AT thru-hike, recommend a good camera

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bob wrote:
> rafeb wrote:
>
>>
>> That's mostly true though it's odd how many
>> hikers allow themselves a luxury or two.
>>
>> If you can be satisfied with 15 miles a day,
>> weight isn't as critical.
>
>
> I can't imagine maintaing 15 miles a day through the mountains with a
> pack. The last time I did 15 miles it was a day hike on a coastal road
> with an elevation change of about 2 feet.
>
> According to my calculations, based on the info on
> www.appalachiantrail.org, the average thru hiker averages out 10 to 13
> miles a day (5 to 7 months).
>
> I'm sure some days are faster than others, too!


Every hiker is different. Every day is different.
Don't forget that even hikers want to take a day
off from time to time. So if you take (say) one
day off per week, and walk 15 miles on each of
the other six days, your average is now down to
under 13 miles per day.

I was 37 years old when I did my "big" AT hike
and averaged 11 miles per day overall. There
was a speedster on the trail that year who was
moving at almost three times that speed.

I did a few 20-mile days.. and usually these
were followed by a seriously sub-par day, milewise.

On the AT you're hemmed in by the seasons.
Most succesful thru-hikers (as you've noted)
have to make at least 12 miles a day to cover
the 2170 miles between mid-March and early
October.



rafe b.
http/www.terrapinphoto.com

 

[Bob]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

rafeb wrote:

> I was 37 years old when I did my "big" AT hike
> and averaged 11 miles per day overall. There
> was a speedster on the trail that year who was
> moving at almost three times that speed.
>

How far did you go total, and what kind of camera did you take? I
suppose the followup would be did you think it was a good choice later?
(Not necessarily while you were carrying the weight, but later when you
looked at the photos).

When we get the renovation on our house wrapped up I'd like to do some
hikes on the AT of two weeks to a month.

Bob

 

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On Thu, 10 Mar 2005 16:27:56 -0500, bob <not@not.not> wrote:

>rafeb wrote:
>
>> I was 37 years old when I did my "big" AT hike
>> and averaged 11 miles per day overall. There
>> was a speedster on the trail that year who was
>> moving at almost three times that speed.
>>
>
>How far did you go total, and what kind of camera did you take? I
>suppose the followup would be did you think it was a good choice later?
>(Not necessarily while you were carrying the weight, but later when you
>looked at the photos).
>
>When we get the renovation on our house wrapped up I'd like to do some
>hikes on the AT of two weeks to a month.


I did about 700 miles in one go, from April 4
to June 2, 1990. Springer Mtn. to Blacksburg VA.

I did another 100+ miles in Maine later that
same year, from Katahdin summit to Monson ME.

Over the 15 years since, I've finished my
coverage of the trail from the northern terminus
down to Dalton MA. So overall, about 2/3 of the
trail under my belt so far. There are sections
of trail in the White Mountains (NH) that I've
walked at least 20 times. (Eg., the Franconia
Ridge.)

I took a Ricoh film SLR, because it was cheap
and fairly lightweight. I left my Nikon FE at
home for two reasons: the weight, and because
I was less attached to the Ricoh -- ie, I
wouldn't feel as bad if it were lost or ruined.

No regrets. It was the right choice for me, at
the time. These days I usually take my Canon G2.


rafe b.
http/www.terrapinphoto.com

 

[Bob]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

rafe bustin wrote:

> I did about 700 miles in one go, from April 4
> to June 2, 1990. Springer Mtn. to Blacksburg VA.
>
> I did another 100+ miles in Maine later that
> same year, from Katahdin summit to Monson ME.

Sounds like a great time. Thanks for sharing.

Bob