Follow Strider's Rambles

In July and August of 2019, I thru-hiked the Colorado Trail. Now that I plan to thru-hike the much longer Appalachian Trail (AT), I want to lighten my load. The big three in terms of weight are pack, sleep system, and shelter.

Shelter

My tent is the Nemo Hornet 2P and it weighs two pounds. For a 2-person tent, that is fairly light. I used it on the Colorado Trail and was happy with the durability, set-up, and size. On the AT it will feel even roomier because I will have it all to myself! In summary, my tent is not being replaced.

Sleep System

I always planned to get a new sleeping bag for the AT. My REI Kilo bag is over a decade old, weighs three pounds, and has lost down, hence warmth, over the years. I’ve casually perused lightweight alternatives over the last couple years, usually looking at mummy bags because I sleep cold. I nearly settled on the Western Mountaineering Versalite when I came across the Zpacks 3/4 zip sleeping bag. The Zpacks bag has the same 10-degree rating, but at a lighter weight. The top cinches up tight and, with the use of a down hood, I hope to get the mummy effect while saving seven ounces. I plan to use the hood on cold nights and spread it out like a quilt on hot ones, thus using the bag for the entire trail, which would be awesome!

Backpack

My old pack is the Osprey Aura 65. It’s sturdy, comfortable, has many pockets, and is often encountered on Colorado trails. However, it is on the heavier side. I found a list of ultralight packs, read reviews, and tried on what was available at REI. I chose the Granite Gear Crown2 60 as it had a great hip belt that I easily removed and adjusted to my exact hip measurement. It also weighed two pounds less than my old pack and was on clearance from REI.

Shakedown

I did not want to start the AT with untested gear. My shakedown was a 3-day backpacking trip on Segments 16 & 17 of the Arizona Trail. These segments followed the Gila River and traversed gorgeous Sonoran desert full of cactus, lizards, and sweeping vistas. Also, since it was early spring, there were lots of wildflowers.

The first day the new pack felt heavy on my shoulders and I felt a twinge of concern. However, the second and third days I wore it slightly higher on my hips and it felt great. I also developed a system for fitting my gear into the new space. In fact, faced with fewer pockets I actually organized my gear more efficiently. Some favorite features were the pack’s roomy side pockets, the roll top closure, and the tie-down strap that kept the brain firmly in place as the pack shrunk due to food consumption. In addition, I experienced no rubbing on my hip bones. (My old Osprey pack eventually rubbed that area raw.)

Now onto the sleeping bag….. a deliciously cozy cloud of down. It made me realize how much loft my old bag had lost. It was not cold enough to test the hood nor cinch the top tight. The trip’s low temperature was in the 40s with no breeze. I was quite comfortable with the top fully open.

Coming off the shakedown trek I am ready to face the AT with my new gear!