[at-l] Lighten pack.

[Doug Mathews]

Tom,
I had not hiked much at all when I did my through hike in 2002 and I 
started with everything you could think of.....special cooking 
utensils, camp clothes, and a lot of heavy weight items more suited 
for "base" camping.

I sent home all the camp clothes ,  extra utensils. I bought a new 
pack in Hot Springs (replaced an REI 7lb pack w/a Mountainsmith 3+lb 
).   Also bought an MSR MicroZoid tent replacing my Clip 
Flashlight.  I do not like the Zoid so if anyone wants to buy it, let 
me know.  I need to replace it with a larger and no more weight 
one.  Any suggestions?  I sent my 20 degree 3lb sleeping bag home 
after it warmed up and kept my sleeping bag liner.  I did add an 
emergency bivy (8oz?) just in case.  I also quit carrying my 3 liter 
water bag because of its weight and used 2 22oz  GatorAde 
bottles.  Sent my water filter home(16oz) and used Aqua Mira 
(2oz?).  Got  rid of my Whiserplite stove because of the weight and 
used an Etowah Outfitters alcohol stove (I've since switched to 
Gravity Gear Stove from Tin-man which is lighter and works 
better.  Etowah has a version 2 out but it is not as light as 
Tin-Man's).  I did carry my 35mm SLR camera and to lighten that load, 
I got rid of the camera strap and replaced it with a piece ofrope, 
which I still use.
I started carrying way too much food and it did not take me long to 
learn to carry just the right amount, plus a dab!

At 12:03 AM 7/15/2006, you wrote:
>I have read a number of book and journals about hiking the AT.  Most of
>them say that when they get to the NOC the people there help them to
>send home items they do not need on the AT.  Yet none of they ever say
>what these items are.
>
>I feel it would be very helpful to know what a many of these items are,
>so that I do not even start with them.  Can anyone on the list provide
>this information.  there is not need to load down the net with this
>information.  It can be sent to me at
>  tom.mantooth at comcast.net
>
>I know the list will change depending on the individual.  I for example
>would not use a tarp, I tried it and hated it.  I will not depart from
>my Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2 and my Westerning Mountaineering sleeping
>bag, other than those everything is subject to change.
>
>At the present time my 3 major item Tent, sleeping bag and backpack
>weight 10lb 12 oz. I maybe able to shave another 6 to 8 oz off that.
>
>Thanks,
>Cherokee Tom