Dedicated to Mara's travel and hiking adventure journals as well as her words of wisdom and suggested resources for hikers and travelers.

Home Hiking and Travel info Lightweight Backpacking (links) Tips and Tricks Gear Reviews and Discussions Book reviews AT FAQ and Stats PCT Self-Resupply Workshops Links RSS Mara's info Trip Reports Gear Lists Mail Drops About Me Acknowledgements Photos Updates Fun stuff Email Mara

Edits by Mara to "The Appalachian Trail Hiker" by Victoria and Frank Logue As an addendum to my book review, I've included the comments and corrections here that I've already sent to the Logue's. This list is does not cover the entire book, rather, it just includes the topics that came to mind as I finished the book. Page Topic Comment 16 jetboil You have a picture of a Jetboil without any explanation of what it is and how or why it's different from all the other stoves. It could use a paragraph in the Stoves section. 20 butter butter does not require refrigeration and is a great option for the trail. Once it starts to melt, it's harder to handle and there may be more danger of it going rancid. But while rancidity will affect odor and flavor, it will likely not hurt you even if you continue to use it. 21 alcohol since in this section of the book, alcohol is being discussed in the context of trail kitchen and not alcohol use in town, hikers should be warned to avoid alcohol in cold weather. The "warmth" that people feel when drinking alcohol is from the lowering of the body temperature due to vasodilation which speeds the heat loss process. This can more quickly lead to hypothermia. 21 caffeinated beverages In the past year or so, caffeinated beverages have been shown not be significant diuretics. When trying to find source information, I found the following web site which explains this better than I can. In summary though, unless you are going to consume huge amounts of coffee (12 cups? and unlikely while hiking), the use of caffeine and caffeinated beverages should now be considered a non-issue unless by someone with urinary tract problems. As a matter of fact, in many conditions, caffeine is now considered an ergogenic aid that enhances athletic performance. See Active.com and Wikipedia.com articles on Caffeine and ergogenic aids for more information. 22 desserts candy bars make good desserts, too 28 stoves You mention never to try to put out an alcohol stove yet you picture a Trangia which is the one alcohol stove designed to be extinguished. 28 alcohol use I recommend adding a note about the flame from an alcohol stove being difficult to see in bright light. 30 alcohol storage alcohol may be stored in any plastic bottle such as Nalgene (as you've mentioned) or even a soda bottle. 32 pots paint used to blacken a pot must withstand high heat. 32 pots I've seen more spilled meals from people using pot grabbers than I ever had from people using pots with integrated handles. I think pot grabbers are best for those cooking on hot coals from a campfire but most stoves and windscreens allow for pot handles with proper positioning. I've also seen many people not be able to find their pot grabber at the moment when their pot is boiling over. Then they try to use their bandana, etc. In one case, they caught their bandana on fire. I've just never seen anyone using a pot with an attached handle have a problem. 34 boiling to sterilize When using boiling as a method for ensuring the safety of a pot that was not fully cleaned after a prior meal, always bring the water to a full boil before adding food. The ingredients in food can change the boiling point and may prevent a boiling pot from successfully killing any potential intestinal bugs. Once the water is boiling, take the time to dip any utensils and cups you're carrying to prevent growth of bacteria, viruses, etc. on them, too. This by the way is not sterilizing the water, it is disinfecting it. Sterilization which requires 20 minutes of boiling, is unnecessary. Ciwec Clinic article at the internet archive 39 how much if you are using guides such as the Data Book or the section guides, you will have a good idea where to find your next water source. In that case, you'll only need to carry enough water to get to the next water source. Add a little bit for safety. Since water may be one of the heaviest items in your backpack, this could significantly cut down the wear and tear on your body. 52 shelter You say that "...a shelter known as the Birches is exclusively for use by I.A.T. hikers who have hiked at least 100 miles to reach the shelter." It should read "...A.T. hikers who have hiked at least 100 miles..." The Baxter State Park web site doesn't mention the I.A.T at all when referencing use of the Birches by thruhikers. The rest of the information in that section about the IAT seems misplaced. 56 and 196 free-standing Putting your pack in your tent will not reliably keep a free-standing tent from blowing in a heavy wind. Quick moving fronts can sometimes change a nice still day into a windy day without giving you enough time to get back to your tent to stake it securely. All tents should be staked (or otherwise secured) to prevent them from blowing, especially in the winter. Dead men (bags filled with snow and then buried in the snow can easily act as stakes in the winter. Use of water to freeze dead men or stakes into the snow will work but may result in carrying chunks of ice around the next day. 60 materials Mention silicone impregnated nylon (silnylon) and cottage industry three-season, single-wall tents now designed specifically for long-distance hikers looking to lighten their loads. These tents frequently do not conform to the shapes of their heavier, double-wall predecessors and often make use of hiking poles as primary tent supports. 68 backpacks Only after you know the weight and volume of what you expect to put into a pack, can the most appropriate choice for a backpack be made. I usually recommend those starting from scratch buy their pack last if at all possible. 77 backpacks You mention only internal and external up front and then give one small section to rucksacks. Now, generally called frameless backpacks, hikers who go lightweight often use frameless packs for long-distance hiking. While frameless, these packs still offer structure by using items such as sleeping pads to substitute for the frame. 84 ratings Different manufacturers have different temperature ratings. Temperature ratings are not necessarily comfort ratings. Some manufacturers use survival ratings rather than comfort ratings. A survival rating means that you may be uncomfortable overnight, but you'll make it through. When comparing bags from manufacturers who use survival ratings versus those that use comfort ratings, the difference means that two 20 degree bags will not perform similarly. Should the European standardizations make it to the US, that will help, but I'm not holding my breath. Something about the metric system standardization that was supposed to happen in the 1970s comes to mind. Plus, there are surprisingly few manufacturers that make the leap across the Atlantic in either direction. 84 sleeping bags I recommend adding mention of top bags, sleeping bags without filling on the bottom. Big Agnes, Nunatak, Golite, and more now offer these as options. They save the weight of the filling that would otherwise be compressed under your body that would therefor offer no significant insulation. 86 down High quality down bags which have a minimum of feathers may not affect those with allergies to feathers. If you have an allergy to feathers, choose a down bag with the highest fill rating (800+) and you may find you have no problems. Down with lower fill values has a larger percentage of feathers and may induce allergic reactions. 86 down For down bags, I highly recommend a water resistant shell, especially if using a good down bag in conjunction with silnylon single wall tents. 131 menstrual cups Women should be apprised of the Keeper, a natural latex menstrual cup that can completely eliminate the need to carry pads and tampons. The Diva is a silicone alternative. By using a reusable menstrual cup, there's no need to carry in bulky pads and/or tampons, and more to the point, no need to carry out used pads and tampons. 133 snakebite kits you mention snake bite kits in detail and then mention not to bother in the first aid section on page 161 - a dichotomy. Go with your suggestion on 161 and include that on 133 instead of the more detailed information. If you do recommend any snakebite kits, only recommend ones that use suction devices such as the Sawyer Extractor (read about it on-line). Any that suggest cutting of any sort are now frowned upon by experts as causing more harm than good. The same goes for sucking with your mouth. Both are likely to introduce openings for infection. Also, suction must be applied within the first few minutes so kits buried deep in your backpack may do you no good. 141 frostbite frostbitten areas should never be warmed unless you are positive it will not refreeze. This usually means leaving it frozen until back in town rather than thawing in the field. Do not use warm water unless you can be sure it doesn't get too warm. A thermometer can check for water temperature. It should only be 104 degrees. Never warm frostbitten areas in a pot over the flame. Bring a pot to temperature and remove from the stove while using it. Then use the stove to rewarm as necessary. 163 hantavirus As far as I know, only one case of hantavirus has ever occurred on the AT. (Let me know if you need the specific hiker reference. He's a friend of mine.) While mention of hantavirus is OK, you might want to mention that it's thought to spread by dust containing the feces of mice. When sweeping out shelters, it's best to avoid breathing in the dust. 166 Permethrin permethrin must never be applied to skin, only to clothing. You mention this on page 168 but it should be mentioned in both places and definitely during the first occurence. 166 Deet Deet applied to clothing, especially synthetic clothing such as Lycra, may cause it to melt or fall apart. 189 Appalachian Trail Mate CD Unfortunately, this CD is well out of date and may no longer be a reliable tool. 192 footwear double boots are almost a requirement for winter backpacking in the Whites where you must be able to keep them warm overnight - usually in your sleeping bag. They aren't required for a bit of snow in Georgia, but double boots are a safety issue in the Whites even if just backpacking and not mountaineering. Keep in mind, the definition of winter conditions varies by location. 193 crampons Once again, in the Whites, mountaineering crampons may be necessary in the winter. If you are hiking in potentially marginal situations and are unsure if mountaineering crampons are appropriate, alternatives such as Kahtoola crampons may fit the bill. They are lightweight, aluminum, full-foot, flexible crampons. 193 ice axes If an ice axe is used for infrequent self arrest, a Whippet attachment may be appropriate for those who use hiking poles. The whippet may serve the purpose without having to carry an extra piece of equipment and require switching off. 193 ice axes The ice axe should always be carried in the uphill hand. Switching is definitely necessary when on switchbacking sidehill. With arm extended down along your side, the axe should be gripped around the head such that the pick points back. That way, when you bring up the axe towards your shoulder, the pick will face away from your face and towards the slope when you roll onto the pick. Some mention should also be made of both the axe leash and grabbing the shaft of the axe with the other hand in a diagonal across body position to keep the axe head positioned properly. 197 winter bags Once again, winter conditions vary by region. In the Whites, a -20 degree bag is generally the way to go in the winter. Also, a closed cell foam pad rather than open provides much more insulation in the winter. In general, winter backpacking is such a different animal, I'm not even sure it's worth broaching in the context of this book. 221 travelers checks I went to one diner that wouldn't take a travelers check - another patron took it for cash so I could pay my bill. Wish I could remember where (I didn't write about it in my journal) but I do remember that it was east of the trail, maybe mid-Atlantic? Definitely not in a town or if so, on the outskirts because I never saw the town. You may not want to carry much cash on the trail, but having a bit with you is always a good idea. 243 navigation GPS must not be relied upon as a substitute for map and compass for navigation. multiple general You consistently use the term "ultralightweight" when in fact I believe you to be writing about what most hikers would call lightweight. The ultralightweight backpackers tend to make sacrifices that you do not espouse in your book. You may want to consider changing references by just removing the term "ultra." Last updated, January 8, 2016.

Home   Lightweight Backpacking   Tips and Tricks   Gear Reviews and Discussions   Book reviews   AT FAQ and Stats   PCT Self-Resupply   Workshops   Links   RSS

Trip Reports   Gear Lists   Mail Drops   About Me   Acknowledgements   Photos   Updates   Fun   Email Mara