Gear Pictures

Here are some pictures of the gear I'm using.

ULA Catalyst backpack:  http://www.ula-equipment.com

I used a version of this pack on my 2007 thru-hike attempt.  It was one of the most popular packs that year.  It has an internal frame as opposed to the external frame seen in the recent movie Wild.  The suspension system will allow loads of up to about 35lbs, I took it to 40lbs for a few days but didn't enjoy the experience.












ZPacks™ Solplex Tent:  http://www.zpacks.com

This one-person tent is made of Cuben fiber, originally designed for the sails of America³, the 1992 America's Cup yacht.  It is not a freestanding tent, instead it uses the hiker's trekking poles to hold up the fabric.  Beyond the weight saved by the poles, the fabric itself is lighter than silicon impregnated nylon, but is still waterproof.







Jetboil Flex cooking system:  www.jetboil.com

This is a canister style stove; meaning the pressurized propane/isobutane mixed fuel is contained in the greyish metal canister in the upper right of the picture.  The burner is under it.  The burner attaches to the bottom of the insulated cup on the left.  The orange triangle gizmo is a folding leg extension to add stability.  The blue plastic lid should not be used while cooking, it melts.

In 2007, I used a methanol alcohol burner made by Trangia (see pic below).  Methanol is easy to find, sold as denatured alcohol and under the brand name HEET.  It does not burn as hot as propane fuel, but is cheap and does not leave smelly residue like white gas.  You pour about a 30mls of HEET into the large opening on the Trangia and light it off.  As the alcohol warms and vaporizes, the flame comes out of the small holes around the opening just like a gas stove.  A wind breaking pot rack is placed over the Trangia, and the 30mls of fuel will boil 8oz of water in a couple minutes.  IT's a little more finicky than a canister stove, so this year I'm accepting the weight penalty to get my morning hot cuppa a little faster!

Sawyer Mini water filter home-built system:   www.sawyer.com

The Sawyer Mini filter is a 0.1 micron filter, meaning it will filter out all bacteria and protozoa from the water you want to drink.  It is not a water purifier, in that it does not remove viruses like Hepatitis A or rotavirus, but these are not commonly found in water on the Appalachian Trail.  To use it, one fills the 1-liter bag with suspect water, then screws on the filter and squeezes the water through the filter and into a clean bag or your mouth.  To clean the filter when it eventually clogs, draw clean water into the included syringe and backflush through the filter.  If not damaged by freezing or solvent chemicals, the Sawyer Mini will filter up to about 100,000 gallons.

I'm lazy when it comes to filtering water, so I have rigged mine using a couple of Platypus bags into a gravity flow system.  Dirty water goes into the 3L bag on the left, and when the bag is held up, gravity will pull the water through the filter into the 2L bag on the right.  There are a couple of yellow quick-release couplings in the lines, so I can use the clean bag with the bite valve end in the middle.






The A.T. Guide:  http://www.theatguide.com/

In 2007, I used Dan 'Wingfoot" Bruce's The Thru-hikers Handbook.  In 2010, that book merged with David "Awol" Miller's The A.T. Guide.  This 11.8oz paperback is the compilation of years of hard work by thousands of people to record every salient point on the Trail.  It tells the reader how far to the next shelter, water source, town and vista.  It lists current town resources such as hotels, hostels, grocery stores, post-offices, and transportation.  Need a phone number? Got it.  Want to know where the largest oak on the Appalachian Trail can be found?  It's in here too.  You can't tell the players without a scorecard folks.  And yes, I do carry a compass.

AT Hiker: Guthook's Guide:  http://www.guthookhikes.com/apps

I purchased this app because I like the convenience of electronic media.  But I soon found this little gem of an app was a real hidden treasure.  It has pictures of the shelters, water sources, views, towns and road crossings that are very helpful.  And the GPS function is invaluable if you aren't sure where on the trail (or off it on foggy days) you are.  And you can leave notes about a data point for other app users to read.  Example:  Many water sources in 2015 were dry or nearly so due to the drought.  I was able to be alerted to several thanks to hikers with this app who were ahead of me on the trail.  Couple this app with AWOL's guide and you are an INFORMED HIKER!