Shakedowns in Texas?

Becca and I have had the mixed pleasure of living in Texas the last 2 years. Mixed as in we dealt with the good and the bad (and the creepy). Some of the good is that the weather is great(ish) - gotta love the heat! We also were fortunate enough to find ourselves in Austin, one of the only acceptable places for former Oregonians to live in this climate change denying, evolution should not be taught in school, women's reproductive rights denying, drill baby drill, Republican-drenched state.

The Cool

The Bad

The downright creepy

Austin is great (for a city) though.  There is a fantastic craft beer scene, there is a BYO pinball complex, the food can be amazing, its not a desert nor is it a swamp, there are climbing walls, and hiking and biking trails in the city limits, etc. Also, the people here are much more "normal" than the caricatures of Texans most people think about when forming mental punching bags. Sorry Austin, it is true, you are mostly normal based on my experience. Maybe it is just that I have lived a weirder than average existence and so weird is actually normal to me, but that "Keep Austin Weird" motto only works in the context of Texas, and true to the spirit of Texas it seems to be more of a mechanism for making money by selling T-shirts than a battle cry of the free-spirited.

But there is the bad too. For future AT thru-hikers, maybe the worst aspect is the ridiculously small amount of space that has been set aside as public lands. There may be an average number of parks for this state, but the individual parks tend to be tiny. And they lack publicized trails. Maybe I am spoiled by the the fact that about 50% of Oregon is BLM or Nat'l forest and that Missouri had the Mark Twain Nat'l Forest and the Ozark Highlands Trail to hike around in. With Becca working 6 days a week, it was difficult to find trails in and around Austin where one could hike more than 5 miles in any direction without having to turn back and camp at the designated campsites for $20 a night and still get back to town for the next work shift. I hear Big Bend is awesome, but its practically halfway back to Oregon from here.

So obviously this has made the process of going on shakedown hikes a little difficult. But we did find one spot. Its so nice and so not crowded I almost don't want to give away the location. Also, its free! What? In Texas? They are giving away something to the public? Yes that is right. The Goodwater Loop around Lake Georgetown is free to use. A nice little 27 mile loop around the lake with 3 designated campgrounds with primitive tent sites and no ability to park your car within about 2 miles at the closest.

Since November, we have gone to The Goodwater Loop Trail to get our practice hikes in and test our current gear set up. I think we have done around 120-150 miles of hiking out there. We've done the circuit CW and CCW, in and outs, and from different starting points too. We know that trail pretty well now. It only took us 3 times around the lake to get used to all the unmarked turns and side trails and find our favorite campsites.

But oh man is the Goodwater Loop flat. I recently saw a super rad cool beans analysis of the gradients of the US's 3 long distance trails. You can find that here:

http://www.guthookhikes.com/2015/02/slope-analysis-of-at-pct-cdt.html

Also, Sward will be joining us for
at least the start of the hike

The gist of it is that about 30% of the AT is spent going up a 5% or better grade. 30% of it is spent going down at least 5%. The other 40% is relatively flat. The Goodwater Loop on the other hand may be 0.1-1% not flat. Thats probably a generous estimate. So while our feet have been getting toughened up, our butts and quads are gonna be screaming once we get on those long ups and downs of
the Appalachians.

But all that climbing is gonna lead to some awesome views! For instance, I cannot wait to see Becca's hiking legs!

We have been up mountains, but 6 months of hiking...

Tents? Headlamps? Technical Underpants? It's our AT Thru hike gear list!

Update: This post now has its own page in the menu bar. We will be updating that page.

Gear!!!!!

Researching and buying your gear has to be one of the most fun things about hiking.  I can't believe I am so excited about consumerism. It's kind of embarrassing to admit the satisfaction that comes with purchasing these things, but it turns out I am a huge sucker for power tools and high quality technical underpants.

Some time around November, Becca got her first pieces of gear and we started doing practice hikes. Slowly, we have been replacing all my old shitty hiking and camping stuff with better gear and at the same time outfitting Bloo.

If you look at other hiking blogs, you will no doubt find the obligatory gear list post. People usually use the word obligatory in a pejorative way. But the gear post is obligatory in a good way. In an absolutely necessary way. I learned soooo much from reading other people's gear posts that it would be a sin not to talk about and review the gear we have decided on using. This post is for posterity's sake gawdammit! And I will try to fill it in nearly completely... eventually.

So here it goes:

My pack: Granite Gear Crown 60 + Lineloc lid. I don't really know why. I just found it on e-bay and happened to win the bid. Turns out, it has great reviews and is thru-hike tried and tested. Apparently it is one of the most popular packs on the trail. Therefore I should blend in quite nicely. Like that has ever been one of my goals. Oh well, too bad. I already bought it and it feels great. I was really missing having the lid because the mesh pockets weren't cutting it for keeping certain thing accessible. So the brain brings that feature back at the expense of about 0.5 pounds. Maybe I'll get rid of it eventually, but for now, I love my brain. One thing I am worried about is a post thru hike video review where the mesh has worn all the way through rendering the side pockets nearly useless.

Becca's Pack: The REI Crestrail. Becca picked this out based on wearing it loaded around the store. Its big, pretty lightweight, got lottsa pockets, a comfy hip belt and it feels like a hug I think. Becca loves hugs. I should let her describe her gear choices for the future though. Unless she doesn't mind. I'll ask later.

Our Home for 4-6 months: Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3

Becca tells me that the nickname for a 2 person tent on the AT is a "Divorce Dome" or something hilarious like that. We have done several nights in my old 2-person Marmot. But after hearing that comment and also after reading in some blogs describing how thankful couples were of having the extra space, we decided to go 3-person. I LOVE THIS TENT. So far, on our practice hikes, it has worked out amazing. We love the space, the ease of set up, the perfectly placed pockets. It is sooo nice. It's a goddamn hiker-mansion. But also super expensive. And the floor of the tent seems so fragile. We are scared of it ripping. The footprint for it costs $70! I am thinking about making the homemade footprint out of Tyvek, a la:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RueJ7t2J6t0  

http://www.towardsimple.com/2014/07/make-diy-tyvek-tent-footprint.html

 We shall see.

My Sleeping Bag: Nemo Rhythm 25. I sleep hot. Uncomfortably hot. I require there to be space between my legs. The "spoon" shape allows this. Also, I require the zipper to open at the bottom for air flow. Seriously. My crotch is a sweaty mess if I don't have ventilation. I'm worried this bag is still going to be too hot. But as of now, I am loving it. Never shall I mummy again. Reviews have said that the fabric gets stuck in the zipper. I can confirm this, but it hasn't been a real problem.

Becca's Bag: Big Agnes Brooklyn 0 Degree (petite). Becca is the opposite of me. She is always cold. I think that if she could hike while wearing her sleeping bag, she would do it. This bag has lots of warmth, it is reasonably light, and fits her better than my old 0 degree bag we tried. Turns out that the deadspace at the foot of my "Long" sized Northface bag was a real problem. Becca looks like the happiest person on earth when she tucks into this bag. Too bad it is purple. 

Sleeping Pad: REI AirRail

Remember when I said Becca likes hugs? When she laid on the AirRail she mentioned how the rails helped increase the hugging feeling. These aren't the lightest weight pads out there, but I tried a Big Agnes AirCore and I could not get any sleep. I can't even imagine sleeping on the Thermarest blow up NeoAir pad that is so popular for ThurHikers. I am way too restless of a sleeper to just politely lay on my back and enjoy. The Aircore was very thick, but narrow, and I always felt like I was rolling off as I tossed and turned at night trying to get comfortable and air out my nether regions. I tried Becca's AirRail out and loved it. I think its the perfect midpoint between a light weight thicker airpad and a wider, softer Thermarest style pad. We are both sleeping on these things for this trip.

Headlamps: Black Diamond ReVolt. A USB Rechargeable headlamp! This makes so much sense to me. How does everyone not go for this? Most people these days are bringing phones, kindles, cameras, mp3 players and battery packs that all use USB. It makes so much sense to have your headlamp recharge too, particularly if you are bringing a battery pack (we are). 

                         

 

Water Filtration: Sawyer Mini Squeeze x2

I have used Aqua Mira. They are great but take a long time until water is drinkable and the drop counting, oy vey! I also have a Katadyn ceramic pump filter. Man, that clogged quickly. Sawyer mins are all the rage right now. And I can see why, at least for now. One, they are tiny. Two, when they get clogged you can back flush them easily! Thats awesome. I hope it works as well as I hear. We have yet to really have to use it so far. But the few times we have used it we notice that the provided squeeze bags are hard to fill up by dunking them in water. Instead, you must use a separate cup to fill the squeeze bag. So we are gonna go the plastic water bottle route as our squeeze container. Besides that, so far it has been awesome!

Stove/Cookware: Caldera Cone Alcohol Stove System

Oh there are sooo many choices! I have a Snowpeak Giga stove that fits into the cutest tiny little pouch. I have also a big burly JetBoil that gets the job done, but the narrowness of the pot makes it annoying to clean after cooking anything in it. In Australia, I dabbled in alcohol stove land because some burly world adventurer speaker in our Outdoor Adventures class said they were the best for traveling due to the availability of alcohol fuels. I never thought I was going to get back into alcohol land, but all the light weight people brag about how awesome they are. 

Recently, Becca was researching and found the Caldera Cone and decided to give it a try. She also grabbed us a lightweight Evernew 1.3 liter Titanium pot. Caldera customizes the cone for your particular pot! It is apparently super efficient. Add in the 750mL titanium mug I had already bought and we have a second dish for eating and drinking coffee. Also, I like to think of the pot and mug as important Avocado protection cases. You can probably fit 4 Avocados in our cookware and keep them from getting smooshed. Thats fancy!

We just got the stove. We are going to practice on it soon. It seems pretty awesome. We just need to figure out our boil times for some of dem yummy Knorr's Rice sides! Yummy trail foods!

Trekking Poles: Luke: Black Diamond something or others that were on sale. Becca Loo: Leki Makalu ones with shocks and cork grips.

Trekking poles aren't for everyone. Or that is what I read on a lot of blogs. I think those people are just trying to not sound like know-it-all a-holes. I am not afraid of showing my inner a-hole. I try not to show my outer one though. I have some sense of modesty after all. Trekking poles should be for everyone. When I first picked up a pair of Leki Makalu Spring shock poles for a hike in the Ozarks, I was skeptical. But that was until I found out how to properly use my arms to propel me up hill. Literally a butt saver. And using them to absorb the shock of long descents? Literally.... a quadricep saver. Sometimes, they may seem more trouble than they are worth. I think, on flat open ground that is mostly true. In which case, I just put em away. But for any kind of up and down, I love love love poles. Also, I am an old man. At least, my body is falling apart more rapidly than my age would suggest.

Special Clothing:
Most clothing is pretty boring. You gotta make a cold weather layering system and get rain gear of some sort and then change it all out for something lightweight and breathable in the Summer. Below are the specific items that I am trying.

Down Jackets:

When I would go climbing in Oregon, either in the gym or at Smith Rock or wherever, I would always see/be with people with what I thought were some pretty goofy lookin' poofy jackets. I thought that it was hilarious to spend so much money on such an ugly jacket. Wow. I wrong. It is amazingly worth it to spend a lot of money on a down jacket, ugliness and goofiness be damned. That shit is awesome. It is so light, and so soft, and sooo warm. I like to wear mine around our unheated apartment. It saves us a lot of money in the long run this way.

Here is my Mtn Hardwear Ghost Whisperer. Be warned, it is ugly. But it only weighs 7oz?!!! It can pack down into a tiny bundle and fit in my pocket! Also, one should know that if you wait until the right time of the year, you will only spend 40-60% of the MSRP. I wouldn't have bought this jacket had I not waited for it to go on deep discount.

List of things that are soon to be discussed in more detail:

Luke's Clothing: rain shell, sock system, technical underpants, sleeping vs hiking clothing, shoe choice, and hiking kilt. Yes, hiking kilt. Get ready to be jealous.

Becca's Clothing: Turtle fur balaclava, Down jacket, technical underpants and bra, shoe choice, and whatever else she may add (if she ever adds anything)

'Lectronics: Kindles, phones, battery pack, 4way usb charger

OK, I am tired of this post. So for now, just trust that we have a lot of other really fun gear and technical underwear to discuss.

We are going on a hike... for six months.

When asked by a reporter why anyone would want to climb Mt. Everest, George Mallory supposedly replied "Because it's there." What an arrogant douche, no?

Mallory and his climbing partner disappeared 800 ft from the summit in 1924, on their third expedition to climb Mt. Everest. It is unknown if they ever made it to the top. Mallory's mummified remains were found in 1999. I didn't really know all this off the top of my head. I knew that quote existed, and I knew someone associated with old school mountain climbing said it. A quick Google search and a bit of the ol' Wikipedia told me the rest.

I guess a lot of people who go off on adventures are asked why they would want to leave the comforts of modern life to do something with no obvious point. Why put your body through all that pain and discomfort? Why potentially risk injury or even death? I certainly have been asked this in regards to the several weird things I do that I consider adventurous, whether it be rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, Burning Man, or undergoing ridiculous and wholly unnecessary DIY projects.

There are, I am sure, as many answers to the question of "why?" as there are people to answer. I have a lot of different answers to this question. The simplest answer for me is that most any adventure is fun. But there is beauty, there is adrenaline, there is camaraderie, there is wonder, and there is the challenge. I expect to find all of that and more on the Appalachian Trail.

I also like accomplishing things. For the last 2.5 years, I have worked as a postdoc in a lab and accomplished nearly nothing. So long story short, I am quitting that job. I have been wanting to hike the Appalachian Trail since I found out it was thing. Probably sometime in late high school/ early college. I nearly dropped out of grad school during my first year in Eugene to go hike the trail. But I didn't, and I am glad. Not because I finished grad school, oh no, that has probably been more trouble than it was worth, but instead because of all the experiences I had during my time in Eugene. Both the good and the bad things that have shaped me as a person. And of course, all the friends I made. And of course, Becca Loo!

So now that my career in Academia is coming to an end, I can forget about all the wasted efforts in the lab and go out and accomplish something new. All 2185 or whatever miles of the Appalachian Trail will be quite the accomplishment. But more importantly it will be those other things. It will be fun and full of adventure and I am sure to have some sort of personal growth too.

The reason for the AT for Becca, I just learned today, is that she wants to be bald and homeless for a bit. Maybe she will clarify this position sometime in the near future.