Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Cheoah Bald to Fontana Dam (Hilton)

Wayah Bald to Cheoah Bald

Justus Creek to Helen, Georgia

A Day in the Food Life of Shotgun Bobby

Scene of the crime: Neels Gap

Victims:

• 2 servings of single-serve oatmeal
• one lb. can of peaches
• 2 cracker packs, or 12 peanut butter on cheese crackers
• 2 sodas (not diet)
• one sausage/hamburger pizza (not personal pan… we’re talkin’ a whole pizza here, folks)
• 2 bags of Lays potato chips
• one snickers candy bar
• 1/2 bag of teriyaki rice
• one mashed potato mountain
• one blueberry cheesecake.

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Springer Mountain to Justus Creek

Bronze plaque marking the southern terminus

The register is in the rock!

The southernmost white-blaze (beginning of the AT for us)

The last blue-blaze (ending of the approach trail)

Springer Mountain Shelter (stayed here May 19th)

View from the shelter’s loft

Kitchen in the moutains

Springer Mountain Shelter chaos

Fire ring

BMT (Benton MacKaye Trail)

BMT

Stover Creek near Three Forks (I think)

Ferns

The trail ahead

Lunch break

Creepy owl

Brent has informed me that this owl is not creepy, but just chillin’.

He’s too cool for one photo

The Amicalola Falls Approach Trail

One of the Many

Trollin’

Shout out to Benton MacKaye

Amicalola Falls

Gear Gallery

Two-liter Nalgene water bladder near green shoes

Waldies AT Clog Lime camp shoes (3.2 oz.)

Osprey Aether 60 backpack (4 lbs. 15 oz.)

North Face Meso 22 two-person tent (4 lbs. 1 oz.)

Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15 sleeping bag (1 lb. 15 oz.)

Sea to Summit eVent Compression Dry Sack- Medium 14L (5.2 oz.) for sleeping bag

Therm-A-Rest ProLite sleeping pad (16 oz.)

Therm-A-Rest ProLite stuff sack (.8 oz.)

Osprey UL raincover (4.25 oz.)

I wish I didn’t need this.

To make squirrel brain stir-fry

Optimus Crux Lite stove (2.9 oz.)

Optimus gas canister (4 oz.)

Sea to Summit X-Mug (2.1 oz.) and Sea to Summit X-Bowl (2.8 oz.)

Sea to Summit X-Mug (2.1 oz.) and Sea to Summit X-Bowl (2.8 oz.)

The gas, stove, mug and bowl all fit inside!

MSR Base 2 pot set (16 oz.)

Sea to Summit iPOOd! Pocket trowel (3.5 oz.)

Gerber 8L3 knife with fire steel

Sun Shower A.K.A. Golden Buddha

Appalachian Trail Data Book 2011, Leki Mountain Trek Series trekking poles and Princeton Tec Remix LED headlamp (2.9 oz.)

Gear List

Deciding on what to pack has proved a daunting task.  After all, I’ll be carrying every ounce on my back. Since I’ll be depending on most items daily for the course of six months, durability is as essential as weight.  I’ve been accumulating items since the day I decided to hike, but I’m still lacking some must-haves such as clothing. I’ll continue to update the list as I go because (as most thru-hikers have experienced) it will probably change a million times before I set foot on the trail. My intention is not to promote certain brands or items but merely state what I have found works for me and inform you of the equipment a thru-hike might require.  Photos are coming soon!

PACK, SLEEPING GEAR

1. Osprey Aether 60 backpack (4 lbs. 15 oz.)
2. North Face Meso 22 two-person tent (4 lbs. 1 oz.)
3. Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15 sleeping bag (1 lb. 15 oz.)
4. Sea to Summit eVent Compression Dry Sack- Medium 14L (5.2 oz.)
5. Therm-A-Rest ProLite sleeping pad (16 oz.)
6. Therm-A-Rest ProLite stuff sack (.8 oz.)
7. Osprey UL raincover (4.25 oz.)

 KITCHENWARE

1. Optimus Crux Lite stove (2.9 oz.)
2. Optimus gas canister (4 oz.)
3. MSR Base 2 pot set (16 oz.)
4. Sea to Summit X-Bowl (2.8 oz.)
5. Sea to Summit X-Mug (2.1 oz.)
6. Brunton My-TI folding spork (.6 oz.)
7. Outdoor Research 10L waterproof stuff sack (1.4 oz.)

 CLOTHING

1. Merrell hiking boots
2. Patagonia Capilene base layer
3. Thor-Lo hiking socks
4. SmartWool PhD Outdoor Light crew socks
5. Injinji Outdoor Series Performance Toesock
6. Fox River X-static liner
7. Injinji Lightweight Performance Toesock liner

 HYGIENE

1. Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap (4 oz.)
2. Sea to Summit Tek towel (4.9 oz.)
3. Sea to Summit iPOOd! pocket trowel (3.5 oz.)
4. Tooth powder
5. Toothbrush
6. Sunscreen
7. Insect repellent
8. Nail clippers

 OTHER ITEMS

1. First-aid kit
2. Appalachian Trail Data Book 2011
3. Leki Mountain Trek Series trekking poles
4. Princeton Tec Remix LED headlamp (2.9 oz.)
5. Gerber 8L3 knife with fire steel
6. Duct tape (thanks, Adam!)

 FOOD AND WATER

1. Two-liter Nalgene water bladder
2. Katadyn Hiker Pro Microfilter water purifier (11 oz.)
3. Splashguard for Nalgene bottle
4. Plenty of granola bars and dehydrated food!

Hike the Appalachian Trail in Five Minutes

Green Tunnel from Kevin Gallagher on Vimeo.

A six month journey along the 2,200 mile long Appalachian Trail, condensed and reinterpreted into five minutes of stop-motion.