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Congrats on finishing up the Smokies section! Life keeps throwing me curveballs but I hope to go back one day as well. Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment!!

I think of you can get away with a 1 person tent go for it. I will say that having a little more space is great but it does add ounces.

That’s great to hear!

Yes, you can! It makes it a lot easier to pack up and setup each day. Then when you need to clean things you can just separate them again.

That’s a good option.

It took me a little while but I figured it out and didn’t feel like I was as in The Dark Crystal.

🤣

Ha ha. You gotta take your shoes off. Tents are expensive so don’t go dragging your shoes all over them. That and dirt. Ha ha

I’m glad that she’s back out there and pushing herself. Hopefully she continues to improve and get stronger. I’m still off any trails. The tendons were getting better and then I pushed a little too hard which set me back months. I’m on new orthotics now and fingers crossed they help. I don’t know when I’ll go back to the AT but I will go back. Just gotta keep getting stronger and get this inflammation figured out.

​@@TrackingHopperGreat to hear back from you so soon take it slow and listen to your doctor I'm rooting for you 👍

Thank you for the support! Unfortunately, I'm still dealing with the tendon issues. I pushed a little too hard before I was ready and it set me back quite a bit. I won't be back on a trail for a while and the AT isn't going to happen in 2024 for me. Maybe 2025. It's awesome that you're getting ready to head out and experience the AT. Very excited for you and wish you the best! Take it slow and enjoy the heck out of it!

@@TrackingHopper So sorry to hear about your setback! Injuries and recovery can be so frustrating. I hope you heal fast and can get back out in 2025. Take care.

Thanks! Good luck on your recovery - I’ll be praying on that. God Bless.

Hey Flash, it’s so awesome that your thru-hike is just around the corner. I wish you the best. I won’t be going back this year. My tendons haven’t fully healed and I’m still unable to walk on uneven ground for and real distance without pain. My medical team has really stressed stretching, rest, strengthening exercises and staying off of trails. It’s been a rough deal but it is what it is. Will I go back? Yes. I haven’t set a year yet though. The AT is in my mind everyday. I loved my short time on the trail and I want to be out there, just need to get myself to a place where my body is responding right. Good luck man. I’m rooting for you!!

@@TrackingHopper Sorry to hear the news, but as you said, sometimes "it is what it is". Thanks for the vote of confidence...I'm getting pretty excited. All my best for continued healing and strength, and I plan to follow along once you're back out there.

Take it one step at a time and enjoy it!!

Unfortunately no. I’m still not able to walk long distances on uneven terrain. I am going back but it’s going to be further down the road than I wanted.

I have a need to leave and arrive earlier than others so I didn’t have a space issue. Some folks that rolled in later in the afternoon or early evening had a harder time. I was also starting out in Feb with less people. If you go out in late March with the bubble space I’ll be at a premium.

Thank you! I may order the 1P and take a look at it.

You’re welcome. I ended up taking the 2p Pro due to the weight. There was enough room for me and my gear. I don’t think I would have done well in a 1p tent but I’m a bigger guy. I need my space. Ha ha.

Putting additional cushioning in the heel compared to the forefoot was done to reduce stress on calf muscles and Achilles tendons, says Jonathan Beverly, author of Your Best Stride and former shoe editor for Runner's World. “In general, a shoe with a higher drop will be easier on the lower leg-foot, ankle, Achilles, calf-while directing more stress to the knees and hips," Beverly says. “A lower-drop shoe will typically spare the knees but put more stress on the lower leg." Of course, everybody’s issues are different. But switching to a hiking shoe with a higher drop certainly helped me.

This is all great info, thank you for sharing. When I filmed this the docs were trying to get me back on trail in a short window. We didn’t know at the time that my tendons were as bad off as we later found out. I’ve been in PT for 4+ months and wearing some inserts. Having a higher rise is benefiting me but I have a long way to go.

That’s the goal. Things haven’t progressed well and I’m still in PT. The idea was to go back in 2024 but now it’s looking like 2025. I’ll get there. I loved the trail and want to finish what I started.

I didn’t end up taking the big camera so all of the videos from the trail are with the GoPro 10.

This was all filmed on my GoPro. I head decided not to bring the big camera.

Sounds like a beautiful area to hike. We visit the Whites sometime but I haven’t hiked there.

@TrackingHopper once you do the whole Appalachian trail you'll have the chance. Im still envious.

I purpose stayed away from any trail that was a part of the AT. I wanted to all be new. I’m still battling these tendon issues and won’t be going back in 2024. I’m working toward 2025 now.

Congrats on completing the trail, that’s so awesome! I kept the water on the sides because it forces me to slow down, drop my pack, and stop for a few minutes every hour. As for the weight, I ended up being 34lbs with 5-6 days of food and 2 full bottles of water. It was still heavy but not where this video was at. Ha ha. I’ve been working with my podiatrist and physical therapist and trying to get back to where I was pre trail. I have some hip issues that have always caused me some problems and that kinda translated down the legs and into the feet. I did a few hundred miles of prep hikes but as many say, nothing compares to actually being on the AT. I won’t be going back in 2024 because of ongoing tendon problems. But I will be going back. I think about it everyday and miss it. When I do go back I need to be lighter, both physically and gear wise. I also need to wear a mid shoe so I have more ankle support. Thank you so much for the support and advice. It’s truly appreciated.

@@TrackingHopper All good and while dropping that initial weight to 34 was good you were still pretty heavy. You have some great lightweight gear but def too much. As for conditioning, I hear you. I spent time on a treadmill at it’s highest elevation and walked at least an hour a day but that wasn’t enough. I dropped over 60lbs in body weight on the trail and while my pack was light, every time I went into a hostel or hotel my bag exploded and I went through each item. As a AT thru hiker from 2022 told me, if you haven’t touched/used it in three days dump it. As an added note, I was 66 when I started the trail and turned 67 by the time I hit Harper’s Ferry (my goal) and I wanted to finish in under 6-months and I did but even now, months later, I feel my knees and back are just getting back to normal.

It’s interesting because initially my goal was to do the trail when I turned 50. Then my buddy talked me in to going earlier…and then he got injured and couldn’t go. The way things are going with my feet and home stuff I’ll probably be going back on the 50th like I originally planned. 🤣🤣

You’ve provided the greatest comment in the history of comments. Thank you!!

I’ll have to check them out.

@TrackingHopper great vids. Thanks for taking time to film your journey.

That’s great input. Thank you!

I actually switched to the X-Mid Pro 2 before I got on trail. Cut the weight in half. Ended up with more condensation but there are trade offs to everything. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!

Thank you. I’m still recovering. PT is helping a lot but the mix of being unable to get on uneven ground and some family issues will keep me out of 2024 as well. I’m now working towards 2025.

That’s awesome! It is such an exciting thing to work towards and that first step in the trail even more so. Best wishes!

Thank you. Gear is fun

Mark, I really appreciate it but unfortunately I had to make the decision not to return to the AT in 2024. Partly due to my tendon issues, but mostly due to family (good stuff). I’m looking at 2025 now, but you got this. There are fantastic people out on the trail so if you don’t find someone to start with, you’ll find someone in a few days. I recommend getting into the Facebook groups for the AT, like the 2024 page. Very open and supportive groups. I hiked with folks between 65-72 years old and they’ve all done very well. I wish you the best.

@@TrackingHopper okay, Thank you for replying.

You're welcome. Let me know if you have any questions. you can email me at trackinghopper@gmail.com

@@TrackingHopper Thanks

Hey Matt, thank you for the kind words. I’m he reasoning for Feb is based on giving me enough time to complete it if I go at a slower pace and also a less crowded trail. That gives me about a month or so before the masses really hit the trail. I haven’t thought about that he cold impacting the tendons yet but I guess I learn more this winter. I have actually pushed back the hike to 2025 due to some family things and to give myself more time to heal. My PT process is moving forward but I still don’t have the stability I need to get on a trail. I haven’t done any videos because things seemed to change every week. I’ll drop an update when things settle down a bit and I have a plan.

Just met the Dr again yesterday. He says I’m doing better than he though I would be but it’s not that great in my eyes. Orthotics are helping but making my knees and back hurt. Still no real stability so anything other than flat angers the tendons. I start PT next week and am looking forward to it. Overall things are getting better but I’m not a good patient…because I’m impatient. 😂😂😂 hope you’re doing well.

@@TrackingHopper Doing good other than a back issue (L5-S1), fun times... But getting ready to head out to Montana 15June for 19 days (Montana, Wyoming, SD & ND)... We are going to hike the foothills trail in Mid-July (Luckily we already live in SC, so the sun melting the ground is normal for us). Hopefully things will turn around sooner than later, if we can help in any way, let us know...

Sorry about the back issues. Your trip sounds like it’s going to be awesome!!! Let me know how it goes and how the foothills trail in the July heat is.

Thank you! I haven’t had 2 people in it but was able to keep my pack inside and spread out quite a bit. There was some condensation but not as much as in the single wall X-Mid pro 2 that I took on the AT with me.

I dig the CTUG stuff.

I took the x-mid pro single wall n the trail instead of the solid. There was a little more condensation on the single wall but it was worth cutting the weight. The solid is an awesome tent but just a little heavier than I wanted for the AT.

Lisa, thank you for the comment! I am working on some ideas with health updates and some gear reviews. Things kinda fell behind but things will be coming out in a few weeks. Thank you again for the support!!!

Unfortunately I had to come off the trail due to an injury so only have about 115-miles of experience with it out there. Also, I switched to the Durston X-mid 2p Pro. Saved me about 20-ounces. It held up on a few windy and rainy nights but did have a bit more condensation than the X-Mid Solid due to being a single wall tent. I saw a few others out there with the same tents and they all had good things to say. I’ll be taking it out with me when I head back in 2024.

@Tracking Hopper I saw you came off but was hoping to get your feedback with the miles you got with it since there aren't many reviews of the xmid solid. I am leaning towards the solid to avoid the consendation even though it is heavier. Thanks for your input. Sounds like you'll be starting ahead of when I start in 2024. Lookin forward to your videos before hitting the trail again.

I don’t think you can go wrong either way. Thanks for the support!

This was filmed a while back. I made more cuts before starting the trail. Big camera and a lot of other things were downsized. Final weight with 2L of water and 6 days of food was 34lbs. 115 miles into the trip I was done. Tendinitis in two tendons on each foot to so bad I could barely walk. I’m back home working on healing up. Hopefully start PT soon. The goal is 2024.

Very little improvement but heading back to the doc today. Tenosynovitits in two tendons on both feet. Hopefully I get a way forward today.

Thank you for sending me this info, I’ll check it out. I do hit my heals hard and it’s something I need to work on. Just got my custom orthotics and am breaking those in.

Slowly but surely. Two Doc appointments next week to see what the next steps are.

Thank you. Things are progressing…slowly. Ha ha. Still not all that mobile but getting better and hope to start training again by June.

Not as good as hoped. Dr appointment got pushed back a month and still dealing with a lot of pain. It’ll get better but taking longer than hoped.

@@TrackingHopper well damn... Hopefully it will turn for the better, sooner than later. Let us know if we can help you with anything

Hey Frank! That’s a good timeframe to go. A little before the bubble so you have some time to get out ahead of it. I’m thinking about starting earlier in Feb next year than I did this year but haven’t decided. Gotta get healthy first.

Thank you. Unfortunately, I won't be going back this year per conversations with my doctors. I still have a month or two of recovery before I can even start training again.

Thank you!

Thank you, that’s awesome to hear. If I can get these feet to cooperate I’ll be back!

It’s a difficult thing but getting off the trail was the right thing. My goal is 2024 now.

Thank you. It’s been a rollercoaster but life doesn’t always follow the plans you made. Things will get figured out though and I can’t wait to get back on my feet and moving forward again. I truly appreciate the support. Thank you!

That’s great that your doc found something that’s helping you. Unfortunately my podiatrist just got Covid and my next appointments is now a month down the road. I’ll be trying over the next week to work with his team to find the next step for me. My pain hasn’t really subsided when I’m walking so I need something different than what we’ve been doing.

I hope you’re able to get the foot issues under control and learn what exercises/stretches work for you. Good luck in 2024, maybe I’ll see you out there!

Maybe it was the children throwing rocks at me. 🤣🤣 I definitely need to strengthen my ankles. I was doing a lot of exercises for my hips and knees using bands but I didn’t focus on the ankles. That’s going to change.

@@TrackingHopper yeah, maybe carry a shield next year? 😂