I am really looking forward to watching your vlog/ trip on the AT. Thanks for sharing your journey. I am also curious to see how the recent fires have impacted the Oconee side of the Foothills Trail.
Thanks! We are getting sooo excited! It’s hard to believe we’re only about 3 months out now. These past 2 years have flown! I’m interested to see what the fires have left on the FHT as well. I’ll be sure and include that on our vlog in a few weeks.
we carry a short closed cell sleeping pad and the lower r value inflatable pad. the closed cell doubles as a sit/afternoon nap pad and gives us a extra 2 r-value when needed. for 10 ozs.
@@wildflowersadventures I think I would enjoy a video about all the things you are taking care of at home to be able to leave for six months. Which would hopefully help many of us as we try to get everything in place to try to set out on the journey, even though I know it's somewhat different for everyone.
@appalachianwanderseeker oh that’s a brilliant idea!! Thank you! That’s a huge part of the prep for me, especially with 4 children, 3 dogs and a cat, and a husband at home. Plus my business, house things, etc. Thank you!! I’ll get working on that this weekend! Stay tuned!
I have had the HMG Southwest on several trips and rally do like it. One thing to check -- how the aluminum stays fit to the curve of your back. If they are too straight, the shoulder straps will pull off the top of your shoulders, slightly reducing comfort. The stays are easily removed and can be shaped to how you wear the pack. They can be a little stubborn reinserting - you will have to guide them into the smaller portion of the cavity at the bottom of the pack. The pack is highly water resistant but not fully waterproof - I can get a little water seeping in during periods of heavy rain. I think water can enter through some of the seams. Always protect your insulation gear. GOOD LUCK with your hike !
Thank you for that tip! My bag fits so well right now, but that’s good to know in case I need to adjust on our hike. Even though I’ve never had any leaks so far, I still always put my quilt and clothes in a nylofume liner. Just in case!
Thanks for the tent info , me and my wife are preparing for our AT trip , i bought a DD two person like you did , i already had the one person , but wanted something for me and wife , dropped some major coin on the 2 person DD tent and really not that much bigger and i totally agree with stressing on location to put it up , so stakes will go in the ground. And the semi free standing BA seems to be the way to go for us . So thanks for making our final decision. I love the DD tent if i just had to worry about me , but i want this to be a fun and enjoyable experience for her and me both .
It’s a great tent, but there are definitely significant considerations when picking a tent site. With the Tiger Wall, it’s just so easy. No stress at all! We really love it! Plus, it’s a palace inside! So roomy. Plenty of space for both of us and our gear. Glad I could help! Maybe we’ll see you guys out there! 😊
Nice video. I completed my AT thru hike this year and just wanted to add a few comments. I carried my Iphone in the same fanny pack, inside a ziplock bag. While this was handy, there were many times my phone would turn on and bumping against other stuff I would have a black screen saying I had to wait up to six minutes before I could unlock it. Apparently, it was brushing up against other stuff, the key pad was on and the phone thought I was trying to unlock it. Hope that all makes sense. My point is, I wish I had carried it in a separate shoulder pocket. A 70L is LARGE, please be careful weight wise. I carried the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 and it was a great tent. I ditched the bag it came in and got another bag that allowed me to push the tent down into my pack and let it expand to fill voids. Plus, the larger bag made packing up easier in the morning. STRONGLY recommend you getting a TYVEK ground sheet. Don't use the one from the company (I did and it was basically useless). Get the TYVEK from Amazon and it will save you from dampness seeping up from the ground. For air mattress, consider purchasing a Flextail air pump from Amazon. Easily handle inflating both air mattress for at least a week and it's easy to recharge. Given you plan to video, consider an ANKER charging bank. If you go with ANKER which I recommend, get the ANKER wall plug as well. The combo allows for quick charging when you make those resupply stops. You have to use the ANKER wall plug to benefit from the quick charge. Look forward to following you and best of luck. A day doesn't go by that I don't think about my time hiking the AT and the memories and friends I made.
Hey there! Thank you for your recommendations! 🙏🏼 And congratulations on your thru hike! How wonderful! I can only imagine how amazing it was. We’re really looking forward to the adventure as well as the friends we’ll make! What were your favorite sections? Any hostel you loved? I’ve used this pack plus the fanny pack now for about 200 miles (various shake downs) and that’s never happened to me. I wonder why? I’ll be sure to look out for that though. My base weight is about 15.5-16lbs, so I feel good there. The extra room is in case my little one needs some help carrying her stuff. I doubt that’ll happen, but I have to be ready to protect her. Good note about the TW ground covering! I did buy it, but will grab some Tyvek now. I definitely appreciate that. I have a flextail, but just feel like it’s so loud! I’m still on the fence as to whether I’ll bring it. I have (2) Nitecore 10,000 mAh. I like those over my (1) 20,000 Anker. Thanks again for your comment! I’ll take alll the advice! What a privilege to have advice from someone who has gone before us. 🙏🏼
Thanks for great tent info. Are getting excited yet? Woo hoo you both are going to have a blast out there! I always wanted my oldest son to hike with me. He was a runner still us and into Jujitsu teaching. Have you figured out all your food? Are you sending boxes or using a bounce box 📦? 😊
Hi there! Thank you! Happy to pass along our thoughts about gear selection. I know it’s a personal choice, but I always find it helpful to hear what others think. Maybe you can still convince your son to hike with you. Fingers crossed! 🤞 Yes, we have sorted our food out. We will send 9 resupply boxes ahead to hostels we plan to stay at. The rest, we will resupply in town. We did a video about it, so please check that out if you’re interested. We’re getting so excited! About 3 months out and we’re ready! We’ll be doing our last shake down hike in a few weeks. 😊
Which version of the xmid did you have? I can fit 2 25in pads with 2 adults ( I'm 6'3) and fit comfortably with tons of room in the vestabules for our gear. Great set up! Can't wait to see your journey!
Thanks! We’re pleased with our final choices! We had the Xmid Pro2. We were cramped with (2) 25” pads and our gear. No room to move around and definitely not comfortable to spend much more time in other than sleeping. We got spoiled and used to the roominess of a 3P tent. Definitely works better for us.
@@wildflowersadventures ahhh that makes sense. The pro2 was small the regular new version is bigger. Now he makes the pro2+ which is the lightest and widest version. Glad you found what you're happy with!
@@wildflowersadventures I think they are pretty easy to sell. I keep coming back to my tiger wall over and over again so I just gave up on finding something better and just realised that this might be my perfect tent.😊 The floor is also super durable.. I am using it for 3 years now and always together with my dog. That whole tent still looks totally new. It is really awesome.
@theoutdoordogandhikinggirl That’s great to hear. BA seems to have struck a great balance between lightweight and quality! I listed my XMid on a FB group, and had an offer within an hour. I sold it to a cool guy in Switzerland!
You did make good choices. For me I went with the XMid solid 1 tent and the Kakwa 55. I also went with the Nemo Tenser extreme. Yes sleep is important. Happy trails 🙌🏻
Excuse me, but did I hear you say Little Bear is active in the Sea Scouts? If so...I know a gentleman, Stanley Kwok, who resides in the Bethesda, Maryland area, and he is a Commodore in the Scouts. I'm also active in the Scouts in Venture Crew 479, Ravenswood, West Virginia. Stay warm and dry, and have a fantastic week!
Hi there! She is in the USNSCC: United States Navy Sea Cadet Corps. 😊All 4 of my children have been/are a part of the Sea Cadets. It’s a wonderful organization. Thank you! I hope you have a great week! Peace be with you. 🙏🏼
I agree; however, we did end up buying and using the new Tensor Extreme (r=8.5) and it was so nice! It got down into the 20’s on the FHT and it was so wet after tons of rain. It was incredibly warm. Overkill? Maybe, but we’re taking it. We’ll probably switch it out for the regular Tensor in the summer, although the weight difference isn’t much.
I did my hike in 2019 and I’m curious when (roughly) you plan to start. There’s a few things I would recommend, from my experience, depending on when you start. I started March 12 and learned some hard lessons right away. I’ll share a couple of tips (that I wish I had known).
@@wildflowersadventures welp, the first thing I learned was, even though it’s pretty warm in Georgia in March, up in the mountains it’s pretty much still winter at times. I had a 20 degree bag and a therma-rest xlite pad, and I froze at night. When I got to Franklin I bought a foam pad to put on the ground under my mattress and that helped a LOT. The cold ground will suck the warmth out of your body and that pad cured it. If I was going to do it again, I would have a zero degree bag for March and April and then switch to a 20 degree once it warms up. You have to be able to get good sleep! My water system was very simple and I wouldn’t change what I did. I carried three 1 liter smart water bottles that I could replace at any gas station. Two were for dirty water to be filtered and one was for filtered water only. When I got up I would put carnation instant breakfast mix in my water and just start walking. Simple and quick and it got me moving when it was cold. I have other thoughts, but don’t want to do a long message.
@@vanmiles6979 Good advice! I definitely don’t want to be cold and I need a good night’s sleep. I can tell with how I feel and my performance the next day if I don’t get good sleep. I have a 10 degree quilt and my daughter has a 15. We both have the Nemo Tensor Insulated (4.2 R value), but I also just bought the new Tensor Extreme (8.9 R value). I’m thinking of carrying the Extremes til May, then transition back to the regular Tensor. What do you think? As far as water, we have (2) Smart Water bottles, a 2L CNOC, and a Sawyer Squeeze (with a few backup tablets in case something happens to the filter). This system has seemed to work well. When it’s gotten cold, we put it in zip lock bags and then sleep with it. So far, so good.
@@wildflowersadventures one other piece of advice, don’t let problems linger with your feet. I started out wearing Altra’s which are zero drop shoes with no arch support. In 4 weeks my feet grew two and a half sizes! Believe it or not, it’s very common for your feet to get bigger when you do this. At the end of each day my feet would ache so badly and I would be limping around. Many others had the same thing happening so I figured that’s just the way it’s is. But it’s not and if you don’t address it, it could take you off the trail. There was an outfitter in Franklin that had an excellent shoe expert there. They help hikers and by the time they get to Franklin many will need to get a different type or size shoe. Hope this helps!
Ive been interested in Bike packing but seems it may not he sensible at my female age of 53. Maybe hiking is better..even so your probably a decade or more younger.. what do i do 😅😅
You’re young! I say go for it. Life is short and we only live once. I try to live life with the least amount of regrets as possible. I say get out of your comfort zone and go adventuring! 😊
Like you said, the clock is ticking. You have taken a sensible approach and have done your research well and made solid gear choices. I am looking forward to following your continued shake down and AT videos and wish you the best on the trail. I will be sure to be part of your virtual tramily and help support you and Little Bear!
Thank you so much! We appreciate your encouragement and support! We’re confident in our gear and preparation. It’s been 2 years in the making. We’re excited and ready. 😊 Can’t wait to share our journey with you!
Hey! Thanks so much! Fresh Ground is great! What a true blessing he is! Thank you for subscribing and following our adventures! We can’t wait to share them with you. 🙏🏼
I love it! It’s so easy to find things. A black backpack or dark color is so much harder to find things. It’s like a black hole. 🤣 Plus the white gets aged with use! 😊
Any issues with the fanny pack strap rubbing or being annoying since your pack has a hip belt too? I’m thinking of adding a small fanny too but my Kakwa has a hip belt and I feel like the extra strap would rub/move and get annoying 🥲. But having the fanny for town seems so convenient! Decisions decisions 😫
None at all! I put the fanny pack strap on top of the hip belt strap., so it rides on top. I really love this thing! It always stays on me, except for when I’m sleeping…and even then, it’s right next to me.
Very exciting seeing it all come together for you. Can't wait to follow along. I live just a couple of miles off the Foothills Trail. Been hiking it and the surrounding areas since forever. Love this area.
What a dream to live that close! My husband and I have plans to retire in the mountains. Would love living that lifestyle everyday. And thank you! Yes, each passing day, we’re getting more and more excited. It’s hard to believe it’s getting so close…after 2 years of planning! 😊
@oldmanoldtruck No, I sure haven’t. How many miles is it? Sounds like I need to do some research! We’re already planning our adventures for when we complete the AT! 😊
@@wildflowersadventures it’s around 500 miles I think. It’s made up of passages. I recently posted a video of one of the passages called the Eastatoe Passage if you’d care to see it. The Palmetto Trail crosses the Foothills Trail a few times I believe.
You’re so well prepared. I’m sure it will pay off. Can’t wait for your trek. It’s fun also seeing your comments on other soon to be thru hikers. I really wish I was in the group but 2025 will be here soon
Thank you! We have didn’t 2 years preparing, and we feel confident. We’re ready! I love interacting with everyone, including the other prospective thru hikers! Our community is great! Your time will be here soon!! It goes by quickly! Do you have gear yet or have you started that process?
I have most & an old Kelty backpack that’s an 80L & weighs almost 6lbs. I might replace w/ new but I really still like this one & keep thinking hike your own hike. I have ul items inside except I plan to use a bear can. I love the ease of it & lord, I have room lol😂 The brain is large so I take it off & use as a front Fanny pack.
6lbs is definitely heavy, but you’re right, certainly hike your own hike and do what works for you. If it works, then go with it! No shame in that. You’ll find the system that is perfect for you! 😊
Great choices! I love picking some thru-hiking UA-camrs to follow every year and so far it's you guys! Reminds me of hiking with my son in 2019😊. I'm not sure how to contact you, but I'd love to offer you both some trail magic, shuttle ride, place to stay when you come thru VA. We are just 1 mile off the trail. Happy to help you on your adventure!
Hi there! Wow! We’re honored! Thank you so much. 🙏🏼 We appreciate your kindness. You can email me at TeamDS82@gmail.com We’re excited to share our adventure with you. Thank you again. 🤗
Nice choices!! Sleep and comfort is definitely a priority
Thanks! I agree! Trying a new pillow this weekend! Lots of promise!
May your equipment bring you safety and comfort. Wishing you peace and good fortune. Happy Trails!
Thank you so much! We appreciate the well wishes and kind words! 😊
I am really looking forward to watching your vlog/ trip on the AT. Thanks for sharing your journey. I am also curious to see how the recent fires have impacted the Oconee side of the Foothills Trail.
Thanks! We are getting sooo excited! It’s hard to believe we’re only about 3 months out now. These past 2 years have flown!
I’m interested to see what the fires have left on the FHT as well. I’ll be sure and include that on our vlog in a few weeks.
Great video, thanks for sharing
Thanks so much! 🙏🏼
Good luck, Mama Bear & Baby Bear!
Thank you! 🙏🏼 Good luck to you as well! 😊
we carry a short closed cell sleeping pad and the lower r value inflatable pad. the closed cell doubles as a sit/afternoon nap pad and gives us a extra 2 r-value when needed. for 10 ozs.
Sounds like you have a great system!
Such a beautiful presentation my friend, your content is gold!
Thank you so much! WOW! 🤩 I’m learning a little bit every day! I appreciate your kind works and support. 🙏🏼
I am looking forward to following your journey on the AT!
Thank you! We’re excited to take you with us us! 😊
Thanks for sharing your preparation videos. I'm really enjoying them.
Thank you so much! 😊 We’re enjoying making them. We have more videos in the works! Is there anything you’d like to see?
@@wildflowersadventures I think I would enjoy a video about all the things you are taking care of at home to be able to leave for six months. Which would hopefully help many of us as we try to get everything in place to try to set out on the journey, even though I know it's somewhat different for everyone.
@appalachianwanderseeker oh that’s a brilliant idea!! Thank you! That’s a huge part of the prep for me, especially with 4 children, 3 dogs and a cat, and a husband at home. Plus my business, house things, etc. Thank you!! I’ll get working on that this weekend! Stay tuned!
I have had the HMG Southwest on several trips and rally do like it. One thing to check -- how the aluminum stays fit to the curve of your back. If they are too straight, the shoulder straps will pull off the top of your shoulders, slightly reducing comfort. The stays are easily removed and can be shaped to how you wear the pack. They can be a little stubborn reinserting - you will have to guide them into the smaller portion of the cavity at the bottom of the pack. The pack is highly water resistant but not fully waterproof - I can get a little water seeping in during periods of heavy rain. I think water can enter through some of the seams. Always protect your insulation gear.
GOOD LUCK with your hike !
Thank you for that tip! My bag fits so well right now, but that’s good to know in case I need to adjust on our hike.
Even though I’ve never had any leaks so far, I still always put my quilt and clothes in a nylofume liner. Just in case!
Thanks for the tent info , me and my wife are preparing for our AT trip , i bought a DD two person like you did , i already had the one person , but wanted something for me and wife , dropped some major coin on the 2 person DD tent and really not that much bigger and i totally agree with stressing on location to put it up , so stakes will go in the ground. And the semi free standing BA seems to be the way to go for us . So thanks for making our final decision. I love the DD tent if i just had to worry about me , but i want this to be a fun and enjoyable experience for her and me both .
It’s a great tent, but there are definitely significant considerations when picking a tent site. With the Tiger Wall, it’s just so easy. No stress at all! We really love it! Plus, it’s a palace inside! So roomy. Plenty of space for both of us and our gear.
Glad I could help! Maybe we’ll see you guys out there! 😊
Can’t wait for you two AT hike 👍
Thank you for your support and encouragement! We can’t wait to share our journey with you!
Nice video. I completed my AT thru hike this year and just wanted to add a few comments. I carried my Iphone in the same fanny pack, inside a ziplock bag. While this was handy, there were many times my phone would turn on and bumping against other stuff I would have a black screen saying I had to wait up to six minutes before I could unlock it. Apparently, it was brushing up against other stuff, the key pad was on and the phone thought I was trying to unlock it. Hope that all makes sense. My point is, I wish I had carried it in a separate shoulder pocket. A 70L is LARGE, please be careful weight wise. I carried the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 and it was a great tent. I ditched the bag it came in and got another bag that allowed me to push the tent down into my pack and let it expand to fill voids. Plus, the larger bag made packing up easier in the morning. STRONGLY recommend you getting a TYVEK ground sheet. Don't use the one from the company (I did and it was basically useless). Get the TYVEK from Amazon and it will save you from dampness seeping up from the ground. For air mattress, consider purchasing a Flextail air pump from Amazon. Easily handle inflating both air mattress for at least a week and it's easy to recharge. Given you plan to video, consider an ANKER charging bank. If you go with ANKER which I recommend, get the ANKER wall plug as well. The combo allows for quick charging when you make those resupply stops. You have to use the ANKER wall plug to benefit from the quick charge. Look forward to following you and best of luck. A day doesn't go by that I don't think about my time hiking the AT and the memories and friends I made.
Hey there! Thank you for your recommendations! 🙏🏼 And congratulations on your thru hike! How wonderful! I can only imagine how amazing it was. We’re really looking forward to the adventure as well as the friends we’ll make! What were your favorite sections? Any hostel you loved?
I’ve used this pack plus the fanny pack now for about 200 miles (various shake downs) and that’s never happened to me. I wonder why? I’ll be sure to look out for that though.
My base weight is about 15.5-16lbs, so I feel good there. The extra room is in case my little one needs some help carrying her stuff. I doubt that’ll happen, but I have to be ready to protect her.
Good note about the TW ground covering! I did buy it, but will grab some Tyvek now. I definitely appreciate that.
I have a flextail, but just feel like it’s so loud! I’m still on the fence as to whether I’ll bring it.
I have (2) Nitecore 10,000 mAh. I like those over my (1) 20,000 Anker.
Thanks again for your comment! I’ll take alll the advice! What a privilege to have advice from someone who has gone before us. 🙏🏼
Thanks for great tent info. Are getting excited yet? Woo hoo you both are going to have a blast out there! I always wanted my oldest son to hike with me. He was a runner still us and into Jujitsu teaching. Have you figured out all your food? Are you sending boxes or using a bounce box 📦? 😊
Hi there! Thank you! Happy to pass along our thoughts about gear selection. I know it’s a personal choice, but I always find it helpful to hear what others think.
Maybe you can still convince your son to hike with you. Fingers crossed! 🤞
Yes, we have sorted our food out. We will send 9 resupply boxes ahead to hostels we plan to stay at. The rest, we will resupply in town. We did a video about it, so please check that out if you’re interested.
We’re getting so excited! About 3 months out and we’re ready! We’ll be doing our last shake down hike in a few weeks. 😊
Which version of the xmid did you have? I can fit 2 25in pads with 2 adults ( I'm 6'3) and fit comfortably with tons of room in the vestabules for our gear. Great set up! Can't wait to see your journey!
Thanks! We’re pleased with our final choices! We had the Xmid Pro2. We were cramped with (2) 25” pads and our gear. No room to move around and definitely not comfortable to spend much more time in other than sleeping. We got spoiled and used to the roominess of a 3P tent. Definitely works better for us.
@@wildflowersadventures ahhh that makes sense. The pro2 was small the regular new version is bigger. Now he makes the pro2+ which is the lightest and widest version. Glad you found what you're happy with!
@@hackendan1921 Thanks! I’m happy, too. It feels good having a system in place. 😊
You're gonna love that ⛺!! Well, at least I do 😅
Thanks! We really like it so far! I’m so glad we didn’t try to stick with the XMid and were able to sell it.
@@wildflowersadventures I think they are pretty easy to sell. I keep coming back to my tiger wall over and over again so I just gave up on finding something better and just realised that this might be my perfect tent.😊
The floor is also super durable.. I am using it for 3 years now and always together with my dog. That whole tent still looks totally new. It is really awesome.
@theoutdoordogandhikinggirl That’s great to hear. BA seems to have struck a great balance between lightweight and quality!
I listed my XMid on a FB group, and had an offer within an hour. I sold it to a cool guy in Switzerland!
You did make good choices. For me I went with the XMid solid 1 tent and the Kakwa 55. I also went with the Nemo Tenser extreme. Yes sleep is important. Happy trails 🙌🏻
Great choices! It feels good to have our gear dialed in, right?! 😊 Happy trails!
Excuse me, but did I hear you say Little Bear is active in the Sea Scouts? If so...I know a gentleman, Stanley Kwok, who resides in the Bethesda, Maryland area, and he is a Commodore in the Scouts. I'm also active in the Scouts in Venture Crew 479, Ravenswood, West Virginia. Stay warm and dry, and have a fantastic week!
Hi there! She is in the USNSCC: United States Navy Sea Cadet Corps. 😊All 4 of my children have been/are a part of the Sea Cadets. It’s a wonderful organization.
Thank you! I hope you have a great week! Peace be with you. 🙏🏼
😅 Thank you. Don't give up the ship!
the R=4 rating on the tensor sleep pad is fine even directly on snow. you will be toasty with it. yabadaba doo
I agree; however, we did end up buying and using the new Tensor Extreme (r=8.5) and it was so nice! It got down into the 20’s on the FHT and it was so wet after tons of rain. It was incredibly warm. Overkill? Maybe, but we’re taking it. We’ll probably switch it out for the regular Tensor in the summer, although the weight difference isn’t much.
I did my hike in 2019 and I’m curious when (roughly) you plan to start. There’s a few things I would recommend, from my experience, depending on when you start. I started March 12 and learned some hard lessons right away. I’ll share a couple of tips (that I wish I had known).
Yes, please! We’ll take all the recommendations! 🙏🏼 We’re starting mid March as well.
@@wildflowersadventures welp, the first thing I learned was, even though it’s pretty warm in Georgia in March, up in the mountains it’s pretty much still winter at times. I had a 20 degree bag and a therma-rest xlite pad, and I froze at night. When I got to Franklin I bought a foam pad to put on the ground under my mattress and that helped a LOT. The cold ground will suck the warmth out of your body and that pad cured it. If I was going to do it again, I would have a zero degree bag for March and April and then switch to a 20 degree once it warms up. You have to be able to get good sleep! My water system was very simple and I wouldn’t change what I did. I carried three 1 liter smart water bottles that I could replace at any gas station. Two were for dirty water to be filtered and one was for filtered water only. When I got up I would put carnation instant breakfast mix in my water and just start walking. Simple and quick and it got me moving when it was cold. I have other thoughts, but don’t want to do a long message.
@@vanmiles6979 Good advice! I definitely don’t want to be cold and I need a good night’s sleep. I can tell with how I feel and my performance the next day if I don’t get good sleep.
I have a 10 degree quilt and my daughter has a 15. We both have the Nemo Tensor Insulated (4.2 R value), but I also just bought the new Tensor Extreme (8.9 R value). I’m thinking of carrying the Extremes til May, then transition back to the regular Tensor. What do you think?
As far as water, we have (2) Smart Water bottles, a 2L CNOC, and a Sawyer Squeeze (with a few backup tablets in case something happens to the filter). This system has seemed to work well. When it’s gotten cold, we put it in zip lock bags and then sleep with it. So far, so good.
@@wildflowersadventures I think you are making great decisions!
@@wildflowersadventures one other piece of advice, don’t let problems linger with your feet. I started out wearing Altra’s which are zero drop shoes with no arch support. In 4 weeks my feet grew two and a half sizes! Believe it or not, it’s very common for your feet to get bigger when you do this. At the end of each day my feet would ache so badly and I would be limping around. Many others had the same thing happening so I figured that’s just the way it’s is. But it’s not and if you don’t address it, it could take you off the trail. There was an outfitter in Franklin that had an excellent shoe expert there. They help hikers and by the time they get to Franklin many will need to get a different type or size shoe. Hope this helps!
Ive been interested in Bike packing but seems it may not he sensible at my female age of 53. Maybe hiking is better..even so your probably a decade or more younger.. what do i do 😅😅
You’re young! I say go for it. Life is short and we only live once. I try to live life with the least amount of regrets as possible.
I say get out of your comfort zone and go adventuring! 😊
@@wildflowersadventures yes..life has thrown me serious curveballs and grief and finally coming to terms with them.time to get out there
I’m here cheering you on! It’s your time. You can do this. 🙏🏼💙
@@wildflowersadventures thank you 😊
I didn't know Trinity had kids. That's somehow uplifting news!
🤣🤣🤣
Like you said, the clock is ticking. You have taken a sensible approach and have done your research well and made solid gear choices. I am looking forward to following your continued shake down and AT videos and wish you the best on the trail. I will be sure to be part of your virtual tramily and help support you and Little Bear!
Thank you so much! We appreciate your encouragement and support! We’re confident in our gear and preparation. It’s been 2 years in the making. We’re excited and ready. 😊 Can’t wait to share our journey with you!
We saw mention of your channel on Leap Frog Cafe Facebook post. New sub here and following your adventures.
Hey! Thanks so much! Fresh Ground is great! What a true blessing he is! Thank you for subscribing and following our adventures! We can’t wait to share them with you. 🙏🏼
I will never understand why they used white for any part of a backpack
I love it! It’s so easy to find things. A black backpack or dark color is so much harder to find things. It’s like a black hole. 🤣 Plus the white gets aged with use! 😊
Any issues with the fanny pack strap rubbing or being annoying since your pack has a hip belt too? I’m thinking of adding a small fanny too but my Kakwa has a hip belt and I feel like the extra strap would rub/move and get annoying 🥲. But having the fanny for town seems so convenient! Decisions decisions 😫
None at all! I put the fanny pack strap on top of the hip belt strap., so it rides on top. I really love this thing! It always stays on me, except for when I’m sleeping…and even then, it’s right next to me.
You can also attach them to the sternum strap. The hyperlite ones.
Yeah, I like that method too….the chest rig seems like it might be a bit uncomfortable for those with bigger anatomy parts around that area. 😂
@@wildflowersadventures yes I can understand that. Of course I don’t actually have that problem myself lol.
@Dave_Outside 😂
The tent is see thru
It kinda looks like it, but not really. The rain fly provides plenty of privacy. 😊
Great review
Thank you! 😊
Great video! Looking forward to following you and Baby Bear's thruhike.
Thank you so much! We appreciate your support! 🙏🏼
2024 APPALACHIAN TRAIL -- GREAT VIDEO
Thank you so much! 😊 🙏🏼
Very exciting seeing it all come together for you. Can't wait to follow along. I live just a couple of miles off the Foothills Trail. Been hiking it and the surrounding areas since forever. Love this area.
What a dream to live that close! My husband and I have plans to retire in the mountains. Would love living that lifestyle everyday.
And thank you! Yes, each passing day, we’re getting more and more excited. It’s hard to believe it’s getting so close…after 2 years of planning! 😊
@@wildflowersadventures I love living here. Have you heard of the Palmetto Trail? It runs from the mountains here to the sea on the SC coast.
@oldmanoldtruck No, I sure haven’t. How many miles is it? Sounds like I need to do some research! We’re already planning our adventures for when we complete the AT! 😊
@@wildflowersadventures it’s around 500 miles I think. It’s made up of passages. I recently posted a video of one of the passages called the Eastatoe Passage if you’d care to see it. The Palmetto Trail crosses the Foothills Trail a few times I believe.
Great equipment review. ❤😊
Thank you! 🙏🏼 😊
You’re so well prepared. I’m sure it will pay off. Can’t wait for your trek.
It’s fun also seeing your comments on other soon to be thru hikers. I really wish I was in the group but 2025 will be here soon
Thank you! We have didn’t 2 years preparing, and we feel confident. We’re ready!
I love interacting with everyone, including the other prospective thru hikers! Our community is great!
Your time will be here soon!! It goes by quickly! Do you have gear yet or have you started that process?
I have most & an old Kelty backpack that’s an 80L & weighs almost 6lbs. I might replace w/ new but I really still like this one & keep thinking hike your own hike. I have ul items inside except I plan to use a bear can. I love the ease of it & lord, I have room lol😂
The brain is large so I take it off & use as a front Fanny pack.
6lbs is definitely heavy, but you’re right, certainly hike your own hike and do what works for you. If it works, then go with it! No shame in that. You’ll find the system that is perfect for you! 😊
Great choices! I love picking some thru-hiking UA-camrs to follow every year and so far it's you guys! Reminds me of hiking with my son in 2019😊. I'm not sure how to contact you, but I'd love to offer you both some trail magic, shuttle ride, place to stay when you come thru VA. We are just 1 mile off the trail. Happy to help you on your adventure!
Hi there! Wow! We’re honored! Thank you so much. 🙏🏼 We appreciate your kindness. You can email me at TeamDS82@gmail.com We’re excited to share our adventure with you.
Thank you again. 🤗
@wildflowersadventures I'll be reaching out. Thanks so much! So many adventures ahead for you guys. Enjoy your next few months of anticipation!
@@milestogowithyou1157 Thank you! 🙏🏼
@@wildflowersadventures Email sent yesterday 😊