Chris,

Great suggestion... If you contact certain municipalities before you head through, you may save a lot of grief. If an officer approaches you, the best thing you can do is tell them what you are carrying and wear it is. Since you are through hiking, it shouldn't be too bad.

Keep your appearence neat and always be curteous... That goes a long way.

Wouldn't hurt if you could get your hands on an FOP card. Sort of indicates that you are a "friend" to the police.