Tag Archives: backpacking

Day 1: Approach Trail – Part #2

Date:      Saturday 19 April 2014 Start:      Amicalola Falls Visitor Center          -8.8 miles               Today:              7.3 miles Finish:   Black Gap Shelter    … Continue reading

Posted in Appalachian Trail | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Day 1: Approach Trail – Part #1

Last night Ted warned me he was an early riser. He did not misrepresent himself. The lights went on in the room at 5am, which meant I had a lot of time to kill before breakfast. I think I spent … Continue reading

Posted in Appalachian Trail | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Night at the Hiker Hostel

The day before I left, Hiker Hostel called to let me know they’d pick me up at 1pm from the North Springs MARTA station. They kindly warned me the station had no amenities, so I dozed intermittently by baggage claim … Continue reading

Posted in Appalachian Trail | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Appalachian Trail | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

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

Posted in Appalachian Trail | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Appalachian Trail | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

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 , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Appalachian Trail | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

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 , , , , | Leave a comment

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 , , , , | Leave a comment