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I will just add one final thought and then run from the discussion. In my opening proclamation I used the phrase "known water source". For me , a known water source is a pond or river or major brook. I do not plan for things that can dry up. I don't know if that changes anyone's view of me. I don't plan for water sources that can dry up. I end up lugging water to and over them. Edited for balsa comment. I am not sure if serious is right word. I have an open mind. I concider and dismiss all kinds…

Rafe, I really am not criticizing people with more experience. That would be arrogant and idiotic. I am just wired different. Going through college I did everything in triplicate. It is just the way I am wired. I agree with so much of what you are saying. I really am listening. I have modified my plans in the north part of the Long Trail because of you. I think it was you that convinced me to abandon the balsa spoon thing. I just don't grasp this carry extra water thing. I just don't see it that…

It does make sense. I am sure a large percentage if people would hate hiking if they spent the time planning that I do. I just enjoy the planning. For me it is exciting.

Yup. That is me. Plan to the nth degree. Works for me. Does not work for most. I know I am in the minority. I am fairly certain most agree with you. I am also certain that I am not done learning or making mistakes. Almost all of what I do is because of things I have learned from others. If I am wrong here too, I will not be shy to admit it. I could list many things I have learned the hard way when I should have just listened. So far my water and food planning is working. I am enjoying carrying l…

Quote from rafe: “Quote from BirdBrain: “ Now to my thought. The trails are full of people who are willing to spent hundreds of dollars to save ounces, but are willing to carry pounds because they don't want to be bothered with a detailed plan. A pint's a pound the world around. Why are people willing to buy 800 down and cuben fiber at many hundreds of dollars extra when those weight savings are way more than offset by carrying too much food and water? ” Excess food I try to avoid, somewhat. But…

The weenie thought of the day: I know there are people who think my gram struggles are silly. I love the teasing. Some of MP's are my favorites. I was thinking about the various schools of thought as I was driving around today. It dawned on me that an illustration might be helpful. A sleeping bag is a very important decision. I made a mistake when I bought my 1st one. I went for cost over ability to insulate per weight. I regret that decision. But it strikes me that many people make a sillier de…

Quote from jimmyjam: “You're so right, the newspaper in the shoe is not my idea, I got it from reading someone's blog. But it works amazingly well. I have also adapted it to drying out my water bottles and evernew collapsible bottle after I wash them for storage. Just roll the newspaper or paper towel up thin enough that it fits down inside the bottle, leaving enough sticking out for you to retrieve it. Now my evernew will dry out overnight instead of it taking days.” Okay. I need details. How m…

Quote from rafe: “Quote from BirdBrain: “Quote from TrafficJam: “Quote from WanderingStovie: “Last year on my Maryland yoyo, I carried enough space blankets and tape to make a shelter, instead of a tent, tarp, or bivouac sack.” Did you use it?” That is one of the questions I ask myself about every piece of gear in my pack after I get back from a walk. If the answer is no, then that item gets the 3rd degree. There are some emergency items that I will carry and hope they never get used. I view unu…

Quote from TrafficJam: “Quote from WanderingStovie: “Last year on my Maryland yoyo, I carried enough space blankets and tape to make a shelter, instead of a tent, tarp, or bivouac sack.” Did you use it?” That is one of the questions I ask myself about every piece of gear in my pack after I get back from a walk. If the answer is no, then that item gets the 3rd degree. There are some emergency items that I will carry and hope they never get used. I view unused items carried for convenience or just…

Quote from 12trysomething: “To be fair, capillary action stoves go as far back as 2008. It is the same premise, just the design has changed. MrBillTroop73 deserves the credit as the innovator.” Excellent point. It is likely he used other people's ideas to come up with his innovation. It is unfortunate that our friends from Japan have this rift. It seems obvious to me that they are building on ideas. That is what we do here. I post tons of tweaks. I could lists many things that I do that are modi…

Quote from Astro: “6pm.com/vivobarefoot-ultra-pure-l-crimson I believe I caught them on sale for less than $20 in the past.” You should wait until Coach is offline before posting that. Those are his color for water shoe. He is likely to buy them before twistwrist has a chance.

Quote from TrafficJam: “Quote from Rasty: “Quote from BirdBrain: “Quote from Rasty: “Quote from TrafficJam: “Upstream is about to hit 1000 profile views. That must be a record for the cafe.” I blacklisted five spam bots that were looking at upstream's profile” I hope one of them was not me. I promise not to try for number 2000.” You do have the most ip addresses that I've seen so far.” I thought you had the most.” Maybe Rasty and I are the same person. Mwahahaha

Quote from Rasty: “Quote from TrafficJam: “Upstream is about to hit 1000 profile views. That must be a record for the cafe.” I blacklisted five spam bots that were looking at upstream's profile” I hope one of them was not me. I promise not to try for number 2000.

Quote from twistwrist: “Water shoes as camp and wading shoes! Brilliant idea!” Vivo Barefoot UltraPures. HB's choice. I concur. Also, notice the size suggestions of AK. I don't make my water shoes super tight, but my trail runners are 1/2 size bigger than my street shoes. Many, if not most hikers do the same. Your feet can swell. Loose shoes help to save your toenails too.

For what it is worth, I carried my bivy through the 100 mile wilderness and used it every day on that walk. I ditched it in Monson, not because it was not functional or too confining, but rather because it was too hot. I slept on top of it half the time. I am fine with using it when iI have no other option. I would say the odds are low I will carry it next year. I am concidering it though. I am not concidering going without a shelter.

Quote from rafe: “I wouldn't dare go tent-less into the woods if I were planning to stay overnight. There are all kinds of reasons you might not make it to the shelter, or might not like it when you get there, or it might be full, etc. etc. I'm not anti-shelter in any way... but I don't want to be 100% dependent on them.” I agree. It is a bad plan to not carry a shelter. A bivy is a minimal if not a poor shelter. I saw a few hikers without shelters of their own. I can't imagine hiking that way. …

I do not have a vast resume of hiking experience, but as far as I have been I am yet to fall short of a planned distance. I have travelled further, but have not fallen short. If that trend continues, I have only one planned spot north of the Maine Junction where there is no shelter available. If it is raining, I guess I will push on to the next shelter. I am not a big fan of my bivy, but it would suffice where needed. And thank you for calling me a hiker. And yes, I am no camper.

I am having a thought. Before I express that thought, I have a confession. As much as I hate shelters, I actually slept in a couple during my final week across New Hampshire. I did so because I was alone on 6 straight nights and they looked a bit more inviting that way. Now to my thought. It occurs to me that one could go tentless on the Long Trail with a bit of planning. I am not willing to do that, but I am considering a compromise. I could carry my tent until the Maine Junction. I doubt I wil…

Dress up like a hooker and the secret service might let you sleep inside.

Quote from AnotherKevin: “Quote from Drybones: “ He was 21 before he realized his name was not Damnit.” Quote from me as a kindergartener: "I can't come right now, Mommy, I'm holding the God-damned son-of-a-bitch for Daddy!"” I am not sure which is more impressive; your vocabulary when you were that young or your memory of those events at your current age.