Why Vermont's Long Trail hikes were important for me. Read More ...

Continue reading Vermont’s Long Trail – My most important long hike at PMags.com.

A  Vermont’s Long Trail planning guide.  Has info on re-supply, town stops, and some other info that may be useful.  Through the power of the Internet, I was able to update this doc without hiking it again. Believe me, I’d rather be hiking it again!

This doc was updated last in July 2011 and probably will not be updated again for the time being.

The Long Trail
Vermont’s 270 Mile Footpath Through the Wilderness

The Long Trail (LT) is a hiking classic. Winding its way along the Green Mountains of Vermont, the LT is the nation’s first long-distance recreational hiking trail. For 100 miles, the LT shares the same tread-way as the Appalachian Trail. At the Maine Junction, the LT continues north to the Canadian border for 170 miles. Hiking the LT is both a great way to experience the beauty of Vermont and to use as a “prep” hike for the AT or another long distance hiking trail. 

Continue reading Long Trail Info at PMags.com.

Over the years my base pack weight has become lighter and lighter. It took many miles and years of tinkering to get to this point, though!

I have been asked if I had gear lists for the different trails I’ve done. Up until now, I did not.

Since I am dealing with multiple trails and equipment from a decade of thru-hiking, I do not recall the exact weights. The BASE PACK WEIGHT is a guess for the earlier days. I also did not list every item, only the “biggies.”, Obviously, some of the items in 2009 are different from their 1996 or so counterparts. The lists should prove to be instructive, though.  I also have my current gear list posted (as of July 2012).

GEAR LIST FOR THRU-HIKES, 1997- 2006

Vermont’s Long Trail 1997
Appalachian Trail 1998
Vermont’s Long Trail 1999
Pacific Crest Trail  2002
Colorado Trail 2004
Continental Divide Trail 2006

BACKPACK
EMS 5500 (1996 Model)
EMS 5500 (1996 Model)
Camp Trails Scirroco (3500 CI)
LWGEAR -One Pound Pack (all mesh)
LWGEAR -One Pound Pack (all mesh)
Six Moon Designs Essence (2006 Version)

SHELTER
Walrus Swift
Walrus Swift
Walrus Swift
Campmor 8×10 Silnylon Tarp
Oware 5×7 SilNylon Tarp
Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape

Sleeping Bag
Feathered Friends Hummingbird
Feathered Friends Hummingbird
Feathered Friends Hummingbird
Feathered Friends Hummingbird
Feathered Friends Hummingbird
Feathered Friends Hummingbird

Sleeping Pad
Z-Rest
Z-Rest
Z-Rest
Z-Rest
Z-Rest (cut down)
Generic “blue foam pad” ( cut down)

Cooking
MSR Alpine Cookset
MSR Alpine Cookset

K-Mart Alum Pot

K-Mart Alum Pot (a little beat up)
K-Mart Alum Pot (really beat up)
K-Mart Alum Pot (d-low says it should be thrown away!)

MSR Whisperlite
MSR Whisperlite
Alcohol Stove
Alcohol Stove
Alcohol Stove
Alcohol Stove

Hydration
2 Nalgene Bottles
2 Nalgene Bottles
2 Gatorade bottles
2 Gatorade Bottles
2 Gatorade Bottles
2 Gatorade Bottles

1 Gallon Plastic jug

Nalgene Cantene
Nalgene Cantene
Nalgene Cantene
Nalgene Cantene

PUR Microfilter
Polar Pure
Polar Pure
Polar Pure
MP-1 Tabs
Iodine Tabs

Jacket
Generic Fleece Pullover
Generic Fleece Pullover
Generic Fleece Pullover
Marmot Driclime Windshirt
Marmot Driclime Windshirt
Montbell Light Shell Jacket

Rainwear
Windpants
Windpants
Windpants
Windpants
Montbell UL Rainpants
Montbell UL Rainpants

PVC Rainjacket
PVC Rainjacket
Generic Nylon Rainjacket
Generic Nylon Rainjacket
Golite Wisp
Golite Wisp

Footwear
LL Bean Cresta Hikers
LL Bean Cresta Hikers
Asolo 535s
various running/trail shoes
Nike Air Pegasuses
various running/trail shoes

BASE PACK WEIGHT (Estimated)
30 lbs
28 lbs (weighed at Boiling Springs ATC office)
17 lbs
13 lbs
10 lbs (I had a digital scale for this kit)
9lbs (I had a digital scale for this kit)

NOTES:

• I did not include most of my clothing as that has changed very little from the second LT hike in 1999. 

Continue reading The Evolving Gear List : 1997 – 2006 at PMags.com.

Paul Magnanti’s Long Trail hikes of 1997 and 1999. With photos and planning information.                                                                                       

The Long Trail is Vermont’s own footpath in the wilderness. For 270 miles it winds it way along the Green Mountains. For one hundred miles it shares the the same tread way as the Appalachian Trail. At the Maine Junction the LT and the AT split; the LT continues onward to Canada and the AT continues to Katahdin.

The Long Trail is the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the country. The Long Trail was also the inspiration for the Appalachian Trail. The southern portion of the AT is more popular and is more gentle; past the Maine Junction the LT is more remote, rugged, less traveled and more beautiful. Pine covered mountains, above tree line views, gorgeous Fall foliage. The Long Trail is a fantastic way to see the beauty of New England.

In 1997, I did the Long Trail as my first long distance backpack.

Continue reading Green Mountain Gallivants – Vermont’s Long Trail at PMags.com.