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Things to do:

Download more music and ebooks onto phone

Purchase AT permit through Smokey Mts National Park - $20

Buy AT passport ($7) - http://shop.atpassport.com/

Treat clothes and socks with Permithrin

Review snakes, spiders Preparation

 Plan resupplies

 Pack all back-up items in paper or plastic bags, one item per bag, and number them. Next, make a list of the numbers and corresponding bagged items. Take the list with you on your hike and leave the numbered gear items with the person who will be sending it to you. When you must call from the Trail for a backup item, ask for it by number.

 In the weeks immediately before the start of their hike, northbounders can get a good idea of what the weather is doing in the Smokies by watching the reports for Knoxville, Tennessee and Asheville, North Carolina, then adjusting for the difference in elevation between either of those two cities and a specific location on the A.T.'s ridgeline (add or subtract 3.5 degrees for every 1000 feet lost or gained in elevation, subtracting as elevation increases).

 Practice with every piece of gear before you hit the trail. Light the stove & cook a meal, set up the shelter (tent, tarp, hammock, etc) several times (even at night), change the batteries in your light while blindfolded, etc AT basics

2,189 miles from Springer Mountain, Ga to Katahdin in Baxter State Park, ME

1 in 4 make it all the way

Careful planning helps one be successful

Plan for 8 miles a day to start, increasing as you go.

Plan for a Zero day here and there to rest and recover.

AT Goes through 14 states, 6 National Parks and 8 National Forests Lowest point is 124 ft at Bear Mtn, NY....highest point is 6643' at Clingman's Dome in the Smokies

Every week or two, you will run across an outfitter – first one is 30 miles north of Springer at Neel’s Gap.

An A.T. Thru-hiker permit in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park costs $20 and must be purchased in advance.

Interactive map with shelters, vistas, and towns: http://www.appalachiantrail.org/hiking/find-a-hike/interactive-map

Gear and equipment

 The Big Four

o Tent

o Sleeping (bag/blanket and pad)

o Boots/socks

o Backpack

 Boots

o each extra pound on the feet is equivalent to five extra pounds on the back in the amount of effort you exert while hiking.

o Medium-weight fabric-leather boots: These boots are similar in appearance to the lightweight boots, but weigh about 1.5 to 3 pounds per pair and have higher tops. Because of the added materials used in these medium-weight boots, they have fairly good arch and ankle support, rivaling some all-leather models. They also have stiffer soles (usually glued to the uppers) giving more protection from rocks and roots. Few models are waterproof unless they have a Gore-Tex or similar nonporous liner. Medium-weight fabric-leather boots are not usually as durable as all-leather boots, but thru-hikers have been getting 800-1,200 miles of use per pair, and on some occasions as much as 1,500 miles per pair.

o Medium-weight leather boots: These boots usually weigh 2.5 to 4.5 pounds per pair. They are not as flexible as the fabric-leather types and thus give more arch and ankle support. The all-leather construction offers more protection from water, even without a nonporous liner. All-leather boots require slightly more break-in time, but often have the advantage of being more easily repaired by cobblers along the Trail. Several methods of attaching the sole are used. Some boots have a molded sole glued to the leather uppers. Others use leather uppers stitched to a midsole, either inside or outside, with a Vibram-type lug sole glued to the mid-sole. Novice hikers like to debate the merits of each construction method, but veteran hikers will tell you that most popular brand-name leather hiking boots are suitably constructed for use on the A.T. Some models have waterproof Gore-Tex liners. Leather boots are durable, and thru-hikers have been regularly getting 1,200-1,800 miles of use per pair before new soles are needed, occasionally going all the way in a single pair without repairs. o Trail Runners - Real hikers use running shoes, not boots, for nearly all conditions that can be called hiking. You're going to need to replace your shoes every 500 miles or so (4 pairs for the trail), and they'll cost $80/pair. o Trying on - When shopping for boots for a thru-hike, always try them on with the socks you intend to wear on your hike. If possible, walk around with a loaded pack to see how the boots feel under weighted conditions. Make sure your toes do not jam against the front of the boot when you lunge forward, as you will when going down a mountain. Also make sure that the boot shape fits the curve of your arch and verify that the boots bend where your feet bend. Check the heel cup to ensure that its shape matches the curve of your heels and that it does not bind or rub unduly on the top of the heel. Make sure the uppers do not bind the tendons on the front of your ankles, especially if you have large ankles and lower legs. Rule of thumb: If boots do not feel good in a store, they will not improve on the Trail, so do not buy them. Keep shopping until you find a perfect fit. o Break in - Begin breaking in your boots or hiking shoes immediately after you make your purchase, even if the manufacturer claims no break-in time is needed. Your feet need to be toughened. The secret to breaking in a pair of boots is to put them on and walk and walk and walk and walk some more. The more you can wear your boots before your hike, the fewer foot problems you will have on the Trail. You also have more opportunity to discover boot defects and improper fit. If you develop blisters during the breaking-in process, a not uncommon occurrence when tender feet meet new boots, remember that these are blisters you will not have on the Trail. During break-in, you can also test to see if insoles offering additional cushioning are needed.

o Town shoes - Have a pair of flip-flops or lightweight tennis shoes for town. Check on these: http://www.6pm.com/vivobarefoot-ultra-pure-l-crimson

o ALLY TIP – BUY NON WATERPROOF BOOTS AND BUY THE WATERPROOFING SPRAY FOR THE OUTSIDES.

 Socks Socks for your trip should be designed specifically for backpacking and have padding placed where your feet take the most abuse. Especially important are the areas around the toes, under the ball of the foot, under the boot laces, and around and up the back of the heel. Synthetic-fiber and wool hiking socks are both widely used on the A.T., but cotton socks should be avoided. Most thru- hikers feel that synthetic socks are cooler during hot weather, using them without liners. You should carry as many pairs of socks as you can afford on your thru- hike, or plan to wash a few pairs often. Hint: If you are using a woven padded sock (e.g., ThorLo socks), wash and dry them inside out, and never use chlorine bleach on either wool or synthetic socks.

 Backpacks – Internal-frame pack is most common. – Look for separate sleeping bag component to avoid unpacking the whole thing.

o Plan for 20-35 pounds of weight. The average range seen on the Trail is 20-30 pounds without food, perhaps a little heavier if you are young and/or strong or carrying a lot of cold-weather gear. Total pack weight with your largest food load (figure about two pounds of food per day and no more than 15 miles per day between resupply points to estimate your food load), fuel, and water should never exceed one-third of your body weight

o Most thru-hikers who use an external-frame pack look for a volume between 3,800 and 5,500 cubic inches, and those using internals usually look for a pack that has between 4,500 and 5,500 cubic inches of carrying capacity.

o A separate pack raincover is a necessity since no pack is waterproof on the A.T. in a driving rain, no matter what claims are made by the manufacturer. Be sure your raincover is large enough to fit over and around your fully- loaded pack (including your largest food load), and verify that the raincover has some system for fastening it securely to the pack in case of strong winds, which can strip away a raincover in an instant. o http://www.zpacks.com/backpacks.shtml

o http://www.ula-equipment.com/product_p/cdt.htm

o http://blackwoodspress.com/blog/11916/top-5-lightweight-backpacks/

 Tents

 Clothing and rainwear

o Layering allows you to use a few well-chosen garments to keep comfortable in any weather at any level of activity. Most thru-hikers use a three-layer system as follows, with each layer having a specific function: Inner wicking layer: underwear or lightweight garments of a material that provides some insulation and has good wicking qualities to move moisture from perspiration away from your skin. (Underarmor) Middle insulating layer: heavier garments, such as sweaters or pile jackets and pants, or lightweight down garments, to keep you warm without trapping body moisture.

Outer protective layer: waterproof-windproof parkas and pants, often unlined and without insulation, to protect the inner and/or middle layers from the elements, usually constructed of a breathable material.

o Warm-weather Clothing

I think I’ll wear my long-sleeve, summer under armor and leggings to deter bugs. Pair of shorts and t-shirt or tank over it. Have one pair of detachable bottom pants. Most of your trip will be hiked in sunny, warm weather with no rain (really, it will!). On such days, you will wear a shirt, shorts, socks, boots, and little else. The shirt and shorts you use should be lightweight and easily washed, made of quick-dry nylon or similar material, and they should be loose to allow freedom of movement. You should have at least two sets, perhaps more in hot weather. A long-sleeved shirt will feel good in camp and deter insects. Underpants are optional and unneeded for hiking if your shorts have a built-in brief. Cotton underpants should be avoided for hiking, but make a comfortable set of Trail pajamas and help keep your sleeping bag clean (true for both men and women). Many women hikers use a hiking or jogging bra, but many do not. You may want to have a pair of lightweight long pants to protect against sunburn early in the trip, and they are useful for protection from insects and stinging nettles later. A lightweight jacket (or some easy-to-put- on equivalent) is needed to prevent chilling when you stop for breaks, except in the hottest mid-summer weather, and a wool sweater (or equivalent, such as a Polartec jacket) feels good in camp even on some summer evenings. During the hottest summer months, either the jacket or sweater can be sent home, but plan to have one of them with you at all times. Many thru-hikers include a cap, and find that crushable soft- brim types works best. o For summer, I usually carry a pair of pants with detachable legs, a second pair with the legs removed and left at home or just shorts, two T shirts, one buttonup shirt and a long-sleeve fleece pullover. I also have one pair of polyester underpants. And that's all I carry. (I'd buy a second pair of the underpants, but I can't find another pair.) One could substitute the fleece with a flannel (since you'd be wearing it during a cold night when in theory you would be out of the rain) or a very light windbreaker.

o Cold-weather Clothing The time of year you start and end your hike, and the direction you choose for doing your hike, will determine how much cold-weather clothing you need. If you plan a normal start, remember that you will have mostly cool- to-warm days, but days and evenings can drop below freezing occasionally, and you may have some snow and extended cold at the higher elevations. In addition to the warm-weather clothing items above, you will need to add lightweight or medium-weight thermal underwear (synthetic, not cotton). You may want to substitute a heavier sweater or equivalent garment for the lightweight sweater, and you may want to carry an insulated parka instead of the lightweight jacket. A ski cap or equivalent is a necessity (the first cold-weather item you should put on while hiking), and gloves feel good in cold, windy conditions. o Have cold weather gear planned to be shipped for NC/TN mountains. Mount Rogers in SW Virginia can also be cold, so don’t ship cold weather gear home until after. o Rainwear You will need some type of rainwear for an A.T. thru-hike, not so much for keeping dry as for keeping warm on cool, windy, rainy days. Most thru-hikers use a rain jacket and pants, constructed from either a breathable or coated-nylon fabric. They can then wear jacket, pants, or both as conditions require. A rain jacket with zippered underarms is very helpful in controlling body heat and perspiration.

o You have two options for raingear: 1. What I like to call 'paper raingear' Cheap, light raingear. The best option is the o2 rainwear hooded jacket ($25, 5 oz). I do not recommend rainpants; your legs will be generating plenty of warmth on their own. If you're a cold person I'd go with this option, but if you're a warm person waterproof raingear such as the o2 may be too warm for you to actually hike in. Your second option is to carry a wind jacket/shirt. Montbell makes some sick windjackets ($85, 2.5 oz). They add a huge amount of warmth for almost no weight, and work well as raingear in warmer temperatures. EMS and REI also have their store-brand versions (5 oz, $40), but they are usually not available during the winter. You might also want to carry a dollar-store, 1 ounce emergency poncho in case a cold rain comes. You can put the cheap, light fragile poncho on underneath your windshirt.

o Clean Clothes/Dirty Clothes A stuff sack is needed as a clothes bag for keeping your clean clothing together in your pack, and it makes an excellent pillow at no additional weight. Your clean clothes should be carried in a plastic garbage bag, so that you will always have at least one set of dry clothes totally protected in waterproof plastic in case of emergency. Dirty clothing, which is often wet and sweaty, should be stored in a separate plastic bag.

o Almost all AT hikers wear clothes that are 100 percent synthetic, with fabrics that are mostly polyester, but sometimes rayon and nylon. The reason is that synthetic fabric dries pretty quickly and cotton dries very, very slowly.

o Shoes – Hiking boots and water shoes (or crocs) – Water shoes double as camp shoes and wading shoes.

 Rope and cord o you will need lightweight nylon parachute-type cord (about the same diameter as your boot laces) for hanging your food bag and as a clothes line

o Melt the ends of the cord with a butane lighter or match to keep your cord from unraveling. Emergency boot laces can be cut from this cord as needed.

o 50 ft length

 Light source

The types most often used on the A.T. are waterproof and built to take abuse. A spare bulb and an extra set of batteries should be standard accessories.

o You should consider attaching your flashlight to a loop of cord, so that it can be hung around your neck when you leave a shelter to "visit the woods" during the night, minimizing the chances of dropping it and leaving your hands free to do more important things.

o LED Headlamps - If you are the type that arrives late in camp, you may want to consider using a headlamp instead of a hand-held flashlight, so your hands can be free to prepare supper and lay out gear after dark. In recent years, LED flashlights and headlamps, which weigh almost nothing and have very bright light output, have replaced the AA-battery and bulb flashlights that were standard for so many years. The LED models are generally more expensive, though.

o (Black Diamond Headlamp; mini-mag light)

 Maintenance kits

o First-aid kit: aspirin, antibiotic ointment, fungicide, powder (for chafing), antacid tablets, lip balm, a few Band-aids (for cuts, not blisters), roll of 2- inch-wide gauze, 2x2-inch sterile pads, large sterile pad, surgical tape, 2- inch-wide Ace bandage, and moleskin or equivalent. Optional items include allergy pills, sunscreen, eye drops, diarrhea medicine, Second Skin, scissors, tweezers, and snakebite kit. Many thru-hikers carry insect repellent, with those containing DEET being the most frequently seen. Some also carry Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil, which seems to repel no-see- ums.

. gauze pads and a gauze roll, band aids, alcohol swabs, butterfly closures, a triangular bandage, pain killers (ibuprofen works great for me!), adhesive tape, ace bandage, moleskin, tweezers, small scissors, safety pins and personal medications if needed, benadryl, tweezers, alcohol pads, super glue, Neosporin

o Grooming kit: toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, biodegradable soap, comb or brush, and nail clippers. Optional items include deodorant, razor, mirror, wash cloth, and towel.

o The Toilet kit: toilet paper and matches or lighter (all in plastic bag). and feminine hygiene items.

o Miscellaneous/repair kit: spare parts for pack and stove, Therm•A•Rest repair kit, extra flashlight bulbs and batteries, boot glue, and boot waterproofing. Bear spray

o Sewing kit: large-eye needles, top-stitching thread, and a thimble. Optional items include regular threads (wrapped around a piece of cardboard to save weight).

o Datapouch: The specifics will vary, but many thru-hikers carry a Data Book, Handbook, Guidebooks, maps, journal, address book, copy of their hiking schedule, postcards, nature guides or finders, and a pen or two. You should keep all of these items in a large Ziploc-type bag and/or a zippered nylon pouch for quick reference and for protection from the elements. You will also find it very useful to have all of this data, plus your wallet, together in one pouch when you are going to the post office, making telephone calls, and doing other chores in Trail towns.

 Water filters

o Some models remove not only organisms but chemical impurities as well. Make sure that any filter you consider removes the giardia lamblia cyst.

o Also pay attention to the volume of water that can be filtered before a replacement filter is needed, keeping in mind that the manufacturer's figures are probably based on tests that use water with less sediment than that found on the A.T., and check the ease of cleaning both filter and pump.

o A 3L carrying capacity is a good amount (enough to camp away from water and/or to only make 1 trip to an off-trail spring). I'd just buy three 1L bottles of Gatorade.

o Most hikers use Aqua Mira chemical drops. The aqua mira website makes no claim that their product effectively treats water. Some people use clorox unflavored bleach. The red cross website says that clorox actually works (cheapest effective option). Iodione also works. Polar pure, a small glass jar of iodine crystals, will have enough iodine for an entire hike.

 Water

o If you do not know your water requirement from past hiking experience, start your hike with two water bottles, one each of the one-quart and one- pint sizes

o A water bag, with plastic bladder and on-off spout

o Aqua Mira comes in two small bottles that treat 30 gallons total. They come with a small cup that fits over the top of one of the bottles. You mix seven drops from one bottle and seven from the other in the small cup. When a couple of minutes later it turns yellowish and bubbly, and has a faint bleach-like smell, you put it in a quart of water. Wait 20 minutes and you can drink the water. The bleach-like odor (I am told) is not really bleach, but the same kind of gas water treatment plants use. I hike with two of the little cups (one saved from a previous package), to do two quarts at a time.

o Iodine will give water a slight taste (which I don't mind at all). Aqua Mira won't. One way to get iodine is go to a drugstore and ask the pharmacist for a bottle. The iodine is 2 percent tincture. Put 2 drops in a quart, wait 30 minutes and you can drink it. If the water is cold or cloudy, I might use 3 or 4 drops. One iodine water-treatment product is called Polar Pure. A bottle weighs 4 ounces and it uses iodine crystals. The crystals, which can't be poured from the bottle, put the iodine in water that you keep adding to the bottle. After it stands in the bottle a while, you can use 1 or 2 capfuls to treat a quart. You could walk the entire AT and treat all your water with a single bottle of Polar Pure. o After trying canteens, Nalgene bottles, etc. I now use one-quart Gatorade bottles (Powerade bottles also are fine) and a two-liter Platypus water bag. I might carry one small Nalgene bottle only because it has ounces marked on the side. The Gator/Powerade bottles are extremely light and very strong. So is the Platypus. It looks flimsy, but I've used the same one on my trips and it has never leaked.

 Pots and pans – Jetboil stove comes with pot as well as a bowl. Utensils you need are a spoon and a fork or a spork.

 Butane Lighter - A butane lighter is easier to use and more dependable than matches, although it is wise to have a stash of preferably waterproof matches stored in your cookset (in a plastic bag) as a back-up fire-starter in case your lighter malfunctions. Hint: Buy only clear-plastic lighters, so that you can always see how much fuel you have left.

 Stoves

o Fuel-tablet stoves: Small stoves that use solid fuel tablets have been popular among thru-hikers in recent years. The tabs are expensive and often impossible to find in Trail towns, but the stove and fuel are light weight compared to most other backpacking stoves. If you like to cook large or more complicated meals, do not consider these stoves. These stoves are generally for folks who only want to have a little hot water one or twice a day and do minimum on-Trail cooking.

o Wood-burning stoves: Wood-burning stoves are sometimes used by thru- hikers. These backpacking stoves have the advantage of requiring you to carry no fuel, since you use wood scraps and charred wood found along the Trail and in fire pits (some thru-hikers have even used their burnable garbage as fuel). They put out a lot of heat, and also put out smoke (but no more than a small campfire, and a feature which is often welcome on a buggy night). Pots and pans stay sooty, so you will need a bag for carrying your cooking gear. Users of these stoves should also carry a small Ziploc- type bag of dry kindling or fire-starter for "priming" during rainy periods, when dry starter wood is sometimes difficult to find.

o White-gas stoves: White-gas (the generic name for Coleman-type fuel) stoves often burn a little dirty and are usually heavier than butane stoves, but they put out a lot of heat and are the most fuel-efficient. Most models need priming to start and restart, a very minor inconvenience once you get the hang of it. Many white-gas stoves are designed to burn a variety of other petroleum-based fuels, most notably kerosene. This is a useful feature in other hiking areas, such as out West or overseas, but no real advantage on a thru-hike because of the ready availability of Coleman-type fuel, which can be purchased in most Trail towns by the pint (a fill-up costs about $1; locations are listed in The Thru-hiker's Handbook). A slight majority of thru-hikers use some type of white-gas stove for their hike.

o Alcohol Stoves: Most people I have seen who are trying to walk the AT all the way through cook with alcohol. You can buy an alcohol stove and you can make one. The most simple alcohol stove is a small can with a completely open top, and something rigged up to hold the pot. Some alcohol stoves are elaborate affairs designed to produce a hotter flame (that burns the alcohol more quickly when they heat up), when compared to a simple open can. An alcohol stove is another thing you don't want to knock over when it's burning. Alcohol is a poor choice for extremely cold weather. It's the fumes from the alcohol that ignite and burn. If it's too cold, there will be no fumes and the alcohol won't ignite. I have done a lot of experimenting (at home and on hiking or camping trips) cooking with alcohol. I concluded that a plain open-top can works so well as a stove that I don't need to consider a stove designed to make alcohol burn extra fast and extra hot. I use an empty cat food can, 2 3/8" in diameter.

o Esbit Tablets - On most of my hikes, I use Esbit tablets. Each one burns about 12 minutes at something like 900 or so degrees. I can cook a pot of stuff with half a tablet. I bought a little folding metal thing that holds the pot and the tablet. It weighs 3 ounces. If you knock an Esbit stove over, all you have to do is pick it back up or blow out the flame before it sets the grass on fire. Unlike butane or alcohol, there is no danger of an instant conflagration. For someone hiking the whole trail, alcohol will be easier to find than Esbit tablets. They also sell Esbit stoves that are little metal things that fold up into a box. That's what I use for a pot stand with the can that's my alcohol stove. Esbit's manufacturer says the burning tablets emit no toxic fumes. There are other kinds of fuel tablets that do.

 Sleeping pad

o The self-inflating pad (Therm•A•Rest brand is used almost exclusively on the A.T.) is more expensive and slightly heavier, but it packs smaller and is considered more comfortable and durable by most thru-hikers. Unless you are a heavyweight, the 1-inch-thick self-inflating pad is more than sufficient and weighs considerably less than the 1.5-inch-thick model.

o You can carry anywhere from a 1/8" thick foam pad (2 oz), all the way up to 3.5 inch thick inflatable pad (Big Agnes, $35, 19 oz). If there's one item in your pack that is going to be on the heavy side the sleeping pad is a good one. Remember that your sleeping pad also insulates you, as well as keeps you comfortable. Good campsite selection (soft ground) helps eliminate the need for a sleeping pad. I use a 3/8" thick foam pad (ridgerest, $22)

 Tent

o Should be less than 5 pounds (free standing)

 Sleeping bag

o The problem with selecting a sleeping bag to use on an end-to-end A.T. hike is that the weather is usually cold on each end of your trip and hot and humid in the middle part. The best solution is to have two sleeping bags and carry the bag appropriate for the type of weather you anticipate having. A good combination is to have a cold-weather bag rated somewhere between 0-25°F., the low temperature being determined by how early you start or how late you end your thru-hike (check the climate chart for various Trail locations, see link to your left), and a summer bag rated between 30- 55°F.

o Under 4 pounds for winter, 2-3 for summer bag – Mummy bag saves weight

o Whichever type bag you choose, synthetic or down, plan to carry it enclosed in a heavy-duty plastic garbage bag, which is then carried inside a protective nylon stuff sack, the idea being to always have a dry sleeping bag to slip into in an emergency.

Food and supplies tips:  Three to six days of food at a time

 On the trail, I cook an entire package of Lipton sides with maybe something like beef jerky tossed in also. If I make mac and cheese, I cook and eat the entire box.  I have seen people carry heavy food items, liked canned stuff and jars of peanut butter. Some people don't cook at all, but eat a lot of cheese and crackers and dried fruit, etc. One guy I met claimed to eat only noodles, bread and canned chocolate cake frosting.

 I often carry bagels, power bars, Snickers bars, etc. Packages of cheese crackers, like Lance, for example, are about 140 calories per ounce. That's more calories per ounce than about anything else. So I carry a ton of those. It's important that you carry out all your trash, so I prefer food choices that don't create a lot of trash. Most AT hikers carry enough food for 5-7 days.

 Deodorant - I have found that a little hand sanitizer in the armpits with a deodorant chaser prevents BO

 A good plan is to carry two bandannas. One will be the dry bandanna and one the wet bandanna. The dry one you use only to wipe sweat. The wet one you use only to soak in water to wipe dirt from yourself, or to wipe up spills, etc.

 I don't use toilet paper, but a piece of paper towel torn or cut to the appropriate size. If you're trying to shit in the woods, in the dark and in the rain, toilet paper can disintegrate in your hands more or less instantly. Paper towels won't.

 Tent stake for digging holes

 I urge all hikers to carry at least two compasses, and keep at least one in a pocket at all times. If you feel the need to wander into the woods, first check your compass to see which way you are going. If you get turned around, you just follow the opposite heading to find the trail. All kinds of bad stuff can happen if you get completely lost in a big woods. Some shelters are at the end of side trails that might be a quarter or half mile long. I have walked down such side trails in the morning only to reach the AT and wonder if I'm supposed to go left or right, cause I wasn't paying much attention the night before. So I look at the compass.

 I carry a big sewing needle in my ibuprofen bottle. If I need to make a sewing repair (which has happened) I use the needle and dental floss for the job.

 A little tube of Blistex is a good antiseptic if you get scratched or nicked.

 Rain Gear: Fourth most important item and can easily be your most expensive items depending what choices you make. Any thing from Arcteryx and you did good.

 Trash bag for dirty clothes/small trash bag for trash.  Waterproof stuff sacks – Food, clothes,

 Regular stuff sacks –

 Trekking poles – Go with the flick lock. Carbon.

Possible Hiking Schedule:

 Arrive at Amicalola ready to hike – If plan to stay at the top a night, add an extra day’s worth of food to below. Be sure to visit the Reflection Pool and climb the 604 steps to the top of the falls. 8.8 miles to top of Springer. Black Gap Shelter is 7+ miles in. Springer Shelter on summit, 1.5 miles later. Overnight in the Springer Shelter, 70 yds east of the AT. There is “Stover Creek Shelter” 2.8 miles away as an alternative or Black Gap shelter a mile or so back from the summit.

 Springer to Neels Gap – 3-4 days; 30.5 miles from Springer’s summit. Neels Gap has Mountain Crossings/Walasi-Yi Center to stop and resupply.

o Day 1 – 8.1 miles is Hawk Mountain Shelter with a good water source.

o Day 2 - 14.4 miles are campsites to the west. 15.8 miles is Gooch Mountain Shelter with water and cables.

o Day 3 – Woods Hole Shelter is 28.1 miles. Blood Mountain Shelter is 29.3 miles. Neels Gap is 31.7 miles.

 Neels Gap to Dick’s Creek Gap – 3-4 days; 36 miles. Resupply in Hiawasee. 706-982-3252 bob@ topof georgiahostel.com Bunkroom with shower & towel $20. Overflow tenting $10pp includes shower. Shuttles to Hiawassee 2 times a day free to all overnight guests; Pick Up/Drop off Shuttles to other locations for a fee. Frozen foods, ice cream, sodas and resupply on-site including backpacking gear needs, fuel/oz and canisters, camping needs and souvenirs. Hot Breakfast $8, smoothies, and trail-sized loaves of fresh bread "to go" available for purchase. Laundry $5/load.Computer/internet/long distance phone (free) available. Slackpacking Options available.

o Day 1 – 9.1 miles is Whitley Gap Shelter w/ spring

o Day 2 – 13.9 miles is Low Gap Shelter o Day 3 – 21.2 miles is Blue Mountain Shelter, 23 miles is Unicoi Gap, GA Helen/Hiawasse

 Hiawasee to Winding Stair Gap (Franklin) – 3-4 days; 40-50 miles.

Franklin has excellent hiker servies. Ron Have offers a free shuttle from Winding Stair Gap and town shuttles.

 Day 1 – 5.7 miles to Tray Mountain Shelter or 13.1 miles to Deep Gap Shelter

 Day 2 – 21.2 miles to Plumorchard Gap Shelter

 Day 3 – 28.5 miles to Muskrat Creek Shelter or 33.4 miles to Standing Indian Shelter (with creek)

 Day 4 – 41 miles to Carter Gap Shelters w/ Spring or 49.6 miles to Long Branch Shelter or 53.1 miles to Rock Gap Shelter. 3.8 miles to Winding Stair Gap (Franklin, NC) from Rock Gap Shelter.

 Franklin to Nantahala Outdoor Center – 2-3 days; 30 miles; AT lodging and laundry are available. Small food maildrop is a good idea here. Bryson City is not far away.

o Day 1 – 8 miles to Siler Bald Shelter; 14.8 miles to Wayah Bald Shelter from Rock Gap.

o Day 2 – 19.6 miles to Cold Spring Shelter, 25.6 to Wesser Bald Shelter, 30.5 miles to A. Rufus Morgan Shelter. Exactly 1 mile further to NOC.

 NOC to Fontana Dam – 2-3 days; 28 miles. Plan a major resupply here and a large food maildrop. As of 2007, the Fontana PO closes at noon on Saturdays!!

o Day 1 – 6.7 miles to Sassafras Gap Shelter, 15.8 miles to Brown Fork Gap Shelter.

o Day 2 – 21.9 miles to Brown Fork Gap Shelter, or 28 miles to Cable Gap Shelter

o Day 3 – 5.4 more miles until Fontana Dam, NC, MAJOR FOOD RESUPPLY NEEDED HERE! 6-7 days worth of food if hiking straight through the Smokies, 3-4 days if planning to stop in Gatlinburg.

 Fonatana Dam to Gatlinburg (or skip?) – 2-3 days; if I stay in Gatlinburg, stay at Grand Prix, near the Outfitter…cheap shuttle around town. Zero day here?  Gatlinburg – 3-4 days, more if going straight through to Hot Springs. Standing Bear Farm (accepts maildrops and has shuttle). 30 miles from Bear Farm to Hot Springs.

 Bear Farm to Hot Springs –FIRST ZERO DAY is at Hot Springs! 6-7 days of food, fun place for Zero day. Trail goes directly through a community.

 Hot Springs to Erwin, TN – 5-6 days; 70 miles

 For most folks, I’d bring 5-6 days worth of supplies when leaving Erwin.

o Continue hiking to Dennis Cove. Fun place to stay there, Kincora Hostel – Bob and Pat Peoples (verify currently)

o Good re-supply is available in Hampton, TN, 9 miles past Dennis Cove. One can either get to town via a blue-blazed trail from the A.T., or from the road crossing at 321 near Watauga Lake.

 50 miles from Dennis Cove to Damascus, except for a few bumps, is very easy. You’ll need no more than 3 days worth of food; most people do two big, but very easy days the last two days getting into Virginia.

 Take time off in Damascus, Virginia. Fun trail town!

 In most cases, you’ll want to take 5-7 days worth of supplies out of Damascus, less if you plan to re-supply in Troutdale, Marion, or Sugar Grove. Be aware that the up-coming section of the Trail is spectacular; for many people, this stretch is their favorite part of their hike, so you might want to slow down your pace a bit and enjoy it, meaning a bit of extra food might come in handy. Mailing tips

 Anyone can have a package sent addressed to their name, c/o General Delivery, city state, zip code.  Also provide a return address and add “Hold for A.T. hiker” and your expected arrival date. Writing legibly is important!  A “bounce box” is popular with long-distance hikers. It allows you to continually send ahead items you’ll need periodically but don’t want to carry. Hikers fill them with supplies such as extra batteries, cell phone chargers, “town clothes,” and toiletries. A bounce box also will allow you to send ahead the extra when you have to buy more of something than you need. Also be sure to include mailing tape, labels, and magic markers so you have supplies to send your box ahead.

Miscellaneous:  Equipment failure: Some common failures experienced by past thru-hikers are broken pack straps, buckles, or frames, punctured sleeping pads, stripped zippers (especially on packs and sleeping bags), clogged stove orifices, and malfunctioning water-filter pumps.

 How long til dark? To determine how much daylight you have left: PM, locate the sun, preferably near the horizon, hold your arm out full length, put you hand in such a way as your fingers are parallel to the horizon, the thickness of each finger is approximately 15 minutes. This works for me, with less than a 1 to 2 minute error per finger. In the mountains, this "guide" works for where you are at NOW, as you move the time may change as you climb & descend, but you will have a rough guide.

 Carry no change! After making ALL of your purchases in town, either leave your coins in the penny jar of your last stop, or buy a candy bar. Coins can add up WT wise, and you need that candy bar anyway.

 Roar at mountain lions – Never act scared. Fight back if bear attacks. Don’t run or play dead.

 Blister free zone - Each morning, I put medical adhesive tape on the spots that are likely to blister -- my big toes, heels and the balls of the feet. Then I put Body Glide or Vaseline on those spots. Then I put on my socks and shoes. This has greatly reduced blister problems for me, and I have had some very nasty blisters on the AT. They really suck. You don't want them.

 A guy named Dan "Wingfoot" Bruce prints "The Thru-Hiker's Handbook." This weighs 6 ounces and covers the entire AT. This is a great book. A thru-hiker would do fine carrying this book and nothing else. It lists trail features in a more concise style than the ATC books, but still lists up to 5 features per mile. The elevation of each feature is listed. This means you can get a rough idea of all the hills by comparing the elevations. The book also has a big section telling about all the towns close to the AT. This tells where to find the stores, motels, restaurants, post offices, etc. -- the kinds of places thru-hikers need to know about. He puts out a new edition every year and sells it from www.trailplace.com.

 I usually have three quarts of water, which is six pounds. And when I start out I have maybe eight or nine pounds of food.

 Lightning - To minimize your risk from lightning, you want to get away from tall trees and away from mountain peaks or high ridges. If you are near or on the water, you want to get to shore and avoid wet areas that can conduct ground current. And if you are in a field, you want to get out of the open to avoid being the high point. You can further protect yourself by squatting on top of your pack or a sleeping pad or on a boulder that sits on top of other boulders. If you can squat without your hands touching the ground, ground current will travel up one leg and down the other rather than traveling up your torso and cooking your major organ groups. So, what can you do if you’re out hiking and a storm approaches? The first thing you need to understand is that lightning can strike more than 10 miles away from the center of a thunderstorm - well beyond the audible range of thunder. Therefore, if you hear thunder, you’re already within striking range of a storm and should seek shelter immediately. To measure the distance between you and a lightning strike, count the number of seconds between the time you see a flash and the bang of thunder. Divide that number by five. This will give you the number of miles the lighting strike is away from you. • With no other options, take shelter under a group of shorter trees among larger trees. A thick forest is far better than a lone tree or a small group of trees. • Drop all metal objects during a storm, such as internal or external frame backpacks, trekking poles (including aluminum and carbon fiber), crampons, jewelry, etc., and move 100 feet away from them. • Adopt the lightning position as a last resort: Crouch down on the balls of your feet and keep them as close together as possible. Cover your ears, and don’t allow other body parts to touch the ground. By keeping the surface area of your body in contact with the ground to a minimum you reduce the threat of electricity traveling across the ground from affecting you. Keep in mind that this position should only be used as a last resort.

A recent study analyzing lightning victims in Florida found that most people were struck either prior to the storm (rain) reaching their location, or after the storm (rain) had ended. Most of the people that were struck were either near water or near/under trees. If you feel hairs on your head, leg, or arms tingling and/or standing on end, it means you’re in an extremely high electrical field. If you or any member of your group experiences any of these signs, take it as an indication of immediate and severe danger. The response to any of these signs is to instantly (seconds matter) move away from long conductors (metal fencing, power lines), tall trees, or high points, and spread out and adopt the lightning position. Women tips:

3 pairs of panties, one to hike in, one to sleep in, and one to wear while washing clothing. Get microfiber ones, they wick and dry very fast. I use good ol' cheap cotton ones for sleeping and usually a pair of Under Armour or ExOficio for hiking. Make sure it can breathe!

Panty liners - Change the liners as often as you need keep the panties wearable longer. Panty liners will also save your hiking shorts, they will stay cleaner and not smell as bad.

Big thumbs up on the ExOfficio travel underwear. Their boyshort cut are great and wash/dry in a flash. I carry two pair when I'm out for a while. Wear one, wash one.

My fave are the nylon/spandex blend from victoria's secret. They % nylon and % spandex of those are the same as some patagonia one's but $15 cheaper.

If you do the tight braids like the African Americans do (not corn rows, but long small braids) those seem to last weeks before needing to be taken out. I don't have experience with them, just thought I'd throw that out there

Pigtails or double braids are good for hair. Wear a hat if you have bangs.

Must-see stops: Every time I read a thread like this one, I whip out my guidebook and yellow highlighter ....  Waynesboro VA there is always route 151 - a whole road of breweries, wineries, a cidery and a distillery. Drop down from Reeds Gap work your way up 151 to Waynesboro then get a shuttle back to Reeds then walk your way into Waynesboro  At Neel's Gap, you can go a quarter mile down the hill, and rent a cabin w/full kitchen for $50. Splt three ways that was a good deal.  Standing Bear is more than a bit controversial. I loved it. I thought it was magical. I healed a knee tendonitus I thought was gonna send me home early. If you're hiking in a bubble, and don't like a party atmosphere that can get wild, then you might not want to stay there. If you're hiking alone, and the place is empty, you might want to hike on. But at least check it out for the rustic tobacco plantation buildings, the stonework, and the way it's setup. Do a bit of resupply in their cool camp-store, see the llamas ...  Stay at Elmer's in Hot Springs. Elmer is a fascinating old curmudgeon, and his place is a great Victorian decorated in high-kitsch. The rooms are wonderful, There's a music room with several instruments. Breakfast is wonderful. It's right on the trail. Laundry and several restaurants a short walk away.  Little Johnny's in Erwin is another legendary place. Private rooms or bunks avail. Small outfitter, daily runs thru town. They ran shuttles to/from Damascus for Trail Days.  Kincora had gone downhill in terms of cleanliness when I went there in '13. But it's a legendary place, and Bob Peoples is a great guy. It really is a must stay place.  Trail Days in Damascus is the hiker party of the decade - Every year. No matter where you are on the trail, you can get there.  Wood's Hole Hostel is number one in my book. I sprung for a bed in the big house, and a massage! Great food. They make daily runs into Pearisburg. Stay there to do resupply and swap your summer/winter gear there. That way you can avoid the crackhouse motels in Pearisburg. They'll mail your gear home for you. There's a lot of wonderful people along the trail and they're in the top echelon.  Green Mountain Lodge in Manchester Center Vermont is another legendary place not to be missed! I missed it.  The Inn at Long Trail is worth the side trail to get down to it. The AT used to go right thru it. Get a room, do your laundry, eat traditional Irish pub fare in the traditional Irish pub ...  Chet's Place in Lincoln, NH wasn't in any guide, but it's not to be missed. Lincoln is a great little resupply town. PO, laundry and IGA in the same shopping center, several wonderful resturants.  White Mountain Lodge Hostel right on US2 when you come out of the Whites was great! Clean, bunks with linens, a big breakfast, pizzas and ice cream in the fridge, many delivery options, and a daily shuttle to Super Walmart. I heard they were changing hands?  The Little Red Hen in Andover bakes their own breads. I think I ate there three times.  The White Wolf Inn has a cool resturaunt right by the Stratton Motel/Hostel. And there's a small IGA across the street.  There is, however, one truth that all thru-hikers seem to hold dear: “Eat at The Homeplace Restaurant in Catawba, Virginia! It’s the best meal on the Trail.” – Only open Thurs through Sunday

 Chimney Rock State Park in NC -Come for the scenery, the best in preppie beer, Hickory Nut Gap’s 100% grass-fed beef burgers, tremendous hiking, mountain music and fantastic storytelling.

 The Len Foote Hike Inn in GA – Near Springer - http://hike-inn.com/  Cheoh Bald was one of my most memorable camp spots on the entire AT. I had to agree to go back down the mountain to get water for the two people I was hiking with as part of the deal. At the shelter I convinced everyone there to join us. Memorable sunset over the Smokies & great sunrise.

 Stecoah Gap - NC – Near Robbinsville

 Vogel State Park – Georgia - “Pristine” means not spoiled, corrupted or polluted. Dictionaries should put a picture of Vogel State Park alongside their definitions of pristine. That’s how nice it is.

 Old South Mountain Inn, Boonsboro, MD. It’s the only place 10 feet off the trail that serves horseradish-encrusted fresh Atlantic salmon. This fine dining establishment served us despite our aroma.

Beers on the AT - These are listed in order starting in Maine near Katahdin as mile marker 0. http://allaboutbeer.com/article/%E2%80%9Cbrew-hiking%E2%80%9D-a-guide-to- the-beers-of-the-appalachian-trail/

 Mile 0—The Blue Ox Saloon, Millinocket, ME, 30 miles from the northern terminus of the AT, From the fine selection on tap, I choose what I imagine to be my last beer for a while.

 Mile 117.8— Monson General and Hardware Store, Monson, ME. After the 100 Mile Wilderness and 10 days of mosquitoes, black flies and mountain trails without switchbacks—owners Tim and Julie Anderson provide this thirsty hiker a variety of foreign, domestic and local microbrews. Guinness at a hardware store is a great find.  Mile 187.8—The White Wolf Inn, Stratton, ME, 10 miles from Sugarloaf Ski Resort, pours your standard selections, with one difference: they offer your choice of brew served in “the Horn,” a 10-ounce Black Powder horn.  Mile 372.7— Franconia Notch Brewery, Bethlehem, NH. In 2002, this was the beer of choice for a dedicated group of hikers and beer drinkers. Once a year, the “Croo” that maintains the hiking huts in the White Mountains holds a get together at the Madison Spring hut. That year, four kegs of Franconia’s best were packed 2.3 miles (almost straight up) to the hut. This is 170 pounds of beer we’re talking about.  Mile 488— McGrath’s Irish Pub, Shelburne, VT. The Guinness flows like water, but for the hungry hiker the Guinness beef stew fulfills the desires for food and beer. The Long Trail Brewing Co., Bridgewater, VT is near by. Stock up on some of the fine of ales that have been brewed here since 1989.  Mile 930.9—Mugshots, Palmerton, PA. The Delaware Water Gap, where I saw five bears in one day (Come on…New Jersey bears?) leads into Pennsylvania and one of the beer friendliest sections of the AT. At Mugshots, Dave, the owner, set a new standard for hiker hospitality at this half biker/half college bar.  Mile 970.4—Schuylkill River, PA. For fans of Yuengling: I bathed in the river that is the source of the brewery’s water. Downstream, not upstream.  Mile 1041—Doyle Hotel, Duncannon, PA. Built as one of the Anheuser-Busch hotels a century ago, the Doyle offers not-so-great rooms (new management are making improvements), but a great bar downstairs.  Mile 1066.7—Local Italian restaurant, Boiling Springs, PA. Former hikers asked me to come to Monday Fun Day. “We drink beer, watch Monday Night Football, and play foosball.” Of course I went.  Mile 1147.3—Old South Mountain Inn, Boonsboro, MD. It’s the only place 10 feet off the trail that serves horseradish-encrusted fresh Atlantic salmon. This fine dining establishment served us despite our aroma.  Miles 1182.0 to 1713.7—The Virginia Blues: 530 painful miles from West Virginia to the Tennessee border where good beer becomes harder to find. You’ve never met desperation until you’ve left town with two 24-ounce cans of Steel Reserve. But stop in Damascus, VA, where the AT runs straight down Main Street. The annual Thru-Hiker Parade organizes in front of Dot’s Inn: the tap selection is standard bar fare, but the atmosphere and the country cooking are excellent.  Mile 1900—Paddler’s Pub, Hot Springs, NC. Up the road from one of the few hot springs on the East coast, the beer was cold and the steaks were huge. Asheville, NC, is a short hitch away. I won’t mention any of the places here because if you can’t find a good beer in Asheville, you have no business being alone in the woods.  Mile 2176—My friends and I summitted Mt. Springer on December 15. It was my 200th day on the trail. We celebrated an amazing accomplishment. The best beer, be it Boddingtons or Bud Light, tastes all the better when you’ve hiked miles upon miles to get it. 1. Pisgah Brewing Black Mountain, N.C.

2. Mountain State Brewing Davis, W.Va.

3. Blue Mountain Brewery Afton, Va. 4. Moccasin Bend Brewing Company Chattanooga, Tenn.

5. Devils Backbone Brewery Roseland, Va.

6. Hardywood Park Brewery Richmond, Va.

7. Dry County Brewing Spruce Pine, N.C

8. Nantahala Brewing Company Bryson City, N.C.

The Virginia Blues: 530 painful miles from West Virginia to the Tennessee border where good beer becomes harder to find. You’ve never met desperation until you’ve left town with two 24-ounce cans of Steel Reserve. But stop in Damascus, VA, where the AT runs straight down Main Street. The annual Thru-Hiker Parade organizes in front of Dot’s Inn: the tap selection is standard bar fare, but the atmosphere and the country cooking are excellent. Paddler’s Pub, Hot Springs, NC. Up the road from one of the few hot springs on the East coast, the beer was cold and the steaks were huge. Asheville, NC, is a short hitch away. I won’t mention any of the places here because if you can’t find a good beer in Asheville, you have no business being alone in the woods. My friends and I summitted Mt. Springer on December 15. It was my 200th day on the trail. We celebrated an amazing accomplishment. The best beer, be it Boddingtons or Bud Light, tastes all the better when you’ve hiked miles upon miles to get it.

Checklist of supplies Tent Footprint Tent stakes Trekking poles Sleeping bag Sleeping liner (save for cooler months??) Sleeping pad Sitting pad First aid kit Washcloth Towel Body wipes Biodegradable soap Toilet paper/paper towels Duct tape (wrapped around a popsicle stick) Sewing kit Head lamp/flashlight Cell phone Power stick charger Water purifier Powdered drink mix Toilet Paper (Viva paper towels) Snack bag 1.5-2 lbs of food per day(protein bars, trail mix, Lance crackers, Ramen noodles, Peanut butter, Snickers, Lipton Rice dinners, Pop Tarts, Instant Oatmeal, tuna, stove top dressing, M&Ms, cheese, hot cocoa, salt/pepper, veggie or olive oil or butter cubes, tortillas for bread, box of mac n cheese, parmesan cheese, beef jerky) One 1-L Smartwater bottle and 2 1-qt bottles Coffee bags for instant Pot with lid to boil water Stove + fuel Clear lighters (2)/matches Spoon/fork One pair Detachable pants One hiking shirt One T-shirt 1 tank top One pullover fleece Three pairs of undies Socks (1 pair sleeping, 2-3 pair hiking) Sock liners (Ininjies) One weather-proof parka Crocs or water shoes Bandana Hand sanitizer Comb Toothbrush/toothpaste/floss Sunscreen Bug spray Chapstick Vaseline/body glide Backpack Backpack cover

Recipes Pasta Ingredients: Package of any kind of pasta (Barilla Torellini is great if you’re willing to carry the extra weight), sundried tomatoes, olive oil, pine nuts or walnuts, Italian spices, and a small package of parmesan cheese

Directions: Boil water and cook the pasta with the sundried tomatoes until they become soft. Once the pasta is cooked, toss with olive oil, nuts, spices and cheese. If you want, you can also save the water if you’re hardcore enough to drink some tasty starch-and- tomato broth!

Comments: Pre-trip, package the spices, nutsand parmesan cheese in a zip-lock bag (unless it’s summer, in which case the cheese might melt). This makes the meal easy to prepare on the Trail!

Ramen Noodles Ingredients: Package of ramen noodles, a smear of peanut butter, honey, and cocoa powder Directions: Open a package of ramen, but don’t cook it! Smear the peanut butter across the top, add the cocoa powder, and then drizzle honey over the whole thing.

Comments: Uncooked ramen might sound disgusting, but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Adding the peanut butter, cocoa and honey make this snack a satisfying treat full of energy.

Crushed nut mix Equal portions of almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds. Chop until fine and granular (not dust)

Crushed Fritos Crush them until they’re in small chunks (not dust).

Trailmix - Nuts, seeds, dried fruit, chocolate, candies, crackers and cereals can be combined to make this staple backpacking snack that packs a huge amount of carbohydrates and calories. Grind up sunflower seeds, cashews, and almonds for a dry nut mixture.

Mac and cheese - One box of macaroni and cheese, prepared with 1 ounce of olive oil and 2 ounces of summer sausage provides a whopping 1,100 calories, and weighs just 10.5 ounces.

Random forum tips Clothes and sleeping bag in plastic bag. Have clean clothes and dirty clothes bag. If you want to wear your rain jacket to keep dry on a chilly/rainy day but you find it's too warm while hiking, stick your arms out of the pit zips and you now have a rain vest. Your arms get wet and radiate heat to help keep you from overheating. Your torso stays dry (mostly) to keep you from getting hypothermia.

There are many ways to do things , the right way, the wrong way, someone else's way and the way which works best for you ... go with the latter Here's a clothes line trick I learned from some SOBO thru's a couple years ago. If you do not have a clothes line you can make a short one with your hiking poles. Stick one in the ground vertically about four feet from a tree with a fork or limb 3 to 4 ft off the ground. Stick one end of the other pole in the fork or rest it on the branch and put the other end in the handle strap of the vertical pole, this pole is horizontal and is your clothes line. Adjust the vertical pole up or down to level the horizontal pole. I wish I had a picture. Also carry 4 or 5 large safety pins for clothes pins. I hang my wet laundry off the back of my pack with them while I walk. My washing machine is a gallon ziplock, and two eye dropper bottles I have refilled- one with biodegradable soap and one with bleach.

If you cannot talk without gasping, you are probably walking too fast and need to slow down. Anyway that's how I set my speed.

When taking your tent down in a strong wind, keep one peg staked in while you tuck it into your pack or sack. Test the flatness of any potential sleeping zone by simply lying down in the desired spot. You’ll know right away if it’s lumpy or silted. For most comfort, find a spot with a very slight dip at your hips so your tired butt can be cradled by the earth.

Inspect sleeping surface for thorns or rocks before lying on sleeping pad. Camp a bit uphill rather than in valleys to avoid excessive dew, dampness, and cold. Dense trees are warmer than an open meadow for sleeping sites. If it’s chilly at night, do a few sit ups. Climb in bed warm. Do a few jumping jacks if need be. If rain is possible, don’t sleep in low area that could turn into a pond. Which way is the wind blowing? Sleeping position yourself with your feet pointed into the oncoming wind. Eat a big dinner. Metabolism requires calories. Climb into bed with everything zipped up so you’re not having to fumble in the middle of the night with zippers and hoods. If gear is ever wet (tent), stuff it in the bottom of the backpack FIRST, and then put the compactor bag on top. Wet and dry stuff are separated and everything stays dry inside the compactor bag. To dry wet socks, wring them out first. Then put them in my pocket. Body heat and shorts help them dry. Use index finger (not thumb) to light stove. Try for food that offers 125 calories per ounce. Don’t forget the olive oil and spices. Tricks to washing dishes: Dip it, but don’t Lick it. Have some spare bread or tortilla? Wipe the pot clean with a chunk of bread and you’ve got an instant dip. No bread? Some people may lick the pot clean (or let the dog), but we don’t recommend doing this since the mouth contains a lot of bacteria. Instead of licking the pot, wipe any excess food residue with a clean finger, spoon, or bandanna, and then air dry the pot or dish thoroughly. Olive oil added to cooking water makes clean-up a breeze. Add a single packet of olive oil or 1 TB when you boil your water. This provides extra fat calories to the meal and the oil makes it easier to clean up if you do not have a coated pan. We have tried this with a non-coated aluminum pan from an old Boy Scout mess kit and food sticking was minimal. Wipe dishes dry without soap or water. Consume as much of the leftover food as possible by scraping your spoon/spork around every nook and cranny and inserting into the mouth. Now wipe everything clean. If you dry the cooking pot thoroughly by wiping it down with a bandana or camp towel, it will remain relatively hygienic based on the fact that most bacteria require moisture to multiply. Be sure to wipe everything clean and allow to air dry before packing it up.

Tip for getting Lipton sides done - Sometimes I pre-soak mine by adding a little cold water and hour or so before stopping for dinner and then adding the hot water. Sometimes it works good, sometimes I end up with mush- especially if its noodles or macaroni.