Good Gear Bad Gear

Not all hikers like talking about gear. In fact, none of the hikers whom I really admire, talk much about their gear - they can make pretty much make anything work for them. But I DO like to talk about gear.

I lifted this from Jeff McWilliams FB page.

The Bad
I've only had one major gear failure out here, so I'll get it out of the way first: My Big Agnes Fly Creek tent. I've been through five of these tents since I first borrowed (stole?) a Fly Creek Platinum from Jason 'Hee Haw' Phelps in 2015. They are a solid, free-standing tent that comes with a rainfly. Wildly popular on the Appalachian Trail this year, I have seen dozens of them. They WERE my go to tent until the company that makes their tent poles - DAC - started cutting corners. I've had three sets of poles break in the same place. Two other hikers have told me the same story. Getting stuck on the AT with no tent kinda sucks. Customer Service at Big Agnes tries hard but I'm done with them. Big Agnes = Big Headache.

Good Gear
Osprey backpacks. I'm currently carrying a 60L Levity pack and I love it.

I've also had good luck with the Osprey Aether pack. Again, I'm seeing lots of these same packs on the AT this year and the owners seem to be satisfied. Mine already had 1,200 miles on it before I hiked the last 2,075 (as of this writing) and it's still going strong. My last one also lasted thousands of miles before the buckle on the waist belt broke. That was no fun.

My trusty Salomon Speedcross shoes.

 

Trail after trail - Israel, Mexico, Ecuador... This is my fave three-season footwear. I take them out of the box and wear them until they disintegrate, pair after pair. They're like slippers with cleats!

Black Diamond trekking poles.

My current set (I've gone through many) also had 1,200 miles on them before I started this hike and they are hanging tough. Not all of their models were great - the 'Z-Fold' models held together with a shock cord both broke on me in Michigan's Upper Peninsula but the Trail Pro sticks I have now are awesome. Their headlamps? Well, I have owned four of them. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't.

My bulletproof Marmot shell.

The first of these (I'm on my third) was a gift from Traci Rink on the PCT '12. I've worn them ever since.

 Icebreaker shirts! Traci Rink (again!) turned me on to these Marino wool shirts and I loved them. My first friend ever at Moosejaw, Perry Keydel, sent me a bunch of Icebreaker shirts for this hike. Even as bad as I stink - they don't.

 Darn Tough socks. Early on, I was a Smart Wool kinda-guy. Later, I was a fan of the plain, nylon sock for a long time - Ray Jardine style. Nylon dress socks wear out quick but they're cheap and they dry quickly. I had seen lots of Darn Tough socks on the trail but $30 a pair seemed excessive. But what if they lasted for hundreds of miles? And provided some compression? Darn Tough, IMHO, are worth it.

 The Tent LabsDeuce #2 trowel.

You gotta dig a hole 4"-6" deep every morning. Thank Goodness for this lightweight, indestructible tool.

I saved the best gear for last: Underground Quilts! I went to them in 2016 to make an ultralight quilt for me for the Baja Divide Trail and I've been with them ever since. The Bandit quilt they made for me lasted for almost 5K miles!

 I'll be carrying my new Bandit Quilt this spring.

Honorable Mentions
Stormy Kromer doesn't make hiking gear, but the classic hat they make has kept me warm (and looking cool) even in the worst conditions.

 Mountain Hardware puffy. The zipper broke pretty early on (see my fancy sewing?). Yet, I still carry it because it keeps me warm.

Columbia clothing. I buy convertible pants and a long-sleeved PFG shirt for every hike. Why? Bugs and sun. Many hikers prance past me wearing only running shorts and a tank top asking, "Wolverine, why the long pants and sleeves?" "Bugs and sun." I tell them, "Bugs and sun... "

I've also carried a piece of  Tyvek as a ground cloth on every hike. My sister, Carol, even sewed a big piece into a bivy for me on the PCT '12.

Please note,I didn't include the hyperlinks in this post because I'm an 'affiliate marketer'. They're just so you can see the product. If you see something you like, go buy it at Moosejaw.com 

I'm also a big fan of Treeline Review for articles and aggregate gear reviews.

Or, just contact me! I'll talk about gear and hiking all day!

Disclaimer: Every single piece of gear I mention above was either begged, borrowed or stolen. I take what I can get to keep me on the trail and I'm grateful for every bit of it.
Got a fave piece of gear? Leave a comment below!

The Lost Art of Hitchhiking

I have lots to say about this topic, but first, a gentle reminder: Resupply here in super-remote central Maine is rare and very expensive.

Some hikers were complaining that this is 'gouging' but it's what the market will bare.

I'm so close to finishing my third thru of the AT; I just need a little bit more help. I'll make you a deal: If you hit that 'donate' button, I'll PM you with details about my Top Secret (and controversial?) plans for hiking this spring!

Now for the obvious yet obligatory disclaimers: Hitchhiking is inherently dangerous and often illegal. You should not do it. Nor should you pick up hitchhikers. And yet, hitchhiking is part of almost every long distance hike. If you're going to attempt a hike of more than say, five hundred miles, eventually, you're going to need to get off the trail and get to a town for supplies. If the town is close enough, you might be able to walk there. Otherwise, stick out your thumb and hope for the best.

Having noted that hitchhiking could be dangerous, it's a little different when you're hitching close to a well-known trail. People see the big backpack and they know what you're up to. So location makes a big difference. If you see a guy like me trying to hitch in Downriver Detroit, think twice about letting him in your car. If you see a guy like me carrying a giant backpack near the Appalachian Trail, chances are that I'm just trying to get to town - or back to the trail.

With a little planning and a lot of luck, you can get to your destination and possibly meet some really cool people along the way. Here are some hints for a safe and successful hitch:

- Make sure you make your intentions clear: Stick out your thumb and smile. It helps to have a 'Hiker to Town' or a 'Hiker to Trail' sign. I have a bandana with that on it (thanks, Christina Ray!). Or write your destination on a piece of cardboard - or on your folded-up ground cloth, like I do. People are more likely to give you a ride if they know where you're going.

 - Stand well off the road and make sure that any car that slows for you has plenty of room to safely pull over. Don't hitch on a curve or the crest of a hill. Pick a spot where people have a chance to see you to see what you're doing. Sometimes, I walk in the direction of the town/trail and I only stick out my thumb when it is safe to do so. I think people are more likely to give you a lift if they see that you are trying, at least, to get your destination

- Never be negative towards drivers that don't pull over. Occasionally, people have passed me by but picked me up on their return trip. No one is going to do that if you gave them the finger for not pulling over the first time by. Be positive... Smile... Let them see your face and wave back to people who wave at you.

- Be prepared to offer some gas money. I keep a few singles in my pocket, separate from my main stash in my wallet, just for this purpose.

- When someone pulls over, hurry (run!) to their car; Don't waste their time. Have your pack in order and ready to throw in a trunk or the bed of a truck. Have your phone out and a map of where you're trying to get to.

- I always approach the passenger side of the vehicle and wait for a window to come down or the door to open. BEFORE you get in, thank the person for pulling over. Make sure you both agree on where you are trying to get to and how close they can get you. I also warn drivers if I am particularly stinky, wet or muddy. You don't want to mess up their nice car!

- Most people who give rides to hikers are like-minded people. I often see trekking poles or hiking boots in their cars. Sometimes, they're just curious about who you are and what you're doing. And sometimes, they're flat-out crazy. Be prepared for political or religious rants, off-the-wall questions and bad music. Sometimes, people are just looking for some company and, in exchange for a ride, it's the least you can provide.

- Have an excuse to stop the car and get out. For example, if I ever got a really bad vibe from someone, I would say, "I just remembered that my buddy has my wallet! I was supposed to wait for him at the trailhead. I have to walk back there." This tells the driver that a)You have no money and b) Someone is looking for you. That should be enough to convince them to pull over and let you out. I've never had to use this.

- Finally, when you get to your destination, thank the driver appropriately, offer the gas money and ALWAYS double check that you have all your gear: Trekking poles, phone, wallet... I forgot my phone in a guy's truck one time. Read that story here.

People often seem to feel good about themselves for having helped you and they should! They feel good and you are grateful for the ride - let it be a positive situation! I sometimes say something like, "I hope someone does something nice for you like you did for me."

I have met some of the nicest people through hitchhiking. I've had people open their homes to me and invite me to stay. I've met people with whom I've stayed in touch with for years. And I've had some pretty memorable characters that made for a great story later on.

Obviously, I can't add the female perspective. The best I can do is refer you back to the guest blog post by Brazil's own Denise Stolnik. You can read that post here.

Got a great hitchhiking story? Leave a comment below!

Do you know me because you gave me a ride in the past? Leave a comment below!

Do you completely disagree with me and wish I wouldn't encourage people to hitch? Leave me a comment below!

Wanna know what my super-secret plans are for this spring? Hit that 'donation' button!

Thank you!

No More Work-For-Stay?

The Lakes of the Clouds hut.

This is 'The Dungeon'. It's an emergency shelter that hikers can stay in for $10. I stayed in there in '11. It was creepy and weird.

During both my previous thru-hikes of the Appalachian Trail ('11 and '15), I was fortunate enough to trade work for a night indoors and I was glad for it. The 'huts' are kind of like a primitive hotel: For $150, you get a bunk, breakfast and dinner. There are no frills and you have to  pack out your own trash. Lots of day hikers and section hikers gladly pay the cash for access to the beautiful White Mountains. 

Zoom in to see the Madison Springs hut.

My first time thru the AT, fellow hiker Sabine 'Foureyes' Pelton, told me about WFS (work-for-stay) at the huts. If you work hard and earn a good reputation, other Hut Masters (the person who manages the hut) will be more likely to offer you WFS at the other huts. It was true! About 8 or 10 of us hikers showed up around dinner time. We cleaned up and did all the dishes. In turn, they let us move the dining room tables to the side and sleep on the floor. Same thing in the morning - if you stay and help clean up, you get to eat all the leftover food. WFS at a hut is a good deal for several reasons: One is that camping above treeline is not allowed so staying indoors in a hut is really convenient. 

And the college kids who run the huts (part of a 'croo' that works a rotation at a hut) benefit, too. WFS was a mutually beneficial deal. 

This is how food and supplies are brought to the huts: On the backs of hard working college kids!

I had such a good experience doing WFS at a hut in 2015, that I wrote this.

This time thru, I didn't hear many hikers talking about WFS. I also noticed the description of the huts in Guthook's app said that only two thru-hikers per evening would be considered for WFS. I also read some comments about scrubbing pots and pans for hours and getting only leftover oatmeal to eat. Also some comments about getting turned away when asking about WFS. Likewise, I heard rumors of hikers staying and eating but leaving before clean-up started. I hope that's not true!

All hope is not lost - there were also a few comments about good WFS experiences. I did not stay at any of the huts but I did stop in at two of them for water and weather info. Seemed pretty positive. 

It's possible that the WFS experience is dependent upon the current croo and Hut Master. It's also possible that I'm completely wrong - this is only my impression of what I've heard and read. 

Have you ever done WFS? Leave me a comment about it. Leave me a comment anyway!

How the AT Has Changed

First things first, if you want to help me finish this hike, Ima need more instant rice and hot sauce! Mash on that 'Donate' button if yer feeling generous. If you're viewing this on a phone, you'll have to scroll down to the very bottom of the page and click on 'View Web Version' please and thank you.

So, this is my third thru-hike of the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail. I'm currently more than 500 miles from the end but, with massive quantities of both help and luck, I just might make it to Katahdin. My previous thru's were '11 and '15. I've noticed some big changes in the AT thru-hiking experience. Here are the top 5:

1. More dogs on the trail. Dozens of people attempting to thru-hike this trail with a dog. Certainly, it can be done - people have written books about it and, I'm told, there is more information available about 'how to hike the AT with a dog' than ever before. Alas dogs, like people, struggle out here; I've seen only a couple dogs make it this far north.

2. Poor Trail Etiquette. You're gonna have to consider the source here: A grumpy old man who thinks he's the only one who knows right from wrong on the whole trail. With that in mind... Doesn't anyone yield right-of-way to the hiker going up hill anymore? And since when is it okay to go to bed with a fire still smoldering? Hikers blowing up their packs in the middle of the trail... Blue tooth speakers blaring...I'm just saying that there has definitely been a change for the worse in the behavior of hikers.

3. More Hiker Services. More hostels, more shuttle services, more everything! And I'm glad for it. It gives hikers more options and if people can make money providing these services, then good for them. Of course, hikers need to be fair and always discuss prices for services up front. Read the 'Comments' section of the Guthook's Guide app for reviews of services. Speaking of Guthook's...

4. The Power of Guthook's! Guthook's Maps (by Atlas Guides) is THE go-to app for navigation and information. They probably have 90% of the market on this trail. Every hiker, hostel owner, shuttle driver... Even just friends and families of hikers... refers to Guthook's. It was unavailable in '11 and getting popular by my '15 hike. Now? It's essential. Full Disclosure: I'm friends with the people who started that company.

5. ATC Backlash. This year's class of thru-hikers seems to have a specific disdain for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) but they may be a self-selecting group: People who chose to thru-hike this year knew that they could not register their hike with the ATC because of Covid stuff. So they already don't hold the governing body in high regard. Add in the $20 million (in hushed money) the ATC accepted to let the Valley Mountain pipeline run across the trail and the fact that, compared to an organization like ALDHA (the American Long Distance Hiking Association), they just don't do that much for hikers.

Add to that, nonsense like the pic below. Edit: Trying to post this blog from my phone. It wouldn't let me put pics in line.

This was a water cache for hikers. The Trail Angels who put it there label the gallon jugs and clean up the trash. THEY are helping hikers. The ATC? Not so much.

'Also rans' for the Top 5 list: More slack packing, more repeat-offenders (those who have hiked the AT before), more Trail Magic, less camaraderie, more bears (I've seen seven so far) and more areas closed to camping because of nuisance bears, fewer hikers signing registers, more regulations...

TL/DR: Wolverine is broke, grumpy and apparently hates the ATC

Been on the trail lately? What have you seen? Please leave a comment below! Agree with me? Leave a comment! Disagree? Leave TWO comments!

Thank you for reading!