Well, the pack didn't work out. Too much nerve pain. But I am not giving up. Somewhere out there is the pack I will use for the trip. Just have to find it.
But I did use my son's backpack for my past weekend adventure - taking a few friends from church into the wilds of West Virginia - the Dolly Sods region to be exact. Made out fine with his pack carrying a hefty load (no nerve pain) but it's older, no hydration sack, no separate sleeeping compartment, and not really a super great fit.
Oh, the joy.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Got the pack...still testing
Got the pack yesterday. There are many things I like about it. Great capacity for a thru hike and will take my mammoth Marmot bag. Lightweight. Has the hydration capability. Of course, the belt and lumbar pad are much less to cut back on weight. Put it on and my nerve in my back promptly acted up, giving me a back ache. Thought I would have a crisis right there. I sat there wondering why I could ever think I would be able to hike the trail with my physical things that sprout up!
Then got the idea to cut up a small memory foam thing used to support your back in the car and put that on the lumbar padding to try and beef it up. May need to adjust it as it was pretty hot and pressed my back good. Or as my dh says, just try hiking around the neighborhood with the loaded pack and no padding and see what your back does. Maybe it will adapt.
More testing to come...
Sure hope I can get this to work. I think it's a nice pack.
Then got the idea to cut up a small memory foam thing used to support your back in the car and put that on the lumbar padding to try and beef it up. May need to adjust it as it was pretty hot and pressed my back good. Or as my dh says, just try hiking around the neighborhood with the loaded pack and no padding and see what your back does. Maybe it will adapt.
More testing to come...
Sure hope I can get this to work. I think it's a nice pack.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Adjusting Gear
Still working on gear adjustments after the last section hike. Decided that since my feet still ached for a week after the last hike I would try to adapt to a pair of blue Superfeet insoles inside my hikers. My left foot is still giving me troubles but I hope they will adapt okay as these seem the best option for my overall feet-ankle-knee-hip woes.
Also went to REI and tried on packs. The Gregory Deva I thought would work good still gave me back problems and an irritated nerve. I talked to the salesgal, telling her about my clunky Lowe pack that weighs a ton but what a good lumbar support it had and I never had nerve pain. So she said - well, maybe you should stick with Lowe but in a different model. So I decided to try one Sierra Trading Post is getting rid of - an ultralight Lowe Alpine Sirocco. Had free shipping so I thought - what do I have to lose? Weighs in at 4 lbs. I PRAY the lumbar support works and this will be my pack. It has been so hard finding one with lumbar support, lightweight, hydration capatible and with the capacity I need for a March 1st start. Wowsie
Will let you know....
Also went to REI and tried on packs. The Gregory Deva I thought would work good still gave me back problems and an irritated nerve. I talked to the salesgal, telling her about my clunky Lowe pack that weighs a ton but what a good lumbar support it had and I never had nerve pain. So she said - well, maybe you should stick with Lowe but in a different model. So I decided to try one Sierra Trading Post is getting rid of - an ultralight Lowe Alpine Sirocco. Had free shipping so I thought - what do I have to lose? Weighs in at 4 lbs. I PRAY the lumbar support works and this will be my pack. It has been so hard finding one with lumbar support, lightweight, hydration capatible and with the capacity I need for a March 1st start. Wowsie
Will let you know....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)