Georgia AT trek.

**FVR** · 02-05-2011, 12:44 AM

Don't remember if I posted this or not.

I am planning to do a 20 mile AT trek in a month. Getting the gear together, I was going to go primitive but have decided not to.

I figure since this is my first venture out in a very long time, I might as well make is as
easy as possible. LOL.

Borrowed a nice pack, took out the steel rods, the extra zip on pack, and the foam insert. The insert was replaced by a light duty wool blanket.

I was going to just go with a poncho and mil. blanket, but have been called nutso so I have decided to get a sleeping bag. I am renting it from a gent down at the Blue Sky Outfitters in town. He suggested that I use this special one that is made for hammock camping as that is what I'm going to be doing. 20 bucks, can't beat that, the other participants in this little journey have already dropped hundreds of dollars. I'm doing it on the cheap.

Taking:

Hammock
Sleeping bag with cover (3 to 4 pounds)
Tarp ( I will be making out of clear visc. size 7x8 feet)
Pair of shorts
2 extra pair of Timberland mixed wool hiking socks. These are amazing...
Military poncho
Canteen cup
Tin coffee cup
Paracord, about 20'
My KABAR - don't leave home without it.
Little dagger knife
Leatherman, the small one
Meds and small first aid kit including; super glue, duc tape, anti diahrea, IB, Absolute and olives.
My little orange whistle that has a flint striker and compass. Inside waterproof matches and a striker, positioned as not to ignite in my pack.
My little fold out sterno stove - awsome
2 cans sterno
A super powerful mini headlamp
Wool mix longsleave undershirt
T shirt
Flint / steel
A bush hat
sunglasses
wool fingerless gloves
Fleece pull over shirt, fleece is nice.

The pack is weighing in right now at 15lbs, without the sleeping bag and cover and Absolute and olives. Thinking of going with dehydrated foods, power bars, and powder for gatorade.

The water container is 3lbs and holds about a half gallon. I have no problem boiling water, and at 8lbs a gallon, that gets heavy.

I did a 6 mile mountain trek two weeks back wearing jungle boots and a 20lb pack. Yeh, I'm a dumbass. Jungle boots may have been good for my feet years ago, but with a left ankle that has been broken twice, not a good idea. Tried on so many hiking boots and finally found a pair of Timberlands that are just so comfy and cover the ankle. Even when it's swollen.

Went to the doc today and he gave me the once over, everything looks good to go. I showed him this little sore on my foot, it's been there for years. Plantars wart, I told him to cut it out. He told me that if he did, I would not be making the trek. So he froze the bastard...boy it sure does hurt. He said the pain will go away in a week. After the trek, he will do all the cutting I need.

He said the ankle is going to hurt, no matter what. I will take a small vial of tiger balm for a good evening rub down.

I have chosen to not take a firearm on this trip. One of the other guys will have his glock, I see no reason for one at this point. Depending on the final weight, the hawk may accompany me.

Any suggestions or comments are welcome.

**Rick** · 02-05-2011, 01:23 AM

Toilet paper and duct tape. How are you treating and carrying water? I take it this is a section hike and not a through hike to Katahdin?

**crashdive123** · 02-05-2011, 09:03 AM

Have fun Frank. Take lots of pictures.

**FVR** · 02-05-2011, 09:54 AM

Have duc tape and will not forget tp.

Hiking the first 20 miles starting in Georgia.

I am carrying a bit over half gallon of water and will treat trail water the safest way, boiling it.

**Sam** · 02-05-2011, 12:32 PM

Hey Frank, I had a planters wart about 30 years ago and the doctor used embalming fluid to kill it. One trip to the doc. and it never came back. The embalming fluid shrinks the capilaries and starves the wart out. Might be worth asking about.
And you might try using D-rings on your hammock ropes to make a rain barrier from the tree to you.
-Sam

**Pocomoonskyeyes3** · 02-05-2011, 02:11 PM

Uh, Frank, If I were you I'd take that 'Hawk. I remember the thread where you said if you could only take 3 items the 'Hawk was one of them. Just sayin'.....

If you encountered "Ruffians" and your friend has the Glock, I think with him and you with a 'Hawk and Kabar, they would be scared to death!

**Rick** · 02-05-2011, 03:30 PM

Embalming fluid? I worked in a funeral home in high school. That was some nasty stuff. It was mostly formaldehyde and ethanol. Every funeral director back then had "embalmers fingers" from the stuff eating the skin off their fingers. If you saw a funeral director wearing gloves at a funeral you could bet he had a really bad case of it and the gloves just covered it up. There's no way I'd put that stuff on any part of me. I'm sure it did kill the wart, however.

**FVR** · 02-05-2011, 04:11 PM

What am I thinking, the hawk is going to go.

The doc froze this wart, kinda burned when he did it, now it hurts. We'll see.

**Sam** · 02-05-2011, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

Embalming fluid? I worked in a funeral home in high school. That was some nasty stuff. It was mostly formaldehyde and ethanol. Every funeral director back then had "embalmers fingers" from the stuff eating the skin off their fingers. If you saw a funeral director wearing gloves at a funeral you could bet he had a really bad case of it and the gloves just covered it up. There's no way I'd put that stuff on any part of me. I'm sure it did kill the wart, however.

The doctor had me apply it with a q-tip twice a day for two weeks. I had no problems with it. That is why I mentioned asking his doctor about it. I think Dr. Keys was his name out of Springfield, MO. I can't be sure tho. It can't hurt to ask his doc.
-Sam

**crashdive123** · 02-05-2011, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by Sam

The doctor had me apply it with a q-tip twice a day for two weeks. I had no problems with it. That is why I mentioned asking his doctor about it. I think Dr. Keys was his name out of Springfield, MO. I can't be sure tho. It can't hurt to ask his doc.
-Sam

You know he changed his name from Kevorkian to Keys don't you?

**Rick** · 02-05-2011, 06:56 PM

Now that right there is funny I don't care who you are.

**your_comforting_company** · 02-06-2011, 05:30 AM

Is the hawk long enough to double as a walking stick? I'm thinking the ankle might get aggravated and a nice prop stick would help.

of course, you can always pick up one on the trail like I do.

Also, take some ibuprofen and Tylenol Arthritis.. Nothing sucks worse than a headache when you're 20 miles from anywhere.

**FVR** · 02-09-2011, 11:16 PM

IB and Absolute = no pain.

Have had a change of heart. After talking with the gents at the local outfitter store, decided to take a sleeping bag. Renting one from one of the employees for 20 bucks for the weekend. It's the special bag with the spreader that is used in hammocks.

**Batch** · 02-12-2011, 02:28 PM

If you want something really great to listen to before your trek get "A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail" (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail). Get the audio book because Bill Bryson tells the story great! We listened to it on the way to various hikes or camping trips and laughed our butts off.