A traditional, minimalist load-out for your Appalachian Trail thru-hike

rockgolfer said:
HYOH sums it up best :thumbup:

A while back I read the story of Andrew Skurka who traveled 4,700 miles around the Alaska-Yukon territories in 7 months. On his site with the story he also has his gear list in which he lists his knife. He carried a Victorinox Classic penknife and in his pre trip comments he said "All that I've ever needed; mostly use scissors". The gear list then has a post trip comment category and he wrote: Remains "all that I've ever needed". The knife threads on a backpacking forum I frequent usually get heated so to speak, non knife people are very pushy about their belief's from my experiences but I can see their side. Its just a tool to most and for the long distance hiker its something that is not really needed. They have a few packages to open here and there, loose strings to trim and maybe some peanut butter to spread or some cheese to cut. I have read thru-hikers blogs and individuals experiences certainly vary. From my research one can sleep in a motel quite often along the journy(and a lot do), HYOH is certainly enacted here ;). So with the convenience of convenient stores, a lot of knife is just not used and arguably not needed at all. Would the knife you carry change if the thread title was "Hiking for two weeks to places never seen before by a walking human"? I dont think it would for Mr. Skurka :)
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I don't disagree with you, but this is not the sort of hiking and camping that I enjoy. For me the woods are a nice way to test and try out sharp equipment, to share conversation with friends by a warm camp fire, to sit back and take in a clear night sky far away from city's light dome, and to enjoy the views and wildlife. If I wanted to walk around lightly while munching on dehydrated junk I would content myself to walk through Central Park where I could enjoy the daily circus. It may be a healthy outing, but sadly it has no relationship to traditional hiking, camping and backpacking.

n2s
 
not2sharp said:
It may be a healthy outing, but sadly it has no relationship to traditional hiking, camping and backpacking.
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Eh. Hike your own hike, as they say.

So, more seriously.... I think the history of hiking and backpacking, at least here in the US, has always been something of a yuppie form of self discovery. Early advocates were people like John Muir, Aldo Leopold and organization like the Sierra Club and Appalachian Mountain Club. Part of the romantic movement that saw getting outside as a form of spiritual renewal. This then took a turn towards accomplishments of all sorts of forms. In Colorado, climbers talk about bagging all of the 14,000 foot mountains for example.

The camping, campcraft and wood craft scene seems to me to more aligned with history of lodges and early guided camping like Nessmuk.

What I'm saying is that while it's not everybody's cup o tea, through hiking is definitely in line with the accomplishment oriented tradition of hiking and backpacking. Different skills. Different goals. Different challenges. Different strokes.
 
This thread has become very serious. I'll stick to munros. Where you get a dram at the top and a pint at the bottom!
 
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I did the at 2 years ago and carried a USMC kabar the entire time, no one seemed to really care. A few people asked why I had such a big knife and I simply said its my favorite knife that I carry whenever hiking or camping, end of story. I also carry the same knife when mountaineering or hiking the white mountains or Adirondacks and never have anyone say anything about it. If someone got bent out of shape about the knife I carried I would laugh at them and say seriously your that worried about what I carry, get a life.
 
You just described 50% of my camping life. Now that I have moved from my friends and family I dont know anyone that wants to camp let alone hike off into the woods for a couple days. We are forced to adapt and hike our own hike. Start a new thread with "what traditional do you carry to car camp" and see how my answer changes ;)


not2sharp said:
I don't disagree with you, but this is not the sort of hiking and camping that I enjoy. For me the woods are a nice way to test and try out sharp equipment, to share conversation with friends by a warm camp fire, to sit back and take in a clear night sky far away from city's light dome, and to enjoy the views and wildlife. If I wanted to walk around lightly while munching on dehydrated junk I would content myself to walk through Central Park where I could enjoy the daily circus. It may be a healthy outing, but sadly it has no relationship to traditional hiking, camping and backpacking.

n2s
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Killinumsoftly said:
I did the at 2 years ago and carried a USMC kabar the entire time, no one seemed to really care. A few people asked why I had such a big knife and I simply said its my favorite knife that I carry whenever hiking or camping, end of story. I also carry the same knife when mountaineering or hiking the white mountains or Adirondacks and never have anyone say anything about it. If someone got bent out of shape about the knife I carried I would laugh at them and say seriously your that worried about what I carry, get a life.
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People should carry whatever makes them happy.

By USMC KA-BAR, do you mean the 7" version. Just curious... What sort of things do you use it for while on the AT or when peak bagging? Why not carry a smaller, lighter knife?
 
pinnah said:
People should carry whatever makes them happy.

By USMC KA-BAR, do you mean the 7" version. Just curious... What sort of things do you use it for while on the AT or when peak bagging? Why not carry a smaller, lighter knife?
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The 12" version with 7" blade. It was a gift and I carry it on every trip I've ever been on except vertical rock climbing trips, but even on those trips it waits in my tent or in my back at the bottom.
I guess I didn't use it that much really, I probably could have easily gotten by with a multi tool or small pocket knife, I actually had a multi tool with me which I mainly used the pliers to pick hot pots up off my mini stove. But I love my kabar and like having it with me, if so something did come around where I wished I had it I would have been very upset with myself for leaving it home because it's not the norm to carry a large knife on a long hike. Chances are nothing would arise where I would need it but I like having it and thats good enough for me. I am a pretty big guy so the extra weight is not really an issue, I had a bigger pack then a lot of people did also but If I'm going to be in the woods for 5 months I want to have some comfort. I had no problem keeping up with or out pacing the guys with the latest gear possible and I know for a fact I was much more comfortable and had more useful stuff with me.
I certainly could have gone with much lighter gear but I figured if it doesn't bother me to go a bit heavy and it makes me happy why not. The whole point of doing the AT was because it was something I enjoyed doing and it was ment to be fun and for me, not for anyone else to decide my gear or what I should have because it's not the cool thing out in the trails now a days, if I'm going to hike that far I'm doing it on my terms and by the way I want to do stuff and I believe everyone should do the same, weather it's a day hike or 5 months. Take with you whatever you'd like and whatever makes you happy, he'll if you want to carry a 10 person tent because you like the space then go for it. Your carrying it and you'll be the one in your big ass tent with a smile. Life's to short to worry about what the hippys on the AT think I should carry or if my knifes to big. That's the end of my rant LOl
 
"Chances are nothing would arise where I would need it but I like having it and thats good enough for me."

"...if I'm going to hike that far I'm doing it on my terms and by the way I want to do stuff and I believe everyone should do the same, weather it's a day hike or 5 months. Take with you whatever you'd like and whatever makes you happy, he'll if you want to carry a 10 person tent because you like the space then go for it. Your carrying it and you'll be the one in your big ass tent with a smile. Life's to short to worry about what the hippys on the AT think I should carry or if my knifes to big. That's the end of my rant LOl."

K, well said, I concur, especially the words above.
 
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Thanks guys, sorry if my post offended anyone. I got scolded for using bad words so if it did offend then I apologize although everyone here should be over 18 and I'm sure has heard worse it still could have offended you and that wasn't my intention.

Anyways, I think of you get done whatever you set out to then heck why not carry whatever youd like. I finished the AT a lot faster then a ton of people who had probably a third the gear I did, I probably could have done it in less time but I spent more then 1 note in some areas that I really liked and also went off trail a few times to relax and make my own campsite away from all the people. I do spend a lot of time mountaineering large mountains & big wall rock climbing so im used to trekking in lots of gear for climbing and for our base camp set up so really I could have carried much more gear and been very comfortable. If you decide you want to do a long hike and want to bring a lot of gear just do some training and work your way up to being able to carry large packs and go long distance, I'd even go heavier then what you plan to carry on your trip. Then when the time comes and you are carrying less weight then you usually train with you'll be all set and it'll be a breeze. Plus after a few weeks of carrying a pack everyday you will start to not even notice it. And if you decide to add or take away gear then just swap it out at one of your mail drops, just leave your packages open so you can have whoevers sending your stuff add things, or use the box you get your drops in and pack it with whatever gear you want to lose and ship it on home.
If you want to go ultra light and only have like 10 lbs of gear then by all means wear the same underware for a month and sleep on a half of a yoga mat. But I think your already sacrificing a lot of comfort by living in the woods and walking miles and miles everyday, I'd rather have comfort when I sleep and piece of mind that I have all the gear I want.
I saw guys who would have their nail clippers mailed in then mail them back out until they needed them again LOL that's just crazy in my eyes, but some guys get really nuts about weight. If they spent a little time training before the trip they would be all set but hey that's just one guys opinion.
If your doing the AT or any other long distance hike, i wish you luck and safe travels. Most importantly enjoy yourself, your taking the time away from work and family and everything for an experience of a lifetime and you should be happy while doing it, not miserable and sore because you aren't sleeping well or because you keep wishing you had this or that and the only reason you don't have it is your worried about what johnny light-pack is going to say. Chances are you will never see those people again after that trip so who cares, if your worried about hiking with them all the time, just hang out in one spot for a day or two and let him get ahead of you then head out again. But don't let anyone ruin your trip or affect what you think you should do or have with you.
 
Sorry to drag up an old thread but a neat way to do the AT would be Kephart/Nessmuk style or 18th century trekking, knifes Would have to be maybe a case Scout jr for the former and a Opinel with no locking ring For the latter If I could do it in the spirit of the day with only one pocket knife. P.S. if I necromaced please feel free to remove my post
 
I Carry a Vic Farmer and a GEC paring knife. Ought to ditch both for my Vic Mauser since it has two blades.
 
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