Hiking Mama: Appalachian Trail 2017 --- Section Hike 1 --- Getting ready

Well we are days away from starting our first section hike on the Appalachian Trail.

Last year you may have read about our trip to Peru, three generations, me, my Mom and Milli. We had a blast!
Early on in our adventure, I was inspired by my Mom's and Milli's grit as we scaled the side of a cliff for two hours up to our luxe "accommodations" in the SkyLodge.
Halfway up the ferrata I thought Milli and I should take on a challenge like this together every year; to connect us to nature, each other and to other people outside of our immediate community, to challenge ourselves and use what we experience to learn from, enjoy and to keep us growing.

One of my favorite quotes:

"In every walk with nature, one receives far more then he seeks." - John Muir

So here we go...

The Appalachian Trail Facts:

2200 miles long (approx., it seems to waver a bit over the years)

Longest hiking trail in the world

Crosses 14 states, 6 National Parks and 8 National Forests: GA,NC,TN,VA,WVa,MD,PA,NJ,NY,CT,MA,VT,NH & ME

Starts: Approach Trail - Amicalola Falls, GA or Springer Mntn, GA and ends Mt. Katahdin, ME

2-3 million people walk on some part of the AT every year

October 1921 Benton MacKaye went public with his idea for the AT that came to him while sitting in a tree on Stratton Mntn, VT

1937 the AT was completed, but no one did a continuous hike (thru hike) until 1948 (Earl Shaffer)

Most thru hikes take 5-6 months to complete

Total elevation gain (ascents & descents) on the entire trail = 16 climbs of the 29K foot Mt. Everest

Our Section Hike 1

From Amicalola Falls, GA to Nantahala Outdoor Center, Wesser, NC

163.1 miles
June 11 - 25, 2017

Depending how it all goes this trip...next year will be a 300 mile section hike...our goal is to finish section hiking the entire AT together by 2025, or before.
This is the first hike I have done without a guide, so my nerves are running high...shhhh, don't tell Milli! :)

Here are the books we read:

Here are some of our favorite web sites/blogs/resources:

ATC: http://www.appalachiantrail.org

AT Database:http://www.sophiaknows.com/atdb/sections.php?section=1

ThruHiker blogs: https://thetrek.co/the-bloggers

Section Hiker:http://sectionhiker.com/how-to-section-hike-the-appalachian-trail-beginner-advice

REI- couldn't really go anywhere without their gear, advice and guidance!: https://www.rei.com

We started planning this trip in December 2016, so our Christmas list didn't look like many others...think tent, compasses, pocket knives... :)

Here is our 1st gear layout: (I say first, because we will take one more weather check before we leave and add or subtract...)

Milli's Pack:

PACK: Rei Flash 45L: 2 lbs. 11 ozs.

FOOD (6days): 2lbs. 10 ozs.

CLOTHES: 2lbs. 3.4 ozs.

SNACKS (6days): 1 lb. 4.5 ozs.

HIKING SHOES: Merrell All Out Blaze Aero Sport Non Waterproof: 1 lb. .6 ozs.

HIKING POLES: 14.1 ozs.

CAMP SHOES: Teva : 11.2 ozs.

SLEEPING PAD: ZLite: 10.0 ozs.

STAINLESS STEEL CUP & BOWL and TITANIUM LONG SPORK: 9.8 ozs.

RAIN COAT: 8.3 ozs.

WATER BOTTLE/FILTER: REI/Sawyer Mini: 8.1 ozs.

SLEEP LINER: 8.0 ozs.

SOCKS (3 prs.): 6.0 ozs.

LUXURY ITEM...NECK ROLL/SLEEPING PILLOW: 4.7 ozs.

JAMMIES: 4.6 ozs.

(just in case) HAT/GLOVES/BUFF: 4.1 ozs.

HEADLAMP/FLASHLIGHT: 3.6 ozs.

TOILET PAPER: 2.2 ozs.

WASHCLOTH/BANDANA: 1.9 ozs.

MISSING: toothbrush, hairbrush, phone/charger, journal/pen, cards

MILLI'S "in formation" TOTAL WEIGHT: 14 lbs. 8 ozs.

Jeanine's Pack:

FOOD (6days): 4 lbs. 6.2 ozs.

PACK: Dueter 65L: 3 lbs. 15 ozs.

TENT/FOOT PRINT: REI Half Dome 2person: 3 lbs. 8.1 ozs.

CLOTHES: 2 lbs. 10.4 ozs.

Fluff & Peanut butter: 2 lbs. 8.7 ozs.

HIKING SHOES: Hoka One One Waterproof: 1 lb. 10.8 ozs.

SLEEPING BAG: REI Helio: 1 lb. 10.6 ozs.

LUXURY ITEM...POWERPACK: Poweradd Pilot 30K mAh: 1 lb. 6.4 ozs.

TOILETRIES (toothpaste, deodorant, facescrub, sunscreen, bug spray, chapstick, camp soap, gold bonds itch cream, handsanitizer) : 1 lb. 5.8 ozs.

CAMP SHOES: Merrell : 1 lb. 3.6 ozs.

SNACKS (6days): 1 lb. 2.6 ozs.

Gerber pocket knife/Sabre pepper spray/Robocopp alarm/batteries/Bic & Optimus lighters: 1 lb. 1.1 ozs.

TOILET PAPER/BIODEGRADABLE WIPES: 1 lb. .2 ozs.

FIRST AID KIT: 15.3 ozs.

JET BOIL: 15.3 ozs.

HIKING POLES: 14.1 ozs.

SLEEPING PAD: ZLite: 13.4 ozs.

REI WATER BOTTLE/ Sawyer Mini FILTER/Potable Water PURIFICATION tablets/ Lyte Show HYDRATION DROPS: 11.3 ozs.

RAIN PONCHO: 11.0 ozs.

STAINLESS STEEL CUP & BOWL and TITANIUM LONG SPORK: 9.8 ozs.

WASTE BAGS: 9.7 ozs.

(bringing two liners & one zip out sleeping bag) SLEEP LINER: 9.4 ozs.

TOWEL & WASHCLOTH: 7.4 ozs.

JAMMIES: 6.6 ozs.

SOCKS: 6.0 ozs.

LUXURY ITEM...NECK ROLL/SLEEPING PILLOW: 4.7 ozs.

(just in case) HAT/GLOVES/BUFF: 4.1 ozs.

LUXURY ITEM...Eno Lights: 4.0 ozs.

BUG NET/BANDANA/DAY GLOVES: 2.9 ozs.

HEADLAMP: 2.3 ozs.

MISSING: toothbrush, phone/charger, journal, aleve!, knee braces, maps!...

JEANINE'S "in formation" TOTAL WEIGHT: 36 lbs. 11.2 ozs.

Any comments? Questions? Having a problem with the Fluff? Lol!

Not quite sure what we forgot, pretty sure we have more than enough though...we read a lot of lists and tried to be smart and not pack more than we need...

We also have a food drop box waiting to go --- just have to figure out where it should go, thinking Hiawasee, they have a post office, lodging, an All You Can Eat place and are friendly to hikers.