READERS COMMENTS

I'm getting ready to start a month on the trail. I went to get a new pack and the guy said I was crazy looking for such a small pack for a whole month. He said I should be thinking 4500 to 5000 in space minimum. Any feedback welcome.

Posted: Mar 16, 2010 Symantha

Some of you need to get some new compasses for your next hike. A new moral compass especially.Taking anything; or half of anything that does not belong to you is stealing.If you cannot afford the toilet paper, maybe you need to try ripping some pages out of your Wingfoot's or ATC's guide books,or keeping those little soap wrappers from the comp soap you paid for at the hotel.So everyone takes half of the 4 rolls,only 8 of us get to make the hike and everybody else goes back home?
Posted: Mar 16, 2010 bentwanderer

no grizzly bears, however there are black bears. it's on a very rare occation that you even run into them, they scatter very easily.
Posted: Dec 24, 2009 BSchlarb

Where's the plane ticket to Venezuela?
Posted: Dec 16, 2009 Mark S.

Just think after carrying that dead weight for 160 miles you can roller skate over Fontana Dam!
No skates allowed on AT (new rule)!!
Posted: Oct 16, 2009 Big Mike

Good luck with finding those paved areas!
Posted: Oct 13, 2009 Miguel

I'm planning on hiking the entire AT starting spring 2011. Next year will be many one-dayers, weekenders, and a couple week -longers. I plan on taking roller skates with me for the paved areas.
Posted: Oct 10, 2009 joe312

bread sacks for over socks,after rain wets your books
Posted: Jul 17, 2009 gappy

I'd have to agree with gimp. I would and have "scrounged" simple supplies i could use, but have never stole. If you go into a public bathroom, your out of tp for the trail, taking a 1/4 to a 1/2 roll is not stealing. Especially when theres usually three, sometimes four rolls on the roller. You stay in a hotel for a night. You pay for the room, so You take the little paper wrapped soap and shampoos. There is quite a differance between scrounging some things and stealing some things. Some of us are just not as fortunate as others when it comes to $$$. Some people camp for fun and escape from their small town where they work a minimum wage job, go to school, pay their rent, etc, and have little cash resources to do what they really love(i.e camping/backpacking) Other people can buy super lightweight gear, pay shipping and buy expensive rolls of recycled tp because they can afford it. All I'm saying is that cash for me is an issue, and i'll save where I can. I don't steal. I beleive it wrong, very wrong. But scrounging is fine and can add some fun to the adventure:)
Posted: Apr 18, 2009 BigBallJay

Just starting out on hiking, is it recommended to take short weekend hikes to build up to the AT?
Posted: Jan 01, 2009 Ken

Awww Peaches. I hiked the whole trail (including black boot hill) with nothing but my trusty hiking stick.
Posted: Dec 28, 2008 Guss Chiggens

How about layers of clothes? you will hike in fof, snow, and rain in the spring, heat and humidity in the summer, then back to rain, wind, snow and ice in the fall.
Posted: Nov 20, 2008 Cole

that whole list looks pretty solid. But where i struggle is how much food to bring. there are usually stops every five to seven days or so. Any suggestions?
Posted: Nov 09, 2008 Tom

with each hike i find that there are more and more items that i pack that i don't need. so by the time i'm through with the a.t. in twenty years i'll be an expert. lisa
Posted: Oct 29, 2008 lisa

Down Jacket? What happened to a layering system? Maybe a midweight fleece, it`ll work when wet
Posted: Oct 29, 2008 ZZ

In response to "Gimps" idea that shipping is expensive, I can only say that ripping off supplies from the hotel or hostel or anyone else is expensive to THEM. Being self sufficient in life, and on the trail, involves buying one's own supplies and not stealing them. Oh, sorry. I mean... not "scrounging" them.
Posted: Oct 29, 2008 Toilet paper & "bounce boxes"

There are no grizzly bears on the AT. No penguins either.
Posted: Oct 24, 2008 Dreamtime

JD... A map and compass are never "totally optional". People that think they are optional are the people SAR has to come find. All the "Crocs", MP3 players, and ATM cards in the world can't guide you out of the woods when you get turned around in fog or have an injury and need a shorter route. Do youself and the SAR teams a favor and ALWAYS take a map and compass even if it's a day hike, let alone 2,175 miles across the country..
Posted: Oct 19, 2008 MLI

We never bought or shipped toilet paper. Every time we went into town, we scrounged it from our motel/hotel/hostel or washroom somewhere. Each time you open your "bounce box" you must pay to send it to the next PO. If you don't open it, you can "forward" it for no charge Never used one and can't see raeson for one. Very expensive.
Posted: Oct 17, 2008 Gimp AT'03 Ga-Me

Tarp is recommended, as you can use your walking poles to pitch it(or just use tree's....depends on the terrain). Then add a mosquito net, might help on those night the mozzies are out.

I'd pack 4-5 pairs of socks, ideally 2 cotton and 3 woolen. If it's cold you can use them as mittens(as said above), and as an improvised scarf(stick em around your neck)
Posted: Oct 13, 2008 Rob

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