So, what is a shakedown hike anyway?

Before I set off on a 2,200-mile trek from Georgia to Maine I need to know a few things. Several things actually. For example, will the quilt I spent hundreds of dollars on keep me warm when temps drop below freezing? Will the tiny one-person tent I chose to save on weight be comfortable and dry in the middle of a rainstorm – or worse, in the middle of a freezing rainstorm? Is my backpack capable of comfortably hauling all of my gear? Are the clothes I have chosen warm enough, breathable enough, waterproof enough? Do my shoes cause blisters? Call it a stress test if you like, but a shakedown hike is just what I needed in order to truly know if the gear I will carry on my back for the next six months is sufficient.

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Test the weather – Test my nerves.

I chose an overnight hike in mid-January for a purpose – I wanted to experience as close to the same weather conditions as I would on the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail in mid-February. So, I headed off for the very beautiful and rugged Foothills Trail of Northwestern South Carolina.

I chose to do an overnight hike near Whitewater Falls, a stunning section of the Foothills Trail that descends over 900 feet from the upper falls observation area to follow alongside the tranquil Whitewater River. Daytime temperatures were in the mid-40’s with evening temps expected to drop to the low 20’s. It was a truly beautiful day for hiking and the cold overnight temperatures would give me a good chance to test out my winter gear.

The Big Three.

In backpacking gear speak, the “big three” refers to your backpack, tent and sleep system. The holy trinity of a thru-hiker’s kit. I had an opportunity to put my big three to the test and this is what I discovered:

Backpack: ULA Equipment Circuit

I have used my ULA Circuit on short backpacking trips over the last couple of years for which it has performed well on each occasion. The Circuit is lightweight at just over two pounds, yet its 68L capacity accommodates all of my gear. The XXL removable hip belt is quite comfortable with generous side pockets. This backpack has a load capacity of 35 pounds, which I am confident that I will be under when I set off on my thru-hike.

I learned that perfecting my pack method will not only make this backpack more comfortable to carry, but it will also help me stay organized on trail. This something that I have found to be a big stress reliever. When important items are easily accessible, such as my water filter, rain gear, headlamp and tent stakes, I have far less anxiety than I would if I had to rummage through my pack to find them.

Tent: Durston X-Mid Pro 1

I put an awful lot of thought into choosing a tent for my Appalachian Trail thru-hike. Finally, I settled on the Durston X-Mid Pro 1, a one-person trekking pole tent that weighs just over one pound including the optional ground cloth. Having spent one previous night in this tent I knew that it was doable. What I didn’t know was how it would perform in cold temperatures or rain. My shakedown hike afforded the opportunity to fully test out this vital piece of gear.

As is often the case, the weather forecast changed overnight with freezing rain coming in around 1:00 a.m. I was quite happy that my tent kept me dry, although my pitch was far from perfect. I learned that I could improve the tent’s performance by adding an additional guyline at the peak nearest my head. This will pull the side panel out a bit to help with rain runoff.

Single-wall tents are notorious for condensation. This was a concern with the low overnight temperatures and freezing rain. My Durston X-Mid Pro 1 performed remarkably well with very little condensation. I was able to easily wipe it dry with a small chamois cloth that kept handy for just that purpose.

Sleeping pad and mattress:

I am very happy that I chose to go with both a closed-cell pad and an inflatable mattress. The Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite Sol pad with its reflective ThermaCapture coating and 2.0 R-Value rating, was a perfect foundation for my sleep system. It helped keep my Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT inflatable mattress from sliding around. The mattress has an R-Value of 4.5, so coupled with the closed-cell pad I was nice and warm with a total R-Value of 6.5. I did not feel the chill of the ground at all.

Quilt: Enlightened Equipment Custom Revelation 10 degree/950 goose down.

This was my first time using a quilt instead of a sleeping bag, and I can clearly see how it will be a game changer!

A key component for backpacking quilts is the strap system which attaches the quilt to the mattress. I went into my shakedown hike with zero knowledge, other than watching a couple YouTube videos, on how to effectively use the strap system. Thankfully, the lower strap that goes around the mattress and clips onto the quilt was fairly self-explanatory. This strap allows you to adjust how tightly the quilt will tuck up against you. Adjusting this strap properly really makes a difference in keeping drafts out.

As for the top strap that attaches directly to the quilt to help cinch it tight – I’m still in the learning process. I really didn’t understand this strap. Regardless, I was able to tuck the quilt around me and experienced very little drafts throughout the night. I stayed completely warm. I imagine with practice I will become an expert at quilt camping. One thing is for certain – at less than two pounds, this quilt is a keeper!

Other gear that performed well.

Perhaps my favorite new piece of gear is my fanny pack. Considered a waist pack, The REI Trail 5 is considerably larger than the average fanny pack. I chose this auxiliary pack because I wanted to have ample space for go-to essentials such as hand sanitizer, sunscreen, bug repellent, snacks, etc. The mesh side pockets, which are designed to hold water bottles, are perfect for items such as my Garmin InReach satellite communicator device, and rain kilt. I also discovered that the rear pocket of this waist pack makes a perfect cradle for my cell phone and selfie stick. I can quickly access my phone to check my navigation app, or to vlog the day’s adventures.

Gear that I will change.

There is only one piece of gear that I am dissatisfied with. For my pillow I chose the Trekology Aluft 2.0 inflatable. While this inflatable pillow is a favorite amongst thru-hikers for being affordable and lightweight, I did not find it comfortable for my sleeping style. I am a stomach/side sleeper and I have a tendency to shift positions frequently during the night. This pillow just wouldn’t stay in place. In spite of having an elastic strap that secures it to the mattress, this pillow would shoot out from under me causing me to lose sleep. Unfortunately it’s a no-go for my thru-hike. I will be replacing it with the Nemo Fillo Elite which weighs in at less than 3 ounces and promises to be much more comfortable. Fingers crossed!

Other observations I made on my shakedown hike.

HUNGER games.

I use a GPS sports watch to track my activities. It is a great tool for monitoring heart rate, distance hiked, elevation gain/loss, calories burned, etc. I rely on my watch to keep track of my vitals when I am exercising, especially during strenuous activities such as backpacking. At the end of each hike I check the day’s statistics on my watch. I was quite surprised to learn that during my shakedown hike I had burned over 7,200 calories in a six-hour period. To say I was hungry at the end of my hike is an understatement. I was famished!

This 7,200+ calories represented what was burned during the hike, it did not take into account calories burned for basic survival, such as breathing, keeping warm, etc. Factor in a mid-February start for my thru-hike, with cold weather to account for, and I can easily estimate my total daily calories burned to be in the 7,000-10,000 range.

What I learned from this is that I will need to consume far more calories than I had anticipated. This is tricky when you can only carry so much food with you at one time. I am currently dialing in my nutrition plan, including calorie dense foods such as nuts, nut butters, carb-rich foods and high fat meals. Basically, all the stuff you try to avoid in the “real world”. Don’t get me wrong, losing weight is not a bad thing for me. But losing it too quickly could be. Additionally, I am going to need a tremendous amount of energy to get through each day of hiking. At the end of my shakedown hike I was clearly spent. I had very little energy left at the end of the day to perform basic camp chores. Working on my trail diet is of upmost importance.

Timing is everything.

I am a slow hiker – a very slow hiker. On my shakedown hike, which was a meager 3 miles, I found myself racing against the clock to get to camp before dark. To my credit, those 3 miles involved descending a 900-foot peak via wooden steps and crossing multiple bridges over rolling terrain. However, this is just an average partial day along the Appalachian Trail.

I found that when I arrived late at camp, I was very anxious. It was difficult to focus on basic chores, such as pitching my tent, changing into camp clothes, and making a decent meal. It’s one thing to be exhausted or anxious, but to be exhausted and anxious could spell trouble. I learned that I need to budget my time in such a way as to arrive at camp with two hours to spare before dark. Those two hours will be essential for setting up my tent or settling into a shelter; as well as preparing a sufficient meal and allowing myself vital recovery time. Basically, I need to have a trail routine.

When nature calls, I need to answer.

I need to pee more. There, I said it. I hold it for way too long. Maybe it’s because there were so many day-hikers along trail, or I just didn’t feel like dropping my pack (or drawers), regardless, I didn’t stop to pee – all day. In addition to being uncomfortable, I’m sure this isn’t good for me. There are privies along the Appalachian Trail, typically near shelters. But those shelters are spaced out every 7-10 miles or so. Some sections of trail do not have privies at all – like the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I am going to have to lose my inhibition and learn how to do my business like a pioneer woman.

So how am I feeling?

Overall, I’m feeling pretty good. I am glad I spent a night alone in the backcountry in freezing temperatures. I’m glad I put myself through a stressful situation in order to learn, if not experience, what a typical day and night on trail will be like. My gear is dialed in, and I can confidently say that I trust it. What I am also confident in is that the trail will continue to teach me, daily, what I need to know. This won’t be just a walk in the woods, it will be a way of life for an extended period of time. I have done all I can do to prepare. All that’s left to do, is to do it.