell
- Midweight long sleeve top
- Synthetic T
- Lightweight pants
- Lightweight shorts
- Down jacket
- 2 pairs of socks
- One pair of undies
- Warm hat
- Baseball cap
- And maybe gloves and rain pants
- Improve Your Diet- I am supposed to leave my stove at home and enjoy “peanut butter, tortillas, cheese, jerky, dried fruits, nuts, sesame sticks and peanut M&Ms” because according to the handbook “remote trails are within a day’s hike of a road and hunger would take weeks to kill (me).”
- Ditch the Map- Since I am thru-hiking I will only need to carry the map for the section of trail in between trail towns and I should find the lightest version available.
- Downsize Your Pack- the handbook suggests that I get a 6ounce to 2 lb 3,000 cubic inch pack which equates to about 49 liters. Mine is a 2 lb 15 ounce 47L Osprey! I’m on my “weigh” to hiking ultralight!
- Take Less Medicine- My first aid kit should consist of:
- Antibiotic ointment
- Duct tape
- Gauze pads
- Bandages
- Blister treatment
everything else is frou-frou.
- Empty Your Bottles- Every liter of water weighs 2lb 2 ounces so I should only carry what I need to get to the next water source.
A funny side note: my good friend says he wants to hike “everything I hike” on the AT which means all of it. I asked him what he was doing to prepare for the trail and he said “reading your blog.”
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