All posts by CampingJay

Community, Shelters, The Basics, Water

Thruhike Advice

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rainwear for hiking and backpacking
Demonstrating Equinox Silnylon Backpacking Poncho

In a few weeks, I’ll be running another one of my very popular Intro to Backpacking seminars at Harriman State Park.  I ran my first seminars at Harriman State Park in November and December of 2015. Among the attendees was a very enthusiastic young lady who now goes by the trail name “Kremlin.”  Kremlin was having a rough time fitting into civilized life and was looking for something more exiting to do. She asked me if I thought she should go on a thruhike, and I said “do it!” She started her hike from Katahdin after 6 months of preparation and finished just around Thanksgiving of 2016. Recently she referred a friend to me to get some thruhike advice of his own. Continue reading Thruhike Advice →

Community, Safety, The Basics, Water

Water Treatment

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Water Treatment
Platypus Water Bladders

In a few weeks I’m going to be hosting an “Intro to Backpacking” Seminar at Harriman State Park.  I’m hosting this event via the Meetup Group “Hudson Valley Hikers.”  Meetup events tend to get a lot of RSVP’s, but also a lot of No-Shows. In order to vet people out before giving them a spot at the seminar, I’ve asked them to email me questions about backpacking.  Some of them are pretty good and I’ll be sharing the answers via a series of posts called “Ask CampingJay.” This post will discuss Water Treatment Methods. Continue reading Water Treatment →

Community, The Basics

Backpacking Mistakes

In a few weeks I’m going to be hosting an “Intro to Backpacking” Seminar at Harriman State Park.  I’m hosting this event via the Meetup Group “Hudson Valley Hikers.”  Meetup events tend to get a lot of RSVP’s, but also a lot of No-Shows. In order to vet people out before giving them a spot at the seminar, I’ve asked them to email me questions about backpacking.  Some of them are pretty good and I’ll be sharing the answers via a series of posts called “Ask CampingJay.” This post will discuss Backpacking Mistakes. Continue reading Backpacking Mistakes →

Community

Appalachian Trail Section Hiking with HVH: Video

2016 Appalachian Trail Section Hiking with HVH
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Appalachian Trail Section Hiking

2016 was a year of discovery and adventure as I renewed my goal of Appalachian Trail Section Hiking. During this epic year I hiked more than 500 miles of the Appalachian Trail, climbed some of the North East’s most famous mountains, and explored unique and interested places.  Most of all, it was a year of building new friendships which I hope will last a lifetime.  To show my appreciation for all those who helped make my 2016 Section Hiking Campaign great, I put together this video: 2016 Appalachian Trail Section Hiking with HVH.

Community

Hudson Valley Hikers

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Hudson Valley Hikers

Over the last two years I have had the pleasure of hiking and hosting with Hudson Valley Hikers.  Among my friends at HVH are some of the kindest, most helpful, ambitious, knowledgeable and exciting people I have ever met.  Powered by HVH, I climbed dozens of the Northeasts toughest mountains, hiked more than 500 miles of the Appalachian trail, tubed down raging rivers, drank beer I’d never heard of, and been introduced to thoughts and ideas that are totally new to me.  This is the story about how a group of hikers has changed my life and how it might change yours. Continue reading Hudson Valley Hikers →

Safety, Trip Report, Weather

Winter Backpacking – Backup Plan Implemented

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A snowy winter backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania.
A snowy winter backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania.

When heading out into the wilderness, one must always plan ahead, study the route and weather predictions, carry the correct gear, and have a back-up plan. Perhaps these rules are never more true than when winter backpacking.  Knowing your the route, the weather, the abilities of your crew, how to properly use your gear and having some survival skills make a fun time out of a potentially dangerous situation. Continue reading Winter Backpacking – Backup Plan Implemented →

The Basics, Trip Planning

2017 Three Season Backpacking Gear List

When I was learning to backpack, I found it helpful when others posted their gear lists.  It gave me a reference point for the kinds of things I needed, what I was doing right, and what I could be doing better.  That said, there is no “one size fits all” gear list.  There are a number of personal factors that go into making a gear list, such as size, weight, fitness level, and need for comfort.  It also matters where and when you plan to go backpacking.  One must factor in temperature, precipitation, terrain, water availability and natural shelter, among other things.

Updated for 2017!

Continue reading 2017 Three Season Backpacking Gear List →

Community, Shelters, The Basics

HVH Intro to Backpacking Gear List

Zpacks Hexamid Solo
Zpacks Hexamid Solo

This weekend I ran the third session of my very popular Introduction to Backpacking seminar.  My goal with this event was to expose newcomers to some of the equipment that’s available out there and give them some buying advice.  I like to help people avoid purchasing equipment before they get a chance to see it in real life.  I saw a lot of busy note taking going on this weekend, so I decided to help out with a list of gear we looked at.

 

Continue reading HVH Intro to Backpacking Gear List →

Trip Planning

Winter Backpacking Gear List – 2017

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When I was learning to backpack, I found it helpful when others posted their gear lists.  It gave me a reference point for the kinds of things I needed, what I was doing right, and what I could be doing better.  That said, there is no “one size fits all” gear list.  There are a number of personal factors that go into making a gear list, such as size, weight, fitness level, and need for comfort.  It also matters where and when you plan to go backpacking.  One must factor in temperature, precipitation, terrain, water availability and natural shelter, among other things.

Revised for 2017

Continue reading Winter Backpacking Gear List – 2017 →