Overprepared? - Appalachian Trail

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#1

you know, even being seasoned hiker trash i find myself in the days before my trip fretting. i have two primary targets of my frets that i would like you to answer to. please, though, answer from EXPERIENCE on the at in april, not from a “better to have it and not need it” perspective. that is the perspective i have my hands full with right now.

So i am starting from springer on april 2. i am a devoted sandal hiker, but one and only one thing concerns me: snow. what are the odds of me getting significant snow out there? my feet can handle the coldest rain, but a day walking through fresh snowfall is too much. and so i am fretting about buying some of those gore tex socks. in 99 there was no snow. too much fret?

two: along the same lines, durring my training hikes i have thoroughly enjoyed the added security of my rainpants. i have been hiking regularly in freezing rain, though. would you just go ahead and leave them at home?

and the bonus quetion: why is EMS so horrendously lame? they have nothing of any use to me. no data book, no t shirt without a logo, no simple old emergency blanket. chumps.

milo

#2

One: I was on the AT in spring 2001 and '02 and there was no snow. The only AT hikers I have ever heard tell of snow in GA are the February starters. If you’re really concered about cold toes, skip the GoreTex and consider some VB socks. They weigh (and cost) less, they truly help you regulate temperature, and you can always send them home if you don’t need them. That’s what Neels Gap is for.

Two: I personally considered my lightweight rain pants one of my most crucial pieces of gear. If it was chilly and raining (i.e., 95% of my trip), I could put them on and warm up within minutes. I also used them as my camp pants, so I didn’t have to carry an extra pair of nylon pants for evening. I could also use them in town when I did laundry.
I had the SD pack pants, they weigh about 7 oz or so, and saved me from carrying two additional pieces of clothing. Rain pants rock.

Three: I have been trying to figure this out as well. My only guess is they are filling the gaping hole left by the lack of REI in the Northeast.

Good luck on your hike.

Laura M

#3

One: I was on the AT in spring 2001 and '02 and there was no snow. The only AT hikers I have ever heard tell of snow in GA are the February starters. If you’re really concered about cold toes, skip the GoreTex and consider some VB socks. They weigh (and cost) less, they truly help you regulate temperature, and you can always send them home if you don’t need them. That’s what Neels Gap is for.

Two: I personally considered my lightweight rain pants one of my most crucial pieces of gear. If it was chilly and raining (i.e., 95% of my trip), I could put them on and warm up within minutes. I also used them as my camp pants, so I didn’t have to carry an extra pair of nylon pants for evening. I could also use them in town when I did laundry.
I had the SD pack pants, they weigh about 7 oz or so, and saved me from carrying two additional pieces of clothing. Rain pants rock.

Three: I have been trying to figure this out as well. My only guess is they are filling the gaping hole left by the lack of REI in the Northeast.

Good luck on your hike.

hikertrash4ever

#4

hiker trash 4 ever indeed. a precice answer. posting on this forum with some regularity, i must say i am pleasantly surprised. i feared it may spiral into a discussion on dogs or purism. as for question three, it will remain one of lifes great, or not so great, mysteries. right on to the real.

milo

#5

from sandal wearer to sandal wearer: here goes-

  1. On march 20th of '01 there was 8 inches of snow on the first day of spring in NC. And there was five inches the day after Easter in Erwin (I don’t know what Laura’s talking about -I left March 11th). Pretty much everyone north of Georgia got off the trail for a day or two. I had shoes and sandals, wore shoes. But I met a guy (Cousa) who wore sandals through it, with thick wool socks (The snow just balled up) and he said he had no probs. Breaking fresh snow might be a problem, but I doubt you’ll see much. I’ve followed your tracks in snow over Muir Pass so I don’t think you need to worry about that much with an April start, but I’d keep some dry thick socks early on just in case. I tried using neoprene socks in Colorado, but just had to suffer (a refreshing failure!) What are VB socks?

  2. I didn’t use rain pants at all on the AT, but used them some on the PCT. Since I know you, I say leave 'em.

Bonus- I’ve been to EMS once. That was enough.

When are you starting?

Tha Wookie

#6

wookie, i just dropped you an email. you get it?

milo

#7

I can’t help you with the equipment decisions. Your guess is as good as mine. As for the EMS issue, you are exactly correct EMS has turned into the Gap. They have a new CEO who pledges to return it to their outdoor adventure roots and not just a Pataguuci Outlet.

Blue Jay

#8

I left April 1, 2001. We had some 80 degree days, I think it was hotter the day I climbed up to Bly Gap. Then just north of the NOC, the day we were hiking from Brown SHelter to FOntana it snowed. I had already decided to ditch the heavy rain pants back at RBS. COld, red legs. I ended up borrowing a pair of another hikers. Usually I can hike in the cold with shorts… Now I carry a pair of homemade pain pants made out of lightwt silnylon. They weigh nothing and do come in handy. As for sandals, I had not gotten smart enough to switch to those until somewhere in VA. I am now a definate sandal hiker. I have hiked in colder temps with them wearing waterproof socks, I think they are called sealskins. They kept my feet warm and dry when needed. Which may only be a day or two, or a week or two. Enjoy. SUe/HH:girl

Hammock Hanger

#9

Personally I’d hold off on the sandals until erwin area when you know the snow will be gone for sure. Maybe check out a light pair of trail runners just for full protection. Not a bad investment.

As far as weather goes, sure it’s not likely you’ll hit a storm but it is DEFINATELY possible. I caught a lot of flack from people starting march 1 telling me I would be in snow the whole time. When were our two snow storms? APRIL. I was in Damascus for the second storm and I know snow stretched all the way to Georgia. Personally I wouldn’t take a change, the mountains are pretty unpredictable till you get past Roan/Humps area. I’d say by time you get to the Grayson Highlands it’ll be plenty warm.

And yeah EMS, is getting increasingly terrible. The majority of their store now is clothing, not outdoor clothing, school daypacks and miscellanous crap. They seem to have completely lost their focus. I see they started selling Quicksilver and Roxy apparel, which is a surf/beachy company. Will not go back there.

A-Train

#10

VB = vapor barrier

pigpen

#11

I carry rain pants just so I have something to wear in the laundrymat.

Peaks

#12

You could encounter some snow, but probably not much. I started 3/13 and saw pretty deep snow around Erwin last year. If you want to hike in sandals through snow, sealskinz (sealskinz.com) would be a good bet to keep your feet dry and warm. From the forecasts I’ve seen, you don’t need to worry about snowy weather for at least a couple weeks, so you could pick up a pair at Neels Gap, call us at the shop if you want to put a pair on hold (706)745-6095 (no, I don’t get commission :(.) As far as rain pants go - if you like them, carry them. They’re nice to wear around the laundromat while you’re washing your other clothes if nothing else. Later!

Skittles

#13

Question 2------carry the pants. They are lite, dont take much room. Can be worn in the laundrymat ,keep you warm in a cool wind and look very fashionable while in town.

Virginian

#14

#1 I started April 18, 2002. No snow, anywhere, anytime. But, this can change any year, we just happened to hit HHH (hot hazy humid) that year, every day, all season.

#2. I sent my rain pants home after the Smokies, but had only worn them a handful of times (and yes that early we had rain the first two weeks), but mine are heavy. However, I did have lightweight Capilene bottoms the whole way, so I never went w/o a bottom layer. I find them most useful as a layer in camp, my good buddy, good friend HH is making me a pretty purple pair of sil-nylon pants for our CT trek this summer. Had I had some like this that didn’t take up any space at all or weight, I may have kept them longer.
#3 EMS-haven’t been there all winter, have I missed something? Did notice more of a plethora of school type day packs last time, but the one here in Portland and North Conway still seemed gear oriented.

Bluebearee

#15

I was at EMS in Peterborough NH the other day and noticed that they were carrying some Golite packs finally. Still way too much yuppie clothing for me though.

Big B