May, 2004 Massachusetts -- West Bound!

I see that the current Massachusetts stale air is getting to you, too!

I've also hiked on the Long (ie Mt. Mansfield) and the ubiquitous MM as well, not the entire lengths, alas. Are you worried that once you do this, you might be tempted to hike the AT in its entirety, too? ;-)

The job market is pretty tight right now, especially in Central MA. The problem with getting a better paying job (at least for me) is obtaining new and interesting ways to spend that pay increase on. It's too easy to spend it!

TimboTA:
I'm going nuts here. Back to the humdrum..
Work, eat, sleep, work, eat, sleep, work...

After working 3rd shift for 3 years, I can't stand working 1st. I used to love having all the day-light hours to do as I please, now its dark whenever I have free time. Glad I work 6:30-3:00 and not 9:00-5:00 though. I gotta get a 2nd or 3rd shift job. If not for my flight lesson costs, I'd quit and work at Subway or a movie-rental place.

I hike at Mt. Grace on the MM trail 2-3 times a week (although not in the past 4 months, I'll start again when its light out until 6pm). I've been up Grace 3 or 4 hundred times, its my workout hill. I tried hiking the whole MM trail 2 years ago, but only made it about 1/3 of the way. I started too early so I couldn't do any of the river crossings. Ended up walking more on pavement trying to find bridges around flooded rivers/streams than I did on the trail. The long trail is so beautiful. Camel's Hump was my favorite peak. Its the highest undeveloped mountain in the Greens (I think). I've also been in the Breadloaf Wilderness section, the MA/VT border section, Stratton, and a few others. I also had problems finding water on the MM. Many sections of the trail had been abandoned and moved without signs, and some of the water supplies were non-existant. Now hiking the Long Trail and Hiking the AT are on two whooooooole different levels (hahaha). I've thought about trying the AT before (even bought some books and planning materials), but set it aside because I don't think I have what it takes mentally (yet). I do have a full AT map on the inside door of my closet, but I'd have to prove to myself that I'd even have a chance at completing a 2100mi+ hike by completing the 200 some-odd mile Long Trail (terrible I can't remember its exact length, I'll have to check my guide, I think its 276mi). I'd love to try it though, and I've been thinking about giving it a go. I want to atleast get my PP license before quitting my job though. Nice thing about hiking is it doesnt cost much. I guess if I really applied myself I could be ready by the spring of '06. I might try and thru-hike the LT this summer with my vac time, and we'll see about the AT...

Timbo you're terrible stirring up ideas in me. Be glad my mother doesn't know you! :p

PS> I hear you on the "more you make the more you spend" mentality. My two passions other than hiking/traveling are good food and good music/film. Aside from basic bills and flight lessons, all my cash goes to my HomeTheater/hifi setup and special orders of fresh meats and wine. I'm also a sushi junkie, and can go through $20 worth of nigiri like nothing. Funny thing about hiking is, after a good 10mi struggle, a PB&J with cheez-itz and bug-juice tastes like Kobe Beef and a 10yr Cabernet. :)

I did some stretches of the AT in Quebec and I can tell you that the part in Parc de la Gaspesie (on the Gaspe Peninsula) has some of the most beautiful sceneries I've seen so far, especially in the areas of Mt Albert and Xalibu. There are nice campgrounds in the park too!

"I'm also a sushi junkie"
Nick, If you ever come to Quebec city try Yuzu restaurant, they serve sushi made of regional products, pretty funky but great!

"Funny thing about hiking is, after a good 10mi struggle, a PB&J with cheez-itz and bug-juice tastes like Kobe Beef and a 10yr Cabernet."

I agree! No BBQ can beat a campfire for cooking or a Coleman stove (depending on who's cooking!:-). But I make an exception for wine, a great bottle of wine is a must have even if it puts extra pounds in your backpack...At the end of the day, it's definitely worth it, especially in good company! And please don't tell me about that stinking powder they sell to make it look and taste (ugh!) like real wine when you add water!:)


Gen

ps-awesome photos by the way!

Gen:

Is that the IAT (aka SIA)? The AT proper runs from Maine to Georgia, with no sections outside the USA, and is quite long. Then somebody decided it wasn't enough of a challenge and added miles to it ;-)

Mt. Grace - I've been up there a few times. There is an awesome view from the fire tower up there. In VT I've done Mt. Abraham (ironically in Lincoln, VT) and Mt. Mansfield. I won't get into an exhaustive list here but this year I plan on making up for the hikes I haven't been able to do over the last three years due to working overtime every Saturday.

We're going peak-bagging!

Timbo,

the Appalachians run from the Gaspe Peninsula to Georgia and it's the same chain of mountains right?:-) Intl Appalachian Trail (or SIA - Sentier Intl des Appalaches as we call it in French) and Appalachian Trail sounds pretty much the same to me even though they're separated by a virtual frontier.

The Quebec part is 650 km long approx. I know a guy who did the whole thing from Parc Forillon, Gaspesie to Georgia, it took several months! Personally, I wouldn't get into that, but I sure do like shorter hiking trips from time to time.:-)

Have a nice day!

Gen

The current "traditionalist" thru-hike of the AT is from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Maine. The IAT extends I believe from Alabama to somewhere in Canada. The Atlas mountains in Morocco actually were part of the original appalachian chain, and some diehards actually finish a "thru" by flying to Africa :)

The GA>ME thru-hike takes most people 5 months usually starting in early April and finishing in late September.

I lean towards the "lightweight" hiking style. I try to keep my full pack around 20lbs. I use a soda-can alcohol stove and a sil-nylon tent to keep the weight down along with a homemade backpack for multiday hikes in non-winter weather. Another great trick is to use the 1L widemouth pepsi product bottles instead of those $8 Nalgenes you see peopple with. For two bottles that'll save you 1/2lb. Doesn't sound like much, but do it to all your gear and ounces make pounds. Less pounds make more comfortable feet and more miles hiked in a day!

Hi Nick!

20lbs?? I wish I could do that!:-) Well maybe in the summer....The only long hiking trips (backpacking autonomy) I made were during the winter so we were carrying more like 35 lbs each (ouch, my back)! But we had the luxury of sleeping in a cabin in the middle of the woods (no electricity, outhouse, bunks without matresses, just an old fireplace in a peaceful environment...Heaven really!:o). I once tried to sleep in a prospector tent at minus 15 celsius and let me tell you that is not my thing!lol

Pepsi bottles..it's a good tip but the inconvenient of it is they'll freeze in no time during the winter unlike Nalgenes that last a little more time before they freeze anyway:-) I absolutely agree, ½ lb makes a difference at the end of the day. Does your handmade bag looks like traditional backpacks, is there anything special about it?
Just curious!


Gen

I should have noted that my pack is only 20lbs from late spring until early fall. Once it gets down below 30*F my packweight jumps up to 30lbs. The widemouth 1L pepsi bottles are only good on multiday hikes above freezing. Overnights during the winter see me with my Nalgenes, and special "Bottle Parkas" made from the company Outdoor Research.

http://www.outdoorresearch.com/home/style/home/storage/storage_carriers/WPB

I used a lightweight aluminum external pack frame, and made mounts on it that hold 4 outdoor research waterproof drybags that kayakers use. Total packweight is around 4lbs, but its very comfortable and completely waterproof. You also don't have to worry about digging through your pack for things. Each bag can be opened independently. Also, One bag can be dedicated for odorous items so you can simply detatch it, attatch a cord, and use it as your hangbag at night. It doesn't look pretty, but it works great. I'm going to make a more streamlined version before tackling the LT this summer.

The biggest thing I wrestle with to keep my packweight down is my sleeping pad. I love my 3lb thermarest at night, but it stinks to carry during the day :)

Very impressive! You made that all by yourself? When it comes to sewing my mind becomes blurry!:-) As for carrying water, I'm a camelback addict. Usually, I put it under my coat so it stays warm longer during the winter. I agree with you, the thicker the sleeping pad, the better. I have back problems so a great mattress is a must have for me even if it's heavier.

I can't wait for summer to come, I have some hiking projects, most of them located on the Gaspe peninsula. But I got to get in shape first!:-) I'm not exactly a winter lover and frankly I prefer hiking in the heat and sun than not being able to stop 5 minutes because it's too cold! But you know, I live north of the border so I guess I don't have a choice but to live with the cold temperatures... If you ever come up here, I'd have some suggestions for you!

I got hired for a 2nd/3rd shift position that actually pays more than my old job, but I have to commute an hour each way. Paid dinner though, so my day will actually be only 30mins longer than my old job where I commuted 30mins each way.

Going to sign up for some Spanish and French courses at a local state college now that I finally have my mornings free! Can't wait to start up my flight lessons again in a couple weeks. I've only got 6 hours and I'm itching for more!