My Hiking Story

For me hiking is about unique experiences. I believe there are certain things that can’t be captured, and the only way to experience them is to place yourself right in the middle of it. And there are certain experiences that only happen for a brief moment and then it’s gone. Yes, there are times that I’m cold, tired, sore and lonely for the comforts of home, but the high points always outshine the lows.

One of the best examples happened to me while in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It was my second day into the Whites and it was a day that I had been looking forward to for some time, the hike across Franconia Ridge. This includes a 2.5 miles stretch of ridge walking above tree line, providing some of the best views in the Whites. The only problem was that it had been raining since the moment I woke up and the closer I got to the ridge, the deeper the realization became that this iconic section of the Appalachian Trail (Also referred to as the "AT") was going to be covered in cloud. As I trekked across the ridge line I simply stared down at my feet, carefully placing each step between rocks.

A foggy hike across Franconia Ridge.

It was during this section that I noticed my shadow, I had not seen it all day, and now I was staring down at it. When I looked towards the west the clouds broke apart for a moment revealing such a beautiful sight. When I saw this happening I was instantly overwhelmed with joy forgetting all of the cold rain and challenges of the day. I yelled out to the the mountains with a triumphant shout, rejoicing in the surrounding beauty! During this moment I realized it would be short lived so I scrambled for my camera to capture the last few moments of that experience.

The clouds break on Franconia revealing a great view!

The Decision
The decision for me to start hiking long distanced began in May of 2006 when I went for a 3 day hike on the Appalachian Trail. At the time I had no idea what I was doing, I had a heavy external frame pack that I had outgrown from my Boy Scout days and it was filled with a lot of unnecessary gear, including what I thought would be enough water for 3 days of hiking. I started early that first day, and by that afternoon I found myself lying on my back, worn out and almost out of water... but I was happy! I was experiencing a sense of freedom and adventure that I had never felt before! I was alone in the woods, but I had everything I needed to support myself(besides the dwindling water supply) and I loved it! When I got off the trail at Neal’s Gap I looked North up the trail and knew that I wanted to continue all the way to Maine. I wanted to continue right then and there, but it wasn’t time yet, and ever since then it has been an ongoing learning experience and adventure.
One of the things I find interesting is that everybody on the trail has a different story about how they got there, but almost everybody has the same goal. To get to Finish!

Continue reading after the break for info on planning, challenges, rewards and lessons learned!

Pacific Crest Trail Documentary: "Walking the West"

This video about the Pacific Crest Trail(PCT) was an inspiration to me during my early hiking days. It's great to watch the guys in this film transform from their city life into dirty thru hikers. While I have not yet walked the PCT this film always makes me want to get up and go!

"Winner California Independent Film Festival (Best Documentary) and Vancouver Mountain Film Fest (Jury Award)"Walking the West" is an adventure Documentary about a New Zealander and an Irishman who quit their jobs, cash in their savings and walk 2626 miles from Mexico to Canada along one of the longest foot trails in the world, the Pacific Crest Trail. Walking a challenging pace of 21 miles a day for 4.5 months, they must cross the Canadian border before winter storms hit the Cascades.
see www.walkingthewest.com"

Meghalayas' Living Bridge

This is a great example of how man can work with nature to create functional structures that are sustainable. It's important to note the dedication and patience while forming these bridges. This is not a instant reward but the payoff is well worth the time and effort. Let Meghalayas' living bridges be an example and inspiration to us all!

Snow On Colorado Trail Thru Hike

This video was shot along the Colorado Trail during my 2011 thru hike. These clips show some of the fun, and challenges posed by the snow.

Visit America's National Parks for FREE!

This is a great opportunity if you live close to one of the parks. Go here to find the parks near you.
National Park Week is a chance for all Americans to experience the majesty of the national park system for FREE. Visit any of America’s 394 national parks and enjoy free admission all week long, April 16–25, 2011. Now there's nothing stopping you, get out and go!
Visit the National Parks Website for more information.

Green Tunnel - The Appalachian Trail in 5 Minutes!

This video covers the Appalachian Trail in 5 minutes! If you have hiked the entire trail, or even just sections of it then it's fun to spot some of the landmarks. If you are new the the Appalachian Trail then this will give you a good overview of some of the terrain it covers.


Green Tunnel from Kevin Gallagher on Vimeo.
A six month journey along the 2,200 mile long Appalachian Trail, condensed and reinterpreted into five minutes of stop-motion.

Great job Kevin, loved the video!

Ray-Way Pack Field Test

Now Comes The Fun Part
After finishing sewing my Ray-Way pack I finally got a chance to test it out! And guess what? I have mostly all positive things to say about it.

First off you need to be aware of a few things, this is a extremely light weight pack, and is made for light weight gear. If you enjoy bringing along a lot of luxury items, or heavy gear it's probably not going to work very well for you. Secondly, no matter what pack you choose if you don't allow time for your body to adjust to carrying a load, and walking all day with it you are still going to be sore. I can't express how important the training portion of a hike is. It gives you a chance to get in shape, test out gear and practice your skills. There are enough things to take care of while on a long hike, starting off out of shape is just one more potential thing that could lead to giving up(due to discouragement or injury), and ending your trip.

Taking advantage of the large pockets on the Ray-Way Pack!

Okay, Back To The Pack
One of the first parts you make when sewing the Ray-Way Pack is the shoulder straps. These are made of nylon casing and some thick foam that provided much more padding than my Golite Jam. While I never had a problem with the Jam's shoulder straps I was happy to see the thicker straps on the Ray-Way because of it's lack of a waist strap(there is a option to add one)

Plenty of Pockets
The back and sides of the Ray-Way pack are covered with 3 large mesh pockets, which I love! This was my first time hiking with a pack that had such a large amount of external storage. At the time I was not using my trekking poles and without the waist strap it was so easy to swing the pack onto one shoulder and retrieve whatever I want out of one of the pockets. I was able to store everything outside the pack that I knew I needed for the day, as well as clothing that I was either taking off, or planning to put on.
In addition to just storage, the mesh makes a very good option for drying any wet gear while on the move.

In addition to the large pockets, notice the black horizontal straps near the top, Ray calls these "Sock-hanger Straps". In addition to socks, they can be useful for securing an umbrella, collapsable trekking poles or other items.

The Cargo Hold
I'm not sure exactly how to describe this, but it has a good vertical feel to it. I don't like packs that protrude to far from my back. Everything feels close and I feel like i have a good center of gravity with it. Again, its not huge(although Ray does sell different size packs) but with the proper gear and planning its large enough for almost any trip.

So What's Bad?
Like most light weight gear, you must treat it with respect. This can be a little difficult if you get off the trail and are bushwhacking. While exploring around the foot hills trail I managed to put a hole in the extension collar. I knew at the time I was doing something that was risky, and I can now say that I know how to patch silnylon! It's very easy, and I will try to post some of my thoughts on it later.
Also, I'm a little concerned about the big mesh pockets that I love so much, there is a chance those could snag on some brush.
These are actually very small concerns and as long as you mind your surroundings there should be no problem.

Final Word
I'm thrilled with my Ray-Way pack! The construction was a learning experience and very rewarding and each time I take it out I build a little more confidence in it's strength and my ability to sew. I give it 5 out of 5!


For a little more info, be sure to check out my Ray-Way Pack construction page!

Line Creek Nature Area

While there are many trails I dream about traveling too the one I visit most often is the one closest to home, Line Creek. The Line Creek Nature Area is a 70-acre public preserve along the eastern side of Line Creek. The creek forms  the border between Peachtree City and Coweta County. There are two main trails, the Ridge Trail(0.8 miles) and the Creek Trail(1.2 miles). The preserve also has a small pond, dock and council circle(similar to a amphitheater)

The thing I like most about Line Creek is that it feels so out of place in Peachtree City. No paved golf cart path, just dirt, rock and roots. As you leave the parking area heading towards the creek the sound of cars on 54 begin to drown out. Walking along the trail you can almost forget that you are in Peachtree City and begin to imagine you are in North Georgia. Although a few times you can see homes from Planterra Ridge and that spoils the illusion a little.

I had the opportunity to go for a short walk one morning before work and enjoy some freshly fallen snow. It was the perfect way to start the day, enjoy the photos!

Fancy Feast Cat Food Can Stove

While a Jetboil stove can boil 2 cups of water in 2 minutes it comes at a cost(and weight). You can use this simple/reliable alternative and spend very little(if anything). The only things you will need to make this stove is a empty cat food can and a hole punch. You probably even know somebody with a cat(or two) that will be happy to donate a can. Who says going lite cost more??

Things To Keep In Mind
I keep the stove, along with a aluminum foil windscreen(a single piece of foil has held up for over 1,200 miles for me) inside my cooking pot to protect it from any impact and lengthen it's life span(I have yet to wear one out).
Since the pot sits directly on top of the stove(no potholder needed) all of the heat will be produced from the hole punches along the side of the stove(and not the bottom). It is important that your pot is wide enough to take advantage of this side burn. My pot is 5.75" in diameter, and the cat food can around is 2.5" in diameter. Keep this in mind while deciding on a pot and can to use for your cooking system.
Denatured alcohol can also break down plastic, so be careful with whatever container you are carrying your fuel in. I still use a empty water bottle, but switch it out with each trip. The longest I have carried one bottle is 2 months, and it was still fine.

Where To Find The Fuel
I have had no problem finding fuel at any trail towns be sure to check hardware stores, walmart and other general stores(it may be in the paint section). You may be able to find some stores that sell it by the ounce.

Note: I did not include fuel container for either weigh-in.

Closing Comments
I love the convenience of my Jetboil, but after trying this cat food can stove system for one week, I never went back. As with any new piece of gear, it is important to test it and learn any quarks before heading out into the backcountry. Pay attention to how much fuel you use to boil water and how long it takes(this will change with temperature and altitude).

Make Your Own
Andrew Skurka made a nice video describing  how to make your own, just follow this link.

How I Got My Trail Name

After trying to avoid the mud day after day I decided to just go for it. I took off running and thought I would school lil' Buddha by flying over the mud traps with my graceful speed. Instead my shoe got swallowed up and sucked off! This was the moment my trail name changed from "Just Jon" to "Johnny Mud Foot"

Two Moose Playing on Lake Moxie

This was one of my favorite mornings on the Appalachian Trail. When I first woke up I didn't know what the noise was, but was pleasantly surprised to find two moose playing in Lake Moxie. At one point they were both running right at me, but in the excitement of the moment I forgot to hit the record button. One of the many beautiful moments in Maine.

The Ray-Way Pack

Looking for a great off season project?

The finished project!

I love tweaking my gear before each trip. For years it was just small things like removing padding, cutting extra straps off, trimming data books and such. But before finishing my hike of the AT I decided to try a simple little DIY project, making a alcohol stove out of a cat food can. It was simple, and the only tool needed was a hole punch. The funny thing was that it became one of my favorite pieces of equipment. Not because it was so great, but because I had taken a little time to make it, and it worked.


A New Project
After understanding the self-satisfaction that comes with creating a simple piece of equipment I decided to take on a more ambitious project. Enter the Ray-Way Backpack. This was a project that I wanted to try since the first time I heard about it, but I honestly didn't think I was capable of undertaking such a project, I was worried that I lacked the skill, that I would just be wasting money, time and nylon fabric. But eventually I decided to just go for it. 


What Have I Gotten Myself Into
After I received the materials, instructions, and the instructional DVD it seemed that my fears would be coming true, this appeared to be even more complicated than I originally thought. I put all of the information and fabric in the closet for a month or two before I decided that it was time to get started.

This is where it all began...

Learning To Sew
My sewing experience was zero starting off, but the users guide that came with the sewing machine was actually pretty helpful with adjusting tension, threading the machine and winding the bobbin. There were two things that really helped me a lot. Looking at seam on everything! I was looking at other packs I had, different articles of clothing, quilts, whatever. I just wanted to learn what a good stitch should look. The second thing that helped was working on some test fabric. I messed around with some cotton sheets trying out different stitches, and stitch lengths and eventually did a few more tests with the supplied materials.


The Pack Is Born
I'm not going to go into every detail to make the pack, if you want to do that visit Ray Jardine's site, but I will say that I just took it one step at a time. It was a lot like a thru-hike. Starting off I knew I had a long way to go, but that first night my only goal was to cut out the pieces, then the next time I worked on it it would be just one shoulder strap and thats how I continued and kept myself at it. Sometimes my schedule would not permit me to work on it every night, or I just didn't feel like it but my only goal was to finish it before any Spring time hiking trips, so there was no rush.


Now, even with the small goals I set for myself everything didn't go smoothly and from time to time I shared a few words with the machine. I had to deal with needles breaking, fabric bunching up and thread tangling wildly on the underside, but I just had to step away calm down and fix the problem. As time went on my skill began to grow a little, and I ran into fewer problems.

Crap, looks like it's time for the seam ripper... again.

Things I Learned
Did I learn how to sew? Yes. Am I a pro? Ha! My pack is far from perfect, but I actually have a lot of trust in it, because I know how it was made. I even have the confidence that if something were to rip on it I could repair it in the field(a needle and thread will accompany me on trips from now on). While working on this project I learned techniques that could be helpful in any number of projects, and now I'm not quite as apprehensive of them.


Whats Next?
First up, some field testing(will post review of pack performance after enough testing is done)! After that, who knows. I have been eyeing that tarp kit as well!

This was one of the more trick stitches.

9.1oz, now thats ultra lite!

Specific Questions? Let me know! View more photos of the pack on Picasa.

View the Ray-Way Pack Field Test

Sunrise on Shining Rock Wilderness

The Shining Rock Wilderness is located in North Carolina, just east of the Appalachian Trail and offers some spectacular hiking options. Stay tuned for my full Shining Rock trip report that will be including detailed route information!

Eating Utensils On The Trail

When I’m on the trail there is one thing that I never fail to think about. It can be a beautiful, sunny day with sweeping vistas or a cold, rainy day with thick fog and clouds obscuring everything, but there is one thought that unites them both. How much longer until a good meal? I can only eat so many granola bars before I need to sit down and eat something warm, something filling, something that benefits from the use of a utensil. And while this may seem like a easy decision, I have a few things for you to consider before heading out into the back country.

I am going to assume that you are interested in hiking lite (I’m not going to cover all of the reasons why in this post) and the best way to do that is not not carry something at all. Now I know that I started this post by saying how much I think about eating a good meal with the use of a utensil, but if you are on a short two day, one night hike and can tough it out by drinking your noodles out of the pot, then go for it!

Now for those of you who plan to take something with you, there are a few options. Full size, half size, collapsible, steel, titanium, plastic and more! Let’s start with the size, as that (in my opinion) is one of the most important features.

It’s Not The Size, It’s How You Use It
To help determine the size of the utensil, you need think about what you will be eating out of the most. I use a titanium pot that is around three inches deep and a short handled spork works great, but if I was eating out of a freeze-dried meal bag, the short handle would force me to put my hand down into the bag with all of the food residue sticking to the sides making one of my hands very messy. And lets be honest, if you are getting your hands covered in food, then it partially defeats the reason to use a utensil altogether.

Titanium Or Plastic?
Once you figure out the size, the next feature is the material. One of the nice things about plastic is that you can cut the utensil down to the exact size you want, but on the flip side, it can break, leaving you with a much shorter utensil than you ever wanted (I have found plasticware much more prone to breaking in cold weather, especially when going between the cold air and hot water). It is for this reason that I have chosen to use titanium.  It’s not quite as lite as plastic but I know that I can depend on it for a long time to come.

Learning To Love The Spork
Growing up, I hated the spork. I always got it with some cheep to-go meal that had a spork, napkin and a single serving of salt and pepper wrapped up together. It couldn’t function as a fork, and it was a pathetic spoon. So when I got into hiking I was anti-spork for a long time, but then I broke down and got a nice one... and WOW! It worked great as both fork and spoon.  Not just that, but I think it makes a far superior eating utensil for ramen noodles than anything else.

So, if you have given up on the spork because of those awfull cheep plastic ones, consider giving them a second chance. But if you have and still think sporks are evil, try to limit yourself to just one utensil. I would take a fork over a spoon, because it is usually much easier to drink any extra liquid than it is to wrap a spoon around a wet noodle.

Alternatives
Modern eating utensils have evolved over the years, but depending on what you are comfortable with and where you are trekking, you could try some alternatives. Early man would use his hands to eat, or use a shell to scoop liquids. You can even carve a twig into a crude fork with the smallest of knives. Before heading out, do some research about what type of materials you may have to use, but remember, at the end of a long day, you are not going to want to spend 30 minutes carving something.

Remember, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to go lite. While I decided to get a titanium spork, you could very easily throw a free plastic fork in every re-supply box for your trip (or pick one up in town). While the plastic utensils may break, they are pretty easy to replace and going a few days with a broken utensil is not going to kill you.

What Would You Do In A Situation Like That?
I want to know what you think! Let me know what you use, or any tips you have to make eating a pleasure on the trail!