Video: Trail Days 2013 and Appalachian Trail Section Hike

[Cranky Bear]

Great report and video as always, enjoyed it all very much thanks for posting it.

I almost always have issues with chaffing if I don't take precautions, and there have been a few times where the monkey butt almost ended a couple outings. For this reason I always carry SportSlick now and it has pretty much eliminated the issues I was having (if I remember to put it on before I have a problem).

Looking forward to seeing the new pack revision you come up with.

[FireInMyBones]

Great report and video as always, enjoyed it all very much thanks for posting it.

I almost always have issues with chaffing if I don't take precautions, and there have been a few times where the monkey butt almost ended a couple outings. For this reason I always carry SportSlick now and it has pretty much eliminated the issues I was having (if I remember to put it on before I have a problem).

Looking forward to seeing the new pack revision you come up with.

Thanks, Cranky Be...I mean Yoda. I had Sportslick with me, but I hadn't thought to put it on, by the time I did, it was too late. It did nothing but mitigate the pain already there. I carry the stuff for that reason and I had totally forgotten I had it.

I'll post my pack revision once I get a chance and the money to make it.

[TallPaul]

Excellent video FIMB... enjoyed watching all the various parts.
I had planned to be at Grayson just before Trail Days, but passed after seeing the forecast. It looks like you had a deluge!
I also saw some of the AT hiker video showing the rain storm you went thru - crazy stuff. It was a lot of puddle hopping.

What's your plan for the rain kilt? Tyvek with a draw string? That's been on my 'pondering it' list.

[OneThing]

Thru Hikers love two things. Getting into town and getting out. For me, Damascus is the exception. Great food, great people & good outfitters. Watching the video brought back a lot of good memories.

[ShortTripHome]

thanks for sharing the video! nothing is worse than a chafing issue to spoil a great trip--but its still great you got out there.

its also awesome to see the trail work I did last year with Konnarock Crew as you were walking from Mt Rogers spur south along Brier Ridge...looks like smooth sailing!!! this has made me very happy, so thanks again for sharing!

[FireInMyBones]

Excellent video FIMB... enjoyed watching all the various parts.
I had planned to be at Grayson just before Trail Days, but passed after seeing the forecast. It looks like you had a deluge!
I also saw some of the AT hiker video showing the rain storm you went thru - crazy stuff. It was a lot of puddle hopping.

What's your plan for the rain kilt? Tyvek with a draw string? That's been on my 'pondering it' list.

Thanks, Paul. It certainly was wet. Lots of puddles. I've often remembered this on of my college professors would say, "If it's raining cats and dogs, be careful not to step in a poodle."

I've been considering doing something like what ZPacks does with their cloud kilt. I don't think I'd use a zipper...but I might. I would want it to double as a ground cloth if the unthinkable occurred and I had to go to ground. I have 5 yards of gray 1.1 sil, but it's so dang slippery. Since cuben is less slippery, I might go with that... Cost benefit analysis.

Thru Hikers love two things. Getting into town and getting out. For me, Damascus is the exception. Great food, great people & good outfitters. Watching the video brought back a lot of good memories.

Damascus was a great town and I hope to visit it again. I'm glad I could remind you of good times.

thanks for sharing the video! nothing is worse than a chafing issue to spoil a great trip--but its still great you got out there.

its also awesome to see the trail work I did last year with Konnarock Crew as you were walking from Mt Rogers spur south along Brier Ridge...looks like smooth sailing!!! this has made me very happy, so thanks again for sharing!

First, thanks for your work on the trail. It was a much appreciated. The chafing is no fun, but the trip was. Once I learn to better control that, I think I'll be much better off. Thanks for watching.

[Sweeper]

Great Video FIMB, you basically would have walked in 2 days what took us 4 (we walked into Trail Days from the same section). We hooked up with Chattanooga Chuck for the first day and then he took off as we are way too slow for him (and y'all as well, lol). Our weather was ~32 the first night, all the way to the upper 50's on Thursday night. We planned our gear well, though, and had no issues, although I developed some chafe even wearing my ex-officio boxers and will probably switch back to compression shorts. 40+ miles in 4 days was a pretty leisurely and good hike for us old (53+) guys.

And by the way, I've had everything from severe storms, hail, and sideways snow in that section on the way to Thomas Knob shelter. I even carried a puppy in my coat down from there on a hike with church kids many years ago. That's a long story, and best told in person, however. The dog made it out fine, and is still with it's adopted owners!

Sweeper

[Detail Man]

FIMB,

Thanks for the great trip report. I enjoy watching your videos.

Do you know what rain gear that Detail Man was using? It looked like it provided great coverage.

Sincerely,
Dave-O

Now that I'm back from Linville Gorge I can chime in and make sure FIMB has all the details covered.

The rain gear I used is a kit based on this pattern http://www.questoutfitters.com/10Jun...%20%281%29.pdf This also acts as pack cover. Combined with rain pants and gaiters, I can stay pretty dry even in blowing rain. Weighs about 12oz not including gaiters.

It's not the prettiest thing to look at, but during the downpour we had to hike in, it made the difference between soaking wet and seriously damp clothing. During conditions like those (15-20mph winds, mid 50s F) I really appreciate the lack of breathability that the silnylon offers as it minimizes evaporative cooling. Not picking on FIMB, but I think my raingear was a positive factor in me not getting cold that night.

[Detail Man]

thanks for sharing the video! nothing is worse than a chafing issue to spoil a great trip--but its still great you got out there.

its also awesome to see the trail work I did last year with Konnarock Crew as you were walking from Mt Rogers spur south along Brier Ridge...looks like smooth sailing!!! this has made me very happy, so thanks again for sharing!

That was a sweet section of trail to hike. My thanks to you and the Konnarock crew. The section from Dickey Gap where we started to the Old Orchard shelter was a joy to hike -- nice tread, easy climbs and descents. Made it easy to enjoy the wildflowers and the songbirds, rather than focusing all my concentration on foot placement.

[FireInMyBones]

Great Video FIMB, you basically would have walked in 2 days what took us 4 (we walked into Trail Days from the same section). We hooked up with Chattanooga Chuck for the first day and then he took off as we are way too slow for him (and y'all as well, lol). Our weather was ~32 the first night, all the way to the upper 50's on Thursday night. We planned our gear well, though, and had no issues, although I developed some chafe even wearing my ex-officio boxers and will probably switch back to compression shorts. 40+ miles in 4 days was a pretty leisurely and good hike for us old (53+) guys.

And by the way, I've had everything from severe storms, hail, and sideways snow in that section on the way to Thomas Knob shelter. I even carried a puppy in my coat down from there on a hike with church kids many years ago. That's a long story, and best told in person, however. The dog made it out fine, and is still with it's adopted owners!

Sweeper

I'm glad you had a good hike too. Sounds like that is quite the location we choose to hike in. Thanks for watching the video. Hopefully we will get a chance to hang out and I'll get to hear the rest of your story.

Now that I'm back from Linville Gorge I can chime in and make sure FIMB has all the details covered....
Not picking on FIMB, but I think my raingear was a positive factor in me not getting cold that night.

Well, hopefully I got the details pretty close.

Yeah. My rain gear still needs to be fiddled with.