Before I attempt to thru-hike the entire Appalachian Trail, I need to test out my gear, my logistics, my body, and most importantly my headspace. These types of test hikes are known as Shakedown Hikes.
In addition to a normal shakedown hike, I am also figuring out if I am truly recovered from my foot surgery in February of 2023. The jury is still out on that topic.
C&O Canal, MD to Old Forge, PA – June 2023
This was my first shakedown hike. The plan was a 5 day hike with a hostel stay and a small resupply. I had all kinds of variables on this hike including my gear and my body. This was the first overnight hike with my Six Moons Design Swift X pack with the Vest Harness as well as my MSR Hubba Hubba 2 tent. My total loadout was about 33 lbs with 4 days of food and 2 liters of water.
The end result was a big fail! Got off trail over 2 days early. Need to figure out my pack, lower my pack weight, carry less food, and other gear changes. My back hurt a lot. But the WORST part was foot pain from my surgery. The foot pain turned a 5 day hike into a 3 day death march with a LOT of pain and frustration.
Front Royal, VA to Bear’s Den, VA – July 2023
This was my second shakedown hike. Plan was once again a 5 day hike with a hostel and resupply. I lightened up my gear and cut back on food a bit. Still using my Six Moons Design Swift X pack with the Vest Harness. My total loadout was about 30 lbs with 5 days of food and 2 liters of water.
The end result was another failure! Got off trail 2 days early. Need to try a different pack due to the back pain, lower my pack weight even more, and carry even less food, and other gear changes. The foot pain from my surgery was bothersome, but I could have gotten through. The blisters that I developed forced be to quit early.
Ashby Gap, VA to Keys Gap, WV – Early August 2023
This was my third shakedown hike. Plan was a 3 day hike with a hostel and resupply. I lightened up my gear and cut back on food a bit. Still using my Six Moons Design Swift X pack with the Vest Harness. My total loadout was about 26 lbs with 3 days of food and 2 liters of water.
The end result was yet another failure! Back hurts, feet hurt, and Achilles really hurt!
Pen Mar, MD to Duncannon, PA – August-September 2023
This was my fourth and final shakedown hike, not counting day hikes. Big changes for this attempt. I switched to a Zpacks Arc Haul 60L pack. Picked this after a lot of research with particular attention to carrying capacity and size. I trimmed back food as much as possible (cut over one whole day). I will try resupplying on trail for the first time on this hike! I am now a believer in toe socks due to blisters on my last hike. My total weight was 27.7lbs with a base of 17.6lbs.
This was a 7 day 6 night NOBO section hike on the AT in hot humid weather. I did a LOT of exercise and day hikes to try to get my feet into better shape for this hike. The end result was a GOOD hike. Some pain in back and feet, but much more manageable. I did cut the hike 1/2 a day short of Duncannon, PA solely for convenience purposes so that Pitcrew did not have to drive 2.5 hours each way and pick me up on the holiday weekend.
