Gear list!

Note:  I've also made this a permanent page on the 'My Gear' tab.  Any changes to gear will be made there.


Without question this has been the most viewed page on my site, so I figured it's about time I get something up on here.  I started having issues with some of the gear grams features, so decided to skip out on using that on here, and instead I'm just going to post my gear in sections.  All in all, my base weight (without food or water) is a hair over 20 lbs.  By no means in the ultralight category, but I was not expecting to get that low (some items are just out of my price comfort).  I'm ok with the weight, but would definitely be interested in seeing where I might be able to shed some ounces. I'm still sorting out some small odds and ends (toiletries, fire starter, etc) but have tried to take their weight into account. An extra special thanks to the folks at Everestgear.com for helping get me suited up for the trip!

The Big Four (Backpack, Tent, Sleeping Bag, Sleeping Pad)

 REI Flash 65 pack, REI Quarter Dome T1 tent, Marmot Sawtooth 15 f bag, Thermarest z-lite pad.

I plan to use a trash compactor bag as a pack liner, and to store my sleeping bag in a compactor bag (or 2) at the bottom of my pack.  There's an S-biner on my bag that I'll be using for bear-bagging.  I'll swap in a lighter sleeping bag just around Damascus, and will bring the sawtooth back in the whites.  These all weigh in at just about 10 lbs.

Clothing

3 pairs of wool socks (2 for hiking, 1 for camp), 2 pairs of compression shorts for underwear, Icebreaker 200 merino leggings, Mountain Hardwear convertible pants, Icebreaker 260 tech top longsleeve, Icebreaker merino tshirt, 2 synthetic tshirts, synthetic gym shorts, and a Mountain Hardwear Compressor jacket. Not Pictured: Winter hat.  I will be starting the hike with La Sportiva Onix GTX on my feet, and will switch to trail runners once they wear out.  Still need to get crocs for camp shoes. 


This is one area I'd love some advice, as I'm having a lot of trouble sorting out a few things.  My Icebreaker tech top is technically a baselayer, but I bought a large and it fits better as a half-zip pullover.  I've got a lightweight synthetic baselayer top, but I'm not sure if that's over kill or if it makes sense.  Also not sure on the 2 synthetic shirts, some recommend a shirt for town to look presentable/it's easier to get rides.  My merino tee will be my hiking shirt as it will hold off smell better, and one synthetic will be for camp.  Would appreciate any thoughts.  

Water System

 Osprey 2L bladder, widemouth Nalgene 1L, Steripen Adventurer (primary).  NP: potable water tablets (backup)

Cooking System

 GSI Dualist, Pocket Rocket Stove,  2 alcohol canisters, Columbia River Eat'n Tool, waterproof matches (backup).  NP: Bic Lighter (primary), and I've taken the sporks, extra bowl and insulated mug out of the dualist to cut weight. 

Storage

 20 L Sea to Summit ultralight drybag for food, MHM compression sack for clothes (will line with large turkey oven bag), Medium dry bag for toiletries, small dry bag for phone, cables, batteries, headlamp, etc, extra small bag for camera inside camera bag.  The OP dry bags are pretty shitty in terms of being dry bags, so I've used seam sealer and will waterproof them myself.  If that doesn't work, I'll line them with ziplocs.  

Odds and Ends

 Digital watch, 50ft paracord, Smith and Wesson folding knife, Buff, packtowel, 2012 AT Guide, first aid kit (still need to do some re-engineering on it), rite in the rain notepad and pen.  NP- iPhone 4, Petzl Tikka XP2 headlamp.


Trekking Poles

Black Diamond Ergo Cork Trekking Poles.  This is my first time using trekking poles, so I've been testing them out and trying to get into a rhythm with them. I also plan to use them as a duct tape holder and am considering making a stickpic for my camera.

Rain Gear

Klymit Zephyros rainshell, FroggTogg pants, and Osprey ultralight pack cover.

Camera

Sony NEX-C3 plus Lowepro compact courier bag (worn on hip belt).  iPhone cable and wall plugin, Sony battery charger.  This is one area where I can probably make up some weight savings by downgrading, and also one that I'm least likely to budge on.  The camera fits nicely on my pack belt, and the x-small dry bag fits in it to store my camera in rain.  I clip the camera with an s-biner to the pack's lifting strap, so no pressure is put on my neck.  I really like the set-up, and love the camera too much to give it up.

Fear Itself

Now that I've shared my hike with those beyond my close circle of friends and family I've received a variety of reactions ranging from the overexcited to the underwhelmed.  Across all reactions, there were underlying fears and concerns about various aspects of the hike.  Between the questions about bears eating me to how I'm going to carry all that food, my expectations that my fears would not match others became abundantly clear.


Without question, the most frequent response I've gotten is 'You're going alone!?'.  It only briefly crossed my mind to do this with a partner or two.  Unfortunately, I couldn't think of anyone with the resources or timing that matched mine, let alone someone I would be comfortable spending 6 months hiking alongside.  While it'd be awesome to share this experience with someone else, I have fellow hikers and friends who will meet me on the trail for a few days for that.


I've read enough to know what I need to be cautious and concerned about (and no doubt I'll learn more when I get on the trail).  When it comes to actual fear, my irrational fear of snakes will never disappear, so stepping on one of those bad boys will always be haunting my thoughts.  I feel prepared, and I think that has done quite a bit to ease any actual fears I have.  I know all my expectations of trail life will likely be thrown out the window as soon as I start the hike, but you'll just have to tune in and find out for sure.


I'm planning to head out on an overnight this weekend to test out some of my new gear, and will plan to report back and finalize my gear list.

Welcome!

My name's Kevin and I'll be your guide for the next six months as I traverse America's greatest long hike, in an attempt to thru-hike the Appalachian trail.  I've camped my whole life and give full credit to my parents for instilling a wanderlust in me from an earlier age.  In my first few years of adulthood, I've carried on this tradition with multi-week trips with my brother Chub both through New England and the Pacific Coast/Southwest.  Both only temporarily satiated my appetite for travel and adventure.  I've never been a serious backpacker, but have always enjoyed hiking, camping, and everything that goes with it.  An AT thru-hike seemed like the perfect next step for my travels.

Sometime last year I started seriously considering a thru-hike of the AT and have been slowly acquiring new camping gear since, with the visions of thru-hiking popping up consistently in my day to day thoughts.  I fully committed to myself in December and began more serious preparations.  I'll be leaving April 9th to head down to Springer Mountain in Georgia, and will be detailing my last month of preparation and the trials and tribulations of the full hike as often as I can on this blog.

As a way to make this hike useful and worthwhile to someone other than me, I've also set up a fundraising page for Rainbow Babies and Children's hospital in Cleveland.  As many friends visiting this page know, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 19 years old, and had my surgery at Rainbow Babies Children's Hospital.  I am incredibly indebted to the hospital and thought if I could help raise any money for them, I would.  Check out the fundraising page for more information and to donate!!!

I'll be adding more to this page regularly, so check back often!