Two weeks ago Sho-Me and I did a paddle camping trip on the Edisto River. This time to break things up we did an overnight hike on the AT. This was Sho-Me's first overnight backpacking experience on the Appalachian Trail. I selected this section (my 10th time over it) because it's the easiest section within 70 miles of the AT this is with an hours drive of my home.
While hiking I reflected on the first time and the first gen gear I carried then (in the early 70s)..what a difference lightweight gear can make. Sho-Me's pack weighed in at 18 pounds with food and water; I was at 24 pounds with the difference being in a few methods of protection, repair kit, first aid, and some extra layers in case either of us got cold.
Speaking of temps our low was 54F and was deemed quite pleasant.
Now for the hammocking angle.
Sho-Me was in a WB BB single 1.7. Under her was an original JRB Nest. On top she had a Nunatak Arc Edge. Covering her rig was the brand new McCat Ultra in Spin UL. All of this she carried in a GG Meridian Vapor.
I was also in a WB BB but in the double 1.1. Under was a Yeti and on top a Nunatak Arc Ghost; the whole rig covered by a McCat Delux.
We cooked on two cannister stoves....a SnowPeak Tit. and an Optimus Crux. One thing I love about Sho-Me is that while I'm setting up the mocks she is assembling the stoves and getting the coffee on. By the time I've got both hammocks up she's got the freezer bag meal in the cozy.
If you know this section of trail then you know No Business Knob shelter--was a piece of dark spooky block and metal. Sho-me already knows stealth camping from our Edisto experience and needed no convincing to pass the shelter experience on to the lesser informed so we hiked to Temple Hill Gap. The AT goes to the right and ascends Temple Hill. We went hard left and climbed 200 feet up to the top of a knoll recently burned over; then onto the back side and out of anybody's view except God. I slept through it but she heard a pickup truck in the wee hours of the morning close by--a convincing argument for stealth camping!
If any are bored and want to see pic:
http://travel.webshots.com/album/573642383bsuKWB
If you just want to see the hammocks:
http://travel.webshots.com/photo/270...84634827NDLwRo
I apologize for the pic quality, my Optio is aging and I think has suffered a hit or two.
MedicineMan
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