Hiking and Backpacking the Appalachian Trail

Hiking and Backpacking the Appalachian Trail

You will learn when hiking and backpacking on the Appalachian Trail the weight of your backpack is a very important thought to consider. It is important to find a balance between having enough gear to survive but also easy to carry. Every ounce counts when you’re hiking long distances. This is especially true when you are dealing with difficult ascents and descents. Experienced hikers and backpackers often opt for ultralight gear to minimize strain. This also reduces the risk of injury and maximizes mobility.

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Hiking and Backpacking the Appalachian Trail More Than Physical

Wild Ponies on the Appalachian Trail

The above photo is only one of the many special treats you will experience while hiking and backpacking the Appalachian Trail. You will see wild ponies near the Grayson Highlands area are beautiful but not really as wild as they are supposed to be. They will walk right up to and pose for photos but they can also be pests. If you are wearing short sleeves and or short pants with exposed sweaty skin expect to get licked. You will find the problem with getting licked by ponies is the fact that you can’t make them stop.

You should remember that even though these ponies seem to be tame they are wild animals. And you should treat them as such. Many will eat out of your hand if offered but you should never feed wild animals. You can get bitten by the ponies and I would imagine a bite from a pony could be painful. You also do not want to be kicked by a pony, and they have been known to do that. Observe and enjoy the ponies at a safe distance and do not try to pet or feed them. You will see that they are all fat so they have lots of natural food so don’t need help from humans. Remember to never feed any wildlife while hiking and backpacking the Appalachian Trail.

Ponies of the Grayson Highlands

https://www.virginia.org/listing/grayson-highlands-state-park/7305/

Bears are Not the Only Food Thieves on the Appalachian Trail

The link above will enable you to read more about the Grayson Highlands State Park area near the Appalachian Trail. It has also been rumored and actually seen I have read that the ponies have stolen backpacker’s food. Of course the innocent bears usually get the blame for it. I remember reading once several years ago that in one night nine backpackers lost their food to bears. But I also read about that same incident in which a girl said that it wasn’t all bears. She said she woke up in the night and saw ponies standing on their rear legs and ripping food bags from the trees.

You will see if you do any hiking and backpacking on the Appalachian Trail in the Grayson Highlands area the trees are not good for hanging food. The limbs are dense and not high enough to get food out of reach of the bears and ponies. I really don’t know why hikers try to hang their food in that area. Because there are bear boxes available which are much easier to use and more reliable. The only problem with the bear boxes is there are inconsiderate hikers who seem to think those boxes are trash receptacles.

I once opened a bear box in the Catawba, Virginia are near McAfee Knob to store my food for the night. But some irresponsible person had thrown banana peelings in there and those peeling were starting to rot and really stunk up the place. What is so bad about that it is it probably was not a long distance hiker who did that. Why would I say that. I figured that because long distance people hiking and backpacking the Appalachian Trail don’t carry fresh bananas.

Bear Proof Storage Boxes When Hiking and Backpacking the Appalachian Trail

You will learn to appreciate the bear boxes when they are available. And in recent years they are becoming more and more common near the shelters on the Appalachian Trail. At night before you sleep or anytime you will leave your campsite ALL your food, toothpaste, trash and anything with an odor should be placed in these boxes. This is to protect the wildlife as well as hikers. But remember TRASH should be put in zip lock baggies in consideration of other hikers who use the boxes. You should also pack up and take ALL trash with you when you leave the area!

Please be considerate of future hikers by not leaving your stinky garbage!

You should put all food, all trash, all toiletries and all other scented items  inside the bear box. This includes but is not limited to all sealed or packaged food, sunscreen, soap, mosquito repellent, lip balm, deodorant, medications, and feminine products. The bear box only works if it is closed and locked. Speaking of locked; I once went to the local bear box to store my food for the night and found the door open! Apparently some one was too lazy to close it. A bear proof food storage box is no good if it is left open. You may carry a bear cannister for folks who are hiking and backpacking the Appalachian Trail. That is great if you do that as do I now. But it’s also a good idea to place that inside the bear box when available.

Another Food Storage Option for Hiking and backpacking the Appalachian Trail

You are looking at the Bear Vault BV 500 bear cannister. This is the author’s preferred food storage system when I’m hiking and backpacking the Appalachian Trail. I also use this even when I’m hiking or camping in an area where bears are not a problem. Even when there are no bears there are racoons, skunks, mice and other rodents that will steal your food.

He looks like a very big dog, but don’t be fooled as he is a skilled and very smart hiker food thief. Never underestimate the Black Bear as normally they are pretty docile, but, they can be dangerous. Remember that they are wild animals and so you can never be 100% sure what they might do. Never feed or try to pet them. Observe and enjoy seeing them at a safe distance and never do anything to provoke them. And NEVER EVER turn your back and run from them as that is very likely to trigger their predatory instinct. Just stand your ground but be prepared to fight IF you are actually physically attacked.

Bear Vault BV 500 Cannister for Hiking and Backpacking the Appalachian Trail

This is a testimony from a bear vault user to the effectiveness of the Bear Vault. This is just another good case for using the Bear Vault. I, the author of this article and some one who hikes and backpacks the Appalachian Trail have used other food storage methods. I have used the PCT hanging system and was very successful using that method for many years. However, on May 3. 2019 while on a thru hike attempt of the AT I lost my food to an educated Black Bear at the Hurricane Mountain shelter. The food was properly hung with the PCT method but I lost it anyway.

This is why I now use the Bear Vault BV 500 Bear Cannister. This cannister also makes a great camp stool for lounging around your camp site or shelter. You should just be sure to carry it away from your camp before retiring for the night. Include any thing and every thing that has an odor such as toothpaste, medicines, first aid products, used feminine products. Soaps if you carry soap and or deodorant should be in there also. Personally, I don’t carry deodorant because you will stink even worse. I also had a forest ranger in the Smokie Mountains tell me a blind bear may think you’re a rotten log and start digging for grubs.. lol

Related Articles About Hiking and Backpacking the Appalachian Trail

Watch “Bear attack”‼️😱🐻

Food Storage in the Back Country

Resupplying on the Trail, Backpacking Food on the Appalachian Trail

Hiking Fuel for Cooking, How Much to Carry

Ultralight Backpacking Tent for Long Distance Hiking

I hope you have found this article informative and helpful. Thank you for reading. I hope you will enjoy your outdoor adventures and I hope to see you on the trail sometime. My trail name is Snow Cream and that’s the name I use on the trail. Don’t miss a post https://hikingbackpackingcampingblog.com by subscribing to this blog using this form. Your information or email will not be published or shared.

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