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Stove: Field-repairable stoves, typically those that use white gas, are best for long-distance hikes. Practice cleaning and maintaining the stove, and carry the manufacturer’s repair kit with you. Water filter: If this is your chosen method of de-bugging, opt for a cartridge that can be cleaned or replaced in the field. It’s a good idea to carry a chemical solution or tablets as a backup. Clothing: Socks will need replacing; pack a new pair for every 300 miles. Clothing will last longer and wick better if it’s rinsed every few days in a cook pot or large zipper-lock bag away from water sources. Take advantage of self-service laundries whenever possible. PLANNING FOR RESUPPLY Big hikes come in two flavors: those using trails that pass near towns (like the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails) and those on paths that don’t (like many remote Western trails and any off-trail adventure). Here’s how to get supplies when you don’t have a mailbox. Town-based resupply ■ At home, <strong>prep</strong>are boxes of goodies to ship to towns along your route. ■ Plan to resupply every 7 to 10 days of hiking. Make two lists of each box’s contents, one for you to carry and another for inside the box. ■ Consult guidebooks, Web sites, and other hikers for the best drop locations—towns, hostels, etc. When shipping to a post office, address the box to yourself at “General Delivery” in the town, making sure to include the correct zip code. Write “Hold for (your trail name) hiker” prominently on the box, whether it’s going to a post office or a private address. ■ Give a trusted family member or friend a list of when each box needs to be mailed (8 to 10 days in advance of your anticipated arrival at the drop point). Leave later boxes unsealed so last-minute additions and subtractions can be made according to your requests from the trail. Backcountry resupply ■ Scout locations ahead of time for likely food and, if necessary, water caches. ■ Store nonperishable supplies in a wire mesh “Baxter Bag”, and stash the bag under rock piles at resupply points several days to a couple of weeks before your hike. ■ If you’ll be deep in the bush (Alaska, for instance), hire a bush pilot to drop your resupply caches along your route, preferably close to your anticipated arrival time. ■ After the hike, collect your containers from the cache points. AND ON THE 7TH DAY, REST No matter how fit you are, your body— and possibly your mind, depending on the obstacles you face along the way—needs occasional breaks to rejuvenate. Chris Townsend, author of The Advanced Backpacker and an international hiking veteran whose 20,000 backpacking miles include solo treks of the Continental Divide Trail and the Canadian Rockies, plans a rest day for every 7 to 10 days of hiking. Resupply points make good rest stops since they often have entertainment or hot showers. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE Making the transition from shortdistance to long-distance hiker can be difficult. Appalachian Trail thru-hikers Weight-Saving Tips Pack: For trips with frequent resupply points, using a nofrills 4,000-cubic-inch pack saves up to 3 pounds. Water filter: Leave the filter at home and use iodine tablets to save a pound or more. Sleeping pad: Give up the puffy, full-length self-inflater for a 3 ⁄4-length closed-cell foam pad that will lighten your load by 2 pounds. Clothing: If you trade in your hiking pants and shorts for trail pants with zip-off legs, you’ll save up to 6 ounces. Tent: Instead of your twoperson tent, take a tarp or bivy to save from 2 to 5 pounds. 38 GET OUT MORE! WWW.BACKPACKER.COM 39
offer the following practical and metaphysical suggestions: Cultivate a flexible, positive attitude. Yeah, this sounds as basic as wearing shoes, but anecdotal observations of failed thru-hikes point to a negative, complaining mindset as being the biggest culprit next to physical injury. Having a bad day or week Take off a day to loll by a stream, get a shower in town, or write in your journal. Stopping to examine what’s bothering you can be an opportunity to uncover important motivations you didn’t know existed. Lonely Finding the miles monotonous Team up with another thruhiker and pass the hours in conversation. Linger in huts and friendly towns to soak up some sociability, or immerse yourself in your surroundings and the simplicity and freedom of the experience. Just as hard is the transition from long-distance hiker to civilian after months on the trail: ■ Accept that you will have changed, and don’t expect everything to be the same as when you left. ■ If possible, take a month or more off before jumping back into fulltime work or school. ■ “Relax and enjoy your adjustment problems,” advises AT thru-hiker Jim “Bald Eagle” Owen. “At least you’ll know you’re alive and growing.” MORE INFORMATION ■ The Advanced Backpacker: A Handbook For Year-Round, Long-Distance Hiking, by Chris Townsend (McGraw-Hill, 800-352-3566; $18.95) ■ Beyond Backpacking, by Ray Jardine (AdventureLore Press, 800-247-6553; $19.95) 40 GET OUT MORE! Ultimate Gear List - what to take for what kind of trip Clothing Visit backpacker.com for terrain-specific gear lists. Three- High Snow/ Rain- Hot/ Swamp ▫ = Gear You Need season mountain winter forest desert <strong>Out</strong>erwear waterproof/breathable jacket ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ waterproof/breathable pants ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ insulated parka ▫ ▫ fleece jacket or wool sweater ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ fleece pants ▫ ▫ waterproof gaiters ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ synthetic hiking pants ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ synthetic shorts ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ Base Layer expedition-weight long john top ▫ expedition-weight long john bottoms ▫ midweight long john top ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ midweight long john bottoms ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ long sleeve T-shirt ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ synthetic briefs ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ synthetic sports bra ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ synthetic T-shirt ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ cotton T-shirt ▫ ▫ Accessories wool or fleece hat ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ balaclava ▫ ▫ midweight wool or fleece gloves ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ heavyweight wool or fleece mittens ▫ synthetic liner gloves ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ waterproof overmitts ▫ ▫ Footwear waterproof hiking boots ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ camp footwear ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ wool or synthetic socks (3) ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ liner socks (2) ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ insulated camp booties ▫ Extras sun hat ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ rain hat ▫ ▫ bandanna ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ WWW.BACKPACKER.COM 41
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