It’s good to be back. This might be a challenging trip, it’s very early in the season which means the trail is going to be impossible difficult to follow. I’m also hiking the trail ‘backwards’ — clockwise (South Loop first), leaving the eight-mile, possibly water-less, North Loop section for the last two days.
I’m carrying my full winter setup, except I have my summer tarp, even though the weather is going to be warm during the day, there are two nights around freezing in the offing. I know from experience how those can drop into the low twenties. I did a thirteen-mile trip in December with no problems, my first long trip since last May. Twenty miles in four days should be fine.
Gear Changes
- New sandals. I bought an identical replacement pair for those I broke on my last trip.
- I have the ‘Pocket Rocket’ gas stove instead of my Cat Can alcohol stove.
- Pop Tarts! I’ve never eaten them before, but a lot of backpackers swear by them, so I’ve packed one per day.
- New ‘Daisy Chain’ hammock suspension.
- New tie-outs for my tarp. I now have the same fittings on both my tarps.
- I was going to take out my old pack, but I dropped that idea. Maybe when the weather gets warmer, and I’ll have a lighter loadout.
- I’ve made a new stopper for my water filter.
- If I could find my sit pad, I would have left my chair behind. But, I couldn’t. I’ve ordered a replacement — they are only $7.
- and I’ve finally convinced myself I don’t need to pack as many clothes.
A whole bunch of gear changes, but nothing radical.
Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.