[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Problems while primitive camping (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 9/28/2013 5:28:50 PM EDT
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I recently went out on the AT and camped out. I was originally planning on staying two nights but due to the problems I'll get into I could only stay one.
Now I definitely over packed. I had 4-5 different fire starting methods, 2-3 ways to filter/purify water, plus I had enough food to last 3 days or so. The two main problems I faced was water and firewood. First I'll talk about firewood...Now realize that this is in a pretty dense wooded area. Tons of dead wood all around on the way up the 15-45 degree incline. However, the ONLY 10x10 area that was flat enough to camp on and did not have many jagged rocks sticking 6" out of the ground had almost ZERO dead wood for a good .25mi radius because everyone else that camped in that area realized that it was the only place to camp and had used all the dead wood. I used branches, some dead vine, and one sapling I did find that was somehow broken and dried enough to burn. It gave me about 2-3hours worth of fire. That's it. I did try getting a piece or two of freshly cut green wood to burn (which is a no-no ordinarily) and it really didn't. The fire had to roast the wood for an hour or so to dry it a bit and THEN it would burn...but really badly. It just kind of smouldered. Wood wood everywhere...but not a branch to burn! So why didn't I just hoof it and go outside of the .25mi radius to drag more back to the camp site? Brings me to the next problem...lack of water. I only had 32oz. in my Nalgene with me. My plan was to set up camp (which I figured would be pretty close to the only spring for miles that was actually flowing) and then go grab 1-2 gallons of water at the spring for drinking and cooking. However, the camp site turned out to be over a mile straight uphill from the spring and I didn't have enough daylight to make the hike to and from. Plus with other people in the area (firing shots) I didn't want to leave my gear alone for that long. Now I figured water and firewood would be the least of my problems since I've made literally hundreds if not thousands of fires and I've practiced water purification for quite a while. But when there is neither of both, you are pretty well screwed! I did have my little pocket stove and fuel can with me but without water, even that was pointless. Just figured I'd share. Any thoughts on my experience when looking at your assumptions about life during a SHTF? We always talk about filtering water and storing some just in case...so what happens during a drought? That's just one example of what I'm considering. Thanks -Emt1581 |
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When I read your description of the at I knew you had to be from PA 
Other than relaying on a camp stove I think the issue has to do more with campsite selection, sometimes it is a pain to gather firewood Well if I was using a hammock it really would have been a non issue as I could easily have camped 50'-200' from the spring and been fine. I've never used a hammock for camping, but it was something I thought about after the fact. Plenty of firewood in that area to! And yup, every through hiker I've ever run into gripes about the complete lack of water in PA! What is it with this state..why is there no water pretty much anywhere near the AT? Thanks -Emt1581 |
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Meh, I can throw a rock from lake to lake around here. Literally. Most are connected by rivers. Swamps in between those. Darn hard to go thirsty around here.. ALWAYS plenty of firewood and no problem to find a camping spot. The only real problem is that the mosquitoes live around the water, and since water is everywhere, summer SUCKS in the woods. All about how to deal with your area. Dew collection? Shallow well? What options did you have besides flowing water?
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1. Always carry more water than you need. Be on the lookout for good places to refill. Be sure to treat your water. 2. Collect dead wood that's still hanging, not the stuff that's on the ground. (This won't help if you're camping where the available wood is entirely depleted, but it is a good rule for getting the driest wood.) If it bends rather than break, it isn't ready to burn. |
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Quoted:And yup, every through hiker I've ever run into gripes about the complete lack of water in PA! What is it with this state..why is there no water pretty much anywhere near the AT?
-Emt1581 All those hikers have used it up? 
I understand the rocks bit, hammocks are your friend for those, but my little slice of the NE (up there in coal country) growing up always had water around. Back before "purifying" was really a big deal... 
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1. Always carry more water than you need. Be on the lookout for good places to refill. Be sure to treat your water. 2. Collect dead wood that's still hanging, not the stuff that's on the ground. (This won't help if you're camping where the available wood is entirely depleted, but it is a good rule for getting the driest wood.) If it bends rather than break, it isn't ready to burn. Most of the wood I collected WAS hanging. Like I said...SERIOUSLY picked over. I do think a hammock would have solved both issues...this time. However, when I want to bring Frank (German Shepherd) and my son (when he's 4 or 5) along...it wouldn't work. I'm going to just look for flatter area that has water. If they don't allow primitive camping...let them throw us out. -Emt1581 |
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Meh, I can throw a rock from lake to lake around here. Literally. Most are connected by rivers. Swamps in between those. Darn hard to go thirsty around here.. ALWAYS plenty of firewood and no problem to find a camping spot. The only real problem is that the mosquitoes live around the water, and since water is everywhere, summer SUCKS in the woods. All about how to deal with your area. Dew collection? Shallow well? What options did you have besides flowing water? Well I used my tarp for a foot print but I suppose that would have got me minimal water in the AM. There wasn't any rain recently before I went so gathering it from other areas was not really an option. -Emt1581 |
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Water always #1 priority.
For extreme conditions, like the "bush" in East Africa during dry season: 1) Get a Swiss army surplus 20 liter (5 gallon) water bladder (or multiple). Virtually indestructible. (eBay...) 2) Use a ceramic-based water filter, like Katadyn. Katadyn ceramic filters even work stagnant pools, desert area East Africa, & AZ. Only time Swiss water bladder got hole in it was when rats ate through one to get moisture while stored in a hut. |
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You will NEVER go wrong with having a water bladder in your pack. Camelbak, Source, whatever floats your boat. But you really need to have more than a canteen/nalgene or two available to haul water.
Water is heavy. But it is also vital. I always try to plan on having at least a day's worth on me, even if I am carrying filtration tools (I do) and map out potential water sources. You never know what you'll find until you get there. Expect nothing. As for fire, 3-4 methods of starting a fire are useless if you have no fuel. There are so many fuel options out there - pick your poison. But it's like water; don't walk out there with nothing expecting to be able to gather resources as you go. I like alcohol stoves alot because they are compact and efficient, and the fuel can help you start fires with wood that you find. And maybe... Select a better campsite. If you are expecting to use resources you find at the campsite and they aren't there when you arrive, then you need to move. Chalk it up to lessons learned. Kudos for testing gear and your system. That is how you improve what you do.
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Watch woot for one of these and thank me later. I did not think it would be as comfy as it is, had to kick my kids out of it all weekend last camping trip we went on. Use a cheapo walmart pad to stop bug bites underneath. With this and your tarp over it as a rain fly would make for a go anywhere set-up.
Link to walmart pad: walmart sleeping pad 
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| With the sleeping pad in it ,it makes it a bit better for comfort even though they are way comfy.You are correct in sleeping on your back for the most part, unless you like sleeping like a backward banana. For warmth you could always get a under quilt, you will freeze otherwise even in a good bag the wind cuts right into you. They make under quilts rated down to freezing temps with a good bag it is possible to sleep even in cold temps in comfort. I used mine on a 48 degree night with the sleeping pad and a decent 30 degree bag and was comfy all night. I need to invest in a quilt but they are spendy. |
| Oh did I mention they take up around a square foot of space or less? More room for water and weigh about as much as the cover for a tent. I have one in each of my bags, would take one over a tent for light backpacking any day. I have my pad, hammock rolled up together with the tarp on the outside throw in some 550 cord to hang the tarp and bug net. Sets up super quick also. |
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Sounds like you picked your camping spot with the wrong priorities.
You went: Comfort Comfort Comfort Fire Water When you should have gone: Water Fire Comfort Also sounds like you didn't go all that primitive if you had so much gear that you couldn't pack up and move closer to your water supply. |
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You really started out with only 32oz of water? The thing you'll die the quickest without after air?
Then, you passed up the only water source. Or didn't have a light to make it there after dark? Poor planning. Do some day hikes to get your shit straightened out without the stress of having to rely on it for multiple days. Hike out to a nice spot, set up like you're staying the night, fix lunch, take some pics, have a nap, hike back. Separate out everything you didn't use and re-evaluate whether you should be carrying it. Then hike out to some bad spots and improvise. |
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Research your trip ahead of time.
http://www.midatlantichikes.com/ |
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This also significantly highlights the futility and folly of bugging out "Lone Wolf" and going it solo!
You can have all the gear in the world, but the second you step away from it for water, firewood, or food - it's easy for someone to come right in & snatch up those things your life likely depends upon! There is safety in numbers. Not to mention rest & shared duties. Tough for some people to keep a good fire going while also leaving to catch fish or hunt game, or haul water... It's hard to do multitask when cold, wet, and your calories are burning up faster than you can replace them... Your life will depend upon tools & gear that are force multipliers. If those tools upon which you'll depend are lost, damaged, or stolen, you're doomed. Still, without teamwork with a friend / loved one, you may be in a lot of trouble. |
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Most of the wood I collected WAS hanging. Like I said...SERIOUSLY picked over. I do think a hammock would have solved both issues...this time. However, when I want to bring Frank (German Shepherd) and my son (when he's 4 or 5) along...it wouldn't work. I'm going to just look for flatter area that has water. If they don't allow primitive camping...let them throw us out. -Emt1581 Quoted:
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1. Always carry more water than you need. Be on the lookout for good places to refill. Be sure to treat your water. 2. Collect dead wood that's still hanging, not the stuff that's on the ground. (This won't help if you're camping where the available wood is entirely depleted, but it is a good rule for getting the driest wood.) If it bends rather than break, it isn't ready to burn. Most of the wood I collected WAS hanging. Like I said...SERIOUSLY picked over. I do think a hammock would have solved both issues...this time. However, when I want to bring Frank (German Shepherd) and my son (when he's 4 or 5) along...it wouldn't work. I'm going to just look for flatter area that has water. If they don't allow primitive camping...let them throw us out. -Emt1581 Thanks for having the balls to face the peanut gallery as it’s much easier for us to critique you experiences from the lounge chair and with an ice cold beer (well, coffee for me this early in the AM). Anyways, planning is critical. We use hammocks almost exclusively when the temps are above 40-45 degrees; they allow you to really set up almost anywhere and often much closer to your water sources. Additionally, they are very good at practicing both stealth and “leave-no-trace” camping/backpacking. Water is essential and the challenge in/around the AT is that many of the springs are seasonal and not a guarantee. Also, as you know, water sources and “designated” camp grounds are often serious distance and tough terrain apart. Although a little risky, if you do it right, you can discreetly select areas closer to water sources, but you have to make your own risk assessments. As to fire, well, large open fires are for campgrounds. If you’re going to use natural fuel, you fire needs to be efficient and self-contained; think Emberlit or something like a small wood gasification stove. I typically pack a combination of a Bushbuddy gasification stove and a smaller alcohol stove as long as you’re not bivouacking for several days, you can bury the small amount of ash and literally leave no trace. The other aspect is that these stoves really don’t use large wood; you rely on packed insulation and staying dry to avoid needing a fire for exothermic heat. These little stoves burn very small, ground littered twigs and wood debris very efficiently…enough to cook on and even give you a little psychological boost. Another aspect of planning is to use your lessons learned and reevaluate your packing list. As you mentioned you over-packed in some areas and were lacking in others such as water. I always try to maintain about 2-4 liters of water depending on water sources, distances and levels of exertion. Lastly, hammocks provide very good shelters for moderate temperatures and even better shelters if the weather shifts and you get a lot of rain. They keep you off the damp ground and a quality tarp serves as an awning for more dry space to cook or do other camp chores without being confined to a tent. Another advantage is that your dog can sleep right under the hammock; protected from the elements and a close alarm system. Not sure how old your son is, but my son is 14 and has his own hammock shelter system and with some good site selections, we can almost create a small tent-like area between us with the tarps. Still, thanks for sharing. The best lessons are the ones learned by doing and learning from small failures helps from making larger failures. ROCK6 |
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Quoted: You really started out with only 32oz of water? The thing you'll die the quickest without after air? Then, you passed up the only water source. Or didn't have a light to make it there after dark? Poor planning. Do some day hikes to get your shit straightened out without the stress of having to rely on it for multiple days. Hike out to a nice spot, set up like you're staying the night, fix lunch, take some pics, have a nap, hike back. Separate out everything you didn't use and re-evaluate whether you should be carrying it. Then hike out to some bad spots and improvise. never heard that advice before lmao  op- my standard water load out is- 3 liter bladder 1- 32oz nalgene- 4 liters total. reasons- its hotter than shit down here even in the fall. two- water sources can range from 5-10 miles apart where i hike and it doesnt warranty you aint gotta wade thru cat tails and mud to get to it. as for fire wood. ive run fires all night on small shit ..granted you gotta feed it more, but you have fire (im talking from pencil size to thumb sized wood). like rock said big fires belong at the koa. or unless your going really primitive in super nasty water and you need the heat to stay alive. |
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Granted my experience with the AT is none, but it stands to reason that the busiest hiking trail in the world would have all of the firewood picked over within walking distance of each campsite. This doesn't sound very surprising. Quoted:
Granted my experience with the AT is none, but it stands to reason that the busiest hiking trail in the world would have all of the firewood picked over within walking distance of each campsite. This doesn't sound very surprising. PA's AT is a killer when it comes to water and firewood this time of year. Thousands have been through that area including North-bounders/South-bounders and folks like yourself. Water is heavy but it is life. Went on a day hike in NH one time with one liter and on the way back drank out of stream just hoping that it was good. Lucked out that time. Good OP testing out your gear. Finding the "failure points" of your plan, your gear, and your skills is why the Sf is here. Quoted:
This also significantly highlights the futility and folly of bugging out "Lone Wolf" and going it solo! You can have all the gear in the world, but the second you step away from it for water, firewood, or food - it's easy for someone to come right in & snatch up those things your life likely depends upon! There is safety in numbers. Not to mention rest & shared duties. Tough for some people to keep a good fire going while also leaving to catch fish or hunt game, or haul water... It's hard to do multitask when cold, wet, and your calories are burning up faster than you can replace them... Your life will depend upon tools & gear that are force multipliers. If those tools upon which you'll depend are lost, damaged, or stolen, you're doomed. Still, without teamwork with a friend / loved one, you may be in a lot of trouble. Beans, bullets, bandaids, and BUDDIES! Everyone forgets the last one. And agreeing with the guy above me on fire and water. Someone said to me, "White man build big fire - sit far away. Indian build small fire - sit very close." Just don't build too close to your tent. |
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Aren't those hammocks like sleeping in a recliner only at a different angle? Plus you can't sleep on your side or stomach can you? How warm are they in 30-50deg temps? Thanks -Emt1581 You have to pick the right hammock and hang it correctly. I lay pretty flat in mine. I also sleep on my side. I can only stomach sleep in one of my bridge hammocks. I live in FL so it doesn't get real cold but with the proper insulation I've been warm enough in the low 20s to have to strip layers. Some people look at a hammock as a lighter alternative to tent camping. In some cases that's true but not always (especially with winter camping). For me it comes down to comfort and flexibility. As others have said you don't have to find that "perfect" tent spot with level ground and no rocks/debris. I've had my hammock up where the ground as at least at a 45 deg angle and I've slept over rocks and cactus. If I'm tired I stop hiking (usually near water). Come down to FL next month. I'll be doing my 4th hammock presentation. This time it's at one of our local outfitters.
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| When I go hiking I look around for firewood even though I don't need it and am not planning on a fire. A lot of places there just is not much in the way of burnable stuff, especially good kindling. The Youtube videos make it seem like the firewood just about jumps into bed with you, but a lot of places I hike even where there are trees there is not much worth burning. Either too wet or too big. And these are not areas picked over that much. |
| I know a guy who hikes trails and portions of the AT often (his daughter actually hiked the entire north to south route) and he told me before never to rely on firewood on the AT. During the high season anything dry and small enough to move will have been picked off long before you get there and in a surprisingly large area. |
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I have a Clark's hammock, and it really changed my camping experiences for the better. I sleep better outside now. No more bivouac-ing on the cold hard ground, the soggy ground, the ground that sometimes you can feel every pebble - even with a good pad. I wake refreshed instead of reaching for the ibuprophen.
Lots of water here in NH. No reason to carry more than a canteen-full, but DEFINITELY carry a filter. Lots of giardia in the water here - especially in lower wetlands because of the beavers. All that, plus there is EEE around here too. Mountain lions now. Pernicious bears. Coyotes hunt in packs up here. Boogeyman, and Chupacabra lurking behind every tree. Best carry a weapon! |
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Good lord, you only took a quart of water with you? 
You make it sound like that was all I was thinking I'd need. Not sure if I shared it before but I hiked that trail the week before and saw the spring. It was a guaranteed water source...and it was there when I went back. It just was too far away from the only place to camp...so not scoping out the land more carefully was my actual issue...not how much water I packed in. Although if I were to do it again, I'd fill up that 1-2 gals on the way up instead of leaving it behind. -Emt1581 |
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I always carried a gallon of water, a Svea 123, and a hammock for just the same situations as yours on th AT below Harpers Ferry Quoted:
I always carried a gallon of water, a Svea 123, and a hammock for just the same situations as yours on th AT below Harpers Ferry I love my Svea but can't bring myself to lug it in a pack. 
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Lots of water here in NH. No reason to carry more than a canteen-full, but DEFINITELY carry a filter. Lots of giardia in the water here - especially in lower wetlands because of the beavers. All that, plus there is EEE around here too. I just got the new Sawyer Mini. It's smaller than a dollar bill so it's even easier to pack away than the previous Squeeze. At $25 it's too hard to pass up. It's very flexible also. You can use it as a straw, put it inline with a bladder, use the squeeze bags, or connect to a plastic drink bottle. |
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if you bring a bivy bag instead of a tent you will save weight and can sleep anywhere, as in hidden from other people and by the water and wood See this really was just a test. I KNOW I could have done this a LOT lighter...less than half the weight...if it was just for me. But this was carrying all the gear I'd need for my son and dog as well. Now my dog has his own pack that he loves because it means he gets to go out and either play or walk. However, I still would need to carry the tent and the tent did work really well. Now could I have bought a lighter tent. Maybe but I also would have spent a LOT more. So I appreciate the advice on packing lighter and there are some things I definitely could have left home...but I packed a lot of what I did to prepare myself for the future. It won't do me any good to pack ultra-light for myself, have it work well, only to realize I've seriously screwed up and am unprepared once my young son and dog are along. Thanks -Emt1581 |
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Having backpacked for the last 25 years- your assessment is dead on.
Water source is #1. There is no replacement and packing it in is absolutely out of the question. Fires I can take or leave. I do my cooking with a small stove. Burning some logs is more for the fun and nostalgia. We grew up learning that it was customary to leave behind cut wood for the next campers as others often did for us. I'd imagine like many things we were taught the general public no longer applies. Camp sites can either be a bane or a joy. Resources nearby are often rather picked over, waste of all sorts is common- but at least they are often situated near good water sources and in good cover or terrain. |
It seems on the AT water source + firewood is a nearly impossible combination. In the section of the AT we did a couple weeks ago (Lehigh Gap) didn't seem to have a water source close by. But the hike to the top was so strenuous I doubt many average back packers would choose that portion to hike and camp. Subsequently there were no real camping locations up there. We had to just get off the trail and survey for a while. But we found one that was able to work after about 30 minutes with my etool digging rocks out of the ground for the tent. Was difficult and dirty work, but the plus side to that is I was able to not have to search for rocks for the fire pit. We also had no problems finding fire wood in droves. We collected about 4 times what we needed to run the fire till late in the evening.
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I guess we have to keep searching for a place that accommodates our needs better. The one thing I would add is having a camping buddy with similar interests (survivalist training) goes a long way. When we were surveying areas one of us was able to stop and unload the gear and the other was able to check out the area much more efficiently. Splitting that duty and other chores made it much better. I know you are into doing it on your own but if you ever want to talk about coordinating some AT primitive camping we would be up for it. It would be great to find a place near water, but I've basically given up on that, and I just bring a 3L baldder plus a nalgene type bottle. My buddy wasn't as prepared and forgot to clean out his bladder after having it filled with beer during its last use so he had to lug a gallon bottle. That sucked! |
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Most people don't even light fires when doing the AT and they use proper water management. That's odd, the through hikers I've talked to had the same gripes I did about PA being horribly dry and rocky. And most, but not all, have talked about fires with me just as part of gear chat and BSing. -Emt1581 |
| Also OP I meant to ask you, can you elaborate what you meant by people firing shots? I'm under the impression this is a pretty big no no, and would be disconcerting to hear it close, especially at night. Any more details as to what happened there would be appreciated. As well as what if anything you did because of said shots? Thanks! |
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Also OP I meant to ask you, can you elaborate what you meant by people firing shots? I'm under the impression this is a pretty big no no, and would be disconcerting to hear it close, especially at night. Any more details as to what happened there would be appreciated. As well as what if anything you did because of said shots? Thanks! Sure... You know how it sounds at a range where you have just one or two guys shooting? You might hear a random shot every few minutes or a bunch of rapid shots until the mag is empty...that's how it was. I was told both ways that shooting might happen due to being close to the game lands and then that shooting was not allowed... It sounded like handgun fire maybe .25mi-.5mi uphill....the reason I estimate that is because my tent was about .25mi off the trail and it didn't sound like it was the next hill over. Personally I was prepared to return fire (not that I'd want to have to) or just get the hell out of the area if I started seeing impacts happening but I never did and I'm pretty sure that's because they were firing at a backstop of some sort. Then later at night was when the whistling bottle rockets came and I was pretty tired so I wasn't happy. Then again I fought the urge to let them know I was in the area and to knock it the hell off. But being swept by the archers/hunters on the way in...THAT was not good! That father should have known better. But do you start a problem, put your hand on your weapon, draw, etc...or do you just bite your tongue, pass by and avoid the issue? I avoided it even though the guy made a bad mistake. I'd rather keep a close eye on their trigger finger as we pass each other than get into some sort of confrontation out on the trail. -Emt1581 |
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Interestingly enough, we had a similar experience. It sounded to us like it was 2 guys at a range doing a night shoot, that or a gun fight between 2 or 3 people. It was around 830 PM IIRC. I immediately thought it could be fireworks and we worked our way toward a clearing and watched the sky. We continued to hear the "shots" but did not see any fireworks in the sky. It was disconcerting. Lasted about 45 minutes, and was done. Which lent pretty well to the night shoot theory at a range. On our way down the trail the following morning we ran into a guy that had stayed in a local shelter that night and was working his way up as we were coming down. He seemed very experienced and I assume he is doing a large portion of the trail. He made a seemingly comfortable but inquisitive comment about my buddy's slung AR. Something like "I hope you didn't need to use that up there." We mentioned we thought we might have heard gun fire that night and he said a local football team had won a big game that night and they had fireworks because of it. I was pretty comfortable believing it was fire works as it did sound like it could be as it would have been pretty random for gun fire. But it was nerve racking at the time, and we certainly took precautions to prepare for the worst while it was happening.
I'm not saying you didn't hear gun shots. I'm just saying we thought there was a good chance we did, and it ended up being something else. As far as getting flagged as you describe on the way in, that is absurd. I would have a difficult time not calmly and politely pointing out the error and requesting considerably more caution from them. At the same time, said to the wrong guy, bad things could result. As long as you were supremely aware of them and your surroundings following the incident, there is a good chance you did the right thing. It is a tough situation either way. Anyway thanks for sharing. Interesting stuff. |
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fire building is generally not a priority when backpacking the AT; recommend staying at an AT shelter where there is a usually a big fire ring if you want a fire
as far as water, read the AT guidebook to know what you are getting into, where the sources are; go to whiteblaze.net and post questions, people will reply about availability in a particular area |
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Interestingly enough, we had a similar experience. It sounded to us like it was 2 guys at a range doing a night shoot, that or a gun fight between 2 or 3 people. It was around 830 PM IIRC. I immediately thought it could be fireworks and we worked our way toward a clearing and watched the sky. We continued to hear the "shots" but did not see any fireworks in the sky. It was disconcerting. Lasted about 45 minutes, and was done. Which lent pretty well to the night shoot theory at a range. On our way down the trail the following morning we ran into a guy that had stayed in a local shelter that night and was working his way up as we were coming down. He seemed very experienced and I assume he is doing a large portion of the trail. He made a seemingly comfortable but inquisitive comment about my buddy's slung AR. Something like "I hope you didn't need to use that up there." We mentioned we thought we might have heard gun fire that night and he said a local football team had won a big game that night and they had fireworks because of it. I was pretty comfortable believing it was fire works as it did sound like it could be as it would have been pretty random for gun fire. But it was nerve racking at the time, and we certainly took precautions to prepare for the worst while it was happening. I'm not saying you didn't hear gun shots. I'm just saying we thought there was a good chance we did, and it ended up being something else. As far as getting flagged as you describe on the way in, that is absurd. I would have a difficult time not calmly and politely pointing out the error and requesting considerably more caution from them. At the same time, said to the wrong guy, bad things could result. As long as you were supremely aware of them and your surroundings following the incident, there is a good chance you did the right thing. It is a tough situation either way. Anyway thanks for sharing. Interesting stuff. These were definitely gun shots. And honestly, for whatever reason, it got a little more concerning after dark. But again, I didn't hear/see any evidence of impacts and the shots never changed proximity or direction. So I figured it was just morons being morons. -Emt1581 |
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For all my years section hiking the AT I can count on one hand how many fires I have had. These were all gathered, started, and re-fueled by someone else. Several times I have ran low on water (once extremely low). They were never a priority for me. As to water, we ran the guide books/maps that show water spots but even then, depending on the rain fall/temps some of those sources were dried up. Reading the through hikers logs in the shelters is usually a good sources for available water on down the trail. You would probably not be too surprised to hear that when water is short that seems to be all hiker seem to be talking/writing about through out the area. Knowing for sure that a source still has water allows you to make adjustments to ensure that you are there at the right time.
I am not sure why you chose your particular spot for camp as it seems to have nothing going for it. My advice is to evaluate potential camp sites to areas that look good a hour or so before you are going to stop. If it is the getting dark or you are running out of steam don't start up a mountain that (from the map) you know is going to leave you setting up camp on a 30deg incline (and more than likely with no water). I myself have a no setting up camp in the dark rule that I have been fairly successful at keeping. This is going to sound stupid to some but long(er) distance hiking is really this balance of observation and adjustments: paying attention to your body, the weather, the terrain around you, the time, your equipment, etc. Not speaking of you, but some hikers get so focused around making a certain amount of miles or getting somewhere specifically that regardless of the terrain, water situation, weather conditions, how they are feeling, they just push through and end up a very poor location/situation (if not a dangerous one). I appreciate your post it brought back a lot of good memories. The important part is to try not to get too discouraged and to get back out there with the lessons that you learned and do it al little better the next time. It does get easier. |
| Please forgive the noob question and the derail, but I've seen guys mention the AT guidebook twice now. I did some googling and found multiple sources and I am not sure which one to get. Any recommendations? Also do they cover parking areas locations? Thank you in advance! |
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Please forgive the noob question and the derail, but I've seen guys mention the AT guidebook twice now. I did some googling and found multiple sources and I am not sure which one to get. Any recommendations? Also do they cover parking areas locations? Thank you in advance! The AT Guide I like the looseleaf version. Just take what you need. |