I did a 3-day, 32 mile hike last weekend on the AT. Some things of note:
-My pack was 52 pounds (I packed heavy on purpose). Humping it wasn't an issue until it came to negotiating down hill rocky paths especially at night. It was a lot slower than I expected going down the mountain with the extra weight while trying to not to roll an ankle on the rocks. I have done this same section with a 30 pound pack much faster in the past.
-At least one guy seemed uncomfortable when he noticed my large alice ruck sitting on the rocks near the Blood Mountain shelter. There was a green Infidel hat and fixed blade knife strapped to my ruck.
-Practicing noise and light discipline is always invaluable, but other hikers/campers are very spooked when you pass quietly by with no lights on.
-Filtering water with a hand pump backpacking filter at water locations took longer than I liked. I am going to revert back to purification tablets so I can quickly fill, drop a couple tabs and head out.
-Mountain House meals make great sleeping bag warmers when waiting the 8 to 10 minutes after pouring in boiling water.
-Land nav in the foothills or flat ground is entirely different than the mountains. Not harder, just a different skill set. Dead reckoning is near worthless and terrain association is invaluable.
-Switching to an homemade alcohol stove and 91% alcohol was better when trying to keep light discipline at night. Not any major improvement but better than the faint blue flame my commercial stove puts out.
-Woodland bivy sack with no shelter are pretty low profile even when very close to people. I had 3 people set up camp within 15 yards from me, shining lights all over and walking past my camp to the privy. The next morning they were surprised I had spent the night there and said they had no idea.
-My pack was 52 pounds (I packed heavy on purpose). Humping it wasn't an issue until it came to negotiating down hill rocky paths especially at night. It was a lot slower than I expected going down the mountain with the extra weight while trying to not to roll an ankle on the rocks. I have done this same section with a 30 pound pack much faster in the past.
-At least one guy seemed uncomfortable when he noticed my large alice ruck sitting on the rocks near the Blood Mountain shelter. There was a green Infidel hat and fixed blade knife strapped to my ruck.
-Practicing noise and light discipline is always invaluable, but other hikers/campers are very spooked when you pass quietly by with no lights on.
-Filtering water with a hand pump backpacking filter at water locations took longer than I liked. I am going to revert back to purification tablets so I can quickly fill, drop a couple tabs and head out.
-Mountain House meals make great sleeping bag warmers when waiting the 8 to 10 minutes after pouring in boiling water.
-Land nav in the foothills or flat ground is entirely different than the mountains. Not harder, just a different skill set. Dead reckoning is near worthless and terrain association is invaluable.
-Switching to an homemade alcohol stove and 91% alcohol was better when trying to keep light discipline at night. Not any major improvement but better than the faint blue flame my commercial stove puts out.
-Woodland bivy sack with no shelter are pretty low profile even when very close to people. I had 3 people set up camp within 15 yards from me, shining lights all over and walking past my camp to the privy. The next morning they were surprised I had spent the night there and said they had no idea.
