Hurray! See you in 2004

imported
#1

Today I was officially given a 6 month leave of absence from my job to hike the Appalachian Trail (hope it’s long enough!) March of 2004! After all the planning and worrying…I finally have the only step I was unsure of (whether I’d have a job to come back to) taken care of…

So, as you can probably imagine, I am over the moon with excitement.

I’ve got some reasonable big decisions to make with regard to gear…

I’ve already decided on probably 90% of it but one or two things are still undecided:

  1. Should I attempt to use a Hennessey Hammock or stick to a tent. Anyone had experience with a hammock? Positives? Negatives? Also, I recall from my research a tent that is hand-made that uses trekking poles as support. Anyone know the name of this or the web site?

  2. I’m still undecided about what sort of “cooking system” to use. I’ve changed my mind about 5 times. I’m thinking either Esbits and maildrops (a bit of a pain) or a Whisperlite type stove. Any thoughts?

Thanks and I can’t wait to hit the trail in March :slight_smile:

Jack Stitt

#2

The Hennessey is nice. The only negative I can see is you cant sleep on your stomach. Personally, I sleep on my side, stomach and back throughout the night. This is why I use a Henry Shires Tarptent (www.tarptent.com). It weighs less than the hammock (1.85 lbs) and you can sleep however you wish. Ive used mine on the AT for some lengthy trips in the Smokies and have only good things to say about it. I have the 2 person Squall model with sewn-in floor. I had many doubts about a single-wall being breathable etc… but this thing has only amazed me and is totally watertight in storms. It usually takes 2-3 months to get a tarptent from Henry. They are all special order… but are well worth the wait and you have more than enough time to wait on it.

For a stove I use an alcohol can stove. I average 1 oz. fuel per meal/hot drink. All the trail towns will stock alcohol as will the hostels along the way. Ive used my stove in temps from 10*-60* without any problems. The key is using a windscreen with holes punched around the bottom so the stove can breathe. Here’s a link:

http://www.pcthiker.com/pages/gear/pepsistoveinstruct.shtml

Some people like the esbit stoves, but you will need to mail drop fuel tablets… which can be a pain and the efficency is about the same as the alcohol stove. I wouldnt even consider the whisperlite. Dont get me wrong… its solid and would work like a champ the whole way. It just weighs a ton. By the time you add a fuel bottle/pump/fuel etc… its around 2 lbs. With an alcohol stove for 4-5 days fuel its around 8 oz. total. Ive also been in shelters with hikers and seen their fuel lines break and jets get clogged. This is never an issue with the alcohol stove.

The key to doing the AT and finishing is pack weight. My base weight is 10.5 lbs, with food/water for 3-4 days its right at 20 lbs. I also just switched to Montrail Vitesse shoes which makes all the difference in the world.

I know you didnt mention anything about a water filter but Ive noticed most thru-hikers use chemicals. Im still using a pump/filter. To me… its worth it to carry extra weight so I can have nice tasting water. Of all the filters onthe market the Katadyn hiker is the only one that will get you from Georgia to Maine without cloggin from what I understand. If you choose the chemical route, this will save you a lot of weight and pumping.

If you have any more questions feel free to ask. One of the best things to do is talk to someone who has completed the AT and ask them what works and doesnt.

guru

#3

I also have a Henry Shires Tarptent (Virga) and have nothing but good things to say about it. I was thinking about the Hammock but since I’m a side or stomach sleeper I ruled it out. As far as stoves go, I have the Whisperlite. It does weigh more than the Alcohol stoves and you have to preheat it but it seemed to boil water about twice as fast as the Alcohol stoves. Some of the people I was hiking around had bought the Alcohol stoves at Neels Gap and although they started heating their meals while I was priming/preheating mine I still was eating 3-5 minutes before they were.

Nooga

#4

go to www.wanderlustgear.com I used the 2-4-2 on this years hike from Fontana Dam to Erwin TN. Like it and it’s really light. Order early, because it takes awhile to get it.

davepaumen

#5

I’ve been following two journals of hikers who are using Nomad tents from Wanderlust, and they have commented that they’ve had dampness/condensation problems. I was all set to get one myself until I read that…I’m thinking maybe the Henry Shires might be better, based on the above comments. :girl

Jonna

#6

I use a Moonbow Gear tarp tent which uses the Henry Shires design. It is only a pound and I do not have any condensation problems. For years I hiked with an Apex stove which I loved for it ease of use and ability to simmer. I have recently switched to a pepsi can stove to reduce weight and have to say it kicks ass. Nothing could be easier and how often do you simmer. With me it turned out to be very little. I use a pot cozy for things like rice.

Big B

#7

Thanks all for the comments. The tarptent I hadn’t seen before and when I first saw it I wasn’t too sure. Looking at the (Virga) sewn-in floor it does look really attractive though. I just wish it had some sort of vestibule. I do like the fact that it looks really secure and quite easy to pitch. Is there room to keep your pack in there, too? I’m a pretty small guy (5’8" , 150 lbs) I’ve seen the Wanderlust (Nomad) model and I felt like it was a bit cramped - using the trekking poles for support seems to have it’s advantages though. Both of these tents are high on my list. I don’t know if I could deal with the missing floor in the Moonbow though.

To me it looks like the Hennessey has these advantages/disadvantages:

Advantages
Comfortable
Can also be used as a “swing” to sit on
Very easy to set-up and take down with “snake skinz”
Disadvantages
Requires trees
A bit of a production to climb into
Hot/cold on the bottom without a thick pad

… And the tent (I’m leaning towards Virga):

Advantages
Doesn’t require trees
Lighter than the hammock
Disadvantages
Not as comfortable (I sleep on my back mostly)
More difficult to pitch and stow [is this true?]

Neither of these have a vestibule but (hopefully) this isn’t a huge problem.

Am I missing any positives or negatives? Comments?

As for the cooking system… I have read so many journals and constantly read about the bulk, weight, and overall maintenance of the whisperlite type stoves and that has convinced me (I think) to take a soda can type stove. I just hope it isn’t too flimsy to last the whole hike. That is my primary concern.

Jack Stitt

#8

I really don’t write horrible run-on sentences :slight_smile: … the formatting didn’t come out the way I wrote it for the advantages and disadvantages. Sorry!

Jack Stitt

#9

I have to disagree with Guru - not about the specifics, but his statement, “the key to finishing the AT is pack weight.” Not true. A light pack may make the hike somewhat easier (but also more uncomfortable in some ways) and you may have fewer physical problems with a light pack, but it isn’t what determines success or failure on a thruhike. Gear is a side issue to finishing the AT. I’ve known people who hiked the trail, successfully, with 70 lb packs and others who got bored and dropped out with 15 lb loads. The key to finishing the AT is having the right attitude - of wanting to finish the trail more than you want to go home to friends, family, clean sheets, hot showers, real food, etc. It’s having the curiosity to keep on hiking to see what is around the next corner, or in the next section – at those times when where you are hiking isn’t all that interesting. It’s having an attitude that “this too shall pass” when it’s 95 degrees outside and you’re sweating along a rocky ridge in Pennsylvania, or when it’s 25 degrees and sleeting as you climb up into the Smokies. It’s being able to feel utterly at home in the woods, and not wanting town comforts so much that you forget why you’re out there hiking. As Grandma Gatewood said, “It’s more head than heel.”

Some folks basically run from town to town because they are carrying nothing to make their hiking pleasurable, and after a while the rocks and mountains begin to seem like obstacles between them and town comfort and hitching becomes easier than hiking and after a while they decide they might as well go home. Having the perfect gear, if such exists, won’t fix head problems like boredom and homesickness. Gear really isn’t all that important - it’s just the easiest to discuss.

That said, esbit tabs are light, but stink and are very expensive. Alcohol is light and cheap and doesn’t smell as bad. I used a Whisperlight on all four of my long hikes and it worked well, but now we use alcohol for the weight savings. We use a Nomad - yes there is condensation, but that is true of any small tent - including your hammock.

Spirit Walker

#10

jack- the tarptent goes up in about a minute and a half. The guy lines remain on the tarptent, so there is no funbeling around with what rope goes where. The tarptent comes with what Henry calls a ‘beak’ but really it’s a vestibule. It’s really small… but you can ask Henry for an extended beak as he did for me. This costs an extra $10 or $15. Henry is a super-nice guy and will do modifications to the tarptent. I use a 3/4 thermarest guidelite pad. So, I sleep with my pack under my feet always. My pack fits perfectly inside the Tarptent. I wouldnt think a huge external frame pack would really fit in there, but an average sized internal frame should be just fine. The alcohol stove is really the way to go, like I said the thing works great. If youre having problems making one you can email me for questions or I would make it for you for free if you pay shipping. I even make a pot support out of chicken wire.

Spirit Walker- My comment may have not been totally correct. It doesnt take a light pack to finish the AT, it just makes it easier. It takes determination and will. The AT is not the trail, but rather the people and experiences you have along the way…

guru

#11

Congratulations on the leave – it’s an experience you will never forget!

I used a tent. When the bugs were bad, a tent was really nice. Some people commented on the trail that the hammocks were kind of cold down south in April when it snowed.

For cooking I used a homemade alcohol stove – the photon stove design. The stove went the entire trail but did seem to be getting a little less efficient near the end. There was no problem with getting denatured alcohol by the ounce this year on the trail – every outfitter on the trail carried it as well as many other places.

As far as light pack weight, if you want to hike big miles consistently, gear weight is the key (in addition to eating enough calories). Some people are not interested in hiking long days, all day, or big miles – that is a choice you will have to make, but a light pack makes it doable and makes any day easier. (My pack varied in weight from 20 to 45 lbs with food and water. The 45 lb times were just me stupidly buying too much food.)

Highlander II

#12

The key to finishing the hike is realizing that this is a once in a life time experience and that you and your friends in the woods (other hikers)are the luckiest people in the world!!

Virginian

#13

Virginian is right on with that one. Savor every moment of your hike and take none of it for granted. At a guess, I’d say that my first long distance hike (last year) will be my most memorable of any more to come. Wouldn’t most of you agree?

Jack, you might also want to consider your post-hike situation. I wouldn’t adivse jumping right back into work post trail unless you REALLY like your job. Give yourself at least a few weeks to readjust to the “other world.” For me it was five weeks before I was working again and not feeling a little wierd by my lack of motion. So consider a quicker hike of 4-5 months (although 6+ is so much more fun) or extend your ETA back to work by about a month.

Whatever you end up doing, stick with it. It’ll be the best time of your life.

Cap’n

#14

I’m 6’ 170lbs and was able to put my pack at my feet when it was raining. The Virga is a tight fit for me but not claustrophobic(sp?). I can sit up to change cloths but my head is pressed against the ceiling. I could probably use the squall but since I’m only in it to sleep it’s not a big problem and the 1.5lbs it weighs is killer. Set-up is a snap. You unroll it, thread the short easton alum. rod thru the foot section and connect each end in the eyes, stake out the foot section using the cord attached to the tent, put your hiking pole in the front eye and stake the three cords on the front/sides and adjust a bit. It can be set up in under 2 minutes after you get the hang of it. As far as pack weight goes, starting with around 35 lbs with 2-3 liters water, 4-5 days of food and winter gear is pretty reasonable. After the weather warms up you can get rid of the extra clothing and go with a lighter sleeping bag which will reduce your weight to around 25-30lbs. I’d rather carry a few pounds more winter gear and not need it than not carry enough and get caught in a blizzard in the Smokies and not have enough.

Nooga

#15

I highly recommend a Hammock over a tarp. The Clark Jungle Hammock is essentially a tarp that has a hammock underneath. I will never use a tent or tarp again. I have used both the Hennessey and the Clark and with the oversized rainfly, I choose the Clark. Clark can be found at junglehammock.com. With a 48" ridgecrest pad, I have never had a cold night. I still maintain that if you ever sleep in a hammock, you will never again use a tent. Good luck on your hike.

weed killer

#16

weed killer: one thing I have heard is that with a tent you can use it to get changed fairly easily… can you also accomplish that inside a hammock?

Also … is it sometimes difficult to find a place to set-up the hammock? I’d be worried of running out of trees (possibly very niaeve of me)

Jack Stitt

#17

Capn - while my first long hike was terrific, my favorite, most memorable hike was actually my third, on the CDT. Because so little info was available at the time we hiked, I had to spend a long time researching and learning about the trail, the towns, various route options, etc. I loved it. It became MINE in a way that the AT, which has been hiked by so many people, can never be. Because we chose our own route, according to circumstances (deep snow, high winds, getting lost, etc.), I know that our hike was uniquely our own. No one will have a hike exactly like ours, since the trail and circumstances change for everyone out there. The beauty of the rockies, seen in all seasons, is indescribable. So, though my first AT hike got me addicted to long distance hiking, it wasn’t my best one.

Still, there are times I envy those about to start out on their first long hikes. I remember the excitement, the fear of the unknown, wondering whether it would be what I expected . . . Actually, a lot of those same feelings return every time I do a long hike - with the advantage that I know I have what it takes to do the hike, so that uncertainty isn’t a part of the experience.

Spirit Walker

#18

Actually, a hammock allows you to stop anywhere you like. I have slept on the side of a 60 degree slope in a hammock because I was just too tired to go further. I like a small fire in the evening and being able to stop anywhere insures an ample supply of firewood. As for changing clothes, it is no more difficult than changing in a tent, in fact it may just be easier. If it is raining in the morning, I can take down the hammock and leave up the rainfly and pack it last in a waterproof bag. That is simply done by releasing two clips. If you order a Clark Hammock, be sure to get the over-sized rainfly. If it is really windy and rainy, you can set up the hammock low in the trees and stake the rainfly to the ground. I can put up the hammock in about 3 minutes and it comes down that fast as well. If you are in an area with no trees, it can be set up like a tent using trekking poles or limbs. I am 6’2" 190# and I am able to sleep on my side with no problems. The conditions are more cramped than a tent, but I got used to swinging in a hammock on the first night…Unbelievable comfort! Jack, I hope you keep a journal on your hike. Good Luck

weed killer

#19

Jack, I used a Hennessy Hammock for about 1400 miles on the AT last year and a Tarptent Virga on the LT this year. Here are my comments on each:

First off, the Hennessy Hammock is a great piece of gear. I am a back and side sleeper on the ground, but was almost always comfortable on my back in the hammock. I went thru several sleep systems trying different sleeping pads and shelters and still wasn’t satisfied with the comfort of my sleep until I picked up the Hennessy at Trail Days. After that I never missed sleeping on the ground. It’s great in the rain (actually better than a tent, IMHO), keeps bugs out, only weighs 2 lbs and packs small since it requires no poles. It’s a little difficult shifting around in it to change, but you get used to it.

You mentioned the swing option, but I almost never used it that way since the first thing I would do after setting it up is put my ridgerest and sleeping bag inside, making it pretty much impossible to use a swing.

I remember 2 nights when I was unable to find suitable trees and ended up setting it up on the ground, sort of like a bivy. This is fine for a night or two, but not ideal. I also still slept in shelters a few nights, mostly when I was just too beat or lazy to want to set anything up.

For the Long Trail this year, I was thinking ahead to the PCT, where the hammock may not be an option in some stretches. So I picked up a Tarptent and used it to try it out. I used a floorless model with a Tyvek ground cloth that I made. I figured that by using Tyvek, the Tarptent life isn’t dictated by how long the floor lasts - I can just get another piece.

Set up is a breeze, as Nooga described. It was great at keeping the bugs out. Setup in rain requires a little attention to the positioning of the groundcloth and mesh around the bottom of the Tarptent (maybe a drawback to not having a floor?). I got a little wet one night that I didn’t expect it to rain since I didn’t make sure the groundcloth lay inside the main silnylon body on both sides. A little water pooled on the Tyvek, no big deal really. I plan to trim the Tyvek a couple inches and sew on some velcro to the mesh with mating velcro on the Tyvek to keep them both in place. I was able to fit my 4000ci internal frame pack inside when necessary.

So the verdict? For me, I just love the Hennessy, so that would be my shelter of preference, but if I think finding suitable trees may be a problem, I’ll bring the Tarptent with no disappointment. They are both great, innovative products that have lots of followers for good reason.

I would recommend borrowing or buying a Hennessy to try it out for a few nights in your backyard or whatever. If you can sleep comfortably in it, then I bet you’ll be hooked. Otherwise, the Tarptent is a great option. Oh, and an alcohol stove is the way to go. Good luck!

Wedding Singer

#20

Thanks again everyone - I’m so grateful for all the help that is being offered. It makes me look even more forward to some of the great people I will likely meet on the trail.

As Spirit Walker mentioned, I do realize that equipment is not the most important facet of a trail experience but it is pretty concrete and less spiritual/personal, so thusly easier to discuss. :wink:

Weed killer, I definitely intend to keep a trail journal along with me and I plan to post it when I’m finished or as I go, if that is possible. I’ve personally been inspired in the past by other trail journals (Wondergimp of 2000, Ma and Pa of '99, and many others) and I really enjoy writing anyway. Who knows, maybe some day I will inspire someone myself :slight_smile:

I’d also love to keep in contact with anyone who is planning a hike for 2004.

Thanks guys

Jack Stitt