Q. Why bring the 3.0-oz tarp? There are shelters on the AT and you have a bivy. I know it's only 3.0 oz but every ounce counts right, then you could also get rid of the stakes and stake bag (we're up to 5 oz now)...I'd keep some cord though.

True, most nights I'll be able to rely on the shelters. But there are some sections where the shelters are uncomfortably far apart -- they'd either force me to cut my day shorter than I want or to hike further than I should. Particularly early on, when I'm not covering much mileage (15-20 to start) and I'm only able to walk 2 mph, there will be nights where the shelters are inconveniently placed.

Q. So you don't think you could camp out and stay dry with the bivy on those few nights in the beginning where the shelters don't work for you?

The bivy is not waterproof, just water resistant, so it'd be of little help if it rained. The bottom line is that I'm going to have to camp a few times, and I can't just hope that on those nights it'll be rain-free -- maybe if I were in southern California I'd have greater faith.

Q. the trail data that you are taking...is that wingfoot's book? I assume that the modified part means that you took out the town guide section.

Yes, it's Wingfoot's books. Modified = only the sections addressing the first 1,000 miles, minus the margins; town guide included, since that section also contains information about shelters and gives some context for the trail.

Q. What kind of frame/weight distribution does your pack have? I assume that at 44.8 oz, it has a decent one.

I've been training with 55 lbs loaded in it and it carries it pretty well. But 55 pounds is still 55 pounds, and I'm doubtful that a suspension system will ever be engineered to make such a load feel like 10 -- the load still needs to be shifted back and forth between shoulders and lumbar, at least until I gain some strength in those regions. I expect the pack will carry 70 well enough, though since it's a prototype I do have some concerns about finding a notable flaw (this is part of the prototyping process, but thankfully so far so good).

Q. So you haven't and aren't going to test the prototype with the load before you go? I don't expect any pack to make 70lbs feel like 10 but I was just a little curious about the suspension...do you think it will be odd towards the end of the hike when you pack is super light and you have a "suspension" in your pack?

The pack will hold 70 pounds, which I have not carried yet, more because of my current strength level than what the pack is capable of carrying. One of the cool features about this pack (and all the new GoLite packs) is their ability to reduce volume. The Odyssey pack has 4,250 cubic inches of volume (probably about 4,000 without the top lid, which was the first thing to be removed when I received the pack) but I can compress it down to about 2,000, using the four compression straps and the "Compactor" feature, which collapses the bottom of the pack. I can remove the framesheet if it's really bothering me that I have a suspension system in my pack to carry such a small load.

Q. Seriously, what are your rules about coming across food left in the shelters or rolling up on some people that offer you something to eat?

No hand-outs, as tempting as that will be. I just hope that no one becomes a real jerk about it by tormenting me one night in a shelter towards the end of my hike, when it's been 2-3 weeks since my last "real" meal.

Q. How did you get your body fat measured...what method? Skin Calipers? Bio-electrical Impedance? Bod-Pod? One of those hand held things where you squeeze it and it tells you based on your height and weight? If I am reading your charts/theories correctly it states that you are currently 22.5% body fat? Although I haven't seen you lately I think that you are probably less than that. College-aged females should fall in the 18-22% range to be considered "healthy"...or at least that's what I learned 5 years ago in college.

My body fat stat is a real estimation. I jumped on a scale back in July, when I weighed 155, and it said I was 15 percent body fat, which seemed high to me but it's the only data I have to work off of. I've put on at least 20 pounds since then (back to my non-hiking weight), probably with very little muscle gain, and I just extrapolated. That technique would actually say that I'm 25 percent body fat, but I just find that hard to believe.

Q. On your site you indicated that the AT is the only trail that fulfilled 3 requirements for a trail on which to do this kind of hike. You said "it has the potential to be a mostly uninterrupted wilderness experience." I am unsure what you mean by this statement. To me the AT is interrupted frequently by road crossings and is potentially for frequently used by the public than other long distance trails. Could you elaborate?

True, on the AT you cross a lot of roads, you see a lot of houses from the scenic vistas, and you can often hear lawnmowers. But, it's far more remote than something like the NCT, ADT, or FT, which are also hike-able right now -- those trails feature frequent road walks. If I make it 800 miles the only town I'll walk through is Damascus, VA; I'll touch the fringes of Erwin, TN, and Pearisburg, VA. I'll also have to walk through Walsi-Yi and the Nanatahala Outdoor Center, both early on. So even though it's not a really remote trail, it's interaction with civilization is limited. Most people don't see it that way because there are so many people out there during the summer and because most hikers are dropping into towns every two or three days.

Q. Finally, which way are you getting to Springer? If you are doing the approach trail, I might think you are a bad ass...if I remember correctly, it's a pretty good climb and that's a pretty heavy pack you'd be carrying. Granted, I didn't think it was too bad, I had heard horror stories and had mentally prepared for hell but then again, those people that hiked it were inexperienced and had heavy packs...I was just getting into lightweight packing and was at about 20 and was only going to Walsi-Yi where I was going to resupply.

I'm planning to do the approach trail. I'm flying in on Friday late-morning and my cousin has agreed to drive me up there. For calculations it's much easier to start a hike in the morning, so that the first day is a full day -- otherwise you're dealing with three-quarter days, half-days or quarter-days when calculating average pace and food intake. So I'll use that afternoon to do the approach trail, and then get a fresh start on Saturday morning. Does that make me a bad ass?