HaCKeRz KrOnIcKLeZ 3/HaCKeRz_KrOnIcKLeZ.iso/anarchy/essays/term/hikappal.txt

Text File | 1996-04-27 | 6KB | 87 lines

Hiking The Appalachian Trail


The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, is a footpath in the eastern
United States for outdoor enthusiasts, extending about about 2140 miles from
Maine to Georgia, along the crest of the Appalachian Mountains. The trail passes
through 14 states and is maintained by 34 different trail maintenance
organizations. It is the longest marked, continuous footpath in the
world, at some points reaching elevations of more than 6000 feet. Wooden signposts
and white paint marks on rocks and trees are placed along the trail.
        Construction of the Appalachian Trail was begun in 1922 near
Bear Mountain, New York. By 1937 the footpath, extended from Mount Katahdin,
in Maine, to Mount Oglethorpe, in Georgia, and was ready for use. Later,
(after 1937) the trail officially ended at Springer Mountain, 10 miles
northeast of Mount Oglethorpe. In 1968 the Appalachian Trail became part of the National
Park System and was officially renamed the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
        To hike the Appalachian Trail, it is suggested to shop around
for a good pair of hiking boots, a tent, and a sturdy backpack. Hiking the distance
mentioned above obviously requires excellent footwear, and a light pack. Figure in
fatigue and you need a comfortable tent to sleep in at night.
        Good boots are "solid" on the bottom, so that you cant feel
rocks or stones through
the soles. If you can press in the bottom of the sole with your thumb,
the soles are probably too soft to give your foot proper protection. The top of
the boot should be stiff to hold the ankle in place and provide it with good
support. While it's possible to treat non-waterproof fabric boots with liquid silicone,
it generally doesn't waterproof the boot enough to be useful. Stick with leather
boots that can be treated with Sno-seal, beeswax solution, or other waterproofing
solutions.
        Feet change over time, as do shoes. Wearing a pair of shoes
and/or hiking boots changes the shape of the shoe to fit your foot. Eventually though,
the reshaping causes the shoe to rub places on the foot, causing blisters.
All boots are made on different "lasts". The last is the "form" the boot is built
around at the factory. The size and shape of these lasts, even between identical sizes
of boots, can vary greatly. For instance, some boots are built around a European
last which is typically narrow in the front, compared to American feet, which
are not. Also, some brands are narrower all over, or shorter in sole length, such
as Nike.
        A boot that fits well will not slip in the heel area, and
provide your toes with plenty of room in the front. Hiking boots are generally sized a little
longer than your standard street shoe. Bring along, or wear the socks you intend to
wear on your trip. it is recommended that beginners wear two pair. Ideally, the
socks should be synthetic or wool.
        A tent is nothing more than a shelter you carry to protect you
from the elements. The decision concerning what tent you buy should be based on
the kind of elements you want to protect yourself from.  For instance, if
you intend to hike the Appalachian Trail in the summer, you don't need to carry a tent
designed to withstand high winds and heavy snow. However, if you intend to head
into the Rockies in the winter, you may want something more than a plastic tube
tent.
        A good shelter at a minimum will keep you dry and comfortable in
rainy weather and keep the bugs out during the summer . If you hike solely
during the summer months, then virtually any moderate quality tent will do. If you
plan to hike through more than one season, you might consider a shelter that has
a bit more comfort and room inside for rainy spring or fall days when dressing
inside the tent in the morning, or spending the evening inside before bed, is
preferable.  Also snow loading, access, and high winds are a consideration, and more
care must be taken in choosing a shelter to protect you from the harsher
winter months.
        A summer tent is a simple, A-frame style nylon tent with a
waterproof fly and mosquito netting. A waterproof fly is a urethane-coated nylon sheet
that hangs over the tent body. A three season tent may be a stronger A- frame
design or a dome style tent. The goal is to provide a more rigid shelter
capable of withstanding wind and possibly light snow loading. A four-season tent is
designed to withstand harsh winter conditions, wind, and significant snowfall.
These tents are always all-nylon, with no upper body netting.  These designs
typically have less netting than other tent designs and can be warmer in the summer.
Because four-season tents are sometimes made from heavier tent and pole
material, they can also weigh more. The shape of a tent and it's pole configuration can
greatly affect how your shelter performs in the backcountry. Good quality
backpacking tents will have 10 to 12 stitches per inch, and a waterproof bottom.
Other considerations for a good tent are and equipment vestibule for storing
things you want out of the elements but not in the tent.
        As far as tent maintenance goes, be sure to dry it thoroughly
upon returning home, even if it never rained. Dew and dampness from the
ground can wreak havoc on a tent with mildew.
        An external frame pack is a design where the frame is fully
exposed on the outside of the pack, and the pack itself is attached to the sides of the
frame using straps, aluminum pins, or other methods. The most commonly used frame
material aluminum, due to it's light weight.  External frame packs typically have two main compartments, a number of
outside pockets, and an open space below the pack where a sleeping bag can be
lashed to the frame.
        An internal frame pack is a design where the frame is contained
inside the pack. The "frame" is nothing more than two aluminum, plastic or
fiberglass, stays that run vertically from the top to the bottom of the pack. They provide
the primary means of support for the shoulder straps and hip belt, and the basic
structure to hang the pack from.