This is just what I'm doing these days. I've spent as much time scouting areas during day hikes lately as I have on the pack trips. I've found one really nice loop I'll go back to, stretch out for an extra night and check out more side trips. I've found another segment I want to explore further, maybe do an extended trip out a ways, and then back the same way. Just yesterday, I went up to an area that was nice, but not what I thought it would be for a multiday/night trip, so I feel like I saved myself from what would have been a bit of a disappointing overnighter.

Of course part of this approach depends on your proximity to nice areas, and the time you have available. If you have to travel a long ways, and can only do an occasional trip, maybe you have to jump right in and hit it hard.

thanks everyone for their advice and sharing the experience they def helped me stay committed to the outdoor life, and not selling my new tarptent haha - its awesome BTW

Jim- I like to think I do a bit of everything, but after thinking about your post...i've been on the water too much lately...ie no leg work at all...i prob need to do a bit more of vertical climbs prior to taken on such a peak...
I did think about the altitude as a potential, but the camps were all below 3k, and i've never really had a problem before. Including getting off a plane and doing all sorts of hiking in park city, Utah's olympic park...could be tho...i'm not ruling anything out

DTape - yea the newbie who wanted to go the route basically talked me into it...i was down for a 20 hour day hike and should have stuck to my guns...

I've actually been reinvigorated by all of this...determined to still hit the peaks and see what i want to see - as a result i've drastically replanned my AT section into a quick visit to the trailhead and blood mountain, then a nice lil stay in the smokies, followed by a week in shendadoh.

It may have been mentioned already, but I think you just ran out of energy. Eat as much as you can in the morning. Take along some electrolyte replacements of some kind-gels or powder, plus high calorie foods and eat all day long. I'm guilty of not doing this sometimes and it makes a big difference. Eat a big meal at night and keep an energy bar nearby. If you get cold, eat half of it, you'd be amazed at what a difference that makes. Nuts and other sources of fat also help a lot.

Not everyone can carry 30-40 lbs. I can't anymore, that's for sure. I winter camp, so I was pulling a sled on skis and not all that far. I am usually at around 7K and live a sea level, so that makes a big difference as well.

You don't have to put in long miles day after day to have a good time. Different planning will make a big difference. I've done some short trips in Yosemite that are just as much fun as going really far.

Hey, Mark,

Sorry about the trip. I know you were carrying a lot of water (yikes!), but have you considered that you might have been dehydrated? What was the weather like? The worst bonk I ever did on a trail was climbing up to a waterfall in the Smokies. It was freaking hot and humid, the trail was very steep, and I had had very little to drink the day before and that morning. Oh, and we live at 900 feet and the traihead was a few thousand feet higher. That was a miserable, miserable day. Felt just like you described most of the hike. I have since learned to camel up on water at the beginning of the day, and keep it up in very hot weather. (Also, I have read that the better shape you are in, the more water you need. Not sure if it's true, but there it is.)

As for total pack weight, well, yeah -- 30 pounds is a big chunk of your body weight. My first couple of trips I was carrying 1/3 of my weight (which is 70 pounds BTW) and it was not in any way fun. But if you took away your water weight, you'd have been at 18 pounds. Add two liters, and a total pack weight of 22 pounds looks a lot better. (Did you end up needing all that water??)

Good luck figuring this stuff out. I expect you'll be fine on the A.T., and in your future hikes. My personal feeling is that this was a "perfect storm" of elevation, exhaustion, heat, and dehydration.

--Ken

I agree with most above. You could have cut 1-2L of water and packed much lighter food (chicken breasts??).

I'm 5'8 and about 150lbs. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I think you're *way* under weight. I've been your weight, and naturally could just motor thru most any cardio (running, soccer etc). But the strength isn't there, and hiking with weight is totally different than running. I started bulking protein (eggs and egg whites, chicken, whey etc) and lifting heavy, and am much stronger now.

What about a sugar crash? I know that if I am short of sleep both caffein and sugar can make me crash. Maybe think about more whole grains and less sugary foods to give you a slow release of energy. Also, you may be able to help with the pack balance by trying different ways of loading. For my smaller pack, the weight needs to be mid and close to my back, but my larger pack carries better if the weight is higher.