1st off..hello to all.
as the thread states I am unfortunetly in need of gear!alot of you here know me,either from me buying gear or selling some of you my gear a few months back.
I am very down on my luck right now,no work,dealing with a divorce,(which is why I sold my gear)and a ton of other issues. I am all but homeless.
right now I am taking care of my mom following a close medical call.
but soon she will be better and I will be moving on. I sold all my other gear here back in August, in hopes of financialy helping my troubled marriage,but that didnt work and I don't have the wife or gear.it seems that now is the best time to go hike, but I have no gear at all and am very limited on the money I will have for the next 9 months, it is enough to eat while on trail and buy neccessities that are going to be needed.so what I am asking or pleading for is if the people here at BPL have some old or used serviceable gear that they would be willing to donate to me so I can go hike the PCT in early May, I have nothing, so I need a pack,shelter,bag,stove,poles and pad.
I know this is a huge thing to ask of the community,but without it I really don't know what I will do, I have helped and seen others helped here in my time here, and pray that once again the BPL community will take pity and lend a little help to a fellow hiker who has hit bottom. this tears at the fiber of my manhood to have to feel as though I am begging, but it is the only way I will be able to replace my gear, I know it wont be gear that I had in the past, but if you do have some decent gear that will make it on a thru hike and you can possibly spare it..PLEASE help.feel free to contact me I don't have much access to the net most days,just when I get to my sisters so if you email me it may take a few days for me to respond, but I can be contacted at my mom's(Sue) @317-856-1896.
or at
Don Carter
5034 rocky forge drive
Indianapolis,Indiana
46221
(317)856-1896
donjuan70@aol I can only check this everyfew days.
thanks everyone..if you can help please do..if you can't I understand
God Bless..Don

I have some BD trekking poles for you.Sorry to hear about your bad luck---things will change in time.

-Jay

I will send them to your address.

Edited by Creachen on 02/18/2010 14:24:57 MST.

Don,
I don't have any of the "Big 3" but I can hook you up with a sleeppad system.

1X GG Thinlite
1X MEC Kelvin 2.5 SI Pad

Let me know and I'll ship it out next week (I'm out hiking until Monday)

Steve

I have a go-lite lair 1

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/00164.html

And a go-lite gust pack I'll contribute.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/reviews/display_reviews?forum_thread_id=1221&cat=Backpacks%20%2D%20Frameless&cid=13


I'm excited about you putting it to good use! HAPPY TRAILS!

Now all you need is a sleeping bag and the misc. of which I may be able to help with the misc but not w/ the bag.

Edited to add: You'll want to keep your total weight to 20lbs or less with the Gust. I guess you'll need some kind of bug protection? but not having any knowledge of the pct can't say.

Edited by obxcola on 02/18/2010 18:42:43 MST.

Will you have a hiking partner? It is utterly non-UL, but I could happily loan you an old 2P REI Half-Dome. I'd want it back (car camping) but if it came back with a few holes, bent poles, or less a stake or two that'd be no biggie. And I don't even want to think about how much it weighs...

Unfortunately, I have plans for my other shelters this spring/summer.

Let me know.

EDIT- Cola beat me to the punch! And with a much more appropriate shelter. Good luck!

Edited by acrosome on 02/18/2010 18:33:21 MST.

If the Gust doesn't work out let me know. I have a pack I made that weighs about 12 oz since it was my first I don't know if it would hold up on a really long hike. Do you have rain gear?
Sorry for your bad luck. I hope your hike works out well.

Edited by Cameron on 02/18/2010 18:58:30 MST.

Don:

As a 'minimalist' -- I normally don't keep any unused gear around -- they either get returned or put on Ebay.

But I'd like to suggest that we all keep this thread in mind when REI "dividends" come out next month. Maybe we can pool our unused "dividends" together...

I have a hiker pur filter.A few years old,it has sitting in a plastic storage container.Its yours if you want it.
Patrick

Edited by JPMatte on 02/18/2010 20:59:27 MST.

The generosity and giving nature of fellow BPL members is both inspiring and humbling, I applaud each of you for your giving spirit.

Edited by thomdarrah on 02/18/2010 21:28:50 MST.

Hey buddy,

I've got some titanium to give if you would like/need it? Some stakes and a spork...some silnylon stuff sacks if you use them and misc. small items, seam grip, sealer nalgene containers etc....if I see you PM or post, I will get them to you.

couch

I've got a Petzl headlamp in great condition. XP I think. I'll get it in the mail early next week, if not Saturday. I've also got a Ridgerest that, thanks to Bender, I don't think I'll be using again. Happy to send that as well if you want it.

Edited by idester on 02/18/2010 21:54:45 MST.

Hey man I just posted a winter starter kit winter starter kit
It is yours to claim you get first crack. I was asking $22 but in your case if you could just cover shipping which would probably be about $10 the stuff is yours. I would just cover shipping myself but I am currently unemployed and my budget is kinda tight right now too. Let me know. Thanks. !!!UPDATE:Actually Don another hiker has come forward and offered to cover shipping fees, let me know if you need this stuff and it will be yours at zero cost to you. Thanks for offering to help with shipping Doug!!!!

Edited by frankenfeet on 02/18/2010 22:04:15 MST.

I'll make you any Alkie stoves you want if you tell me your cooking style, can give you something tuned for the Kmart Grease Pot, or make you a Hein Keg Pot with a custom burner for it.

Also if you need any stuff sacks or things like that, just let me know..!

Don,

Depending on your size and needs, I've got some capilene and a balaclava that are all yours.

Are you interested in a size long sleeping bag? I have two that I would be willing to lend.

Marmot Pinnacle Long, Right Zip. rated to 15F, measured ~5.5" loft, 3lbs 1.6oz, (3lbs 3.4oz with stuff sack). I have only used it for three or four nights but it feels a bit on the warm side. This bag uses 800 fill down.

Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 Long, Right Zip. rated to 32F, measured ~3" loft, 1lbs 8oz (1lbs 8.7oz with stuff sack) I like the temp range and the DWR on this bag but I really dislike the half zipper. This bag is from 2005 and has had a few months of use. 800 fill down.

I also have the 2007-ish Yogi guidebook as well.

As others have said... sorry for you problems. I have several things which you would be welcome to if they would be useful.

0) a first generation Osprey Aether 60, size L torso. Most likely overkill for your purposes. The Aether would have to be a loaner because most seasons I need to use it when helping friends start the transition to a light weight style.

The following I can send and you could keep

1) Well used/loved but in still functional granite gear vapor trail... medium torso length
2) 3/4 length clearview sleeping pad (you would want to combine it with closed cell foam for the colder months).
3) Sgt Rock Ion Alcohol stove.. most fuel efficient alcohol stove I have used (.3 fuel to boil 16oz water in many conditions) if you are willing to wait 15 minutes to get the boil.
4) Pentax S4 Digital Camera... 4oz, 4mp. Not a camera for fine art, but plenty good to keep memories. Was my light weight backpacking camera until a year ago.
5) Platypus bladders... I am sure I have some extra 1L, maybe a 2L. Maybe a hoser hydration tube.. I need to hunt when I get home.

If you need some clothing I could help if you are size "L".

--Mark

Edited by verber on 02/18/2010 22:46:55 MST.

I have more alcohol stoves and aluminum pots then i need at the moment, so please feel free to PM me. I see that im not the only one thats offering alky related setups, but If you are more comfortable with a traditional gas setup, I also have a pocket rocket that I no longer use.


I also have a lot of kleen canteen type steel bottles that I got from my school that I'd be happy to pass long.

These were going to be part of a mystery box that was going to end up with Travis, who won a competition, but he, and along with everyone at the thread, would much rather you have it. Please let me know if these items suit your needs better than the ones that others have offered, and they will be in mail shortly. Take care!

Edited by Konrad1013 on 02/18/2010 22:24:07 MST.

Don,
I'm like Ben2World and don't keep much extra gear around, but we had a little contest over on another thread, with Konrad's stuff as the prize. We figured it would serve best to help out here. Good luck with things.

Edit: In no way is it my business, and in no way do I mean to trivialize the situation, but there could be an amazing trip report at the end of it all. I think there could be a lot to learn from taking on the PCT with your situation. Many of us clamber over the newest and best gear, but don't give much thought on how happy we'd still be out on the trail, even with a complete set of donated gear.

Edited by T.L. on 02/18/2010 22:38:19 MST.

When you get your itinerary settled, email me the addresses of two resupply locations on your PCT hike, and how many days that resupply will need to cover, and a couple weeks before you are scheduled to get there I will email a box labeled to be held for you to each location with meals, plus TP.

(You might want to post food allergies, or preferences of snack bars/trail mix ingredients, beverages, etc. plus other resupply items you'll need, so I and anyone else could pitch in what you really would use.)

I hope someone has a spare bear canister around they can mail to a resupply shortly before you'll need it.

Wish I could do more. Unemployment is biting me right now. But it looks like there are a lot of people pitching in so maybe others will also have dried ingredients in their pantries to throw together some boxes.

Have EOS headlamp I can send, let me know if you want it.