New and dreaming

imported
#1
I have some questions that have probably already been covered and some that will probably make some experienced hikers laugh at my ignorance, but I want to know as much as I can. I'll probably post a couple questions a week so everyone doesn't get sick of me and I don't get overloaded with details. Just from reading through these forums, I'm excited about becoming part of the community. I hope to get to know everyone here a little better in the coming weeks and months.

(Did that sound cheesy or what?)
:slight_smile: Mindi

Mindi

#2

That actually sounds like one of the best reason’s to hike that I’ve heard. I started hiking the AT for two reasons… the main one being that my father had passed and it made me think about what was truly important in life and how we live as people in this world (work 40 to 80 hours a week till we are 65 then actually start to try to open our eyes and enjoy life)… I had much time walking with my thoughts to think about my life, life in general, my father and many other issues… I remember my father coming to me as a vision on the climb out of Franklin, NC. Hiking the AT certainly changed my life for the better. Most people on this forum will probably agree with that comment. It will truly change your life for the better. And in this day and age where large business interests are hell-bent on covering the country in concrete and drilling for oil rather than conservation and preservation dear old Mother Nature needs more friends. Mindi, this will be one of the best experiences you will have in your life. I am sure your father will once again walk the trail beside you… So go ahead ask your questions… we all asked many questions the first time around…

Aswah

p.s Live the life you Love and Love the life you live!!!

Aswah

#3

Thank you so much for your response, Aswah. Your reasons for hiking sound nearly like mine. I’ve become so frustrated lately at my job, and the state of the world in general, and after losing my father, it really hit home that I don’t have forever. My daddy died at 49, and I remember him telling me so many times how glad he was that he traveled and experienced so much in his lifetime instead of waiting around until he was retired (he never would have made it).
Since it will be a while until I can swing a thru-hike, I’m going to start looking into doing a 2-3 day hike somewhere on the AT in the next year or two, just so I can get out there and get a taste of it with minimal gear and cost. Any ideas of a good place? I’m starting a fund especially for the thru-hike…any ideas how much I should plan on saving? I don’t want to use any maildrops (if possible) and I still have to buy 99% of my gear, so I’m counting on quite a bit…but if any of you have any ideas of where I can safely ‘cut corners’…I’m all ears! I also want to keep my weight down as much as possible, my back and knees aren’t the greatest and I’m short and small so I know that comfort will be a big factor in keeping me going.
I’m also wondering, if I do a northbound hike during the peak season, is it pretty likely that I will be able to find a guy to hitch into and out of trail towns with me? I plan on doing a lot of my hiking solo (I’m not averse to making friends on the trail, I just don’t want any set ‘partners’)and the hitching is the only thing that really makes me nervous. I just want to be sure that I’m safe getting a ride and that I get off in the right places for resupply and find my way back to the trail okay.
Thanks for any input, everyone.
:slight_smile: Mindi

Mindi

#4

Sounds like you’re already off on your journey Mindi. A second generation thru-hiker!

Unless you live pretty close to the trail, it matters not where you hike over the next year or so. Sure, the idea of hiking on the AT can be overpowering. Simply put, there is no substitute for backing regarding physical hike prep. Backpacking somewhere off of the AT - where there are no shelters - will probably prepare you best for a thru-hike. That’ll help you with your camp routines.

If you’re bound & determined to backpack on the AT, Shenandoah NP is a good place. Its kinda in the middle of the trail, relatively easy hiking, great scenery, and lots of camp stores so you don’t have to carry too much food.

Good luck!

PS: Yo Asawah! Happy Thanksgiving Brother! From Little Bear

Jeffrey Hunter

#5

Where you from? Are you looking for someplace close to you?

Leki-Less

#6

“…my back and knees aren’t the greatest and I’m short and small…”

I’m short and big & when my back and knees were a problem the chiropractor suggested I quit using dairy products. I thought he was nuts, but I was amazed at the difference it made. He also gave me a Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc supplement. The first two are electrolytes and zinc boosts your immunity - all of which a hiker could use.

Also, I am a big fan of Glucosamine (and chondroitan). These are the substances used by the body for repair and maintenance of joints & joint capsules. It takes some time for these to build up in your system, so start taking them at least a month before the hike (do a search in this forum, much has been said about this supplement).

Mindi, best of luck to you :wink:

Aswah, you ramble so beautifully. The paragraph in reply to this same bit if question was especially inspirational.

Wild Hare

#7

Indeed, I love reading Aswah’s posts!!
Thanks for the advice, Hare! I eat very little dairy anyway (it doesn’t agree with me and I hate the taste of milk) but I have been wondering about a good supplement. I’ll check that out. The glucosamine sounds like a good idea as well, I just saw on the news a week or so ago that they’ve actually proven the glucosamine/chondroitin mix relieves pain as well as the old cox2’s (without the side effects).
Leki-less, I live in Florida. I’ve only lived down here for about 3 years and I haven’t researched any places yet, but I’m near the Ocala National Forest, is that any good for hiking? I’m a bit nervous about a lot of the trails down here, they all seem to be near busy roads and I’ve heard a lot of stories (don’t know how true some of them are) about creeps hanging around in the woods. A guy I work with hikes and camps down here though, so I’m going to ask him about some good spots and hopefully get him to tag along my first couple of times out.
I’m having kind of a dilemma about doing a short hike somewhere on the AT. Obviously it’s a lot cheaper than the whole thruhike is going to be, but I’m kind of thinking that any money I spend for a few days is less money that I could be saving for the thruhike :)…so we’ll see. Right now it’s looking like it will be 4+ years for me to save up enough for the thruhike, so I’ll probably want to get out there before then! :smiley:
Here’s another question for you all that I’ve seen addressed here before…did any of you have family issues? My husband is not very keen on the idea of me being gone for 6 months and he is also worried about a woman traveling alone on the trail. I’m sort of easing him into the idea, I’ve always been a big traveler and I scuba dive, and he’s not into traveling or diving so I generally go it alone. He’s usually fine with my ‘gallavanting’ once he gets used to the idea, but this one is definitely going to take a lot of reassurance. He has also expressed fears that I am going to call home a few miles in and tell him I can’t do it and he needs to pick me up…:lol …I don’t think he realizes yet how badly I want to do it and finish it. I’m thinking that maybe if I hook up with a group beforehand that he will feel a little better (and I can always walk alone once we hit the trail if I feel like it). My mom just plain doesn’t want to hear about it, she knows I’m going to do what I want to do anyway but she doesn’t want to think about it. I have a feeling she’ll brag her butt off once I finish it, though :lol …
One more question…what’s a good short-list of gear that I should start out with for doing some short weekend hikes around here? I’d like to get things that I will also be able to use later on the AT instead of buying stuff twice, but I don’t want to spend a fortune. I’m thinking maybe I can put some of the things on my Christmas list :wink:
Thanks to you all for being so kind…just reading through these forums makes me feel like I’m already becoming part of the community. I think you all are going to help make then next few years of waiting bearable!
By the way, should I post all of these new questions/comments under new topics or just keep replying? Or doesn’t it matter?
:slight_smile: Mindi
P.S. I can’t wait to acquire a trail name!

Mindi

#8

Mindi,

There is a Florida National Scenic Trail that runs from South Florida to the Panhandle and goes through the Ocala National Forest. The Florida Trail Association (www.floridatrail.org) has more information, plus a list of local chapters around the State. Give them a look and ‘connect’ with your local chapter.

Also, there are some other good trails (such as the “Yearling Trail”) near the Ocala area.

I’m in Gainesville, and use various trails in the area for training for my (hopefully '06) AT thru-hike, assuming the 62-year old carcass holds together! That’s one reason I use hiking poles ALL the time.

Any questions about the trails around here, just drop me an e-mail.

John “K4KAM” Warne

“K4KAM”

#9

Mindi,
I hiked the trail in 04 and got a lot of feedback from family members that thought I shouldn’t be off and doing what I wanted to do. It just isn’t something a woman does, leave her family and husband for 6 months. My husband was ok with it at first but then became lonely and wanted me home. He knew though that I wanted it real bad. So you will have this happen. You just have to stick to what you want to do and not let anyone sway you. Look toward your goal.
As for hitching alone, well I never hitched in my life before and wa a little hestitant at first, But I needed to get places so I stuck out my thumb and actually started to enjoy it because the people who stopped to pick you up all had their own story to tell and you meet so many neat people that way. I never had any problems and didn’t hesitate when a man would stop to pick me up especially down south. They were so sweet and ready to help. It seems after PA somewhere you lose that willingness for people to pick you up. So it was harder there. But I thoroughly enjoyed my hike and want to do it again soon.

shufflebum04

#10

I’ve definitely already made up my mind that I’m going to do it come heck or high water ;)…
The hitching thing is something I’m just going to have to get over, I suppose. I might spend the first couple of ‘zero’ days jumping into the weeds every time a man stops. (No offense guys!):lol…Seriously though, I imagine when you are jonesing for a warm bed and a hot meal or your supplies are getting low, you probably don’t give a hoot.

Are the guides pretty good at telling you when to get off the trail and how to get back on? I’m nervous about that for some reason. Missing a key supply point or not being able to get back to the trail, especially in parts where the towns are more scattered. (Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to spend half my trip in towns, but without mail drops it’s going to be important).

I’m getting a little bogged down in details reading the forums. Pack covers! Bear bags! Water purification! Bearmuda Triangle! Naked people! Blisters!:smiley: You’d never guess that I have years to go…but I have faith that it will all work out. I’m hoping maybe being on the AT will kill a little of my tendency to plan all the minutiae and overanalyze everything. I really want to experience every moment.
Thanks to everyone for your responses, keep them coming!
:slight_smile: Mindi

Mindi

#11

Sorry aswah, I didn’t see your post until after I posted my reply above :)…Thanks so much for all the advice and an idea of gear to get…I’ve also been reading a lot about what people brought like you suggested so I’m sort of getting an idea of what I need to pack. I tend to think you are right about starting heavier and going lighter…at least in my case (of course everyone is different). I think starting out I want to feel more secure about having enough supplies and gear to protect me from the elements, and probably after a while I will learn where I really need to keep the weight and where I can cut it down. Of course I don’t want to go so heavy that I’m tipping over backwards going up a hill with my pack on :lol …but hopefully by the time I set out I’ll have a good balance of enough stuff to feel secure starting out and not lugging the kitchen sink. Let’s hope anyway…otherwise you might just find a sink at one of the shelters :lol

Mindi

#12

I can relate to all your interests at this point, I really had a time getting a bear bag up the first time. Almost smacked myself in the head and then looked around to see if anyone was watching to see that funny one. I started out thinking I needed all these things to keep me going and my pack weighed 40 + pounds. By the time I got to Erwin I had so many blisters and aches and pains I decided that with the help of the man at Uncle Johnny’s I needed to tone down the weight so I bought a new light weight pack(my old one weighed 5 pounds) and it weighed 22 ounces. I got rid of some stuff that he told me if I hadn’t used it much until now I didn’t need it. I went away from there weighing in at 27 pounds and felt light as a feather… It was easier on my knees and back and my attitude at the end of the day. As for pack covers— they leak no matter what. I just learned to put all my stuff in a large garbage bag inside my pack and that was far better and it didn’t get me more soaked by running down my back. As for naked people, well I remember the first time I was sitting in a shelter and happened to look up and there was a man changing his clothes right in front of me. I simple got used to it and usually people aren’t quite as bold. After all, we are all out there for the same reason and all have to do the same things, stay warm and dry and fed and get enough sleep. I used Aquamira for water. It was light and didn’t make the water taste funny. The filter got too heavy. I too used an alcohol stove. As for missing the trails off to town, well usually you can see by the worn path of hikers before you which is the way. Follow those white blazes and then the other side trails are found fairly easy. Well that is enough for one note I guess you are really feeling information overload. If you need to email me I would be more than happy to answer anything as from another womans point of view on the trail. The men on the trail are wonderful and are really helpful. I met some really nice younger guys who made it a point to help me on my way by encouraging me up those mountains in Ga and Tn and NC when I wanted to stop cause I hurt so bad. One of them walked with me one night until I got to camp because he knew I was frustrated and we reviewed our favorite movies until we reached the top. I will never forget that. He took time to help me be able to reach my dream when he could have flown up that mountain. Hikers are great people and are willing to help any time they can.

shufflebum04

#13

I LOVE the long notes from everyone!! I think they will definitely help pass the time until I go…it seems like 4 or 5 years is FOREVER!! Any of you are free to email me also at mindij818@aol.com…just make sure you put ‘trail’ or something in the subject line so that I don’t accidentally delete. More questions coming…have to do some real-world dinner making at the moment :smiley:
Mindi

Mindi

#14

…in more ways that one! Aching to get on the trail mostly, but also I woke up today with a roaring case of knee and hip pain…(thunderstorm outside). Every time my back or joints start aching I get scared that I’m not going to make it on the trail. I just went through and read some posts from people who had the same problems and did it though. I’m wondering if a hammock might be for me? I’d just worry about staying warm in one and setting up everything correctly…either that or a good sleeping pad for someone with arthritis/sciatica?

I’m definitely looking forward to the encouragement of other hikers out there when things get tough :)…there’s nothing like a friend to distract you and get you over that next hump…(in life as well as on mountains!)

I’m not so concerned about naked people when they are just changing or bathing or whatever (I’m not very discreet myself when I’m tired and dirty)…what creeped me out was reading the stories about just random people popping out of nowhere naked (or that one guy who came across someone wanking it in the middle of the trail). Actually, it didn’t really freak me out so much as I wondered if I would start laughing and offend someone. :smiley: Ah well. Maybe June 21st whatever-year-I-go I’ll get naked myself and take a nice nature walk. Keep your eyes peeled!:eek:

One more question…I’m a smoker. (Believe me, I’ve heard it all before…) what I’m hoping is that by the time I hit the trail I will have quit or at least cut down to a couple a day. I have a feeling that huffing and puffing up the trail will encourage me. I’ve also noticed that when I’m exerting myself a lot or distracted by conversation, scenery, etc. that I don’t even notice that I haven’t smoked in a while. I tend to smoke when I’m bored or sitting at the computer and I don’t see myself getting bored often on the trail. What I’m wondering is, has anyone else quit on the trail? How many smokers are out there? I’m afraid if I see too many I’ll be reminded and tempted to light up again.

Thanks again for your replies and comments, everyone. I hope I didn’t turn you all off by admitting my bad habit.

By the way, is the trail chat coming back and do you all use it? Are there any certain times when AT hikers meet on there?

:slight_smile: Mindi

Mindi

#15

i enjoyed ocala national forest and tosihatchie…well what i saw of it. if you can get out there, bit by bit, i think you’ll find some of the flat spots on the AT have much in common. i’m from north florida, and was amazed how the AT some times took on an odd similarity.

and if you like aswah now, wait till you read his journals…hehehe, i’ve read all his stuff, sometimes tough reading, but between the lines, you have pure wilderness. i’m still waiting to meet him, still betting i would recognize him immediately, he just has that kinda flavor about him.

smoking is no big deal on trail. many hikers never smoked till they got on trail. out there the inner marlboro man comes out in us. i smoked 2 packs a day, or more, upo hill, down hill, at breaks, at wonderful spots, even in the shelters, tho some will demand you ask permission 1st.

i remember well standing indian mountain. it was a brutally cold night and everyone was begging me not to hammock. i told em, if i shelter, i’m smoking. lol, several folks laughed and started smoking themselves. i used my cookpot in the middle of the night for an ashtray. next thing i knew, several other folks were using it for one too.

if you are planning to use the AT to quit, i would offer some sage advice that was given to me. “Take yer addictions with you on the trail. Yer more likely to go insane and quit, if yer always wishing for a cig.” Waldo (sobo 03)

i think i smoked 22 cartons from springer to central VA before i got off trail. loadsa folks will bum off ya if you don’t roll yer own…you’ll walk up on someone rolling and think…pot is everywhere out here…then after a bit you’ll realize, most use bugler or something like that instead of paying high prices for a pack.

on occasion folks skinny dip and there is always hike naked day…rarely will you see this happen…trust me.

have fun, and get out there!

burn

#16

Hi Mindi.

My sister and I set out to thru hike in 03. She got to Harpers Ferry and went home to a very anxious husband who just couldn’t deal. My husband (who swore he wouldn’t hike one step with us) joined me to “help” me finish. He didn’t want me to come home without getting the job done, but couldn’t quite see me staying “out there” alone. We ended up skipping a 300 mile section to be able to finish in time to go back to work, but hiked that piece this summer with my sis, so we both finally got it all done. Husbands (and other family members) can really go either way. My mom wasn’t happy about it all, but my kids were great! The big issue is to be open and talk a LOT. Communication is so important. Of course he will worry, but it’s so important for him to be supportive. You really won’t be out there alone. Hikers really do look out for each other and become like family. It’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it, but you form such close bonds, I think, because of the extreme circumstances. If there is any chance for him to meet you along the way and spend a couple of days with you, that is really nice too.

As for gear, we also started out with everything and cut way down as we went along. Aqua Mira is great for water treatment, we sent our filter home right away. Alcohol stoves are also great-whether soda can (my sis made one) or Trangia, which we bought along the way and sent our Whisperlite home. The Trangia is not very expensive either. Soda bottle for fuel. Titanium cook pots are expensive but oh so light! We used one. I used a synthetic 15 degree bag all the way. I was warm and toasty thru 2 snowstorms. I have a sil-nylon pack cover, but still used a trash bag inside my pack. They do all leak! Compression sack for your sleeping bag is worth it. I used a light foam sleeping pad, but my husband used an inflatible one. If your hips and back bother you, you might want to use the inflatible for more cushioning. Comfort is a funny thing. You can be comfortable hiking or comfortable in camp, probably not both! I strongly recommend trekking poles. Saved my bottom and knees many times. For your knees try using those little knee straps you can get at any drugstore. They wrap around just under the kneecap and velcro closed. I found they really helped my 50 year old knees!

This is quite long enough, but I’m also happy to help with questions. Good luck, it really is the experience of a lifetime!

Sassafras