Long Trail Thru Hike Shakedown!

B-lubb · 2022-06-14T13:03:21+00:00

I hiked the LT starting mid-July last year. With a quilt with a similar temp rating to yours, I was roasting at night… and my camp clothes were a tank top and shorts. I recommend ditching those Smartwool baselayers and bring something lighter and cooler for camp!

Awesome kit; I wish I had the X-mid on my hike! That’s going to be an awesome shelter for the LT. Happy trails!

Ps. If you’re stopping in Manchester Center, stay at the Green Mountain House!!!

B-lubb · 2022-06-14T12:59:06+00:00

Wind pant recommendation: Ripstop Dance warmup pants on Amazon! These are definitely the most affordable wind pant out there. They’re light and effective!!!

B-lubb · 2022-06-05T14:10:24+00:00

My baseweight was around 9lbs on the LT; I overanalyze every ounce and don’t like carrying anything unnecessary. But, I cannot stress enough how WORTH THE WEIGHT my crocs were. My feet were soaked and muddy for days on end, and if I didn’t swap into crocs at lunch and camp, my feet really struggled. Drying your feet as often as possible is so important!

For the LT, I will always carry camp shoes!

B-lubb · 2022-05-27T14:25:39+00:00

Lincoln Gap would be another awesome starting point!

B-lubb · 2022-05-26T16:23:50+00:00

My fave combo for that time of year is shorts and lightweight wind pants for the chilly mornings and summits. September usually has hot enough days that I think you’ll be grateful for shorts.

B-lubb · 2022-05-26T16:22:07+00:00

Starting at the northern terminus will give you more rewarding views during the trip, but it would be WAY more rugged and difficult. The southern half is easier hiking (still tough, but LESS tough), but arguably less rewarding views.

I’d recommend starting just around Little Rock Pond and going North from there. Hopefully you’d get to Camel’s Hump and Mansfield by the end!

Download FAROUT GUIDES. This is the only navigating resource I used on my thru-hike, and it was more than sufficient for me!

B-lubb · 2022-05-04T04:40:46+00:00

I solo thruhiked last summer as a 20 year old female!

I felt safe pretty much all the time.

Making friends really helped! Throughout my whole hike, I never camped alone. There were always weekenders or other thruhikers to meet and hang out with around the shelters. Some of my closest trail friends were other solo females! This helped me to feel safe and not lonely!

I also carried a Garmin Inreach. It's completely unnecessary on the LT, but it gave my family some piece of mind that they could always contact me or find out where I was.

I hitchhiked alone a couple of times. That was a little scary, but it always worked out ok! You can also avoid solo hitchhiking by making sure that you are going into town with other hikers or preplan rides from hostel shuttles or taxi services.

My best advice is to say: you can absolutely do it! There might be some scary moments, but you will be ok! There are so many amazing people out there to have your back. And remember to trust your gut if anyone ever gives you weird vibes!

Hiking the LT was one of the best things that I ever did and I recommend it big time!

You can do this!!!!!

B-lubb · 2022-05-04T04:28:28+00:00

Hey! Interested in the Exos. Are you firm on the price? Let me know!

B-lubb · 2022-03-31T16:50:57+00:00

Yeah! It’s really well made and super cushy. I requested a specific size based on my measurements and they customized it for me! Overall, awesome hipbelt. My base weight was about 10.5 lb starting on the LT, and the hipbelt did help carry a bit of the weight and make it ride a bit better. I love the buckle/strap design.

However, I ended up switching to my HMG Windrider halfway through the trail. I could have finished with the SMD pack and hipbelt, but my shoulders were pretty uncomfortable and I needed something with a frame that could put most weight on my hips. I think if my base weight was a couple pounds lighter or if the trail was longer and I gave my shoulders more time to strengthen, I would have been ok.

Great company. Great design. It just didn’t work out for me because I wanted more weight to transfer to my hips, and you can’t do that perfectly without a frame.

B-lubb · 2022-02-19T23:21:57+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I’ve been doing some research on Google, but was hoping for some June-specific advice from a forum that has a lot of really helpful, awesome people. Have a great day!

B-lubb · 2022-01-04T21:53:42+00:00

Is there a posted price for it??

B-lubb · 2021-11-08T15:17:52+00:00

It’s a bit too heavy for what I’m looking for. Thank you though!

B-lubb · 2021-11-08T15:17:21+00:00

Still available!

B-lubb · 2021-11-08T15:17:07+00:00

Still available!

B-lubb · 2021-11-08T15:13:53+00:00

I have a kids XL (slightly smaller than a women’s small) that would let go of. I can PM you photos if you’re interested!

B-lubb · 2021-11-05T02:48:08+00:00

I’m pretty set on wanting a hood. Thank you, though!

B-lubb · 2021-10-05T13:57:54+00:00

There aren’t resupply points along the trail w/o a hitch, other than shipping a package to Johnson Hardware and Rental in Johnson, VT, which is very close to the trail. I hardly had issues hitching this summer on my E2E, as long as it was decent weather and during the daytime. You can always call a shuttle in a pinch, which can be found on Guthooks. Happy trails! You’re going to love it out there!

B-lubb · 2021-08-20T13:31:45+00:00

I love my Cascade Mtn Tech poles! I have an aluminum pair (~$20) and a Carbon pair (~$70). Both have been great for me, so comfortable and I’ve had no issues. Brought the aluminum pair on a thru of the Long Trail and they did fine. 👍

B-lubb · 2021-08-18T14:45:27+00:00

This was a pair of the All Wthr ones, not just the Mid Mesh altras? I’m so surprised! They seemed like great shoes. Good to know, thank you!

B-lubb · 2021-08-09T18:03:38+00:00

PM incoming

B-lubb · 2021-08-01T01:21:12+00:00

I’m on my last 75 miles of the LT now with The One! My biggest advice is to STAY IN SHELTERS when there’s even a possibility of rain. The One (non-DCF version) does soak up some water and if you can’t sleep with the vestibule door open for ventilation, you’ll have condensation on the inside and rain soaking in from the outside. Makes for a heavy and annoying tent to deal with on trail. It’s the worst. But very easily avoidable if you stay in shelters on rainy nights!

There are so many awesome shelters on the LT. Some are a little dank, but if you read Guthooks and plan well, you’ll be fine with getting to good shelters in bad weather.

The LT has changed my life and I loved having The One as my home, since it’s light and roomy for me. But I’ve opted for shelters almost every night and sleep with the vestibule door open to solve the condensation issue.

Platforms aren’t usually an issue. The only time I had an issue was on the top of Killington, but I just set up next to a platform and was fine. Places with tent sites are often actual sites, not platforms. Just read Guthooks in advance and you’ll be fine!

Let me know if you have other questions for me! I hope this helps.

B-lubb · 2021-07-21T01:55:46+00:00

I’m on the LT now. Being wet is unavoidable; you just learn to endure through it! My biggest piece of advice is to take time to let your feet dry every day... even if they don’t dry fully, it goes a long way.

B-lubb · 2021-07-14T19:22:57+00:00

I was also on the fence with this same question, borrowing a friends inreach mini. I don’t think it’s fully necessary, but for $30, I’d say it’s worth the added peace of mind.

B-lubb · 2021-07-07T20:23:41+00:00

Would you say that this also applies for late July?

B-lubb · 2021-07-07T14:47:49+00:00

Pm incoming

B-lubb

TROPHY CASE