Author: Gavin Duncan

Gavin’s Gear List

Hello and welcome back to our blog. This is Gavin again. Today I’m going to be talking about the gear that I’m going to be taking on our thru-hike. Let’s start with the big three. The big three are my pack, my shelter, and my sleeping system. Let’s start with my backpack. Originally I was going to take a North Face Terra 55L back, but I decided to change to an Osprey Exos 58L pack to save weight and because it could carry a little bit more. This new pack is about a pound-and-a-half lighter than the older one, and it fits me more comfortably.

Next we shall talk about my shelter. I’m currently camping in an REI Quarter Dome one-person tent that weighs about 2.75 pounds. It is a very comfortable tent, and I fit in it very well. My pack goes on the outside under the rain fly so that it doesn’t take up so much room in my tent. I really like this shelter because it’s so small and so light. I have noticed that the lighter a tent gets the more expensive it is. REI equipment is generally lightweight, quality gear at a reasonable price.

The sleeping bag that I am taking is the REI Lumen 25 degree bag which weighs about 2.38 lbs. I am also taking a Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme sleeping bag liner which weighs about 14 oz. This bag liner will increase the comfort rating of my sleep system by about 15 or 20 degrees. It is also way easier to wash the liner than the whole sleeping bag. I will be bringing a lightweight Trekology inflatable pillow and a Therm-A-Rest Neoair Xtherm sleeping pad so that I will sleep warmer and more comfortably. Together the big three: pack, shelter, and sleep system, weigh about 9.91 pounds.

I’m also going to need to take something to cook with, which includes my stove and fuel, pots, a spork, and water storage and filtration. My stove and pots are the Soto Amicus stove and cook set combo which weighs about 7.6 oz. My water storage units are 2-1L Gatorade bottles which are lightweight and disposable. We need to filter our water so that we do not get sick from harmful bacteria or parasites. For this, dad and I will share a 4L Platypus gravity filter.

Since it’s inappropriate the hike naked, I also will be taking some clothing. I couldn’t just grab some stuff out of my closet because hiking clothes need to be lightweight, warm, and sweat-wicking. It’s important for the clothes to be non-cotton because cotton absorbs moisture and doesn’t dry quickly. Wet clothing has the potential to give you hypothermia so it is important to wear wicking, quick-drying clothes. When I hike, I will be wearing Smartwool crew socks which are really padded on the inside and wick away moisture. I’ll be wearing REI Sahara Convertible pants with legs that can zip off. I’m going to wear either a Patagonia capilene midweight crew shirt or a sweat wicking tech shirt. I’m also going to take my Buff. When it is cold and rainy, I will be wearing Seirus Extreme gloves with REI Gore-Tex mitten shells. And finally, for camp clothing, I’m taking REI merino wool long johns as well as an extra pair of socks.

There are several other things that I will be bringing with me for camp use and use while hiking. For night hiking and seeing my way around camp, I’ll use my Black Diamond Storm headlamp. I am also taking some trekking poles. These are hiking poles which help you keep your balance and prevent falls. So that I can sit down on logs and rocks without getting wet, I will be taking a Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat which is basically a lightweight, folding foam pad. In addition to this, I’m taking a Classic Swiss Army knife, trowel and toilet paper, a bandana, and playing cards.

We really hope that we won’t have any injuries on the trail, but it’s best to be prepared. Because of this, I’m going to take a first aid kit, which includes simple items such as band-aids, antibiotic ointment, meds, nail clippers, duct tape, and ibuprofen. We will often be close to the roads and towns, so if there are any big injuries, we can get medical attention fairly easily.

That pretty much wraps it up for my gear list. There will probably be a few other small items that I have forgotten to mention, but I have described the most important items that I will be taking. Thank you for reading and be sure to watch the video attached. You can subscribe to receive email updates when we post. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel as well. May all your trails be happy, and just remember to keep taking the Next Step.

Gavin’s First Blog Post

I am really looking forward to going on the Appalachian Trail (AT) with my dad. The AT is a trail that leads from Georgia to Maine and is 2,200 miles. I am going on the AT because dad asked me to and it seemed like fun. I really like the outdoors and backpacking, so I decided that I wanted to do it. I am looking forward to strengthening my relationship with my dad. I think that being on a trail together for six months is the perfect way to do that.

With Joy on Tennent Mtn.

Dad and I have been on several short hikes in the past few years. We have been to Grayson Highlands, South Mountains, Black Balsam Knob, and, most recently, to the Great Smoky Mountains. I thought that all of them were fun except the Black Balsam hike because we had to travel almost one mile down the steep side of Old Butt Knob. We were stepping and jumping from rock to rock while hoping not to fall on our own butts. Other than that they were all fun because I was bonding with my dad and strengthening our relationship. Some of the best times that I have had with my dad have been on the trail. These adventures include getting to hitchhike for the first time, as well as all the times we took the wrong trail by accident.

I am also excited about the social aspect of the trip. During thru-hiking season, the Appalachian Trail will be filled with people and I look forward to meeting these new friends and sharing stories. Spending time with other hikers could lead to establishing my tramily, or trail family, which is a group of hikers that travel together for an extended amount of time and bond by sharing fellowship and experiences.

While I’m hiking, I am most looking forward to seeing wild animals and amazing views. I’m thinking of starting a nature log so that I can keep track of the things that I’ve seen. Some of the most commonly seen animals along the trail are deer, snakes, bugs, moose, and bears! If I see venomous snakes, moose, or bears, I hope it is from a safe distance. I’ve heard there are some really incredible views on the trail. I am especially looking forward to Clingman’s Dome, which is the highest point on the Appalachian Trail. I also want to experience the spectacular views from the many balds along the TN/NC border. In VA there is a cliff called Mcafee Knob, which reminds many people of the Circle of Life scene in The Lion King. I am dreading climbing Mt. Washington because it is home to some of the worst weather in the world, but if the skies are clear, it will give one of the best views on the entire trail. Most of all, I am looking forward to summiting Katahdin, the highest point in Maine, because it marks the northern end of the trail.

I could also stand to strengthen my relationship with my dad. Dad and I don’t spend all that much time doing things together and I feel like this trip will give us a chance to bond. Together, we will need to hang our food bags, cook our meals and help each other over difficult stream crossings and other obstacles on the trail. Hiking for six months together should give us many opportunities to encourage and support one another.

I look forward to staying in shelters along the trail. I love the shelters for providing cover, for their graffiti, and for their log books. The shelters are usually covered in graffiti, and it’s really interesting to read what other people have written. Most shelters have a logbook which hikers sign when they pass through. A shelter log shows you who’s ahead of you. Many describe these logs as the “Facebook of the Appalachian Trail” because some people leave messages for other people in them.

These are all reasons I am looking forward to going on the trail with my dad. From the views, to the animals, and the many experiences we will have, I eagerly await each one. I am looking forward to our future endeavors. I love that we are going to get to spend so much time together and I’m looking forward to my future blog posts. I’m really excited about this trip and the time I will spend bonding with my dad. Thank you for taking time out of your day to read this entry. We really enjoy hearing your feedback. If you’re new to our site, please check out our other posts, and consider subscribing.