Darxus

I'm doing an overnight hike in the White Mountains this weekend, dammit

I'm doing an overnight hike in the White Mountains this weekend, dammit

[info]darxus
8/16/11 02:32 pm
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2009-09-29
A dozen miles, two days and one night in the woods, is nothing. I have the gear. I can do this. I should have done this already.

You're welcome to join me. I'm planning to spend the days walking, but I don't expect to make a lot of distance.

I figure about all you need is:
  • Hydration bladder or canteen
  • Poncho (or rain coat)
  • Tent or bivy sack
  • Sleeping bag
  • Food
  • Good boots
  • A small pack to carry everything in
In forms you're willing to carry over mountains for a couple days.

For food, I'm thinking of just taking lots of hard boiled eggs, for simplicity. I'm bringing a water filter.

I think my sleeping bag + bivy sack set is really neat. NATO Modular Sleep System, about $100 lightly used. Four season, two nestable sleeping bags. A bivy sack is a waterproof outer shell to use instead of a tent. I'm planning to put everything else in a small day-pack, and tie the MSS to the pack.


I'm already fantasizing about future trips to see how light I can pack:
  • Loin cloth
  • Belt
  • Knife
  • Poncho
  • Poncho liner (ties to poncho for expedient water proof sleeping bag)
  • 1 quart canteen
  • Pemmican (jerky + rendered fat)
No shoes, no pack. Probably won't happen, but the thought amuses me. I have great difficulty with the idea that I need to filter water from a natural source before drinking it.

A web page of mine about somewhat related gear: http://www.chaosreigns.com/shtf/


A fairly common (to me) acronym is BOB - Bug Out Bag. A more specific term that often brings tears to my eyes is:
INCH bag.
I'm Never Coming Home.

"You only truly own what you can carry at a dead run."
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  • [info]milktree
    8/16/11 07:20 pm (UTC)
    Um... I'd suggest a couple day hikes before doing an overnight. Really. Make them longer day hikes than you'd go with crap on your back. But really, don't commit to an overnight right off.

    • [info]darxus
      8/16/11 07:36 pm (UTC)
      Why?

      I figure worst case, I'm beat three miles in, set up camp right there for the night, then head home the next day.

      • [info]entrochan
        8/16/11 07:41 pm (UTC)
        I agree. Absolutely no reason not to do an overnight in the Whites in the summer. It's hard to fuck up too badly assuming you don't manage to get lost.

        My personal favorite is Nancy Pond trail. It's on the west side of route 302, about in the middle of this map: http://maps.google.com/?ll=44.155608,-71.400146&spn=0.299028,0.687332&z=11&vpsrc=6 . (I'm sure you have the map and google foo to figure out the exact details.)

        • [info]perspicuity
          8/16/11 08:07 pm (UTC)
          well, no it is really easy to fuck up too badly. people do it all the time, and die. the Whites are brutal that way. people underestimate them ALL them time. even people who know better, get caught off guard.

          it SNOWS in the Summer there. we've been seeing temps into the low low 40s and high 30s (esp with wind chill). while wet. good times.

          http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=zmw:03589.1.99999

          staying warm and dry is critical. think: Winter survival gear, even in Summer. kinda sucks to be the next guy that froze his legs off in high Summer. it's not Firefly.

          bring the right gear, and no problemo.

          i'd make sure my backpack was setup so the contents stayed dry. cell phone in otter box. gps would be handy.

          plan it out more, but definitely do it :)

          #

  • [info]doctordidj
    8/16/11 08:40 pm (UTC)
    Do you have a route planned yet? Sounds like fun, but do bring waterproofs, even if the weather looks good.

    • [info]darxus
      8/16/11 08:48 pm (UTC)
      Not definite. I'm leaning toward the East end of Flat Mountain Pond Trail, staying down in the valleys and taking it real easy. And yeah, I'll be prepared for rain. I'd really like to get above the tree line, maybe around Mt. Lincoln, but I think maybe that's better kept for next time. Just because I'm not certain I could comfortably make it that far up a mountain in one day.

      Definitely open to suggestions. Going to do an out and back, not a loop, for flexibility.

      • [info]doctordidj
        8/16/11 08:57 pm (UTC)
        My favorite bang-for-the-buck mountain is Cardigan. Camping options abound, at the lodge and near the summit.
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