First hike. North Kettle Moraine WI. Need advice.

Posted by: Rucksack

First hike. North Kettle Moraine WI. Need advice. - 02/08/08 09:57 AM

My first hike will be the 32 mile section of the ice age trail in the Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest in Wisconsin. We will be leaving 3/27 and finishing on 3/31 if needed. We will be going from North to South. The average temp. is 40. We will be in a group of 7. Two have alot of experience. But as far as my self goes....

How do you take care of your body with fatigue ect.?

What food would reccomend?

Know of any moderatly priced, comfortable hiking boots?

Should I bring rain gear or a waterproof breathable jacket with water resistant pants?

Most important of all. What is a good practical joke to play on someone while out there? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Any positive or negative feedback will be greatly appreicated.
Posted by: phat

Re: First hike. North Kettle Moraine WI. Need advi - 02/08/08 11:01 AM

Quote:
My first hike will be the 32 mile section of the ice age trail in the Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest in Wisconsin. We will be leaving 3/27 and finishing on 3/31 if needed. We will be going from North to South. The average temp. is 40. We will be in a group of 7. Two have alot of experience. But as far as my self goes....


It sounds doable and fun, as long as you aren't a complete couch potato. Listen to the experienced members of your group for a start.

Quote:

How do you take care of your body with fatigue ect.?


Mostly "common sense" - but biggest things, stay hydrated, and fed, and keep a good pace but
remember it isn't a race so don't wear yourself out. I personally take a couple of aleve along for muscle
aches at the end/start of a day.

As fars as "dealing with it" - hiking is mostly mental. it's just one foot in front of the other.

Quote:

What food would reccomend?


Anything you like that's light. I take stuff that can be made by just boiling water and dumping it in for breakfast and dinner - I take "snack" type food for "lunch" - which is prolonged snacking throughout my day. if you've got the cash, I'm partial to the Natural High brand dehydrated backpacking meals for dinner, oatmeal or dehydrated omlette and mashed potatoes for breakfast. and a random assortment
of clif bars, mars/snickers bars, dry pepperoni, almonds, dry fruit, bagles, etc. during the day to munch on. If you want to look into making your own later I highly reccomend sarbar's site, look for her posts here and there is a link on it. Drink plenty of water.

Quote:

Know of any moderatly priced, comfortable hiking boots?


Yes, but assuming they'd be comfortable for you is foolish. Go to a local place where you
can try on and walk around in. when you select them, wear them like mad in the weeks before
you go. You may wish to consider using trail runners if you can handle wet feet. Invest in a
good couple pair of socks and liner socks In spring conditions it may be muddy and gooey
in places.

Quote:

Should I bring rain gear or a waterproof breathable jacket with water resistant pants?


You should bring something to shelter you from the elements if it's raining. Many like a waterproof
breathable jacket. Depending on conditions some take pants. I carry a large silnylon poncho and
windshirt. but remember, you need to be comfortable being out in it in nasty weather.


Quote:

Most important of all. What is a good practical joke to play on someone while out there? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


Depends on the crowd. if you're a newbie showing up prepared and enjoying yourself
without requiring a lot of care and feeding on the trail by others is often the biggest surprise
you can pull on them.
Posted by: TomD

Re: First hike. North Kettle Moraine WI. Need advice. - 02/08/08 12:27 PM

Without meaning to criticize too much, all of your questions can be answered in one short answer-
"it depends."

Fitness-depends on how fit you are now and how much you will be carrying. If you aren't fit enough to walk ten miles a day with a pack now, start with some short walks fully loaded and see how you feel; keep it up until your hike.

Food-whatever you like that is light to carry and filling-look through the Food forum

Boots-whatever you can find that fits and fits your budget-there are dozens of them available.

Raingear-depends on the weather. Ask someone who has done that hike in the past what the weather could be like. I use real rain gear.

Plan for the worst weather possible, not the best. If your hike is 32 miles, you could be 16 miles from safety if the weather packs up.

If you are with 4 other beginners, make sure your companions are prepared. If they aren't, a problem for them becomes a problem for you.

Make sure you have enough fuel, at least two stoves, appropriate shelter for the weather, appropiate temp rated sleeping bag, map, compass or GPS-and the other "ten essentials."

Whatever you take, make sure you know how to use it before you go. Practice setting up your shelter, using the stove, using the GPS or compass, etc.

With that many people, I would get them altogether and do a gear check the weekend before you go and plan your meals so no one is short anything, including food. I would insist on this.

Remember-
"Adventure is just bad planning." — Roald Amundsen (1872—1928).

"Having an adventure shows that someone is incompetent, that something has gone wrong. An adventure is interesting enough — in retrospect. Especially to the person who didn't have it." — Vilhjalmur Stefansson, My Life with the Esquimo.
Posted by: Rucksack

Re: First hike. North Kettle Moraine WI. Need advice. - 02/08/08 04:59 PM

As far as being i shape. Im not exactly a couch potato. Although I do have a few extra pounds I tend to run 1.5 miles at least 3 days out of the week. I have not done any short hikes with a weighed down pack yet. I plan to do that soon.

Myself and the rest of the hikers have planned a meeting 1 week before the departure date. Im sure that the experienced hikers will go over everything. Gear ,food, fuel ect. I plan on buying a jetboil to use for cooking.

I spoke to someone who has been on that trail during that time of year. He said that the weather could be very plesant to very nasty. I suppose ill go with the raingear.

Food is still an issue though. I'll look through food forum.

Thanks for the help. If you have anything else to add please do so.
Posted by: oldranger

Re: First hike. North Kettle Moraine WI. Need advi - 02/08/08 05:47 PM

I'm not sure that a first time hike with so many novel factors is a good situation for practical jokes. However, I remember we often used to sneak rocks into each others' packs. Today, in accord with the LW ethic, I suppose I would jsut sneak a pebble, or maybe a grain of sand <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Posted by: StepChld

Re: First hike. North Kettle Moraine WI. Need advice. - 02/08/08 08:34 PM

Personally I've always liked the good ol' standby, the "Fake Heartattack", never ceases to get a laugh. But then again, your mileage may vary <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />










(by the way, I was only joking for those that didn't get the dry wit) <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
Posted by: chaz

Re: First hike. North Kettle Moraine WI. Need advi - 02/10/08 09:44 AM

Put on the bottom of the rock "Made by God"..
Posted by: jamieS

Re: First hike. North Kettle Moraine WI. Need advice. - 02/10/08 02:29 PM

I've done parts of that trail. It's surprisingly up and down for a midwestern hike. It roughly follows a ridgeline that was too steep to farm, which is why it's still a natural area. It has kicked the tail of quite a few people that have underestimated that trail.

But it is also a great trail to do when things warm up, the spring bird migration seems to hit it just at that time and there aren't any crowds yet. You'll have a great time.

I would highly advise getting in the best shape you can. (Running is the best way to do that.) And I would highly recommend going with the lightest pack and using good fitting running shoes, not boots. If your friends are loaded down by using traditional gear, you will keep up just fine.

As for how to put together the lightest pack, that's what this board is all about! So just tell us what you think you'll bring and we'll give our feedback.

-jamieS

p.s. Definitely plan on bringing full rain gear. 40 degrees and wet means hypothermia and no fun.
Posted by: Tango61

Re: First hike. North Kettle Moraine WI. Need advi - 02/10/08 06:06 PM


Yaonkie,
I think waiting until 1 week before the hike might be cutting it a little close. If possible, you might get together 2-3 weeks ahead of time. This allows time to get any gear that might be missing. Unless of course, there is frequent and effective communication ahead of time.

Take a look at the TLB website (the site that hosts these forums) and look over the gearlists and see if ya'll have what you need.
Posted by: Jimshaw

Re: First hike. North Kettle Moraine WI. Need advice. - 02/10/08 06:43 PM

Yaonkie
Hey welcome and be happy, <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well if ya don't have any gear why worry about weight? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />Take the rain gear. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> And a tent.

Concentrate on warm clothes that will be warm if wet, <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> and keep rain shells over them if its wet. Sleeping bags should not be down. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />Wear the most reasonable footgear you can. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Oh and sleeping pads, preferably atleast 1/2 or an inch thick. Gloves, hats etc.

You do not need a whole lot of the stuff that people pick up as they learn <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />. If you add a stove and a pan and a bic you can cook. A flashlight and toilet paper make the trip neater. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

As far as tricks I guess all anybody here can think of is pack baiting so atleast put a large beer can in his pack. Then you can use the Eiger Sanction line.
"how bout a warm one?"...
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
Posted by: Rucksack

Re: First hike. North Kettle Moraine WI. Need advice. - 02/13/08 03:22 PM

Correction. We have a meeting set up 2 weeks before the departure date.

Ok, what I have:

Kelty 3950 External frame pack
Kelty 0 degree bag
Therma rest z-lite pad (folds up)
Eureka Zeus classic 1 person tent
Bladder+tube
LED head light
Rain suit
Wind pants (workout pants)
Fleece pants
Under armor (upper+lower)
synthetic socks
synthetic boxer breifs
Fleece and polyester sweaters
Convertable hiking pants
Wind breaker
skull cap
gloves
Baby wipes
Toilet paper without the roll
water bottle
Camera
Hiking boots ( I am breaking in right now)

Thats all I can think of off hand. The others in my party have GPS first aid kit ect.

No cooking system yet. I plan on buying a jetboil.
No food yet.
No poles yet

Anything I left out,or should leave out?

Thanks
Posted by: billstephenson

Re: First hike. North Kettle Moraine WI. Need advi - 02/16/08 06:12 PM

A practical joke suggestion eh?

Ok, here's one that's easy to pull off and pretty lightweight too.

Catfish stink bait. Even a small amount placed near a pillow can be very effective in causing severe fits and rapid fire aspersions. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Let us know how it works out.

Bill