Wilderness travel

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   As an old infantryman, who has hunted many states and hiked most of the Appalachian Trail, I thought I'd share my ideas on the right gear for wilderness travel.
Pack -- I make my own, a medium sack type with large outside pockets for organizing gear.  I make it with a double back, and slip an accordion-fold sleeping pad in there, to do double duty as a pack frame.  I don't like panel packs -- zippers can fail, and you often need to stuff more into a pack than it was designed to hold.
Sleeping bag.  I like down.  I often carry a North Face Chrysalis (2 lbs) when the weather will permit.
Shelter.  I like "Poncho Villa" -- a poncho I made of waterproofed nylon.  It's 7'X9' and has to be kilted up when walking, but doubles nicely as a tarp tent.  Teamed with a poly groundsheet, it's as good a tent as you will find.
Boots.  I like Danners, and they have a great reputation.  For hiking, I like them to just come up over the ankle, and wear them with small, home-made gaiters.  For hunting, I like insulated boots a bit higher.  I get them big enough to wear with two pairs of wool-poly socks, and use Gore-tex booties as well.

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Vern Humphrey Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .243 Winchester Joined: 29 November 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 156	Topic: Wilderness travel Posted: 05 April 2004 at 14:18
	As an old infantryman, who has hunted many states and hiked most of the Appalachian Trail, I thought I'd share my ideas on the right gear for wilderness travel. Pack -- I make my own, a medium sack type with large outside pockets for organizing gear. I make it with a double back, and slip an accordion-fold sleeping pad in there, to do double duty as a pack frame. I don't like panel packs -- zippers can fail, and you often need to stuff more into a pack than it was designed to hold. Sleeping bag. I like down. I often carry a North Face Chrysalis (2 lbs) when the weather will permit. Shelter. I like "Poncho Villa" -- a poncho I made of waterproofed nylon. It's 7'X9' and has to be kilted up when walking, but doubles nicely as a tarp tent. Teamed with a poly groundsheet, it's as good a tent as you will find. Boots. I like Danners, and they have a great reputation. For hiking, I like them to just come up over the ankle, and wear them with small, home-made gaiters. For hunting, I like insulated boots a bit higher. I get them big enough to wear with two pairs of wool-poly socks, and use Gore-tex booties as well.