Wow. Look at me in that cover photo! Jeans and a cotton tshirt with SNEAKERS on Osceola (my first 4k). Look at this green ass rookie doing all the wrong shit. What a fool I was, naive to the mountain and her peril. How far I've come! Don't let my meager progress on the 48 deceive you, life is in the journey not the destination. Plenty of long treks under my belt, and plenty of bad experiences with lessons to share...
Cotton bad. Your favorite hoody could kill you someday. Absorbs water and keeps it right there next to you. As that water evaporates, the energy released brings the temperature down signifigantly. So instead of keeping you warm, it is literally surrounding you with cold. In winter this can obviously be a life ending mistake.
Poly Good. Underarmor. Nike Dri-Fit. Polyester. Anything that advertises wicking water and sweat away from you. I wear khaki pants from North Face that zipper the bottoms off and become shorts. Being versatile and waterproof allows me to enjoy my surroundings rather then fear them.
Wool Socks. Bring plenty. The cotton white socks stay at home. Plenty of water crossings out there, which means icy mountain water fills your boot when you miss a rockspot. Not fun even with wool socks, but at least those will dry out before your foot falls of from frostbite. Wool is also a little thicker and tends to absorb some of that descent impact.
Good Boots. Ankle support. Wear em out a little and find a comfy pair before you hit the trails. "Waterproof" is kind of a loose term with bootmakers also, don't believe everything you read. Sneakers are for the brave. I've obviously hiked a few with those orange mountain runners, but the rocky terrain in the whites demands respect. I have done a Dr Scholls gel insert on day2 or 3 of a long journey, didn't make one iota of a difference, trashed them and havent looked back. These boots have seen 2 years of mountains and still have kick! I also use Yaktrax in the winter months....
Rook. Weight bad. This is not my ideal bag, but it gets the job done in place of an expensive overnight bag (mine was stolen). Pack light and tight, you won't need that. You won't need that either. I use a 2L bladder with a hose so I don't have to keep taking the thing off. An ideal bag wouldn't have the ancient metal frame, netting on the sides for water bottles would be nice also.
MSR Pocket Rocket. Gotta eat. Boils water on the summit for a cup of coffee, or some mac ncheese, oatmeal, cup noodles, whatever you can think of. Scored two small pots from the market for cheap and I can have a spot of tea on the summit. Great kit and super lightweight, the fuel cans are $6 and two of them usually last me a summer season.
MSR Miniworks EX. H20. Greatwater filter fits on the nalgene and the nozzle for the bladder. I'll usually bring 3L with me for the day and refill at camp depending on the situation. Placement of water sources along any route should always influence trip planning in the summer months. Drinking alpine spring water can't be beat either, brings you closer to the mountain spirits...
Hennessy Hammock. The Last Airbender. Sleeping on the ground is for amateurs. 4 feet of air is alot nicer to sleep on then a rock and some tree roots. No puddles, and no fuss, if you can tie a rope to two trees your are in business. Mesh upper section is both a bug net and a window to the stars, plenty of nights in this bad boy and plenty more to come.
Kelty Mistral Sleeping Bag. She's rated to zero degrees. The hammock is comfy as hell but cold, late fall & winter I'll add a fleece liner. A good bag is worth the extra weight, knowing you're going to sleep comfortably on trail is a nice thought after a long day.
Wizard Staff. I have skills. Water crossings are easier, descending the mountain is easier, and fighting off the ladies is easier when wielding my hickory staff of mystic mountain power.
Cotton bad. Your favorite hoody could kill you someday. Absorbs water and keeps it right there next to you. As that water evaporates, the energy released brings the temperature down signifigantly. So instead of keeping you warm, it is literally surrounding you with cold. In winter this can obviously be a life ending mistake.
Poly Good. Underarmor. Nike Dri-Fit. Polyester. Anything that advertises wicking water and sweat away from you. I wear khaki pants from North Face that zipper the bottoms off and become shorts. Being versatile and waterproof allows me to enjoy my surroundings rather then fear them.
Wool Socks. Bring plenty. The cotton white socks stay at home. Plenty of water crossings out there, which means icy mountain water fills your boot when you miss a rockspot. Not fun even with wool socks, but at least those will dry out before your foot falls of from frostbite. Wool is also a little thicker and tends to absorb some of that descent impact.
Good Boots. Ankle support. Wear em out a little and find a comfy pair before you hit the trails. "Waterproof" is kind of a loose term with bootmakers also, don't believe everything you read. Sneakers are for the brave. I've obviously hiked a few with those orange mountain runners, but the rocky terrain in the whites demands respect. I have done a Dr Scholls gel insert on day2 or 3 of a long journey, didn't make one iota of a difference, trashed them and havent looked back. These boots have seen 2 years of mountains and still have kick! I also use Yaktrax in the winter months....
Rook. Weight bad. This is not my ideal bag, but it gets the job done in place of an expensive overnight bag (mine was stolen). Pack light and tight, you won't need that. You won't need that either. I use a 2L bladder with a hose so I don't have to keep taking the thing off. An ideal bag wouldn't have the ancient metal frame, netting on the sides for water bottles would be nice also.
MSR Pocket Rocket. Gotta eat. Boils water on the summit for a cup of coffee, or some mac ncheese, oatmeal, cup noodles, whatever you can think of. Scored two small pots from the market for cheap and I can have a spot of tea on the summit. Great kit and super lightweight, the fuel cans are $6 and two of them usually last me a summer season.
Hennessy Hammock. The Last Airbender. Sleeping on the ground is for amateurs. 4 feet of air is alot nicer to sleep on then a rock and some tree roots. No puddles, and no fuss, if you can tie a rope to two trees your are in business. Mesh upper section is both a bug net and a window to the stars, plenty of nights in this bad boy and plenty more to come.
Kelty Mistral Sleeping Bag. She's rated to zero degrees. The hammock is comfy as hell but cold, late fall & winter I'll add a fleece liner. A good bag is worth the extra weight, knowing you're going to sleep comfortably on trail is a nice thought after a long day.
Wizard Staff. I have skills. Water crossings are easier, descending the mountain is easier, and fighting off the ladies is easier when wielding my hickory staff of mystic mountain power.
