Pack Volume - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

Hi, I’m planning on doing a northbound hike in the spring. The earlier the better for me, so I am tentavily planning on early/mid March.

The gear that I’ve talked my wife into letting me buy so far includes a Western Mountaineering Versalite Super (also have a Highlite I will swith over to later) In addition to a thermarest pro light 3.

Thin gloves, head/ear cover, poly pro tops and bottoms, and fleece liner. I will also have my rain jacket and some Columbia pants if needed.

I was just getting my gear together and now think I might have a difficult time getting this cold weather gear and 6 days of food into my Gregory Advent Pro back pack.

So first, could someone tell me about the volume of food that I should be prepared to have at any one time? I’m thinking of when one has to resupply at smaller stores where the food and its packaging isn’t made for space savings.

I’ve read a lot of posts/articles about backpacking nutrition, but what I’m interested in is an actual list of food that you may pick up at a small store while on the trail. I mean, how many square boxes of macaroni do you take? Do you take the time to repackage this type of food (possibly in a zip lock bag)

Does anyone ever stick food around in outside pockets while hiking (putting it back together into a larger bag at night to hang of course)

Second, does the gear above sound OK for a mid March start? If not I could wait till April, would just be more conveniant for me to start earlier. Could I possibly leave in Feb with this list?

My problem seems to be getting all this stuff if I have winter gear and a lot of food into a fairly small bag. Any comments or advice in this are are helpful. I suppose I could get a larger bag and switch back to the Gregory a little later, but this isn’t my optimal solution. I could always try to leave things off (perhaps the thermarest or fleece liner) But not sure that would be a good idea in the weather.

Rowton

#2

First, you asked how much food do you carry at one time? To figure this out, you should get the AT Data Book and the ALDHA Companion or Wingfoot’s Handbook. Then you can make a base line plan. Generally speaking, you don’t need to carry more than 3 or 4 days worth of food at a time. However, there are some sections where you will probably want to carry more. I know that at times, I had a full sleeping bag stuff sack filled with food.

What you actually eat is up to you, and what’s available in the small towns near the AT. There are plenty of posts on trail meals. You will probably want 4000 calories of food per day. Start reading the labels on food packaging and do the math.

With a mid March start, you will probably have some late winter weather. The southern Appalachians are remote and high. Certainly, the later you start, the less severe weather you will encounter.

Peaks

#3

A rough planning guide is to allow 2 pounds of weight per day of food carried. Five days of food would weigh around 10 pounds. I don’t think there is anywhere that you HAVE to carry six days of food.

The more food you carry, the heavier your pack. The heavier your pack, the more calories burned carrying the extra food. And the more calories burned results in eating more food to replace the calories. It can be a vicious circle.

Peak - I know a hiker is supposed to burn the 4,000 calories a day - but didn’t think it was possible/feasible to actually replace all of those calories. Can it be done while on the trail (not in town)?

In addition to the planning books, there are some articles on the web that give suggested resupply spots for towns along the way. Make sure they are relatively up to date. Baltimore Jack had one posted.

There are some resupply places that a mail drop is highly recommended. If you are a NOBO, the first is the post office at Fontana Dam.

Be careful about assuming the weather is warmer with a April start. Doesn’t always work that way. Neals Gap has had snow in the latter half of April.

JAWS

#4

The rule of thumb for me in 02 was 2 lbs a day
for food. I packed instant oatmeal,dry milk,grapenuts(breakfast).foil tuna packs,cheddercheese(Keep close to your water bladder)pita bread or tortillias(lunch) and for dinner lipton noodles not rice takes too long to cook.I also added some of that sliced pepperoni in the little bags from the store. They gave me much needed grease in my noodles. I liked the 3 cheese racotia,about 5 to 7 snikers a day,maybe some koolaid and coffee. Just throw the coffee in your serria cup and bring to a rolling boil for 2 minutes. Take away from the heat source and add a dash of cold water. All the grouds sink to the bottom of the cup. Lots of variations but that basic food list worked for me. Oh and Jim Beam!!!
White blaze/Pack on Back

Virginian

#5

I believe the Versalite Super and Highlite will be an excellent choice for an April start. I’ve got a Moonstone 10* similar to the Versalite and I use a WM Caribou for the warmer months. I’ve used the Moonstone 10* bag in early March in the Smokies with snow/ice and was warm. Take a good down jacket, like the WM Flight and you’ll be fine.

Just like Jaws said, 2 lbs of food per day is the rule of thumb. Stick to that and you’ll be good. He’s also on the money about the cycle of burning calories with the more weight you carry, etc.

Personally, I would get a lighter pack than the Advent Pro. I just switched to the Granite Gear Virga. I was worried about comfort since I had been using a Granite Gear Vapor Trail. But actually, I can’t tell a level in comfort between the two. The Virga holds around 2200-2800 cu in and weighs 19 oz. I wouldn’t pack this thing over 25+/- lbs. though. But, with a good choice in gear selection there should be no problem. With selecting WM I can see you’re on the right track in that dept.

Good luck!

guru

#6

My personal (and useless) opinion - I’d stick with the Vapor Trail regardless of reducing your weight or size.

My second (and perhaps useful) opinion - trash the Jim Beam and stick with the good stuff - Jack Daniels Black.

Seriously, if your dry weight plus food, water, and fuel can be kept under 20 pounds (not easy if you have more than 3-4 days food or winter-type clothing) you can get away with a frameless pack. Anything heavier should be in a pack with a legitimate internal frame stay. Others may disagree.

JAWS

#7

Sorry JAWS, Jacks ok but a bit overrated. But then in the woods even “old crow” is good after 9 or 10 days.

Virginian

#8

You can spend the rest of your life chasing weight stats, which dont tell you much about the gear itself. Obviously when your gear weighs less you are often giving up durability or dropping $$$$. I would listen to recommendations that other hikers give but keep in mind that their hiking style may be vastly different than yours. For instance, my understaning is Vapor Trail is a great pack but only if you can get your TOTAL average weight (leaving town) below ~27 lbs. Since 10 lbs of that will be food, the question is will your base weight be below 17 lbs?

For my money, I am going with the GG Nimbus Latitude on my next hike. Better access to all my gear, better suspension for carrying up to 40 lbs (I carry heavy sometimes) and big pockets for carrying my tent on the outside. The last feature may be trivial to others, but it means that I can pack up in my tent during the rain & not put a wet tent in with my other gear. That’s just an example of one person’s gold, another man’s trash.

30-30

#9

The shame! Saying the Vapor trail is only great below 27 lbs. It is both designed and functionally does carry up to 35 lbs.

It’s been very comfortable carrying my 32 lbs of winter gear. Heck, not just comfortable - it felt like I was floating on air. It was ecstaticaly a delight and made my hiking comfort level better and better each and every day.

jaws

#10

I started in 04 with a heavy gregory pack (65+/-) and figured that i would come down from there. As time went on I sent things that i didn’t use enough to rationalize carrying. The granite gear nimbus latitude was a great replacement. with it I cut my weight to around 35 lbs. leaving town for five days. As far as cold goes I caught a good snow at fontana in late april. However don’t over pack cold weather gear since you are either hiking or sleeping and when around camp, if cold use your rain gear since it traps lots of heat.

Keytone

#11

Yes, the Vapor Trail carries up to 35 lbs very comfortably. Like Jaws said it does feel like it’s floating on air. The comfort level on this pack is that of any 6 lbs Dana or Gregory. On the other hand I still point to the lighter 19 oz. Virga pack. I loaded it up for testing purposes with 28 lbs. and it still felt great. I couldn’t tell a comfort difference between the Virga and Vapor Trail. It is somewhat strange since the Vapor Trail has much more padding. I’m assuming the credit is due to GG making these two packs nearly identical. GG rates this pack to hold up to 25 lbs. My base weight it around 10-13 lbs. so I know this is playing a large role in the comfort.

I was pointing out earlier that Rowton was the right track by picking the WM bags. These bags are very light and of high quality. It’s not hard to get a low base weight when you’re picking such fine sleeping bags.

guru

#12

Sorry - I meant to come across joking about the “floating on air” part. With 32 pounds on MY back there ain’t a pack out there that makes me feel that way.

GGVT really is a good pack and I’m sure there are others that are better.

jaws

#13

A way to save weight and volume on food is to get your protein from soy. I carried soy protein drink (chocolate) that I drank either hot or cold daily as well as TVP (textured vegetable protein) that I added to my lipton noodles for supper. Much less weight than foil tuna or cheese.

Rainbow