re: Anyone hiked the entire Appalachian Trail?

Gotcha, thank you! I hate sleeping on my back, I would snore like a freight train. I am parring down my weight with all suggestions on here, but I don't want to up the "embrace the suck" factor.

Thank you will consider it, what size tarp do you hike with?

You need to try them out. It would be a mistake going on a big hike like that without trying them both out.

Some people simply can’t sleep in hammocks and some can’t sleep on the ground. The biggest negative to hammocks is the need for trees and your gear isn’t with you.

quote:

---

One question I have a hammock and a one person tent, how doesn't one handle weather when hammock hiking for that long?

---

I used a Hennessy but have upgraded to a warbonnet now. I don’t use an underquilt. A foam pad or something worked great for me. I went with the double layer warbonnet because it’s easier to put the pad between the layers and not have to worry about it moving around.

I tried a few things on cold nights before the hike to get comfortable with the setup. I’ve done some pretty intense winter camping with it since then. Just make sure you think about wind blown rain when choosing a tarp.

You are going to get some pretty intense thunderstorms on the hike. When picking trees to hang from pay attention to height, etc.

The hammock will weigh more but it was worth it to me. While others are trying to find a level or dry place all I needed were two trees. I think they do less damage to the environment too as long as you are using tree huggers.

I live in the middle of 4 million acres of wilderness and essentially no roads. We have a few gravel service routes around the airstrip but that’s it. Days are plenty long enough in the summer to fish, hike, go pack rafting, etc after work. In some ways I feel like I’m on a long thru hike but have the comforts of my home.

I do say when I retire I’d like to do the AT again and hike the PCT.

Thanks for the info, I think I am going to stick with my ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1-Person Tent LINK for the journey. My Amazon list is growing for lighter gear and things I didn't think of, been watching youtube videos of people that journal the thru hike.

Right now I have a TETON Sports Explorer 4000 Internal Frame Backpack LINK 65L, but at this point I am a year out and everything is up for debate. That's why I am here asking questions, I am not a novice, but never even came close to something like this.

quote:

---

Keep the big 3 under 10 and your on your way.

---

Pack, tent and bag are 11. I will prepare boxes for things and let my family know when to send them.

I am starting with World Wide Sportsman Blue Water Waterproof Chukka Boots LINK I trekked through glacier water in Iceland with them and my feet were bone dry.
Prepared to order Altra Lone Peak 3.5 LINK if needed.

To fight blisters LINK In the military we used knee high pantyhose.....

Imusa .9 quart grease pot with a homemade fancy feast stove. Fosters DIY cup for coffee. Coozies diy out of reflectix for both.

I go stoveless more and more on trips now. Just don’t feel like taking the time to hydrate meals.