Yearly Archives: 2014
Current Adventure: The Appalachian Trail
Someday, probably not any time in the near or semi-distant future, I am going to customize this blog. Oh yeah, it’s going to be so pretty and sleek. I’ll upload my packing lists! I’ll upload the questionnaire I give to … Continue reading
Preparation! Planning! Purchasing! Packing!
In January 2014 I made the decision to tackle the AT and spent the rest of the winter and early spring preparing for the hike. This mostly involved spending a lot of time browsing through the forums at WhiteBlaze, ordering any piece of gear … Continue reading
Blogging on the Trail
My goal was to set up this blog before I left for the trail. I bought a new tablet and a data plan and dreamed of writing entries every day. Friends and family could follow my progress! New acquaintances would … Continue reading
Ethical Dilemmas
One thing that quickly struck me about life on the Appalachian Trail is how easily hikers share personal information, not just about themselves, but also what they’ve learned about other hikers. I’m guessing it’s due to the perceived anonymity of … Continue reading
Posted in Appalachian Trail
Tagged Appalachian Trail, backpacking, ethics, hiking, USA
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Pre-trip Gear Testing: Tent, Pad, Bag
I didn’t do any actual hiking with all my new gear before I started the trail, but I did make sure I tried everything out at least once, and I spent a few nights camping in my parents’ back yard. … Continue reading
Posted in Appalachian Trail, Uncategorized
Tagged Appalachian Trail, backpacking, gear, hiking, USA
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Pre-trip Gear Testing: Sleeping Outside
I try very hard to accept that other people’s lived experiences may be different from my own. That being said, I would be lying if I said there wasn’t a small part of me convinced that a person who claims to sleep … Continue reading
Pre-trip Gear Testing: Baby’s First Alcohol Stove
Growing up, camping meant taking a pop-up travel trailer up the North Umpqua River or along the south Oregon coast and eating whatever my mother cooked in her cast-iron skillet over an open fire or anything I picked up off … Continue reading
Posted in Appalachian Trail
Tagged Appalachian Trail, backpacking, gear, hiking, USA
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Pre-trip Gear Testing: Backpack
When I received my new ULA Catalyst in the mail, I stuffed a couch pillow and nine cans of back beans into it, put it on, walked from one end of the house to the other, and called it good. … Continue reading
Backpacking Wank: Epic Cage Matches
During my months months of research, whenever I found myself getting stressed out or nervous about my upcoming hike, there was always one foolproof thing I could do to relax: Read the online arguments that continuously erupt in backpacking forums … Continue reading
Oregon to Georgia
It took me the better part of three weeks to make a final decision on how best to get from southern Oregon to the Amicalola Falls Visitor’s Center. My first and most ambitious plan was to travel by train. I’ve taken … Continue reading
