Saturday, May 31, 2014
Appalachian Trail Adventure Dairy: Airport Struggles
Hey guys! Amber, here. Hope your morning has been better than ours.
This photo was taken at 6:15am today just before the flight to Bangor, ME. Unfortunately, Stacey and I missed the flight because my reservation was made with my maiden name. (Lesson learned) We spent the next hour running around like crazy people trying to figure out how to get to Bangor. We finally gave in and bought 2 over priced one way tickets with Delta. Dad, Tucker, Luke and our packs are currently on thier way. Phew, long crazy morning!! Thanks John and Tanja for staying by our side. It's been a bumpy start, but it all makes for a good story! Let the adventure begin.
Over and out from gate 5 at Tyson McGee.
Well the airport didn't loose our packs. However we had some gear stolen, including Tucker's $150 kinetic energy charger. Here's to being disconnected in the woods!
Friday, May 30, 2014
Our Thru-Hiking Gear List
We have had a lot of people ask about the gear we are taking on our trip so I decided to share it on the blog. Luckily, I have a super duper organized husband that created an insanely detailed spreadsheet with everything that will go in our packs. In addition to everything below, we will be caring food, water, fuel, hygiene items (not much) and personal items such as a book, camera and journal.
We just did our 2nd and final shakedown. Stacey’s pack is at 45 pounds and mine is at 32 lbs without fuel and water. YIKES!
We fly out tomorrow morning before sunrise. Can’t wait to lug this pack up to Katahdin!
What Amber Is Carrying | ||||
| Type | Brand | Gear Name | Actual Weight | Cost |
| Sleeping Pad | Thermorest | NeoAir Xlite (Large) | 16 ounces | $179.95 |
| Sleeping Bag Liner | Sea To Summit | Thermolite Reactor (Extreme) | 14 ounces | $66.95 |
| Pillow | Exped | UL Air Pillow (Medium) | 1.6 ounces | $49.00 |
| Sleeping Bag | Mountain Hardwear | Lamina 35* (Regular) "Green" | 38.4 ounces | $180.00 |
| Pack | Osprey | Ariel 55 Liter | 4lbs 6 ounces | $259.95 |
| Bathroom Towel | Sea To Summit | Pocket Towel "Kiwi" (Large) | 3.9 ounces | $21.95 (2) |
| Pack Covers | Osprey | UL Raincover "Titanium" (Large) | 4.5 ounces | $39.00 (2) |
| Face Towel | Rei | Mini Multi Towel " Hyper Blue" | 0.8 ounces | $7.00 |
| Headlamp | Black Diamond | Gizmo "Vibrant Orange" | 2 ounces | $19.95 |
| Sandals | Chaco | Unaweep Z1 / ZX2 | 1lb 14 ounces | $99.95) |
| Spikes | Yaktrax | Walkers (Small & Medium) | 4 ounces | $19.95 |
| Bug Nets | Sea To Summit | Head Net w/ Insect Shield | 1.3 ounces | $12.95 |
| Food Bowl | Sea To Summit | Delta Bowl w/ Lid "Pacific Blue" | 2 ounces | $9.95 |
| Shoe | Solomon (Size 7) | Speedcross 3 "Bordeaux/Dynamic/Papaya" | 1lb 3.8 ounces | $125.00 |
| Trekking Poles | Leki | Makalu Speedlock | 19.8 ounces | $119.95 |
| Spoon,Fork,Spatula | JetBoil | JetSet Utensil Kit "Grey/Orange" | 1.3 ounces | $9.95 |
| Gaiters | Black Diamond | GTX FrontPoint Gaiters (Small) | 8.9 ounces | $69.95 |
| Cooking Stove | Jetboil | Sol Titanium | 8.5 ounces | $149.95 |
| Cooking Pot | GSI Outdoor | Pinnacle Soloist Cookset | 10.9 ounces | $44.95 |
| Water Filter | Sawyer | Squeeze Filter (32 oz) w/ Bottle | 3 ounces | $39.95 |
| Water Bottles | Platypus | SoftBottle (34 oz) "Blue / Red" | 1.2 ounces | $8.95 |
| Water Bottle | Platypus | SoftBottle (17 oz) "Clear" | 0.8 ounces | $7.95 |
| Clothes | ||||
| Sock | Smartwool | PHD Running Ultra Lite Micro (Medium) | $15.95 (2) | |
| Sock | FITS | Medium Hiker Crew (Medium) | $20.99 | |
| Sock | Smartwool | Long Wool Sock? | ||
| Sports Bra | Patagonia | Capilene Mesh A/B | $35.00 (2) | |
| Baselayer Top | Patagonia | Capilene 3 Midweight Zip-Neck Top | $65.00 | |
| Baselayer Bottom | Patagonia | Merino 2 Lightwight Long Underwear | $90.00 | |
| Underwear | Exofficio | Give-N-Go Bikini Briefs "Brown/Black/Cream" | $18.00 (3) | |
| Gloves | North Face | Etip | $45.00 | |
| Shirt | Mountain Hardwear | DryHiker T-Shirt | $45.00 | |
| Shirt | Rei | Sport T-Shirt | $24.50 | |
| Shorts | Patagonia | Happy Hiker | $49.00 | |
| Pants | Prana | Sage Convertible "Coal" | $85.00 | |
| Rain Pants | Sierra Designs | Microlight | $37.00 | |
| Buffs | Polar & UV High (Mosiac) | $30.00/$23.00 | ||
| Flannel | ||||
| Skirt | ||||
| Rain Jacket | Patgonia | H2NO Lightweight | ||
| Primoloft Jacket | Patagonia | Nano Puff w/Hood | ||
| Fleece | Columbia | Micro Fleece | ||
| What Stacey Is Carrying | ||||
| Type | Brand | Gear Name | Actual Weight | Cost |
| Shoe | Solomon (Size 9) | Speedcross 3 CS "Dark Cloud/Light Grey/Flea" | 1lb 6 ounces | $145.00 |
| Sleeping Pad | Thermorest | RidgeRest Solite "Silver" (Regular) | 14 ounces | $29.95 |
| Pack Covers | Osprey | UL Raincover "Titanium" (Large) | 4.5 ounces | $39.00 (2) |
| Bathroom Towel | Sea To Summit | Pocket Towel "Kiwi" (Large) | 3.9 ounces | $21.95 (2) |
| Headlamp | Black Diamond | Storm "Dark Shadow" | 3.9 ounces | $49.95 |
| Spikes | Yaktrax | Walkers (Small & Medium) | 4 ounces | $19.95 |
| Trekking Poles | Coleman | Aluminum Anti Shock | 20.8 ounces | $29.99 |
| Sleeping Bag Liner | Sea To Summit | Thermolite Reactor "Black" | 8.1 ounces | $56.95 |
| Face Towel | PackTowel | Nano (Medium) "Orange" | 0.9 ounces | $9.95 |
| Pillow | Cocoon | UltraLight Air-Core (Medium) | 5.8 ounces | $29.95 |
| Food Bowl | Sea To Summit | Delta Bowl w/ Lid "Pacific Blue" | 2 ounces | $9.95 |
| Spoon & Spork | Sea To Summit | Alpha Light Spoon & Spork | 0.4 / 0.3 ounces | $8.95/$6.95 |
| Sleeping Bag | North Face | Wasatch 40* "Red" (Regular) | 46.4 ounces | $69.00 |
| Bug Nets | Sea To Summit | Head Net w/ Insect Shield | 1.3 ounces | $12.95 |
| Sandals | Chaco | Unaweep Z1 / ZX2 | 1lb 14 ounces | $99.95 |
| Gaiters | Rei | Trail Light Gaiters (Small) | 6 ounces | $29.50 |
| Tent | Nemo | Obi 3p | 4.7lbs | $470.00 |
| Water Bottles | Platypus | SoftBottle (34 oz) "Blue / Red" | 1.2 ounces | $8.95 |
| Water Bottle | Platypus | SoftBottle (17 oz) "Clear" | 0.8 ounces | $7.95 |
| Survival Blanket/Tarp | Sol | Sport Utility Blanket | 15.5 ounces | $21.95 |
| Fire Starter | Gerber | Bear Grylls Fire Starter | 2.6 ounces | $15.00 |
| Utility Tool | Leatherman | OHT Multitool | 9.9 ounces | $84.95 |
| Lamp | MPOWERD | Luci Solar Light | 4 ounces | $14.99 |
| Clothes | ||||
| Sock | Smartwool | PHD Running Ultra Light Mini (Long) | $17.95 | |
| Sock | Smartwool | PHD Running Ultra Light Mini (Short) | $15.95 | |
| Sock | Fits | Light Hiker Crew "Cream" | $19.99 | |
| Sock | Fits | Light Hiker Crew "Dark Blue" | $19.99 | |
| Smartwool | Crew "Brown" | $18.95 | ||
| Smartwool | Crew "Green" | $18.95 | ||
| Underwear | Exofficio | Give-N-Go Sport Boxer Brief "Black/Red" | $30.00 | |
| Underwear | Exofficio | Give-N-Go Boxer Brief "Black" | $26.00 | |
| Underwear | Exofficio | Give-N-Go Boxer Brief "Blue" | $26.00 | |
| Underwear | Exofficio | Give-N-Go Boxer Brief "Grey" | $26.00 | |
| Baselayer | Columbia | Baselayer Midweight Mock Neck (Long) | $55.00 | |
| Baselayer | Columbia | Baselayer Midweight Tight Bottom w/fly | $55.00 | |
| Pants | Columbia | Silver Ridge Convertible | $60.00 | |
| Shorts | Gateway Canyons | Shorts "Black" | Free | |
| Shorts | Gateway Canyons | Shorts "Black" | Free | |
| Rain Pants | Patagonia | Torrentshell H2NO | $99.00 | |
| Shirt (Wicking) | North Face | |||
| Shirt (Wicking) | Nike | |||
| Soccer Jersey | England | National Team Jersey | ||
| Baselayer | Patagonia | Merino 1 Silkweight Crew (long) "Grey" | $70.00 | |
| North Face | Thermoball | $199.00 | ||
| Fleece | Arc'Teryx | Delta LT "Blue" | $129.00 | |
| Fleece | Mountain Hardwear | Microchill Zip T | $55.00 | |
| Headwear | Buff | Polar | $30.00 | |
| Headwear | Buff | UV High | $23.00 | |
| Headwear | Buff | Orignial (Nat Geo Edition) | $20.00 | |
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Appalachian Trail Days 2014 | Damascus, VA
Well, we can mark one thru-hiker tradition off the list! This past weekend was the annual Appalachian Trail Days in Damascus, VA and since we are thruhiking this year we got to walk in the hiker parade! I must say the Class of 2014 seems wild and crazy! In the words of Rick Adams, "is there no decency?!" Hahaha, it's going to be a trip!!
The parade was a highlight of Trail Days this year and I'm so glad we were able to experience it with our family and friends! Thanks everyone for your love and support! You make our little world go round.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)