[at-l] gear list for AT thru hike

[Mara Factor]

Hi Kirby,

As you've already heard, weight is a much more important consideration for a 
gear list review than cost.  If you could send the list again with weights 
down to the ounce (or fraction thereof), we would have a much better idea 
how your list is shaping up.

>From my web site: "... one ounce carried one mile is one ounce mile. One 
ounce carried 2,000 miles is 2,000 ounce miles or, if you divide by 16, ~125 
pounds. Based on this, I realized that if you count the ounces, the pounds 
add up - especially over a long distance."

To read the rest of my lightweight hiking page, go to: 
http://friends.backcountry.net/m_factor/lightweight.html

Some weights to aim for:

20 degree sleeping bag (2 pounds)
silk liner (4 oz)
solo tent (1.5  pounds)
stove (1 oz max)
knife/scissors (1.5 oz)
shoes (2.5 pounds +/- or so depending on size, support needed, etc.)
...

If you're new to backpacking and don't already have all of your equipment 
(or your gear is still new and you may rethink some if it), try to borrow 
some from friends to find out what you like and what you don't like.  Buy 
your pack after you've bought everything that will go in it.  Otherwise, you 
won't really know how big a pack to buy nor how much weight it must be able 
to carry.  The smallest pack in which all of your gear can fit is not 
necessarily the best pack.  A slightly bigger pack designed to allow you to 
carry your sleeping bag without compressing it too much would be a better 
option.

If your packweight is low, you may not need boots.  Trail shoes or running 
shoes may be good enough and save a lot of weight on your feet.  Remember, 
one pound on your feet is like six on your back.

You've got over a year before you start your thruhike so you should have 
plenty of time to test your gear before you get out on the trail.

I look forward to seeing your revised list...

Mara
Stitches, AT99
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Visit my Travels and Trails web site at:

http://friends.backcountry.net/m_factor
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>From: Kevin Kirby <kirbyinanutshell232 at yahoo.com>
>Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2007 14:20:02 -0800 (PST)
>
>Below is my gear list for my 2008 AT hike from GA>ME. Please feel free to 
>give advice, feedback, what should i add, what should I remove, ETC.

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