Novice Backpacking in Maine in September

July 11, 2006 1:07 PM

Backpacking in Maine In September: What do I absolutely have to bring? And what should I expect?

With any luck I will be hiking a portion of the Appalachian Trail for 4 days in September. I've done some day hiking but never any backpacking. I will be going with someone who has some experience backpacking, but never in Maine on the AT. What can I expect and what should I bring (or leave behind), particularly things that might not be obvious to a novice?

Also, as an aside, I probably have most of the gear I need except a pack -- any pack recommendations from women would be appreciated.

posted by nnk to sports, hobbies, & recreation (15 comments total)

Definitely get a frame pack, some people will say internal frame, some people will say external, both are good. I am a woman and I had an external frame pack for a few years but it wasn't quite the right size (despite having it fitted to me at REI, which I recommend you do at whatever store you go to), so it gave me a pretty bruise line on my lower back and I switched to an internal frame. Sometimes I miss how easy it was to attach my sleeping bag and sleeping pad to the top of that external one.

I've hiked some of the AT in Maine, but never in september, only in June and July. Even in the summer it gets pretty cold at altitude, and even colder at night. You probably already know to pack layers, I really like the shirts by Elita (not made for hiking but I use them) because they keep you cool or warm and are very soft.

General packing advice: spend your size and weight on food and water and not on clothing. 5 underwear, 1 pr pants, 2 undershirts, 1 longsleeve, 1 thicker longsleeve, and 1 outer waterproof layer should do you fine. No one in the mountains will care if you are wearing the same shirt all the time.

A foam sleeping pad is very much worth it for nighttime comfort.

Bring food that you will actually want to make and eat at the end of the day- for me, this means no rice (takes too long to cook and I don't really like it) and plenty of peanut butter in case you are hungry on the spot or it is too rainy to make a fire.

Have a great trip!
posted by rmless at 2:06 PM on July 11, 2006

rmless says 'too rainy to make a fire'--that is quite possible. there could be a lot of rain.
posted by lester at 2:15 PM on July 11, 2006

Expect anything from early winter to days like midsummer. To some extent it's locale determined. Anything near Kahtadin will be cooler. The Mahoosucs will be warmer. Why worry about "too rainy to make a fire", bring a stove.
posted by Xurando at 3:18 PM on July 11, 2006

You are so lucky backpacking in Maine. Just beautiful country. One thought...... There is a major Lobsterfest (I believe in Alexandria , Maine) in August. This fest has always tempted me to fly from Chicago just to participate. If you like lobster, you might consider moving your trip up by one month. Check it out. There is a web site.
posted by Mckoan1 at 3:25 PM on July 11, 2006

I don't think there is an Alexandria in Maine, Mckoan1. Do you mean this Lobsterfest, in Rockland? Nice event, but Rockland is nowhere near the AT in Maine, so it would be out of your way to take it in, nnk, even if you did move your trip up.
posted by JanetLand at 3:30 PM on July 11, 2006

Thanks everyone for the great info. I think we are going later in September so I'll be sure to emphasize the clothes -- and I will be visiting REI before we go -- so I'll probably get an internal pack there.

We will have a stove and I plan to follow some of the advice in another askMefi thread about trail food --

Should be a great adventure no matter what . . .

Maybe the next trip to Maine will be for the lobster fest!
posted by nnk at 4:34 PM on July 11, 2006

That's after blackfly season, but still, don't skimp on the insect repellent.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 5:18 PM on July 11, 2006

I live in Maine, and September is one of my favorite months here; the air is crisp and clear, the bugs are gone and the leaves begin to turn late in the month. It will probably be a bit chilly at either end of the day, so be sure to bring something cozy to hang out/sleep in. I'd bring a pair of shorts to hike in and a pair of light fleece or longjohn pants to lounge in, and possibly wear under the shorts while hiking before it warms up early in the day. Not the most fashionable attire, but the moose won't care.
posted by kayzie at 5:35 PM on July 11, 2006

I recommend finding and trying the Gregory and Arcteryx packs- they seem to be a bit narrower for women. There is a line for just women, I think it's called Luna? but unless you are pretty short they might not be worth tracking down. REI has a pretty limited selection so if you're in the northeast definetely hit Eastern Mountain Sports too or a local hiking store. If you're never going to use it again you can rent or buy used. If you think this might be a regular thing get one that has someway to access the pack other than the top. I have a top loader Gregory and it's really irritating, although a super pack otherwise.

Also decide if you're a cold or warm sleeper and bring the appropriate bag. Most people will be miserable in a 30 degree bag if the weather drops below 45 but others are too hot in anything else unless it's snowing hard.

Do some weekend hiking with an increasingly heavy pack starting now. Backpacking involves a certain amount of brutal slogging no matter what but if you give your joints a chance to acclimate ahead of time you will really be a lot happier and will avoid the worst injury or just general achiness. Regardless, bring Advil and treat proactively.

Probably the single most important thing is a spare hip belt buckle (a lot of packs have one built in). If that thing breaks you will be utterly miserable in about a minute.
posted by fshgrl at 9:26 PM on July 11, 2006

Take something for blisters - moleskin or maybe just bandaids and duct tape.

Have some kinda rain gear or plastic sheeting that will keep your sleeping bag dry if it does rain.
posted by thirteenkiller at 9:27 PM on July 11, 2006

Maine is a big state, and the AT runs through 281 miles of it. Obviously, in 4 days as a novice hiker, you're only going to do a small portion of this. If you're hauling gear up and down mountains in either the western or eastern sections, weight will be a lot more important to you than if you are swinging along the comparatively flat, open central section. But all of the AT in Maine is strenuous hiking, for a novice. Trip planning and conditioning are the two most important pre-requisites for enjoying the A.T. Pick your exact route soon, and begin to research it.

It will really pay you, in terms of confidence and enjoyment of your time there, to buy your pack and any other incidental gear you still need as soon as possible, and get out with it, a number of times, before you go to Maine. You'll only learn about the pack's harness and adjustments by using it, and you need to get any early harness failures or problems fixed before heading into the back country with it. You want to pack as comfortably as you can, and have a working pack that keeps your center of balance as low as possible, as you'll have less trouble with strains, and be safer, due to better balance.

Good boots, well broken in, high quality wool socks, and your personal blister/foot care kit are the highest priority items. If your feet get in bad shape, you're done having fun. You're going to hurt, so bring some of whatever NSAID works best for you (I prefer naprosyn [Aleve]). Don't hike into deep hurt, as you're at far greater risk of serious injury and falls. A good walking stick can be a big help, particularly if you do suffer a mild sprain.

Effective, lightweight rain gear is important. The weather in Maine confounds forecasters regularly, so don't be tempted to go with a good forecast and an emergency trash bag.

If you're hiking the less traveled parts of the A.T. in Central Maine, give some thought to emergency notification beyond taking a cell phone. Make sure someone in the real world knows your start point and time, your expected end point, and that you have an agreement with them about overdue notification.

Seconding upthread suggestions about bug repellent - take plenty, use plenty, use often. Check for ticks regularly. Wear a hat at all times.
posted by paulsc at 9:47 PM on July 11, 2006

Good boots, well broken in, high quality wool socks, and your personal blister/foot care kit are the highest priority items. If your feet get in bad shape, you're done having fun.

I can't second this enough. This is very important. You're going to be carrying a 30-40 lb pack, so your boots need extra ankle support - they should be designed for backpacking, and they need to be well broken in long before you start this hike. Brands I've liked have included Raichle, (my 10 year old pair is still going strong), Vasque and Asolo. Smartwool socks are the absolute bomb for cushioning and comfort. You mention you already have the gear you need, so presumably you're aware of this.

The other things I won't go hiking without include a small flashlight, a fire source, a knife (belt and/or multitool), a trash bag or two, Cutter bug repellent, A&D and neosporin ointment, some bandages including Bandaids, gauze, tape and an ACE wrap, and a little bit of light rope or heavy string. I also usually have a policeman's whistle (steel, with wooden ball inside) clipped to my person - in case I get lost or stuck somewhere and I know people are looking for me, I don't have to get hoarse shouting; I can just blow the whistle.

I also usually include a can of Spam in my food supply. If you get in a situation where you're too hungry/tired/dark/angry to screw around with your camp stove, a 7-oz can of Spam provides 600 calories and can be consumed in 2 minutes. Not having had to eat it is a point of pride at the end of the hike, too.
posted by ikkyu2 at 10:07 PM on July 11, 2006

One thing you will want to avoid, if possible, is wearing cotton in the damp cold. Cotton will absorb water and hold it against your skin, making you even colder. Jeans are the worst. I often bring a warm cap to wear, especially for sleeping. Bring a sheet of plastic cut several inches larger than the floor of your tent and put it inside as a ground cloth. Even if the bucket floor of your tent fails, this will keep you dry. A ground cloth on the outside will help your tent last longer but will only go so far to keep water from your toasty warm sleeping arrangements. Pack your sleepsack with care. I would stuff it in a stuffsack, then place that in a plastic bag, and then into another looser stuffsack. This keeps it compact, keeps it dry, and protects the plastic layer from ripping. Obviously, I obsess about staying warm and dry.
posted by Foam Pants at 10:41 PM on July 11, 2006

When I browse the REI catalog or wander through an EMS store, it seems like there are a hundred things I would like to have on my next backpacking trip. Avoid the urge to jam in every last gadget...as mentioned above, take less clothing and more food. If there is one minor luxury that I would add for a trip like yours, it is a polypropylene bag liner. They are light and take up very little room...I just roll mine up inside the bag after letting things air out in the morning. When hiking in an environment where there can be a lot of temperature variability through the course of the night or from day to day, a bag liner can make a huge difference in how comfortably you sleep. The liner serves as a sheet for your bag...when its really warm the liner may be all you need and if it really gets cold it can add another 5-10 degrees of warmth.
posted by cyclopz at 6:06 AM on July 12, 2006

Thank you all -- Luckily I have good boots that are broken in but not worn out. I will get a pack in the next week or two and get out with it. Through various sports/activities I completely understand how preparation plays into greater enjoyment. Thanks too for your suggestions on what to bring -- definitely things I wouldn't have considered but that will be very helpful and/or crucial.

It will be an interesting challenge to keep the pack light (o.k. lighter, or light-ish) while making sure I am warm enough. I guess that again speaks to preparation and some advance trial and error.

I am meeting up with my hiking partner in the Adirondacks for a few day in early August -- So that will be a chance to pick a section of the trail and do a day hike or maybe an overnight.

If all goes well, this could be the start of a 30 year adventure. That is, the whole trail over 30 years, 4-7 days at a time (if that makes sense).
posted by nnk at 7:35 AM on July 12, 2006