In a couple of weeks, I’ll be taking a ‘midnight plane to Georgia (woof, woof!)’ and traveling from Hartsfield International Airport to the Blue Ridge Gap trailhead, which is a few miles south of the North Carolina border and about 2,100 miles south of Mount Katahdin, my final destination.
On October 17 of last year, I finished the first leg of my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail: the Georgia section. And then, as planned, I started taking 144 zero days in a row. Not only did I complete approximately 90 miles of my trip, but the week on the trail also served as a test ride, giving me a head start on acclimating to the trail. Answered questions related to equipment, food, training and planning.
Equipment adaptations
Since my trip in October, I have updated my gear list with the following.
- Polartec Alpha 90 Hoodie – Weighs 6 ounces and provides the warmth I want in a mid-layer. I can’t wait to see if it can last 2000 miles.
- 850 Down Jacket – A little lighter than an 800 down jacket I’m replacing in my pack, but it has a built-in hood that will come in handy if I get hit by a snow storm.
- Waterproof Socks: I was blessed with dry weather around 70 degrees in October, but these socks are insurance for days when I’m walking through a torrential downpour.
- Dry bags: 3 and 5 liters that I will use for several songs and my clothes. They are replacing 10 liter bags that are larger than I need.
- Solomon Trail Runners – My third pair of shoes joining a line of another pair of Solomons and a pair of Topos. I may need a fourth pair, but I’ll wait to buy them down the road.
Food changes
I can’t eat ramen more than once or twice a week and if I’m going to eat instant potatoes, I need to complement them with some flavor and texture (maybe corn). I generally like tuna, but not at the end of a long day on the trail. Lihat tgb7 untuk info lebih lanjut. So adjustments to my trail menu were necessary.
I hadn’t tried Spam in over 40 years, but I bought a single-serving package a couple of weeks ago and you know what? Spam isn’t that bad.
I also think I’ll rely more on tough meats like salami and pepperoni to add some flavor to my meals.
For breakfast, I like to break camp quickly and not have to turn on the stove. Therefore, I will rely on Triscuit and Biscoff biscuits to fill my stomach in the morning, at least for the first few weeks. And, before you scoff at Triscuits, you should try the cinnamon and brown sugar flavor.
Planning
After riding an average of 13 miles per day in Georgia, I felt comfortable freely planning my adventure. I’m pretty anal having been a planner my entire adult life and I’m a little embarrassed to show the level of detail I’ve planned. Let’s say it’s more or less the details of the AT Thru-Hikers’ Companion consolidated into about 10 pages of notes.
Of course, my plan is just that: a plan. I realize it will change with things like weather, physical ailments, etc. Therefore, for daily planning, I will rely on the ‘Far Out’ app to guide me.
Final thoughts
Thank you to my family and friends for supporting me in this adventure. Thanks to my wife for giving up her husband for 5-6 months and giving me her blessing so I can pursue a crazy dream. Thanks to my daughter for sending me the resupply boxes while she goes back to work and raising her 7 month old baby. Thank you to my son for providing me shelter when I visited New York City in early July. Thanks to all my friends who have encouraged me. Even those who have encouraged me by saying ‘you’re crazy!’ I think you already know the answer to that.
It’s less than 3 weeks until I’m dropped off in the North Georgia desert. It’s time to hit some trails and take names (i.e. mountains, towns, gaps, etc.)! And accept that the path will be reciprocal.
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