Thru-hike questios?

imported
#1

Hi there, I am in the beginning stages of planning an 04 thru hike and I have a bunch of questions.

  1. What do people normally do about their second pair of boots? Do you break in 2 pairs before you go and have the second pair shipped to you once your first pair wear out or do you simply buy a new pair on the trail?

  2. Do people filter/treat every drop of water the drink? I read in an old Wingfoot book that people often don’t. Is a filter the way to go (I have a Sweetwater Gaurdian) or AquaMira?

  3. Does anyone want to sell/rent/lend me their used AT topo maps? I would greatly appreciate it.

  4. Are there enough adequate places (internet cafes/libraries) to send digital pictures home?

Thanks for the help.

Brad

#2

Boots?? Majority hike in lightweight trail shoes or trail runners. Only start with one pair of what you decide to hike in. Your feet will most likely grow about a size by the time you’ll need a new pair. Boots/shoes/whatever are available at outfitters along the way or by mail order.

Some people treat/filter everything. Some people treat/filter nothing. Some do half and half deciding on their own which springs are fit to drink from. Filters are heavy and not designed for intense use for 5 months. Treatment is lighter but more of a hassle and extra chemicals in your body for a long time is a bit sketchy. I think the stats of people getting sick along the way are equal for those who treat v. those who do not. I did treat everything, but hey, that’s me.

Sorry, still using my maps. Might want to check eBay around now though. Lots of people starting and lots of people quitting between Feb and late April.

There are Internet connections along the way at libraries, churches ,hostels. Library hours are a bit up in the air though. I’d say every week to two weeks you could find a connection. You can take about 40 pics with a camera??? You could do it and people have done so.

MEGA '01

Grimace

#3

I broke in a second pair of boots before I left. I bought them a size larger than my first pair after seeing suggestions that my feet would grow in size. They didn’t and my feet killed me when I started using the second pair.

My advice is to wait until you need a new pair. Buy them then(you may even go with trail runners instead of boots) and just shorten your mileage for a couple of days or split the day between your new boots and your sandals (which I assume you will have as a camp shoe).

steamboat

#4

Because you don’t know how your feet are going to spread, conventional wisdom is to hold off on buying that next pair of boots until you need them. When the time comes, go into the nearest outfitter. Of course, this assumes that you have normal sized feet and not a hard to find size. And, by the time you need replacement footwear, your feet will probably be so conditioned that break in will not be an issue.

Water treatment: Some people filter some of the time. Others go the chemical route. One thing about filters. The filter of choice is the Pur (now Kataydin) Hiker. The reason being is that it pumps faster than others. So, I suggest that you do something other than use the Sweatwater filter you presently own.

For me, I filtered. it was worth the 11 ounces to be able to drink as soon as I pumped and not wait for the chemicals to work.

Peaks

#5

Ive been wearing the same brand and model of hiking boot for almost 12 years now. I wear an 8 regular. I purchased 2 pairs and broke them in. they were both wasted by delaware water gap. I purchased a cheap pair at Kmart and didnt make out of NJ before my feet were in bad shape so I went back to a 3rd pair of my old faithful and will never leave you again baby.:happy My feet never grew.

I used and will continue to use a filter. I currently own a PUR filter.

Chef

#6

Boots—Buy them a half size too big at least and wear two pair of heavy socks with them, which will absorb moisture as your feet sweat and also this will help keep you from getting blisters. Buy good quality boots and by all means break them in with lots of hiking carrying some weight in a daypack or backpack before you begin your hike. Read the hike journels and see how many people are plagued early on with blisters and feet problems early on hiking the AT and you will see how important this is. Buy your second pair somewhere along the AT when the first ones wear out. Break in is easy if you buy them as suggested.
Filters—Freeze up in winter bad and if real cold, ice crystal form in them immediately and they can’t be used. They also clog easily. Use a pre filter, then filter. Chemicals are a lot lighter, don’t clog, and don’t have the freezing problems. A matter of choice. Giardia is not a pleasant thing, it is best to filter or treat or boil all water on the trail. Springs, right where the water bubbles up out of the ground, are fairly safe, but you never know.

Maintain