Was just wondering what little lessons people learned on the trail. Here are a few of mine:
Frozen boots suck.
Miss Janet is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met.
Every state ends with a big up hill climb.
I can eat a lot of food
I’ve always had a family, I just hadn’t met them until this summer
Zero days are addictive
Nokia
First day out in new shoes always has major muddy trail or fording water.
You have a big climb when leaving a resupply town with a full pack.
I will never, ever, anywhere judge anybody by appearance after being a dirty, smelly hiker.
Call it serendipity, coincidence, luck, whatever you want, but somehow the trail provides…over and over. But I never expect for the trail provide.
All the material possessions I really need fit in a backpack. The rest are all frivolities that need maintainence.
GottaWalk
when you think you’re lost, the direction you need to go is invariably uphill.
Tom Levardi is the nicest person in Massachusetts.
Ever eaten an unmarked powder you found in a hiker box?-- That definitely teaches some humility.
0101
Hiking uphill works the muscles. Hiking downhill works the joints and bones (the first week I was afraid of the "uphills…the 20th week, I was afraid of the downhills) An unexpected can of cold, generic cola on the trail tastes better than a bottle of $250 champagne in the office. Toilets are wonderful. Shelter mice are smarter than you are. The trail will teach you what is important in your life very quickly. You don’t all your stuff, it owns you. A terrible day on the trail is better than a wonderful day in the office.
Double Stuff
Some very good ones listed so far. "the first week I was afraid of the “uphills…the 20th week, I was afraid of the downhills”…VERY funny, and true.
Here’s my partial list:
(1) The first step may not be the hardest, but it’s the one the fewest people will take. Congratulate yourself as soon as you step on the trail.
(2) Never…EVER let go of your Leki poles. Especially don’t lean them against a van that will be departing within the next 10 minutes or so. Unless you’re willing to hike without them for a few days and REALLY want the number to the cute girl whose parents own the van. It makes a pretty good excuse.
(3) Immodium AD in the first aid kit is a good idea.
(4) Public toilet seats aren’t all that bad after all.
(5) While we’re on the subject, when you have to go, you really have to go. Don’t wait.
(6) Trust your gut instincts. Someone creepy just walked into the woods without a backpack claiming to be a thru-hiker and you, for whatever reason, don’t believe him, don’t hike in after him.
(7) When you get home, you will have too much stuff. (I know this one was said, but it’s too damn true.)
(8) It’s a mental game. Take large goals and break them into smaller goals (and celebrate each one accomplished) to make them seem more attainable. Make these goals as small as you need, keeping your eyes on the prize. Some days, my goal was to make it ten more trees. Do what you have to do to mentally get through it. While we’re on it, all goals are attainable if you take that first step. Then take another, and another, and another…
(9) Find a motivation. Some people may have to tell the world about their plan to thru-hike to help motivate them to DO it. Others may find that it’s motivating to hike with friends they’ve made (but be careful with this one. Don’t get caught in the catch up/keep up game. TOO many hikers get injured trying to catch up with friends they want to hike with again). Perhaps keeping a journal to entertain loved ones at home is a motivating factor for you, or raising money for a charity. Still others will find the experience and acheivement motivation enough. [Sidenote: Don’t knock others for their motivating factor. Remember, different methods work for different people.]
(10) This too shall pass. Remember that in every moment. Moments of laughter and jubilation will end, so treasure them while they last. Likewise, moments of pain and misery will pass. Concentrate on that fact and they become more bearable. And remember them to appreciate the better moments. The harder the storm we endure, the more we can appreciate gentle breezes and light rains.
Leki-Less
1.Be open to the possibilities each new day presents.
2.Don’t be a slave to your schedule.
3.It won’t rain for ever. (sometimes you have to repeat this over and over).
4.On hard days focus on the next step, not the next mile or ten miles.
5.If you are hungry enough, it is amazing what is appetizing.
6.Never get involved in a land war in Asia.
7.Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line.
exile
Never decide to give up your hike on a rainy day.
(I read this one from Yogi, who received the advice from someone else.)
Turtle Walking
1 No matter if you’ve hiked 10 miles or 2000, somebody who has never hiked on the trail will give you all kinds of advice. Possibly will tell you “you started to late, you’ll never make it” or You better hurry, you’ll never make it before October."
2 Heading into the Shennies with a killer on the loose and units of SWAT team searching near you’re shelter is never good.
3You can’t fight the zero, especially in Waynesboro and Harpers.
Nokia