The Pack

Overwhelmed would be a simple way of putting it. Why, you might ask my little grasshoppers? Simply stated, no two people or “experts” have the same intelligible thing to agree on anything Appalachian Trail related. Finding any two people that see eye to eye on anything from gear to preparation is like asking me to figure skate instead of playing football…it just aint gonna happen.


I went to REI (an outfitter store for hiking gear) today and I wanted to cry. There, I said it…I am a grown man and I wanted to cry. And by the way, this was my second attempt in a week to buy a pack at REI. The first attempt left me running out of the store crying like a school girl who had just got her new banana seat bike stolen. In this first attempt, I had frozen like a deer in the headlights when approached by an REI “pack” specialist. As I stood there looking at the wall of endless packs I didn’t even know where to start. What size was I, I repeated to myself after the specialist asked me? Well, I don’t know. What kind of special pockets would I need? How would I know!!!! How do I put this thing on….What does this strap do…Why are there so many zippers and strappy do’s and thingamajigs….What if I pull this strap…What’s my name….Where do I live…I CAN’T TAKE THIS…GET ME OUTTA HERE. And off I went in the most un-manliest, high pitched squeeling and crying ever heard this side of the Mississippi River.

As I walked into the same REI store (yeah, I’ve got courage), I had a little more pack knowledge under my belt. After taking three days to recover from such trauma I had started my internet research on the right pack I was going to need….or at least I thought. Standing there looking at that same daunting wall-o-packs from the week before, I knew what size I wanted, how to wear it, and what most of the straps and belts were used for. I had flashbacks from college; I felt like I had studied for my final and I just wanted to get it out of the way. When REI associate Doug asked me if I needed help I proudly boasted “Yes, I want to try on the Osprey Aether 70,” while cracking my knuckles with a sense of accomplishment. “Great choice” he said while continuing on with all of the facts of my new found pack. I felt like a little kid who had just received an A on his report card and his proud dad was pinching his cheeks while giving the proverbial ‘atta boy.’ I was on top of the world…I knew what I was doing….

…that was until 10 minutes later when a much older, more life experienced REI associate, Gene, asked me what I needed such a big pack for. You see, when I chose the Osprey from Doug, I was allowed to load it up with 30 lbs of weight and wear it around the store to get a feel and to see if I liked the way it fit. As I had been looking at the hiking shoes while wearing my pack, I was approached by the much older and seasoned Gene. And that is precisely when my heart sank. “What? What do you mean? I’m going on the Appalachian Trail” I said. “Well, young man, I just don’t see you needing that big of a pack for the trail” he said with a fatherly tone. My initial thought was that this was bogus man. 10 minutes before Doug was pinching my cheeks and being proud of my choice of packs. Now, I was left right back where I started….confused, lonely, scared, crying, mystified, and quivering. How could getting a pack be so emotionally trying on one man’s soul???

You know what I did? I sat on the nearest REI bench and I gathered myself. I thought, you know what? These guys live in Texas. How could they know what I need to have on the Appalachian Trail? So what if I pick the wrong pack? It’s not going to kill me. So I have a too much pack…big deal. They don’t make these packs to sit on a shelf. They make them to be used. And you know what I did?? I bought the darn thing and haven’t looked back since approximately 3:14pm (Central time) today. Right or wrong, this is my pack of choice. The rest of the world can just get over it.

I did learn something about buying a pack that can be related to everyday life. Sometimes, you just need to go with your instincts. No two experts gave the same opinion on the Osprey Aether 70. But just like in real life, I gave it a shot and liked it..so I went with it. Sometimes, people are going to tell you different things. In my case, some tell me that I am crazy for hiking the trail while others think it’s such a great cause that I am walking for. But in the end, it comes down to where my heart is and that is what I need to follow. With God guiding my heart, I can not go wrong in life….especially when buying the Osprey Aether 70 pack for $283.17.