AT thru-hike Gear I used and the Food I packed for mail drops

Pictures of the gear I took on my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2004 4/4/04-9/14/04 Springer to Katahdin Georgia to Maine April to September. Keep your cursor over the pause...

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• A.T.
• AT
• thru-hike
• through
• hike
• Appalachian
• trail
• hiker
• backpack
• backpacking
• camping
• hiking
• long
• distance
• adventure
• destination
• nature
• travel
• log
• gear
• food
• drops
• mail
• drop

[jackmatthewanderson]

I am at 27 pound pack fully loaded.

[mechanicmike69]

@jackmatthewanderson With food and water? My base pack weight (without food and water) was 25-26 lbs.

[mrouterrim]

How is a mail drop set up? Dont u need a po box set up or somthing?

[mechanicmike69]

@mrouterrim No p.o. box is needed. You simply address it to yourself in care of General Delivery.

General Delivery

John Smith

City, State zipcode

The post offices along the trail will hold your package about 2 weeks. Of course you'll need an ID to pick it up.

[MrSouthernRacist]

@mechanicmike69 is there a real risk of dying on the trail? Also do you set up camp anywere you want ot is there designated places? and is it free?

[mechanicmike69]

@MrSouthernRacist Just like anywhere else, there is a risk of dying on the trail, but no more so than any other place. They have shelters along the way, on average about 8 miles apart. Some a lot further apart, some closer.Shelters are usually three sided with a roof and a floor, while there are more elaborate ones with multiple floors and some even with doors. You can also generally set up anywhere you want, but everyone is practicing, Leave No Trace (LNT). The trail is free.

[mechanicmike69]

@Diggity308 At the start base pack weight, including water bottles and food bag, but no water and no food, was just under 26lbs. Changed out some conventional nylon stuff bags and pack cover for sil-nylon versions along with sending home the gloves, gaitors. Changed out the tent ground sheet for one made of tyvek. Shed almost 2 lbs of pack weight. But the greatest weight savings of all was the weight I lost off of ME, 30 lbs! I literally lost more than the base weight of my pack.

[borderraven]

Reading the comments answered all my questions. :)

[MrSouthernRacist]

@mechanicmike69 Thanks for the info answered all but on of my questions I have about the trail. Can you pick up any hot chicks on the trail? I never leave trash laying around I always burn the plastic bottles and wrappers and trash.

[jackmatthewanderson]

@mechanicmike69 My heaviest was 40lbs in winter, my lightest was 17lbs with food and water in summer check out the video on my packing list on my channel.

[seanthehaggis]

i love the old school bag, you dont see many frame packs like that about any more, nice one!