"In April 1999, the weather in northwest New Jersey was warming up ahead of schedule. Winter was over, spring was in full bloom and the Appalachian Trail along the Kitattinny Ridge in the Delaware Water Gap was calling. I’d just recently finished building a Norcal 40A from Wilderness Radio and was amazed with the performance from such a small box measuring only 2 X 4.5 X 4.5 inches. A set of earphones, ZM-2 antenna tuner, Morse paddles from Whiterook and a battery pack made from 10 C cells (non-rechargeable alkaline) along with a built-in freq counter completed the rig. It all fit into a gallon size ziplock bag which in turn fit into one side pocket of my Kelty external frame backpack. Also in the backpack was an MSR Whisperlite stove, fuel, tent, 0 degree sleeping bag/pad, water/iodine, food, maps and rope. Two weeks before the planned hike, Mayra surprised me by asking if she could join me. I’d thought of asking her, but with her being a city girl, it never occurred to me that she might be interested. I was more than happy to have her come along."
Read more:
http://www.ae5x.com/blog/qrp/qrp-excursions-2/appalachian-trail-backpack-1999/
