SHOWER - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

Ok so hears a question to get you all thinking, has anyone ever completed a north bound thru hike and has taken fewer showers then on one hand.

BOY WHO WANDERS

#2

Wow, what a thought provoking question! Hmmm, let me think hard and long about this. Ummm, when you say showers, do you mean with soap or without? Wash rag or no wash rag? Towel or no towel? Shower shoes or no shower shoes? Hot water or no hot water? Jeez, WHO GIVES A RATZ AZZ?

Soapsuds

#3

I heard of a guy that went from Damascus to Dalton without showering… but of course that could be exaggerated.

My guess is yes, and they had no friends.

PJ

#4

People who do that should carry all their food and stay out of towns. Hikers smell bad enough when they shower every 4-6 days. Intentionally remaining filthy is not only unhealthy - but it gives hikers a bad name.

Take a shower - for you - and for the rest of us.

Jeffrey Hunter

#5

I once went 30 days while hiking without an official shower. I’m sure it could be done without being any more offensive then those who take regular showers. Frequent swimming or soaking in streams and ponds does at least as good of job of cleansing the body as infrequent (weekly) showers do. Water is, after all, the universal solvent.

Lyle

#6

It may be the universal solvent, but wouldn’t you hve to lay in it for a few thousand years? At a minimum?

Nimblefoot

#7

Common sense also says no.

Jabber

Jabber

#8

On June 25th I happened to be at Echo Lake, mile 1089.4 on the PCT (northbound), when Scott Williamson arrived. So far, he had only had one shower since starting the trail. Interestingly, he did not smell bad (at least from a respectful distance).

Shelly Culbertson

#9

Once went 63 days without one, while hiking.

heald

#10

you also had food in your beard in 2000 miles to maine… :eek:

PJ

#11

i did from rutland, vt to thornton gap, va without a shower…i think it was like 8 weeks. i hit a swimming hole or two though.

my theory was: after five days or so, you can’t get any dirtier/smellier than you already are. (some of those who hiked with me disagreed w/ this theory:D) plus, i found the process of going from clean to dirty pretty annoying, so i skipped the whole clean part!

the goat