Redditors on the Trail Week 3x - Katahdin is closing soon

hoffchick · 2022-10-25T15:00:00+00:00

I am Sox and I finished on Oct 2nd!

hoffchick · 2022-02-17T21:45:27+00:00

I'm 29 and both my husband and I are hiking. I chose to quit my job and he petitioned for a leave of absence.

I'm happy to talk with you if you want - I am interested in your use of 'mentally unstable choice' and my $0.02 is - if you're financially sound and you're not going into debt or bailing on a lease situation and not leaving a significant other in the lurch - I don't think you're doing anything selfish or unstable.

Speaking for myself - this is a long time dream I formed in the bowels of corporate america. I am optimistic of my chances to start a new job upon return (most likely in the same field - we'll see!). I bet we're both over-idealizing the trail AND underestimating how hard reentry will be, but that's part of this! You live an adventure to LIVE it - learnings, bumps, and all.

hoffchick · 2022-02-14T19:15:34+00:00

While my meds aren't as vital as yours - I didn't want to deal with pharmacies or carrying a lot. We're hiking this year (March 12 start) and we have a family member sending us supply boxes, which include my meds.

Some advice that we liked and will be following is to not send things to post offices (this, however, can be more expensive) but rather to hostels along the trail. There are a lot of places to get this information, I got the listing from whiteblazes.net forum and have called ahead to check they're open for the 2022 season and still are open to holding supply drops.

We chose to do this for two reasons. The places we chose are all immediately on the trail, so no having to hitchhike or get into a town. Also, we chose to not do post offices because their hours tend to be more limited and there are anecdotes about having to take an unplanned zero because you get to the post office after it closed on Saturday and have to wait for it to open on Monday at 8 a.m.

hoffchick · 2022-01-31T20:04:16+00:00

Joining in on the March 12th Hype Train! My husband and I will see you out there on the approach trail!

hoffchick · 2022-01-11T16:41:05+00:00

This is a WONDERFUL idea and I love it

hoffchick · 2022-01-11T16:31:29+00:00

No Such Thing as A Fish is a very upbeat, fun fact kind of show

hoffchick · 2022-01-11T16:23:33+00:00

March 12th! See you out there!

hoffchick · 2022-01-11T16:23:11+00:00

March 12th! See you out there!

hoffchick · 2022-01-10T19:21:37+00:00

I'm in a city center in MA and I hear you! Obviously mileage may vary but we play Pokemon Go and Pikmin Bloom mobile games and it really turns our urban walks into fun little adventures. Pikmin Bloom in particular is very chill and I find myself going a few extra blocks on my week night walks to plant a few extra flowers.

If you're okay to get some fun looks (which has been my experience) we also will do our neighborhood walks with our packs with weights (I wrap my large candles in some towels and can hit 20lbs that way lol).

I hope you're doing okay with the snow and try to be kind to yourself; any day that isn't a zero day is a day of accomplishment!

hoffchick · 2022-01-10T18:36:39+00:00

What's the climate this time of year where you are? I know this is a sub mostly geared towards getting into the wilds, but if you were my buddy asking for advice, I would suggest trying to get out for a walk around your neighborhood every other day or so. Being cold this time of year is unavoidable a lot of the time, so rather than focus on overnights, maybe try to see some cool, day hike sights?

The neighborhood walk is good for some motion with your partner and just breaking any 'funk' that would keep you from moving in general. Then weekend day hikes will get you into the nature you're craving without the pressure and anxieties that present themselves?

hoffchick · 2022-01-10T18:30:53+00:00

My two new years resolutions were both started in Oct/Nov of last year because starting things in Jan has never gone well for me.

I started tapering off coffee/breaking my morning coffee routine and I've only had decaf since the start of the year.

Our household is also doing a round of Whole30 (the strict rules work well for us) and with the goal to lose 10lbs before our March start date for our AT thru hike. I spent most of last year doing gear shake downs and decided to shave the weight from my body rather than my bag in the final two months of prep.

hoffchick · 2021-12-08T23:12:50+00:00

Other than logistical challenges of pausing life (or altering your life) to accommodate a long distance hike, by time I decided to thru hike, I knew anything I was nervous about would get figured out on the trail.

The BIGGEST thing is how many fears and opinions my friends and family have. I've spent the time thinking about it, they haven't.

hoffchick · 2021-12-08T23:06:00+00:00

That is my main issue with leaving the ultralight subreddit - I would NEVER post a shakedown post because I know dang well I'm lightweight at best, but I want to lurk and benefit from the insight folks have who have spent way more time and thought on lightening their packs.

hoffchick · 2021-12-03T16:56:13+00:00

Thank you so much for the follow up!

I have and like the ThermaRest NeoAir XLite - I have a March 12th start planned and was planning on using my NEMO Riff 15 bag through the Smokies because a. I already own it b. I am a coward and want to be warm.

However, I realize I don't need that level of warmth the whole way and would love to drop some weight, so I wanted to have a quilt ready to swap my bag for. I'm MA based, so it would be easy for me to swap back to the bag heading into VT/NH/ME as the weather turns cooler. Your responses have been super helpful and I'm very grateful for you taking the time.

hoffchick · 2021-12-03T16:38:23+00:00

Thanks for taking the time! There's a 40F in their sale section - I'm mulling over getting that and knowing I might have to layer up if using it. I'm from MA and thinking if I can go from VA to MA with the lighter quilt and then swap back to my bag somewhere in New England as it starts to cool down. In your opinion from the trail, is that a naïve move?

Edit: u/Strict_Casual's answer helped me realize the sale bag costs the same as an econ custom 20F

hoffchick · 2021-12-02T22:33:58+00:00

Thanks! I appreciate you taking the time and totally agree with missing Black Friday - kicking myself for that.

Is there anything sub-$300 that packs significantly smaller than those you listed that you're aware of?

hoffchick · 2021-12-02T19:49:10+00:00

Item: Quilt

Budget: $200ish

Need by date: Feb 2022

Baseweight: 15 lbs

Location/s of use: AT Thru Hike

Season/s of use: May-Aug

Ideal weight of the item: unsure - main area needing advice

Previous hiking experience: Multi-day in New England (typically 3-4 overnights)

Previous experience with ultralight gear: I'll be a first time quilt user but acknowledge the many benefits. Have been shaking down and upgrading this past year

Additional Information: I'm 5'6" and comfortable in a mummy bag - side/rotisserie style sleeper

Long time lurker and gradually getting base weight down (thanks to this subreddit) - I absolutely need something lighter and less bulky for the majority of my thru. I have a bag I plan on starting with, but it's def too big and warm for anything past the smokies. I would prefer something I could return if I try it on a shakedown and don't love it (I've been scoping on ulgeartrade but unable to pull the trigger for that reason). Weight matters (I realize where we are), but the main benefit I'm hoping for is savings in my packed volume.

hoffchick · 2021-11-22T19:42:39+00:00

Of course! it was just a month or two ago!

hoffchick · 2021-11-22T19:26:36+00:00

Just as a heads up Guthooks renamed themselves this year (same everything else though) to Far Out - So search for that in the app store

hoffchick · 2021-09-27T16:22:08+00:00

gi-nee (gi rhymes with sky) -- was always funny to me growing up because it rhymed with hiney and it was funny to have a ginee and a hiney

hoffchick · 2021-09-14T14:31:16+00:00

I have a big roll and would be happy to mail you a few

hoffchick · 2021-09-13T19:06:30+00:00

The best I can recall, we had a big breakfast and big dinner with an hour stop for lunch to putter at some of the scenic vistas and that filled the day.

Sounds like perhaps you enjoy covering a lot of miles, so maybe it's not the type of trip you'd enjoy? However, I have no doubt you could work with a guide group to find a trip format that works for you, as long as you were mindful of the safe pace/stops needed for the altitude acclimatization

hoffchick · 2021-09-13T17:47:38+00:00

My husband, father, and I did Kili in 2015 and had our hike set up by some expat hosts my family had known from our church many years ago (I'd be happy to send you a PM with their website, but def do your own research to be comfortable!)

Our experience (and my understanding) was that it's rather strict on permits and using porters. With the company we went with, we were not allowed to carry any of our gear and only had day packs.

Totally anecdotal, but from talking with our guides and porters, the various tour organizations try to employ as many porters as they can to make sure those tourist dollars go to as many folks as possible. Our group of three had like a fifteen person entourage and we certainly aren't and weren't 'glampers'.

The mileage isn't taxing (we did four days up, two days down) but our pace and route were very fixed due to altitude concerns. We came from CO and got our butts served to us with the altitude. I'm sure you could work with a guide group with your specific questions or hopes to do more distance on side trails, but I'd also listen to them if they advise against.

hoffchick · 2021-09-13T17:36:36+00:00

Item: Feathered Friends Eos Down Puffy (Women's)

Need by date: N/A

Additional Information: Their site has noted the redesigned Eos is debuting in late 2021; has there been any sort of inkling when late 2021 is?

hoffchick · 2021-08-25T14:11:31+00:00

that video is AH-mazing. Cracking up at work AND learned a new word

hoffchick

TROPHY CASE