For most of my hike, my pack weighed between 35 and 45 lbs. depending on how much food and water I was carrying. Before changing out my pack after Damascus, VA it was well over 50 lbs. A typical resupply added 10-12 lbs. to my pack weight. Each liter of water weighs 2.2 lbs., so carrying 2 full liters was an extra 4.4 lbs. I tried to use as much ultra light gear as possible, such as my tent (14 oz.), pack (2 lbs. 10 oz.), sleeping bag (1 lb. 3 oz. / 2 lbs. 4 oz.*), pad (1 lb.) and cook system (15.7 oz., gross wt.). A minimum of clothes was also important to reduce weight. I started out with a 6+ lb. L.L.Bean pack, and after 470 miles, changed to my 2 lbs. 10 oz. REI bag, losing over 3 lbs. At that point I also changed out my 20º down L.L.Bean bag for a lighter weight Big Agnes liner bag, losing about 1 lb.

My Gear

• REI Flash 55 Backpack (2 lbs. 10 oz.)

• Waterproof pack cover

• Pair of Trekking poles

• Sea to Summit waterproof bag for stowing sleeping bag

• Ditty bag for clothing

• Ditty bag for utility/first aid items

• Ditty Bag for cook pot, stove, fuel, etc.

• Rough Enough electronics bag

• Chum’s surf shorts wallet

• First aid/toiletry items:

o Toothbrush/toothpaste (keep in food bag)

o Small comb

o Several Dozen 1” x 3” waterproof Band-Aids

o Adhesive tape

o Ace bandage

o Sunscreen

o Lip balm

o Leuko Tape

o Small medical scissors

o Tweezers

o Fingernail clipper

o Toenail clipper

o Small tube antiseptic cream

o Full Dose of antibiotics (e.g., Cipro)

o Ibuprofen (Vitamin I)

o Lightweight elastic knee brace

o Ben’s Bug spray, 100% DEET, 37 ml (optional, I rarely used it)

• Zpacks Altaplex 1-person tent (14 0z.)

• Tyvek Goundcloth

• 7 aluminum tent stakes

• L.L.Bean 20º goose down fill sleeping bag (2lbs. 4 oz. *early high alt. and fall only)

• Big Agnes Farrington sleeping bag liner (1 lb. 3 oz. *summer bag only)

• Outdoor Vitals Ultralight Stretch Pillow

• Sawyer Permethrin Pump Spray - 24 oz. (treat clothing pre-trip for ticks)

• Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad (1 lb.)

• Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat Pad

• Zpacks Large Dyneema Food Bag (3.4 oz. empty, 10-12 lbs. full)

• MSR Pocket Rocket Stove and 8 oz. gas (2.6 oz. stove, 13.1 gross oz. fuel)

• Lixada Titanium 650ml Cook pot (2.8 oz.)

• Snow Peak HotLips

• TOAKS titanium Spork

• 2 Lighters

• Small pocketknife

• Small 4 oz. biodegradable liquid camp soap

• 4Monster Microfiber Towel (X-small size 12” x 20” hung on pack)

• Sawyer Squeeze Water filter system

• Water collection bags

• Potable Aqua Water Purification Tablets (iodine)

• 2 1-liter Smart Water bottles (4.4 lbs.)

• Toilet Paper

• Lightweight hand shovel

• Small 4 oz. hand sanitizer-hang from pack (refilled at each hostel)

• NatGeo Appalachian Trail Map Guides (1501-1513)

• ATC 2020 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker’s Companion

• Small notebook for journaling and notes

• 2 Pens

• Cell phone (mainly for pictures, GAIA app for GPS guidance when needed)

• USB wall charger and cord

• Pocket Juice Battery charger (3.7V/8000mAh/29.6Wh, for iPhone and headlamp)

• Several dozen gallon zip-lock bags (for food, clothes, and any small items)

• Clothing:

o Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator low cut hiking shoes (4 pairs over 150 days)

o Altra Superiors as camp and water shoes

o Dirty Girl Gaiters

o Lightweight Gym shorts for night

o Hiking Pants-Convertible Quick Dry Lightweight Zip Offs

o Long sleeve silk long john top

o Sleeveless polyester shirt

o Puffy coat (polyfill insulated jacket)

o Patagonia fleece pullover (lightweight)

o Outdoor Research Rain Jacket

o Marmot Gore-Tex waterproof rain jacket (purchased mid-Autumn)

o REI Gore-Tex waterproof long pants (purchased mid-Autumn)

o 3 pairs Smart Wool socks

o 2 pair Injinji toe socks

o Golf hat

o Silk lightweight glove liners

o Polyester gloves

o REI Minimalist GTX waterproof mittens (shell) (purchased mid-Autumn)

o Wool Cap

o Buff or Neck gaiter

o Sunglasses

Food (5-6 day average re-supply, 10-12 lbs.)

• 12 packets instant Quaker oatmeal

• 2 boxes of 7 packets instant Folgers coffee

• 25 + assorted energy bars (Clif, Nature Valley, Larabar, etc.)

• 6 small boxes raisins

• 6 cheese or PB snack cracker packs

• 6 large beef sticks, Slim Jims or jerky

• 12 cheese sticks

• 6 Snickers or Almond Joy bars

• 6 assorted Ramen noodle packs

• 6 foil packs of tuna, chicken or spam

• 12 flavored energy mix packets for water

Below is a brief summary of where I camped or stayed each night:

• 103 Tent nights

• 19 Shelter nights

• 27 Hostel or Motel stays for rest and resupply

Shelters:

June 14, 2020 Siler Bald Shelter

June 21, 2020 Silers Bald Shelter

July 7, 2020 Moreland Gap Shelter

August 31, 2020 James Fry (Tagg Run) Shelter

September 3, 2020 Clarks Ferry Shelter

September 29, 2020 Full Goose Shelter

September 30, 2020 Gentian Pond Shelter

October 6, 2020 Ethan Pond Shelter

October 7, 2020 Garfield Ridge Shelter

October 12, 2020 Firewarden's Cabin

October 13, 2020 Trapper John Shelter

October 16, 2020 Stony Brook Shelter

October 19, 2020 Little Rock Pond Shelter

October 20, 2020 Bromley Shelter

October 24, 2020 Mark Noepel Lean-to

October 28, 2020 The Hemlocks Lean-to

November 1, 2020 Mt. Algo Lean-to

November 2, 2020 Wiley Shelter

November 12, 2020 Leroy A. Smith Shelter

Hostel or Motel Stays:

June 16-17, 2020 Nantahala Outdoor Ctr., Wesser, NC

June 28, 2020 Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs, NC

July 12-13, 2020 Broken Fiddle Hostel, Damascus, VA

July 29, 2020 Bear Garden Hostel, Ceres, VA

August 3, 2020 Angels Rest Hostel, Pearisburg, VA

August 15, 2020 Stanimal’s Hostel, Waynesboro, VA

August 21-22, 2020 Motel, Luray, VA

August 25, 2020 Scott's Cabin, Snickers Gap, VA

September 15, 2020 Shaw’s Hostel, Monson, ME

September 25, 2020 Saddleback Inn, Rangeley, ME

October 1-3, 2020 Rattle River Hostel, Gorham, ME

October 8, 2020 The Notch Hostel, N. Woodstock, NH

October 9, 2020 Liberty Lodging Motel, Lincoln, NH

October 14, 2020 Hanover AT Hostel, Norwich, VT

October 24, 2020 Willows Motel, South Adams, MA

October 29-30, 2020 Vanessa Breton House, Salisbury, CT

November 6-7, 2020 Motel, Sussex, NJ

November 11, 2020 Motel, Delaware Water Gap, PA

Expense Summary

I spent about $3000 on all of my gear. Every 5 days (on the average) I spent about $65 on my food resupply. Over the course of 150 days I estimated that I spent close to $2000 for food. Transportation by air to Atlanta plus round trip from PIT to Tri-Cities cost about $400. For numerous shuttles to and from hostels, into towns for resupplies and general transport, I likely spent over $500. I stayed 27 nights in hostels or hotels costing me over $1000. Restaurant meals while in towns likely totaled well over $1000. Altogether the trip cost me in excess of $7900 over a period of five net months, or 150 days. This figure represents the total of all of my gear, all of my meals, hostel and hotel stays, and anything else in between. The average daily cost for this period comes to about $53 per day. Money well spent, in my opinion.

Trail Time and distance Stats:

Total logged miles 2157.2 miles

Average daily miles 15.4 miles

Longest daily miles 25.3 miles

Average steps per day 36,696 steps

Average steps per mile 2576 steps

Average stride length 2.03 feet/step

Average speed 1.61 miles/hour

Average pace 37.3 minutes/mile

Average wake up time 5:08 AM

Average trail start time 7:12 AM

Average trail end time 4:37 PM

Average hours per day on trail 9:40

Graphs in book:

1. Type of night stay vs. Elevation

2. Miles per day hiked vs. Elevation

3. Miles per day hiked vs. Trail Hours per Day

4. Miles per day hiked vs. iPhone Steps per Day

5. Stride length: Feet per step (miles x 5280)/iPhone steps vs. MPH

6. Age and Rock Type vs. Stride length