Tossin' and Turnin'

imported
#1

The recent post about having fears sleeping in the woods inspired me to ask another question. I rarely sleep well while out for a hike. Now, normal sleep for me is about 4 hours a night, (5 if I’m lucky), and it has been this way for decades. But, I work in an office and don’t do a lot of heavy work that just tires you out down to the bones. I had hoped that while hiking I would be exhausted enough at night to sleep longer.

You know how it is out there with most hikers getting into the sack right at dark, and I do that, but I’m awake at 2:00 a.m. or even midnight, and get very little good sleep after that. I do not have any fear of being out there, alone or in a crowd. In fact, I like having at least a few nights completely alone each year. Also, I have decent sleeping gear. I’m a section hiker, having hiked four times in the last four years, accumulating a little over 700 miles NOBO. At that rate I have about seven or eight years left to complete the AT, and when I retire I plan to do a thru. I’d really like to figure out a way to sleep a little better. I average 12 or more miles per day, right from the first day each year, and have done a few 20’s, so I feel that I should be tired enough to sleep, but no such luck. I get pretty exhausted after about the first week.

I’ve tried several over the counter pain killers, etc, with sleep-enhancing ingredients (such as Tylenol-pm and benedryl, but not limited to only those products), but it has had a noticeable effect only on rare occasions. I’ve tried reading until later before settling in to sleep. Also tried warm tea, etc. I’d really appreciate some help and ideas. Thanks. CBiscuit

CBiscuit

#2

My theory on this is that you have to get your brain tired to really sleep well, besides the being physically tired. Hiking can become quite a low level function; you just cruise along letting your legs, arms, and eyes do their thing, and the brain may just idle daydreaming. You aren’t getting the brain workout like you do at home from the work, stress, news. etc.

When you get into camp, don’t take a nap, read, compose pictures, write a journal, do puzzles, etc. See if this helps.

Bionic Boots

#3

I have the same problem. Despite doing 10+ miles on an unconditioned body and being worn out, I lay awake for hours. On my last week-long section hike I barely got any sleep at all the first few days. The only thing I can come up with is that the disruption to my routine keeps me awake. It enough of a problem that I’m thinking of taking melatonin along to induce sleep.

Storm Peak

#4

every tried going out in the winter. short days = long nights in the sleeping bag. add to that wind, ice, and cold temps and hiker midnight comes early in the winter. i just spent 13+ hours last week in my bag one night. went to bed at 7:30 and crawled out at 8:30. i sure was wishing i had packed the extra weight of a book or radio.

jerm

#5

I easily sleep 8-9 hours at home but not more than 5 on the trail. I try to stay up till the 5 hours is not to early and take advil only at night so that it does not lose it’s effect. For more rest I try to nap at lunch and just relax in the evening without sitting to still to avoid getting stiff.

george

#6

The high excitement level of getting out there may be just part of the sleeping delima. I was so glad to be out, that i was not hungry, not sleepy, and the meeting of people with the same excitement pushed it even higher.

i would encourage night hiking since you don’t sleep well. Or the other thing i do is stay away from shelters, camping instead near a water feature that lulls me back to sleep. The wake ups don’t bug me, its the not going back to sleep.

A big gatorade bottle for Night water is a good thing too, just take a leak and roll over back to sleep. Cold nights it works as a good foot warmer.

burn

#7

Yeah, those winter hikes are fun. I started drawing in registers, reading books and still got way too much time in the sleeping bag. I would wake up while it was still dark out, fall asleep again and then wake up real groggy around nine or so. Short hiking days!

Apple Pie

#8

I’m not sure how longer the orginal poster had hiked on that trip. With a longer trip, he might well condition his body to sleep in sync with his hiking.

But if he (or others) are going out for just a week or so, that is not the solution. You might consider talking to your Doctor about a prescription for one of the newer sleeping drugs. They work on the neuro receptors in the brain and claim to be non-habit forming.

jaws

#9

I agree that this is a nifty, all-natural supplement, but be sure sure sure to play with it on the weekends BEFORE you head out! I start out with a 10mg tablet (the most commonly available size), then break it in half… then in half again… and one more time before I take it. Any more than 1.5mg, and I’m all kinds of groggy the next day, and cannot get motivated until I get at least 10 hours of sleep. On the other hand, a pill less than a quarter the size of my pinkie nail wouldn’t take up a lot of space…!

J.F.

#10

jaws, I have hiked 4 trips 2002 - 2005. In sequence, they were 165, 175, 185 and 190+ miles each. First three trips were 15 days each including one zero day, and 2005 was 12 days hiking and 1 zero day. You seem to be saying that on a longer trip I might get used to sleeping better. That would be nice, but since I normally don’t sleep many hours when I’m not hiking, I wonder. Anyway since I work I will only get about 15 days max for a while yet. CBiscuit

Cbiscuit

#11

If I know I’ll be out for a week or longer, I usually start sleeping on my floor at home. The first few nights are rough and I don’t sleep very well. After a few days though I seem to adjust. I have often wondered how the lack of sleep in the beginnings of a thruhike plays on the minds and thoughts of new backpackers. I know without sleep I get really cranky and sort of depressed. This year on th AT I slept like a baby almost every night. I think the practice at home helped

Nokia

#12

that works sometimes, for me. When you wake up, or if you are having trouble getting to sleep at anytime, you MAKE yourself stay awake. Stare wide-eyed at some spot for as long as you can, without blinking. Your eyes will water, and you’ll have to blink, but as soon as you find yourself drifting a bit…force yourself wide-awake and staring again. Also, make a big effort not to think about anything…clear your mind and just stare.

You’ll eventually wake up and not even know when you fell asleep. And yes, it does take practice to make the technique work effectively…so use it at home until you have a good grasp of how…or whether…it works for you.

Doggone/GA

#13

I began sleeping better after I got off the ground. I found myself tossing and turning because of the hard ground, even though I was on a Thermarest and a warm sleeping bag. I tried the Hennessey and found that I hadn’t moved till morning and had slept soundly. Understand I had had back surgery three years ago, shoulder surgery last year, and knees over the years as well. May not be the problem for most…just my experience.

2Questions

#14

My dad had a lot of trouble sleeping too, once he got in his 40’s, and he started taking melatonin. It made a great difference. He could sleep for a good 8 hours and not be tired in the morning. I agree with the previous post about trying it out a quarter pill at a time at home first though, preferably when you have nothing to do the next day. I took half a pill once when I couldn’t sleep and I slept for about 16 hours and still felt groggy…
:slight_smile: Mindi

Mindi

#15

My first night out on a multi-day trip is often sleepless, or if I fall asleep it’s like 4am.

After that, not so hard to sleep, but the second day’s hike is a be-atch.

When feasible, I like to sleep outside (even if it’s just on my porch or a tent in the yard) a couple days before leaving for the woods. That seems to help if I’m backpacking close to home. It doesn’t help as much if I’m backpacking far away and I wind up in a motel the night before starting to hike.

Skyline

#16

Dear CBB:

If you’ve been sleeping only four hours all your life, and five at the most, regardless of regular daily massive amounts of exercise, you need to set up an appointment at a sleep clinic at a major hospital.

You may or may not take their advice, but that’s where your diagnosis, prognosis and possible cure will be found.

Sincerely–Conan.

Conan

#17

One word…Ambien

Eric G.

#18

Here is a trick I have been using for years. Carry a garbage bag and some string. When you want to fall asleep put the garbage bag over your head and loosely tie it off at your neck. Leave enough air in the bag that you can breath it for a couple of minutes. Inhale deeply a few times untill you start to feel lite headed. Put your hand under the edge of the bag and slip it off just before you fall asleep. You should be out like a light in about 10 minutes. Try it. It works.

Sleepy

#19

draw the string snug. Wait until you fall asleep. You should be out like a ligth.

Undertake

#20

I hike from Georgia to Maine and had the same problem. 3 Months, half the A.T and still only 5 hours sleep a night. I just gave up and didn’t worry about it.

Tomatohead