Unsolicited advice

imported
#1

Some unsolicited advice for first time thru-hikers.

  1. Hike your own hike. Hard to explain but you will understand when the hike is over.
  2. One day at a time. Just finish the day. Don’t worry about the miles or keeping up with new friends. You will get there and you will probably see them again.
  3. Become part of the trail family. No matter what the age, gender, socio-economic status, or background they will become family.
  4. To heavy, to fast, too many miles and you go home early. We saw a lot of people hurt (blisters, bad knees, bad feet, etc) before we got through TN/NC and they got discouraged and went home.
  5. Eat well. Buy the time we got to New England our bodies were starting to show the effects of not enough protein.
  6. Stay out of the Party Groups. All of the party hikers we knew or met were gone by the end of VA. Out of money or burnt-out or both and went home.
  7. 3 day rule. If you get the “trail blues” take three days off and visit with the hikers coming through. You will probably just need rest and some good meals and will be back on the trail with a new enthusiasm. When the body gets to low on certain nutrients combined with fatigue it causes depression. So some R and R will do wonders.
  8. Tell everybody about your planned hike. If you tell as many people as possible it will be more difficult to go home and answer the question “why did you quit?”
  9. Don’t walk past the fun stuff. Take the time to enjoy some of the areas you walk through. Take a swim in the creek, swing on the grapevine/rope into the lake, visit the towns (even Gatlinburg), take a nap on a hillside. The trail is a great place to be for 6 months. Enjoy your hike.
  10. Take care of your body. If it hurts stop. If you’re too tired to walk don’t. If you are hungry eat, thirsty drink.

That’s all for now. I’m sure some of my hiker friends can add to this string.

Happy Trails! Papa Smurf GA-ME '02

Papa Smurf

#2

As for 4) try to balance ultralight with comfort. If you are constantly wet and cold you will be miserable. Having a few luxury items like a book or music can help to break up the drudgery.

jalan

#3

#5 DBAP (don’t be a pussy)

my name is who?

#4

I love it - perfectly packaged, 10 commandments! I’d love to repost!!!

Turtle Feet

#5

I like it, Papa Smurf!

Mrs Joy

#6

Everything PaPa said is absolutely true and correct. I plan to dwell on #9 on this year’s hike. Something I did not do in 2009. NedtheFed

Ned

#7

I have memorized them and hope to follow them in my thru-hike.
It’s not often that Papa’s have the last words.

See you on the trail.

onegreywolf

#8

Just find a good lookin woman and follow her. Dont tote her stuff and dont cook for her. Just follow

virginian

#9

Be sure to take your sense of humor. Don’t sweat the small stuff because most of it is small stuff. Make a point to try and have fun every day.
Like the great writer Ivern Ball said “Most of us can read the writing on the wall…we just assume it’s addressed to someone else.”

Thatguy

#10

Virginian, that’s called stalking. Try chivalry instead.

__

#11

Yeah, that did sound kind of creepy when you put it that way. Chivalry?? I found girls on the trail liked doing for themselves for the most part. Manners,yes. Throwing your coat in a mudhole. Not so much

virginian