Any experienced backpackers here?

[TomTerrific]

Yeah, they blame ATV's for destroying the landscape and they blame guns and meat for all the rest of the world's problems.

The Green Mountain Club which owns and maintains the Long Trail tried to address the use of mountain bikes on the trail. They are capable of doing a lot of damage. Bikers with a "Hey, get out of my way" attitude aggravate hikers, too.

A lot of the trail is on private land, but enforcing anything is very iffy.

Has anyone on the list hiked the Long Trail?

 

[Mojo Rider]

The Green Mountain Club which owns and maintains the Long Trail tried to address the use of mountain bikes on the trail. They are capable of doing a lot of damage. Bikers with a "Hey, get out of my way" attitude aggravate hikers, too.

A lot of the trail is on private land, but enforcing anything is very iffy.

Has anyone on the list hiked the Long Trail?

My family is from the Green Mountains / White Mountains area so i've been all over there but never hiked the Long Trail.

 

[Renegade]

Believe it or not just reducing your pack weight by a few pounds makes a huge difference over a 75 mile hike.

Every ounce equals a pound after a long day on the trail!

 

[Gus McCrae]

I'm not a 100% sure but from what i understand the processing of the merino wool reduces the allergens so most people that are allergic to traditional wool clothing don't have much of a problem with the Smartwool socks. Guess she'll just have to try it and see what happens.

I have some smart wool socks. Won't work for her.

 

[LACamper]

I've gotten into those discussions. I think the last one was 'what bear spray do you prefer?' Spraying them with OOO buckshot was not a popular answer!

I've had coolmax t-shirts but never socks.

 

[HiCapMag]

Going to Philmont next year, so I am getting myself an education. My favorite sites so far.....food is at the bottom. I tried a few items and pronounced them good in the kitchen, which probably means Awesome on the trail

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/index.html?id=TDynFJUz:24.250.70.47

http://www.kifaruforums.net/forum.php

http://www.packitgourmet.com/

 

[LACamper]

One other thought. It matters where you put the weight. Some people load heavy low, others load heavy high. Play with it.

 

[troy_mclure]

im short and stubby so i like most weight up at my shoulders.

and if you do get into serious packing a food dehydrator is a handy piece of equipment. dehydrated spaghetti is good, dehydrated chili not so much. lol

 

[Mojo Rider]

and if you do get into serious packing a food dehydrator is a handy piece of equipment. dehydrated spaghetti is good, dehydrated chili not so much. lol

+1 spaghetti and meat sauce dehydrates well.....but whatever you do don't try dehydrating crawfish etouffee

 

[deafdave3]

.....but whatever you do don't try dehydrating crawfish etouffee

I take it you are speaking from experience?

 

[Mojo Rider]

I take it you are speaking from experience?

Unfortunately....yes

 

[Thebanker]

Recently i hiked some of the smoky mountain trails, and used nothing but Darn Tough merino wool socks and they worked out great. Exofficio boxers/boxer briefs for multi day hikes are the best also.

 

[Mojo Rider]

Recently i hiked some of the smoky mountain trails, and used nothing but Darn Tough merino wool socks and they worked out great. Exofficio boxers/boxer briefs for multi day hikes are the best also.

You know your stuff.. not many people in LA know about Darn Tough socks. I just received my first order a couple of days ago. They seem to be exactly like Smartwools but I hear that they're a little more durable....only time will tell. I didn't mention them in my earlier posts because they're not available locally. and yeah I like pretty much anything made by Exofficio. Boxer briefs, shorts and pants are all in my pack.

 

[Gus McCrae]

Very good thread.

 

[Mojo Rider]

Very good thread.

It is...be even better when you get that leg healed and can hit the trail again. Gotta lose a few pounds fast so we're hiking the Clark Creek waterfalls this weekend.

 

[Gus McCrae]

I'm actually wearing regular shoe now. I've been doing physical therapy. I'm still pretty weak in my ankle, but it's getting better. I'm looking forward to some hiking.

Any recomendations on a water purification system for this area?

 

[Mojo Rider]

Good to hear.
Purifying water around here is tough on filters due to all the sediment and scum in the water. I switched from a pump filter to a gravity filter about a year ago. I use the Platypus Gravity Works...

I've modified mine to make it smaller and lighter. This setup works much better than the pump filters which tend to clog and break due to so many moving parts.

 

[LACamper]

I prefer the MSR. When it clogs (and its when, not if) you can scrub the cartridge. Most you can't.

 

[Gus McCrae]

Cool thanks for the suggestions. I've been looking at ordering some stuff. I took a 3L Camel Back last time I was at Tunica Falls and had no problem emptying it.

Are there any water sources you wouldn't use these on? I'm trying to get a feel for what is safe to drink.... especially down here. What would it take to drink water from the Mississippi? What should I be careful about using one of these on?

Thanks for your help.

 

[whbonney26]

I packed a backpack from kindergarten all the way up through at least high school. Does that count?