Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Trip Plan:04 Benton MacKaye Trail 287.2 m
To walk. To see. To see what you see.
-Benton MacKaye (mac-eye)
PLAN:
Hiking Southbound (Northbound Mileage)
Mile 0 (286.2) Matt will drop me off at the northern terminus
Mile 56.7 (229.5) Will meet AT member at Bryson City for resupply.
Mile 97 (189.2) Dragon's Den at Deal's Gap
Pick up first box of supplies! Fried food and soda pop!
Mile 134.8 (151.4) Green Cove Motel to resupply
Pick up second box of supplies!
Mile 176.2 (110) Reliance, TN. Meet Matt for resupply, town time and 0 day!
Mile 214.2 (72) Watson Gap. Will call for shuttle to grocery store, resupply and pick up supply box
Mile 248.0 (37.2) Restaurant ON THE TRAIL!
Mile 267.3 (17.9) Skeenah Creek campground .5 miles from trail. Pick up final mail drop. It's actually 19.9 miles to the closest trailhead parking, so 2 more days of hiking and then meet the family to head home!
287.2 trail miles! (I did the math in my head, so I may be off a little, it's still a plan.)
UPDATE:
July 15
Ordered down jacket and 2015 guide book/trail maps today!
Still need one man tent and better rain gear.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
List:07 Emergency Situations
A few typical backcountry emergencies
and how to handle them:
Splinter or sting: use the needle from your sewing kit or the tweezers from your first aid kit. If it's a sting, take a Benedryl if it starts to puff up.
Something in your eye: flush with water bottle or hydration hose. You could also use the backflush syringe from your filter kit. If this possibility really scares you, add a small squeeze bottle of eye drops to your kit.
Something in your ear: use the eye wash method to flush your ear out. You can also use warmed cooking oil to float it out if there is a bug in there. Seriously.
Splinter or sting: use the needle from your sewing kit or the tweezers from your first aid kit. If it's a sting, take a Benedryl if it starts to puff up.
Something in your eye: flush with water bottle or hydration hose. You could also use the backflush syringe from your filter kit. If this possibility really scares you, add a small squeeze bottle of eye drops to your kit.
Something in your ear: use the eye wash method to flush your ear out. You can also use warmed cooking oil to float it out if there is a bug in there. Seriously.
Chipped or broken tooth: Use your tooth
cement. You will have to head home ASAP in this situation.
For normal sensitive teeth that act up from time to time leaving you in discomfort, get some sensitive tooth gel from your dentist or OTC (dentist has better stuff) and use that instead of regular toothpaste for the duration of the trip. Keep in mind you should not eat or drink for half an hour after using.
Sprained ankle or knee: Let it rest at least 24 hours. Take Tylenol to keep the swelling down, put it in a cold stream if at all possible and before putting weight on it, tape the ankle (watch a YouTube video before you head out) and wrap it well. Dispurse as much pack contents to others as you can, use hiking poles or stick to take as much weight off the foot as possible, head home.
For normal sensitive teeth that act up from time to time leaving you in discomfort, get some sensitive tooth gel from your dentist or OTC (dentist has better stuff) and use that instead of regular toothpaste for the duration of the trip. Keep in mind you should not eat or drink for half an hour after using.
Sprained ankle or knee: Let it rest at least 24 hours. Take Tylenol to keep the swelling down, put it in a cold stream if at all possible and before putting weight on it, tape the ankle (watch a YouTube video before you head out) and wrap it well. Dispurse as much pack contents to others as you can, use hiking poles or stick to take as much weight off the foot as possible, head home.
Scrapes: wash to remove any grit from
wound, smear with ointment, leave uncovered unless it's too painful,
such as a knee getting rubbed by pants leg.
Bruises: soak a cloth in cold water and lay on the spot, take some Tylenol.
Bruises: soak a cloth in cold water and lay on the spot, take some Tylenol.
Cuts that bleed: let them
bleed a short while to clear out any debris, then stop the bleeding
with a clean water soaked cloth, pack with ointment, cover. Keep
clean.
Cuts that REALLY bleed: if it's bad and gashed open, put pressure directly on the gushing blood vessel and leave it there for at least 15 minutes to allow the body to form a clot. Don't try a tourniquet, don't press the nearest pressure point. Cover the wound and get help. If it looks deep enough to need stitches, get to the ER. Digging around for debris, trying to close it up without actual training can cause it to start bleeding again.
Cuts that REALLY bleed: if it's bad and gashed open, put pressure directly on the gushing blood vessel and leave it there for at least 15 minutes to allow the body to form a clot. Don't try a tourniquet, don't press the nearest pressure point. Cover the wound and get help. If it looks deep enough to need stitches, get to the ER. Digging around for debris, trying to close it up without actual training can cause it to start bleeding again.
If it
stops bleeding and stays stopped, wash out and around the wound with
just clean water with or without soap and cover it with ointment and
gauze or a clean bandanna. If it's just a good gouge and they want to
keep going and you have the first aid supplies to keep it clean and
disinfected, keep going.
The most likely thing on this list, other than scrapes, will be tummy disorders. If you know you are prone, take what you need in your first aid kit. Keep in mind working your body all day and then eating 1000 calorie dinners and getting right into bed can lead to some interesting bowel activity. Heartburn is very common as is diarrhea. You can pick up all kinds of gunk from not having clean hands, keep them washed after you poop and use a little squirt of sanitizer from time to time.
The most likely thing on this list, other than scrapes, will be tummy disorders. If you know you are prone, take what you need in your first aid kit. Keep in mind working your body all day and then eating 1000 calorie dinners and getting right into bed can lead to some interesting bowel activity. Heartburn is very common as is diarrhea. You can pick up all kinds of gunk from not having clean hands, keep them washed after you poop and use a little squirt of sanitizer from time to time.
List:06 Things That Can Get You
Bugs:
mosquitoes, ticks, spiders, wasps and fire ants. We also have scorpions, not sure if that's really a bug though.
mosquitoes, ticks, spiders, wasps and fire ants. We also have scorpions, not sure if that's really a bug though.
Use common sense to try to avoid. Wear a hat or bandanna, lightweight long-sleeves and long pants with your pants tucked in your socks in ticky areas. That getup will also help with mosquitoes. Squirt DEET on your cuffs and bandanna, not on your bare skin.
Don't put DEET on sensitive fabrics and printed fabrics will run, wool can be eaten away, it's harsh stuff! It must be removed before you get in your sleeping bag, so you will have to strip and use wet wipes before bed. There are more natural repellents that are far less harsh and far less effective. For each 10% of DEET in a product, it's good for that many hours. 100% DEET will last 10 hours.
Turn your shoes over and knock them together to dump out nocturnal visitors and if turning over or moving logs, watch for spiders and scorpions. Fire ants make big, visible mounds, so walk around them.
Snakes:
Be aware of where your hands and feet are at all times. Walk around fallen trees instead of over when at all possible. Don't reach up onto ledges you can't see and be aware around water. Back away from snakes you see and give them lots of room to escape, which they will happily do.
Be aware of where your hands and feet are at all times. Walk around fallen trees instead of over when at all possible. Don't reach up onto ledges you can't see and be aware around water. Back away from snakes you see and give them lots of room to escape, which they will happily do.
Mammals:Bears, raccoons and skunks-
Don't hike with a dog, they are critter
bait.
In bear country, follow local regulations. They will be posted at the trailhead. Practice hanging your food and pack at home and on the trail, realize it may take up to an hour of the evening to locate a good tree branch, get a rope over it and hang your stuff. Be patient, weight the end of your rope with a rock or a small stuff sack filled with pebbles, toss underhand.
In bear country, follow local regulations. They will be posted at the trailhead. Practice hanging your food and pack at home and on the trail, realize it may take up to an hour of the evening to locate a good tree branch, get a rope over it and hang your stuff. Be patient, weight the end of your rope with a rock or a small stuff sack filled with pebbles, toss underhand.
Skunks-keep calm if you see one. Move
away slowly, don't throw something at it to scare it off. You are
the one who needs to leave. If it has you trapped in your tent (I
got trapped in the bathhouse by a HUGE one once) you just have to
wait it out. Trying to scare them off will backfire.
To lessen all scary mammal encounters -
Don't dump any leftovers or cooking water out on the ground and
always hang your trash and food well out of reach. Don't sleep in
what you cooked in. Don't leave any gear out for them to rummage
through. Store your trash in odor blocking bags.
Rodents like mice, chipmunks and ground
squirrels will chew right in to your tent if they smell food. If you
can't hang your pack, leave your zippers unzipped. Small animals
will explore if they smell food and better not to deal with gnawed
holes.
Plants:
The Poison Trio (oak, ivy and sumac) and nettle.
The Poison Trio (oak, ivy and sumac) and nettle.
From exposure to bumps takes a few hours, so don't panic. If you get in something you know you are allergic to, try to wipe down with a baby wipe as soon as you can, especially your shoes. Anything with lather to it will break up the oils. If you are really prone, bring along Tech-Nu or another ivy cleanser.
Nettle will give an itchy rash. A baby
wipe will help a little once the rash is up, or any cool damp cloth.
If there are any stinging hairs stuck in your skin, use a piece of
duct tape or the sticking parts of a bandaid to pull them out. A
plaster of mud left to dry and then brushed off will work, too.
List:05 Sharing the Trail or Other Basic Logic
Here are the general
rules for sharing the trail:
Anyone coming up a hill has the right of way. Move over and let them pass. If you are the one climbing up and don't want to power through, step to the side and allow the descending party to pass.
Move over and let a faster party pass you if you are both going the same way.
Pack animals always have the right of way. Move off the trail and stay still until they pass.
Bikers are supposed to yield to hikers, but often fly around curves and over hills, so always keep an eye out on shared trails.
Basic etiquette:
Don't make a new path via taking a shortcut or cutting down switchbacks
Walk in single file on narrow trails to keep from making it wider
Walk through puddles instead of skirting them to keep from making the trail a wide muddy wash (I am SO guilty of this, I hate wet feet!)
Say hey when you pass other hikers, but don't stop and chat unless they really seem eager.
Do share important info such as snake sighting or an unclear trail split ahead, but don't tell your fellow hikers about the terrain or distance to go unless they ask.
Anyone coming up a hill has the right of way. Move over and let them pass. If you are the one climbing up and don't want to power through, step to the side and allow the descending party to pass.
Move over and let a faster party pass you if you are both going the same way.
Pack animals always have the right of way. Move off the trail and stay still until they pass.
Bikers are supposed to yield to hikers, but often fly around curves and over hills, so always keep an eye out on shared trails.
Basic etiquette:
Don't make a new path via taking a shortcut or cutting down switchbacks
Walk in single file on narrow trails to keep from making it wider
Walk through puddles instead of skirting them to keep from making the trail a wide muddy wash (I am SO guilty of this, I hate wet feet!)
Say hey when you pass other hikers, but don't stop and chat unless they really seem eager.
Do share important info such as snake sighting or an unclear trail split ahead, but don't tell your fellow hikers about the terrain or distance to go unless they ask.
Hiking Logic:
2.5 miles an hour is a good estimate, add 20 minutes to each mile that has a long climb.
Walk the pace of the slowest hiker or
else pre-plan where to meet back up and be sure you both have a map
as well as a good idea of the distance to the meeting up point.
Stop as needed to rest, adjust gear, check feet or snack, especially if hiking with kids. Specifically ask them if their feet have any spots that feel hot or if their shoes are rubbing.
Stop as needed to rest, adjust gear, check feet or snack, especially if hiking with kids. Specifically ask them if their feet have any spots that feel hot or if their shoes are rubbing.
If it's chilly, put your jacket on as
soon as you stop. Staying warm is easier than getting warm.
If it's warm, rest in the shade-you
will be more rested if you are as comfortable as possible.
When resting for a while, elevate your legs, especially if your feet tend to swell. This drains lactic acid (staying really hydrated helps with this, too!) which is the culprit that causes muscles to be sore.
When resting for a while, elevate your legs, especially if your feet tend to swell. This drains lactic acid (staying really hydrated helps with this, too!) which is the culprit that causes muscles to be sore.
If your hands tend to swell, leave your
metal rings at home, drink more and walk briefly with them up in the
air over your head or hook your thumbs into your straps to keep your
hands above your heart.
Qalo makes a silicone ring that won't cut off circulation if you can't stand the thought of not having a wedding ring on.
Qalo makes a silicone ring that won't cut off circulation if you can't stand the thought of not having a wedding ring on.
Common Sense:
Spend some time learning to read weather signs.
Spend some time learning to read weather signs.
Practice Leave No Trace.
Know basic first aid at LEAST and know
how to use everything in your first aid kit. Same for your repair
kit. Know how to use your equipment including making repairs,
troubleshooting problems and be sure of the type gas and canister
size your stove uses.
Know how to stay found. Consult your
map often to keep up with your location, double check at intersections,
leave your plans with someone back home and check in as soon as
you are off the trail. If truly worried, look into getting a SPOT or
similar device. These ping your location and report back with about
a 15 minute delay. People with your pass code can track your whole
hike and when you are set up for the night, you can press a button
that sends an 'all okay' message. If it all goes horribly wrong, you
can also press a button that will summon the troops for rescue.
These are currently around $120 and involve a monthly fee for
service.
Never ever ever wear cotton any time
for any layer. If it gets wet, it becomes heavy and it will suck the
body heat out of you. Cotton kills! Hypothermia is a real danger,
even in warmer weather.
List: 04 How to Load Your Pack
You have all your stuff and are ready
to pack. How should you put it in the pack?
The best plan is to put lighter,
bulkier stuff at the bottom. Your sleeping bag, extra clothes,
repair kit and sleeping pad all go at the bottom of your pack. Put
the heaviest stuff on top of that and against your back.
Cookware, the stove, tent poles, heavier food and so on should be against your back with lighter items like your towel, rain gear and tent (or hammock) between that and the front of your pack to keep it from shifting at all. The weight against your back keeps the load from pulling your shoulders more. On top of that layer goes the rest of the food, your fleece/puffy and rain gear and your first aid kit. Keep your map, compass, camera, snacks, notepad and water bottle in your outside pockets or a fanny pack turned around to your front. You can clip your hat and bandanna to the outside when not in use.
Always have several big trash bags
along, you can put wet gear in them either in your backpack in the
case of a soaked tent or in your tent in the case of soaked clothing
and shoes.
Use a tiny flashlight as the zipper
pull on your pack and you will always have a quick way to see what
you are digging around for.
Get a system in place for stuff sacks and gear/food. Keep your food packed together either by day or by meal, keep all toiletries in one colored bag, first aid in another, rain gear in a third and so on. This will make organization simple once you have learned your system and will ensure you don't forget anything if you load your gear the same way each time, it will be obvious immediately that your small red first aid sack slipped behind the log you were sitting on the night before.
Get a system in place for stuff sacks and gear/food. Keep your food packed together either by day or by meal, keep all toiletries in one colored bag, first aid in another, rain gear in a third and so on. This will make organization simple once you have learned your system and will ensure you don't forget anything if you load your gear the same way each time, it will be obvious immediately that your small red first aid sack slipped behind the log you were sitting on the night before.
Do not head out without knowing how to
use your gear, even if you upgraded to a newer version of what you
already had. Read the troubleshooter tips for filters, stoves and so
on and make sure you know how to deal with possible common problems.
Set up your tent or hammock several times to get a really good feel
for how everything goes. It may be dark or raining when you arrive
at your site. If it's raining and your tent is mesh with a rain fly,
practice putting it together upside down so the bottom gets wet
instead of the inside floor and then flip and slap on the fly super
fast.
Look at your gear and decide what can
do double duty.
Unless you are going for just one night or it's otherwise a relaxed trip, don't take anything you think, "Just In Case" about.
a properly loaded pack is the key to a comfortable hike
List:03 What to Bring
My Packing List:
Not everything goes on every trip, this is what I have taken that I will take again.
Backpack with rain cover
Fanny Pack
Stuff Sacks
Not everything goes on every trip, this is what I have taken that I will take again.
Backpack with rain cover
Fanny Pack
Stuff Sacks
Shelter:
tent with poles and stakes and fly
tarp/ground cloth
tent with poles and stakes and fly
tarp/ground cloth
or hammock, net and rain fly
Sleeping bag and liner
Sleeping pad
inflatable pillow
Sleeping bag and liner
Sleeping pad
inflatable pillow
Kitchen:
stove
Fuel
stove
Fuel
lighter/matches
Kettle or pot
Kettle or pot
cooking pouches
extra baggies
long spoon
sporks
toaster fork/foil
water bottles
mug
water purification system
Clothing:
weather reliant layers
always bring a knit hat and extra wool socks
camp shoes
sunglasses and sun hat
bug net for your head
poncho or rain gear
light fleece jacket or puffy
You can use extra clothes in a stuff sack as a pillow or find room for one.
sleeping clothes
extra baggies
long spoon
sporks
toaster fork/foil
water bottles
mug
water purification system
Clothing:
weather reliant layers
always bring a knit hat and extra wool socks
camp shoes
sunglasses and sun hat
bug net for your head
poncho or rain gear
light fleece jacket or puffy
You can use extra clothes in a stuff sack as a pillow or find room for one.
sleeping clothes
Lighting:
headlamp and tiny flashlight that I clip to my pack zipper so I can see inside it
Luminaid lantern
headlamp and tiny flashlight that I clip to my pack zipper so I can see inside it
Luminaid lantern
Repair kit:
Tenacious tape
2 small zip ties
small multitool
ripstop nylon patches
3-4 large sturdy safety pins
2 sewing needles and a length of dental floss
extra buckle
air mattress repair patch
tent pole repair sleeve
Tenacious tape
2 small zip ties
small multitool
ripstop nylon patches
3-4 large sturdy safety pins
2 sewing needles and a length of dental floss
extra buckle
air mattress repair patch
tent pole repair sleeve
First Aid:
Small packet of wet wipes
tiny tube of hand sanitizer
self-sticking wrap
6-8 bandaids in a couple sizes
butterfly closure strips
tooth cement (a tiny plastic container of numbing agent to pack into a cracked or broken tooth)
Saline misting spray if anyone is prone to nosebleeds
Tylenol
Benedryl
antibiotic ointment
tweezers
Pepto tablets
2 gauze pads
extra tampons
moleskin
tiny nail scissors
tiny tube of hand sanitizer
self-sticking wrap
6-8 bandaids in a couple sizes
butterfly closure strips
tooth cement (a tiny plastic container of numbing agent to pack into a cracked or broken tooth)
Saline misting spray if anyone is prone to nosebleeds
Tylenol
Benedryl
antibiotic ointment
tweezers
Pepto tablets
2 gauze pads
extra tampons
moleskin
tiny nail scissors
sunscreen
lip balm
bug dope
stick-on forehead thermometer
foam ear plugs
foam ear plugs
Also:
Map of trail
compass
trail guide if possible
Map of trail
compass
trail guide if possible
2-3 clips (mainly to attach wet
clothing to dry on your pack, you will find many other uses)
trash bags (compactor bags are good for this)
small umbrella (light rain or hot sun
protection, just tuck the handle in your pack strap)
hiking poles or stick
towel/chamois
paracord
toilet paper and trowel
toothbrush and paste
comb/hair holders
toothbrush and paste
comb/hair holders
notebook and pen
camera/battery
bandanna (more than one)
bandanna (more than one)
It looks like a TON of stuff, but
everything on the list adds up to a little over 20
pounds! Most of it is tiny.
Ultralight gear is awesome AND it's $$$ AND it is very often made with fragile materials to keep the weight down, making it something you have to really care for every step of the way to keep from getting shredded. I advise going for the lightest you can afford that still has good durability, so 20 to 25 pounds is a very attainable goal. Your Big Four are pack, shelter, sleeping bag, sleeping pad. Get the weight down on these-even if you have to swap out as the money is there to do it-and each upgrade will improve your situation.
Ultralight gear is awesome AND it's $$$ AND it is very often made with fragile materials to keep the weight down, making it something you have to really care for every step of the way to keep from getting shredded. I advise going for the lightest you can afford that still has good durability, so 20 to 25 pounds is a very attainable goal. Your Big Four are pack, shelter, sleeping bag, sleeping pad. Get the weight down on these-even if you have to swap out as the money is there to do it-and each upgrade will improve your situation.
List:02 Food Options
I discovered early on that I don't like
trying to clean goo off the inside of tiny pots when there's no sink with a drain that takes care of the waste water or bubbles involved. So, I adopted a 3 prong approach, I call it
Trident Cooking. No, I don't really, but I should.
Prong One.
Cook in foil or on sticks when possible!
Prong One.
Cook in foil or on sticks when possible!
Prong Two.
Cold foods!
Prong Three.
Rehydrating foods using quart size freezer bags tucked into insulating pouches!
Cold foods!
Prong Three.
Rehydrating foods using quart size freezer bags tucked into insulating pouches!
With all three methods there is only a
small amount of trash to pack out and zero dishes or pots. All you
need is a kettle and stove/fuel to use freezer bag cooking. Some foil and a fire for campfire cooking.
I recently got a pair of these little guys, they will go in my kitchen kit and live there:
In your kitchen kit consider a couple
extras, especially for shorter trips when weight is not as much an
issue:
A small cutting board if you have along cheese, bread or veggies. I have nightmares about a knife slip into my thigh trying to get a chunk of cheese. So I just eat the whole block in one sitting. Safety.
A collapsible sink or bucket. This is so useful, I take one on every camping trip, even in the van.
A small tube of hand sanitizer to cut down on the chance of making yourself sick via touching your food without cleaning your hands.
If you use foil/stick/freezer bag cooking, you will have nothing to wash, so don't need soap or a cloth to clean with, you won't need to dig a grey water hole, won't have to haul more water or do anything more than eat, roll up your bag or fold the foil and put it in an odor-blocking baggie to carry out.
A small cutting board if you have along cheese, bread or veggies. I have nightmares about a knife slip into my thigh trying to get a chunk of cheese. So I just eat the whole block in one sitting. Safety.
A collapsible sink or bucket. This is so useful, I take one on every camping trip, even in the van.
A small tube of hand sanitizer to cut down on the chance of making yourself sick via touching your food without cleaning your hands.
If you use foil/stick/freezer bag cooking, you will have nothing to wash, so don't need soap or a cloth to clean with, you won't need to dig a grey water hole, won't have to haul more water or do anything more than eat, roll up your bag or fold the foil and put it in an odor-blocking baggie to carry out.
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