Maybe because I am old, a compass is a handy thing to have for bathroom breaks. Pick a direction you will travel, put the doghouse over the needle. When hiking back, just reverse the needle in the doghouse and walk in the forward direction. using bright colored ribbon to mark a tree where you leave the trail also is a good idea. As you travel to the bathroom, look back and make sure you can still see your marker.
Wow, even 5 years later your videos are very relevant! Thanks Dixie for all your contributions to the hiker community as well as sharing your outdoor adventures! I have enjoyed every one and am grateful for your taking the time to produce and share them!
As a former Scoutmaster I would add that a compass will be your best friend anytime you have to go off trail. If you have to go off trail for any reason especially for potty always take a compass reading in the direction you go off trail. By doing that your compass will always be able to lead you back to the trail. Basic compass knowledge saves lives it would have saved the woman that died in Maine had she had one and used it.
Something we used to make the younger crowd do during hikes is to tie 200ft of paracord to their bag and have them set their bag on the trail then you just walk out with your rope and follow it back.
I've always called it "Trail Sense". One really cool trick I learned after about a week of complete snow coverage, was to follow the deer tracks on the PCT. They actually still follow the trail even when completely visually obscured. Wish I knew this on day 1 of complete snow coverage instead of after day 8 of complete snow coverage.
Great advice, Dixie. I use GPS and phone apps, but always carry a map (sealed in a plastic sheet protector to keep it dry) and a compass. Often just comparing the direction of the track that I’m on with the direction of the track on the map is sufficient reassurance that I’m hiking in the right direction. Cross bearings from known landscape features at roughly 90 degrees to the track can also indicate where you are on the track. Sometimes when in a heavily wooded forest or deep valley, satellite navigation is not reliable. Having a rough estimate of distance hiked based on approximate speed and time and using this with a map and compass can be a life saver.
Awesome! However, I never go wandering without a decent compass. My Brunton Tru-arc 3 weighs about an ounce. It works anywhere on this world and will keep you walking in a straight line, maps or none. You gotta go potty, pick a bearing and walk and count your paces and just reverse that bearing and walk a similar number of paces right back to your pack :) I call this "old school brain." Sending love and hugs from the Great Smoky Mountains...you've been here ~~^^*~^^^~~*
Hiking with three people builds in phone redundancy. Downloading the maps removes total dependence on the cellular network. Phones have compass apps. The inReach might also have a compass feature. Still…the thought of not taking a 3oz quality compass and maps freaks me out. (Love this channel!)
Congratulations on the the Triple Crown. I really enjoy your channel. I like that there is No topic you shy away from. I love your common sense approach.
Something that cannot be faked: the credibility that comes with introducing one's thoughts with, "... tips and tools I've used along the way after hiking over 7,000 miles of trail."
Joe Jansen Thank you! 😊 I still don’t want to come across that I have all the answers. I just like to share what works for me and encourage others to figure that out for themselves.
@@HomemadeWanderlust You have a great way of doing that (all three of those things). I was thinking about the path you're following and the way you're able to share what you've learned. But it's only partially about how to pick shoes or choose a GPS app or pop a blister. The bigger thing is that you're showing people they don't have to follow the path that OTHER people think they should follow. ("Oh, honey, with an accounting degree, you could be a CPA and write your own ticket. I know it's a cubicle, but it's job security.") You're showing people that there's another way to live a life. Good stuff.
@@joejansen1 It's just me, 2 years after this comment, I second Joe. I love hiking and camping, and I love how nice and humble Dixie is. I know people who cannot go an hours without saying they are an engineer, yet I think I only heard her say it once in passing. Dixie rocks, and her videos rock. Whenever I tell my wife "Trixie says ..." my wife gets upset and tells me "It's Dixie!" :) sorry, I get confused, but I get corrected right away
I love having a map because I am old school. Guide books are also essential in my opinion especially on any long distance trail. I've never really used a phone as a primary device so for me it would be a handy backup tool but then most of my years of backpacking a phone was never an option. So yes, it is possible to go in the woods and leave your phone at home. :)
I’ve told numerous people I don’t know why anyone else ever vlogs about the big three anymore. You cover every topic from such a “real” perspective. I’ve created a private group on FB of my family and friends that want to follow along our journey. I’m refusing to let technology interfere with our hike. It will be just a few pics and videos along the way. And of course simple check-ins. But I’m referring them to your channel for everything else related to actually walking the trail. Thank you for the sacrifice of time you give to all of us following along. I’m sure you’d rather be out hiking and enjoying the beautiful nature just for yourself.
I'm sitting here watching this while downloading all the AT guthook offline maps onto my phone. My husband and I are thru-hiking this year. We're flip flopping starting in Harpers Ferry. Thanks for all the great info and motivation, Dixie!
Good stuff, Dixie. After 15 yrs of using a map and compass and then handheld GPS units, I've made the switch to my phone (gaia mainly) as my main navigation tool over the past two yrs. I still wear a watch band compass on my old school casio though. Once a nerd, always a nerd.
On the PCT especially down south I missed several sudden turnoffs. The best way to tell is to keep looking for foot prints. If suddenly there aren't a lot of foot prints or none of them are Altras the odds are you're not on the PCT.
Jay you were getting lost because you kept filming and turning around and say "What's this" " Can anyone tell me what this is" you were more interested in filming things off the trail.
@@willardwooten9582 :) Could be it. It also happened a lot if I was talking to somebody while hiking. I don't have the gift of gab so when I'm talking to anybody I get pretty focused and forget the other things.
the more I do research on cdt the more I come across people who get lost in NM . I guess that part of the trail requires explicit trail signs to prevent hikers from wasting days off trail. Not to mention that it is not safe to be off track regardless of state or any place in the world for that matter. //p.s. Im sorry you were talking about pct.. anyway =D
Absent the cairns on Mt. Washington, me and my entire family would be dead from the worst blizzard I've ever seen, and it was in August. These way markers are life savers, and that's why they exist. Making things that look like way points -- rock stacks that resemble cairns -- isn't graffiti, it's screaming "FIRE!" in a crowded theater, and it should be treated as such. Imagine you're night hiking and get led astray because I think it's artistic and fun to paint little white rectangles on trees. It would be indefensible for me to do that, just as it's indefensible to make faux cairns, no matter what the motive may be.
On the Cairn topic, I like to add to them as I pass by, especially if they're smaller and harder to notice. That way I get to feel like I'm part of it and it's not overboard like people complain about. Where I hike there's a need for them and have saved me multiple times! Thanks for the video! Will help with my next trip!
And you may find yourself in another part of the world And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife And you may ask yourself, "Well... how did I get here?"
Hiking project is a great app open source and free to everyone. Download the maps for each state I live in Colorado and the whole section of the CDT is on it. Plus a lot of other great trails. Thanks as always Dixie great video!
I fear getting lost like crazy, imagining myself ending up like Inchworm, so I got pretty anxious watching you hiking in snow. I got bad directions from a ranger once and got lost with my kids (aged 9, 11, 13). Because the ranger sent me to a trail I wasn't planning on taking, my topo map wasn't any help. Didn't have tech in the 80's , just a compass. Love your videos. Thanks for inspiring the next generation!
Wonderful as always!!! We're planning a section hike of the AT. I have the Appalachian Trail Thru Hikers Companion and I have a pocket profile by AntiGravity Gear. I hear a lot about AWOL's guide and I'll get that sooner or later. This is my wife's first time on a several night hike. It's just from Springer Mountain toe Needs Gap. Taking our time. 5 days. Okay, snaile pace. But we're excited. I happy my wife is going!! We step on Springer Mountain May 26th and taking a couple days to stay at Mountain Crossing just because. Thank you again for sharing your experience!! You're awesome!!!
Its interesting - when hiking here in the UK (where you're never really that far from a road or habitation), the advice is generally to get a map and compass, and to learn to use them, and to not rely on GPS as a primary means of navigation. Maps aren't seen as one of the possible options, but as THE tool that a sensible hiker must carry and use. But for people hiking across vast stretches of wilderness in the USA, lots of people (as far as I can tell from watching videos on UA-cam) seem to think that relying on GPS as the main means of navigating is perfectly okay. I'm not sure if that means the British are over cautious, or if it means that American thru-hikers are reckless. Possibly both. It seems to me though that if people can get lost in the English Lake District because they don't have a map - and they do - they can probably get lost in the middle of a massive desert / forest / mountain range. So I'm not sure that its very responsible advice to say to people that its okay to venture into these places without proper navigational equipment, even if most of the time a phone or GPS unit suffices in practice. Gadgets can run out of charge, or break, or lose their satellite connection. I love map reading anyway, its a great skill to exercise, and I'm not sure why anyone would want to be relying on little bleeping flashing things to tell them where to go when they're out in nature.
monkeymox -- appreciate your comment. I wonder if the UK norm of using a map.was influenced by the UK history of global exploration? i think most Americans these days are not proficient with a map and compass, and they're comfortable with electronic navigation. Another challenge in the US with maps is that it can take a lot of maps to span the relatively long distances-- especially in the west. But for me, the Best option is to have maps and compas-- and know how to use them-- and have a gps backup.
@@gibrigg Its true that we do have a bit of an obsession with maps, although historically it comes less from empire building than it does from a desire for national defence. The Ordinance Survey (our national mapping agency) was set up to map the country so that the military would have a better understanding of our own geography, initially to help end the Jacobite uprising, and then to improve defence against Napoleon - the OS was actually a predecessor to the Ministry of Defence, so its been around for a long time and is quite a beloved institution. I would have thought that the history of American expansion and exploration westward would have created an atmosphere in which maps were used and cherished. Even so, its not all that ling since using a map would have been an absolute necessity in America (I presume), so its interesting how much Americans have embraced GPS. But yeah, you'e probably right about the sheer scale of the country being a factor - Around 400 1:25,000 scale maps cover the whole UK, I assume America has a hundred times as many!
The logistical side of carrying all the maps (impossible) or getting them to resupply points at the time that you need them is a prime consideration , as well as the financial cost of buying them all or even printing them out. Since phones became waterproof some of the 'bombproofness' of map and compass has also been undermined. I think may US hikers are just as old school as the British ones but ultralighers are their own special creation and there just more of them in the US.
Much as I love OS maps, the CDT is over 3000 miles long whereas a 1:50000 OS is 25 miles on each side. Just a 10-day stint between resupplies could be 8 maps and paper is neither light nor cheap - something we forget on our weekend wanders.
Back in "98 I used a broken mini compass zipper pull (the broken compass also had a broken thermometer) and Wingfoot's AT Guidebook to navigate with good results. On at least two occasions I got off trail but just backtracked with no issues.
Very good info. I also use modern tech but always take a compass. Not always a map. You are right. One must know how to use them. Doing smaller hikes like day hikes and knowing a general sense of your surroundings is super important. One that experienced hikers often take lightly. Things like look back once in a while because everything looks different. If you get to a place where the trail just vanishes, stop. Know where the trail ended then proceed. I have mapped hikes then did the hike and found that some peaks looked different in reality but had a good idea where I was. Learning things like Orion's sword always points south. The north star is between the big dipper and Cassiopeia. Learning about hand rails and back stops. Always know where you are. Know that you can get lost to not having enough water and food, not necessarily be completely lost. So be prepared and careful.
Even though the AT is a highway and unlikely to get loss, the really big benefit of Guthook is knowing the distance to next camp or water. If you are getting tired and find out your campsite goal is too far, it give you the benefit to know you need to start looking for something right away. And the user feedback with date and time is really beneficial. Click on the trail anywhere to see the mileage to know how far you are from any marker on the trail.
I have tried the trails many times over the years, I am 68 and still kicking. For some reason unbeknown to me I decided to just hike by the direction of the sun some 15 or 20 years ago. Most people are nice, very few were not. Overall it's been great. So, in conclusion I would love to make that one last super hike with a professional like this on a marked trail. Oh well soldier, march on. A plan without action is just a dream, action without a plan is a nightmare.
The most useful tool I tell new homers to use is a waterproof notepad and rain writeable pen. It's easier to take notes on, leave notes behind for searchers if you're lost that won't get ruined, etc etc.
I just wanted to drop in and give a big thanks for recommending the guthook app, not only is it going to save me alot of money on my AT thru hike next year but alot of weight as well... Thank you Thank you Thank you... Keep putting out the great videos !
Great "how to" video. Congrats on the Tripple Crown. Thank you for addressing the "brain" as part of the navigation system. So many people forget to us it!!
Hello Dixie, thank you for another very informative video. You always address the critical questions that U-tubers have regarding the outdoors. As always, take care and be safe. 🤗
It's really fun when you're on backcountry trails out in the Colorado Plateau and the trails are marked with cairns, since you can't really make a visible trail on slickrock, and people who have no business being there make a bunch more cairns to confuse everyone.
I think you mentioned that Aaron was thinking about hiking the AT this year. Is he definitely hiking and is he going to VLOG his hike? I would love to follow his journey.
Trick that I have learned. Listen to an experienced hiker like you. I do want to learn guthooks. I have been using paper maps. But I think the electronic maps and layer seem smarter. Thank you for information again.
Common sense is always paramount as well. Not to fond of cairns but understand their purpose. Too many random rock stackers sometimes can confuse the issue. Thanks for the input! You've come a long way (in more ways than one) since that first step in Georgia!
My wife never used a map on the VA section of the AT. this almost caused me to miss the Grand morning summit of MacAffee Knob. She was enlightened at the preceding shelter and she managed to text me to alter original resupply. that is my grandest moment on the AT and all backpacking with My Wild Woman. She as well got mixed up in Damascus. towns can be confusing without a good map.
Superb navigation breakdown. thanks for taking all the time to film, edit and upload all your vid. have you made a vid where you break down the cost of through hikes. E.g. multiple pairs of shoe, socks, shirts, shorts, hats gloves, hotel stays, food resupply in towns gear resupplies in town, washing cloths in town, also doctor visits if needed. At home one can buy supplies at less cost then being isolated where one billfold can get gouged. I am most interested in the CDT where I plan to do it when i turn 60.
The screen shot you used on this video ........ I watched you do this in that episode and all I could think is - she bushwhacks in shorts! You are awesome!
The apps only have small parts of the NCT. The longest trail in the north America. 4600 miles and 8 states. We get the maps from the north country trail system offices.
Oops, just remembered one thing I would add. Most disasters happen when a perfect storm of events happen. Unlikely, but it is possible to loose all nav tools. One thing I do is memorize the terrain I am going over and easiest way out. I study maps, google earth images, images from different vantage points, and try to memorize as much as possible. Sometimes serious rock climbers memorize every handhold and foothold of a route, no need to go into that detail, but I think it is worthwhile to memorize something about the area you are hiking in.
Last summer I was suppose to head out onto the ice age trial. I took a class to refresh my map and compass skills. The Age trial association recommends using the Mammoth Tracks app as well as maps and a compass due to some areas being hard to navigate.
finally someone mentioned this. NM section seems to be the most hairy navigation-wise. It is as if it is neglected or something... it needs signs and markers.
Tammy Martinez and Coniferous Forests, I live in NM and am thinking of hiking the CDT. Was this problem widespread over all of NM, or just some sections? Wondering how/whether I and friends could help remedy that. Do you mean making the trail easier to follow or to get to?
Blazes are on both sides of the trees and trails. Just sayin' . I bought Gurhook after I passed a shelter without it's sign and a friendly guy headed the other way told me I had. Commando. I learned how a good map recon each night helps gauge progress through the day and ready for all that comes your way. Distance can be subjective, so GPS shouldn't lie. Trust your instruments, know your wherabouts. Stay on the trail wherever possible and safe. InReach rules. Save phone batt for navigation. ' Running Water'
Hi Dixie! As far as alternates on the CDT go, what would you recommend? I’ve been looking at the Ley maps and it’s giving me a headache trying to figure out when the official red route is preferable and when the purple routes could be attractive.
Are only long distance trails marked with paint on trees and so on in the US? Here in Europe (especially in places like France, Germany, the Alps generally etc) its common to have an abundance of painted trail indicators on trees, meaning you'll often have two or more painted signs indicating the direction of off-going trails at intersections. So local trails (going a few dozen km somewhere) will generally have their own symbol (often a simple shape painted or a plate in white and a primary color), with better known or long distance trails having their own symbols - the Camino being a yellow shell and the French Grand Randonees being a white and red stripe (Polish flag), both having a variation of those symbols for support trails (leading to the main trail). The idea of (white) blazes reminds me more of what you get in Norway for example, where red "T"s are more or less the uniform symbol of trails. If I'm correct about this - I figure that would then be mostly a function of trail density...but that wouldn't apply to more touristic places in the US with many local trails?
Fantastic video! Thank you again for sharing your experiences. Yes, use your head and trust your instincts....backtracking is way better than being totally lost :)
Geraldine Largay (aka Inchworm) left her SPOT locator behind at one of her stopovers with her husband. Taken together with her other risk factors, that decision pretty well sealed her fate.
Thanks for posting. Enjoyed more about your experience, process with getting lost and specifically how you recovered; i.e. your story at end about importance of taking phone along when leaving other gear on trail for bathroom. Kinda like crapping britches, lost is thru hike experience.
Great tips and reminders. Did you mention that you should talk to other hikers for trail intelligence especially those coming from the direction you are going? I guess you sort of did by pointing out the comments section on Guthook. And give those hikers information about what you just hiked through as well.
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Compass at least. The woman who died in Maine got off the trail and had she used a compass she would have straight lined back to the trail rather than walked in circles. If you ever get to Maine you'll see how dense the forests are. Dixie mentioned on another video that she went the wrong way one day getting back on the trail. A quick compass check and that would have been avoided. You'll NEVER find a Maine Guild, Woodsman or Bushcrafter that would enter the woods without a compass.
A downside with phones is that they are *not* very energy-efficient. The big touch-screen draw a lot of power, and they also run a lot of "power hungry" system apps in the background that you dont need for navigation. A 3000mAh 3,7V (11,1Wh) phone battery takes about 5 times more power to charge than a couple 930mah 1,2V black Eneloop Pro batteries (2,23Wh) that will run my Garmin "eTrex 32x" (142 grams without batteries) for around 25 hours with normal use. This means that this GPS only draws about 90mW (milliWatt) power. I believe my phone would last around 5-8 hours when i kept my hiking app running (so it would record the path - just like my GPS does). If it last 8 hours, it draws 1387mW - which is over 15 times as much as my GPS. The "eTrex 35 Touch" (same GPS model as i use, only *with* a touchscreen) only lasts 16 hours, which means that it is only 56% as "power efficient" as my "non touch screen" version. Anyone who wants to use a solar panel for hiking/bikepacking really need to consider things like that, and use a battery efficient GPS and camera, and leave their devices off when they are not using it. When it comes to actual navigation, i find that a compass is the best tool to use to get the direction. As it hangs around my neck, i just pick it up and hold it flat, and it shows me what direction i need to go. With my GPS or phone, you generally have to get it out of the pocket, and then swipe the screen or push a button to get the screen to turn on. Both my GPS and phone compass also have the problem that they do not update their compass very smoothly, and the phone also needs to be calibrated on a regular basis (my GPS dont seem to have this issue). As the compass is so small and lightweight, i see no point in leaving it behind.
Just a note: 2 is one. One is none. Meaning, best is to have more than one of anything if you can. Considering weight & impotence. Especially small items.
At 45 I dunno if I'll ever get to go, but I've always dreamed of doing the pct or cdt. all y'all youtube hikers have certainly lit a fire under my butt. Thanks for all the inspiration!
Hi there I am 56 and ever since i saw wild and read the book I have wanted to do the pct now I have started saving like there is no tomorrow going to Spain san sebastian in August trust me if I can do it so can you inspiration and will power
You have the rest of your life to be old. I’m 44 and hiking the pct next spring. Get out. Start hiking short distances to get in shape like I’m having to do,. Best of luck
Hey Dixie, I am planning to do the PCT next year, i saw your videos about it, however, after you reached the Canada Terminus it all ended. I am curious, since I am going to do the same thing next year, did you guys back into the trail and the hike into a town in the USA or did you hike into Canada, the Vancouver, BC. I feel I am missing information. What happened? How, in detail please, did you get back into civilization?
Thankyou for being kind&helpful...some fun outgoers get very overwhelmed very quickly&some fret n foget their brain is attached...you know what i mean...thanks again...Godbless to yall... 👣...
i always navigated with my thumb on my location on my topo map, and kept track of distance between waypoints by sliding pace count beads along a lanyard, but that was in the old days before technology. i only had to backtrack once - when you cause 120 soldiers to do extra work, you learn fast to not lose your place!
Another tip: Pay attention to the sun, and at night to the North Star (assuming you can see them). Coordinate the sun’s direction to the time of day, i.e. it’s noon, so the sun is about south. (So I’m going to guess that for this video it’s about four or five p.m. because the shadows are getting long and thus you’re facing about ENE. Unless you had your coffee really early and made the video in the morning. 😄)
Dear Jessica! You said you've used PLB on pct. I wonder if the medical emergency requires helicopter extraction/evacuation would a person in trouble end up paying astronomical bill for the rescue operation or it is somehow reimbursed/defrayed by the company you buy the life saving device from? I guess health insurance would be the best bet before hiking in any case, and yet... Ive heard that there are some plans that cover rescue missions be it on the ground or involving a helic. Id put it this way.. it is obvious that insurance is the best way to deal with all the process from finding you to transporting and getting treatment. But... what are the others options to deal with the bill afterwards. There are so many devices it is confusing, reviews are extremely conflicting... it is mind-boggling .
Navigation and communication are the most important things to me right now. I know I'll have a topa map and compass but my main concern is being able to have real time weather warnings or disasters like wild fires. I've been looking at BLACKVIEW BV9800 PRO RUGGED PHONE as well other devices that are similar. Do you or anyone you know have any experience with rugged backpacking or Gps devices on trail with the mentioned device?
Where do I get maps for my location in in Pennsylvania an I'm not sure if I get a imperial or metric utm or metric an imperial. Pls help I new to all this an looking for info
What about cell service on the AT??? I'm taking my son on the N.C section this fall (early fall) I want the Gut hook app but I'm scared I won't even have service to gps where we are...
When you come to a wide field, or a large field of rocks, where there is no worn path, how do you know where to go? I've seen several such places on videos of the AT. Most of the time there is an obvious walking path through the forest, but not always. I'm hooked on your videos, btw. Very nicely done by an Alabama girl. (I'm your neighbor from Georgia.)
With the with the ribbons you can wear them from where you started and where you ended when you were in the bathroom so she couldn't if she did that she would have been up where we don't want to be yet
Sometimes I feel like I'm being to cautious when checking an app all the time, but after having to back track miles to get back on the right trail, I don't mind feeling too cautious lol
According to your lighter pack information, you used Solomons in the desert. Is there a reason you wore solomon's during the desert then went back to Altras? You have mentioned the Dr Scholls insert you use for PF. Can you share which item it is? There are several to choose from, a few say they are for PF. Wasn't sure if you bought a very specific model.
Well done, those following you will benefit from this information. As you have now completed three of the recognized " National Scenic Trails" have you given any thought to doing the other 8 ?
Maybe because I am old, a compass is a handy thing to have for bathroom breaks. Pick a direction you will travel, put the doghouse over the needle. When hiking back, just reverse the needle in the doghouse and walk in the forward direction. using bright colored ribbon to mark a tree where you leave the trail also is a good idea. As you travel to the bathroom, look back and make sure you can still see your marker.
Wow, even 5 years later your videos are very relevant! Thanks Dixie for all your contributions to the hiker community as well as sharing your outdoor adventures! I have enjoyed every one and am grateful for your taking the time to produce and share them!
As a former Scoutmaster I would add that a compass will be your best friend anytime you have to go off trail. If you have to go off trail for any reason especially for potty always take a compass reading in the direction you go off trail. By doing that your compass will always be able to lead you back to the trail. Basic compass knowledge saves lives it would have saved the woman that died in Maine had she had one and used it.
Something we used to make the younger crowd do during hikes is to tie 200ft of paracord to their bag and have them set their bag on the trail then you just walk out with your rope and follow it back.
I've always called it "Trail Sense". One really cool trick I learned after about a week of complete snow coverage, was to follow the deer tracks on the PCT. They actually still follow the trail even when completely visually obscured. Wish I knew this on day 1 of complete snow coverage instead of after day 8 of complete snow coverage.
Great advice, Dixie. I use GPS and phone apps, but always carry a map (sealed in a plastic sheet protector to keep it dry) and a compass. Often just comparing the direction of the track that I’m on with the direction of the track on the map is sufficient reassurance that I’m hiking in the right direction. Cross bearings from known landscape features at roughly 90 degrees to the track can also indicate where you are on the track. Sometimes when in a heavily wooded forest or deep valley, satellite navigation is not reliable. Having a rough estimate of distance hiked based on approximate speed and time and using this with a map and compass can be a life saver.
Awesome! However, I never go wandering without a decent compass. My Brunton Tru-arc 3 weighs about an ounce. It works anywhere on this world and will keep you walking in a straight line, maps or none. You gotta go potty, pick a bearing and walk and count your paces and just reverse that bearing and walk a similar number of paces right back to your pack :) I call this "old school brain." Sending love and hugs from the Great Smoky Mountains...you've been here ~~^^*~^^^~~*
Hiking with three people builds in phone redundancy. Downloading the maps removes total dependence on the cellular network. Phones have compass apps. The inReach might also have a compass feature. Still…the thought of not taking a 3oz quality compass and maps freaks me out. (Love this channel!)
Congratulations on the the Triple Crown. I really enjoy your channel. I like that there is No topic you shy away from. I love your common sense approach.
Bill Vance Thank you, Bill!
Something that cannot be faked: the credibility that comes with introducing one's thoughts with, "... tips and tools I've used along the way after hiking over 7,000 miles of trail."
Joe Jansen Thank you! 😊 I still don’t want to come across that I have all the answers. I just like to share what works for me and encourage others to figure that out for themselves.
@@HomemadeWanderlust You have a great way of doing that (all three of those things). I was thinking about the path you're following and the way you're able to share what you've learned. But it's only partially about how to pick shoes or choose a GPS app or pop a blister. The bigger thing is that you're showing people they don't have to follow the path that OTHER people think they should follow. ("Oh, honey, with an accounting degree, you could be a CPA and write your own ticket. I know it's a cubicle, but it's job security.") You're showing people that there's another way to live a life. Good stuff.
He knows what can and cannot be faked.
An experrt!!
Dixie should be the President.
@@joejansen1 It's just me, 2 years after this comment, I second Joe. I love hiking and camping, and I love how nice and humble Dixie is. I know people who cannot go an hours without saying they are an engineer, yet I think I only heard her say it once in passing. Dixie rocks, and her videos rock. Whenever I tell my wife "Trixie says ..." my wife gets upset and tells me "It's Dixie!" :) sorry, I get confused, but I get corrected right away
I love having a map because I am old school. Guide books are also essential in my opinion especially on any long distance trail. I've never really used a phone as a primary device so for me it would be a handy backup tool but then most of my years of backpacking a phone was never an option. So yes, it is possible to go in the woods and leave your phone at home. :)
I’ve told numerous people I don’t know why anyone else ever vlogs about the big three anymore. You cover every topic from such a “real” perspective. I’ve created a private group on FB of my family and friends that want to follow along our journey. I’m refusing to let technology interfere with our hike. It will be just a few pics and videos along the way. And of course simple check-ins. But I’m referring them to your channel for everything else related to actually walking the trail. Thank you for the sacrifice of time you give to all of us following along. I’m sure you’d rather be out hiking and enjoying the beautiful nature just for yourself.
I'm sitting here watching this while downloading all the AT guthook offline maps onto my phone. My husband and I are thru-hiking this year. We're flip flopping starting in Harpers Ferry. Thanks for all the great info and motivation, Dixie!
Good stuff, Dixie. After 15 yrs of using a map and compass and then handheld GPS units, I've made the switch to my phone (gaia mainly) as my main navigation tool over the past two yrs. I still wear a watch band compass on my old school casio though. Once a nerd, always a nerd.
Maps and compass taught me to be aware of ridges and valleys.
On the PCT especially down south I missed several sudden turnoffs. The best way to tell is to keep looking for foot prints. If suddenly there aren't a lot of foot prints or none of them are Altras the odds are you're not on the PCT.
Jay you were getting lost because you kept filming and turning around and say "What's this" " Can anyone tell me what this is" you were more interested in filming things off the trail.
@@willardwooten9582 :) Could be it. It also happened a lot if I was talking to somebody while hiking. I don't have the gift of gab so when I'm talking to anybody I get pretty focused and forget the other things.
Hey Jay, nice to see you here :) Still looking forward to your post pct gear review :) Cheers
LOL
the more I do research on cdt the more I come across people who get lost in NM . I guess that part of the trail requires explicit trail signs to prevent hikers from wasting days off trail. Not to mention that it is not safe to be off track regardless of state or any place in the world for that matter. //p.s. Im sorry you were talking about pct.. anyway =D
You truly are refreshing, Dixie. Not to mention a wonderful source of information to many. My sincerest thanks. Brava.
Absent the cairns on Mt. Washington, me and my entire family would be dead from the worst blizzard I've ever seen, and it was in August. These way markers are life savers, and that's why they exist. Making things that look like way points -- rock stacks that resemble cairns -- isn't graffiti, it's screaming "FIRE!" in a crowded theater, and it should be treated as such. Imagine you're night hiking and get led astray because I think it's artistic and fun to paint little white rectangles on trees. It would be indefensible for me to do that, just as it's indefensible to make faux cairns, no matter what the motive may be.
Sometimes cairns are so beautiful
On the Cairn topic, I like to add to them as I pass by, especially if they're smaller and harder to notice. That way I get to feel like I'm part of it and it's not overboard like people complain about. Where I hike there's a need for them and have saved me multiple times! Thanks for the video! Will help with my next trip!
And you may find yourself in another part of the world
And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile
And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife
And you may ask yourself, "Well... how did I get here?"
UNA CAMPER showing your age 😜
Talking Heads, one of the greatest!!
Hiking project is a great app open source and free to everyone. Download the maps for each state I live in Colorado and the whole section of the CDT is on it. Plus a lot of other great trails. Thanks as always Dixie great video!
Dixie is awesome! A wealth of knowledge positivity! Thanks!
I fear getting lost like crazy, imagining myself ending up like Inchworm, so I got pretty anxious watching you hiking in snow. I got bad directions from a ranger once and got lost with my kids (aged 9, 11, 13). Because the ranger sent me to a trail I wasn't planning on taking, my topo map wasn't any help. Didn't have tech in the 80's , just a compass. Love your videos. Thanks for inspiring the next generation!
Wonderful as always!!! We're planning a section hike of the AT. I have the Appalachian Trail Thru Hikers Companion and I have a pocket profile by AntiGravity Gear. I hear a lot about AWOL's guide and I'll get that sooner or later. This is my wife's first time on a several night hike. It's just from Springer Mountain toe Needs Gap. Taking our time. 5 days. Okay, snaile pace. But we're excited. I happy my wife is going!! We step on Springer Mountain May 26th and taking a couple days to stay at Mountain Crossing just because. Thank you again for sharing your experience!! You're awesome!!!
Its interesting - when hiking here in the UK (where you're never really that far from a road or habitation), the advice is generally to get a map and compass, and to learn to use them, and to not rely on GPS as a primary means of navigation. Maps aren't seen as one of the possible options, but as THE tool that a sensible hiker must carry and use. But for people hiking across vast stretches of wilderness in the USA, lots of people (as far as I can tell from watching videos on UA-cam) seem to think that relying on GPS as the main means of navigating is perfectly okay. I'm not sure if that means the British are over cautious, or if it means that American thru-hikers are reckless. Possibly both.
It seems to me though that if people can get lost in the English Lake District because they don't have a map - and they do - they can probably get lost in the middle of a massive desert / forest / mountain range. So I'm not sure that its very responsible advice to say to people that its okay to venture into these places without proper navigational equipment, even if most of the time a phone or GPS unit suffices in practice. Gadgets can run out of charge, or break, or lose their satellite connection.
I love map reading anyway, its a great skill to exercise, and I'm not sure why anyone would want to be relying on little bleeping flashing things to tell them where to go when they're out in nature.
monkeymox -- appreciate your comment. I wonder if the UK norm of using a map.was influenced by the UK history of global exploration? i think most Americans these days are not proficient with a map and compass, and they're comfortable with electronic navigation. Another challenge in the US with maps is that it can take a lot of maps to span the relatively long distances-- especially in the west. But for me, the Best option is to have maps and compas-- and know how to use them-- and have a gps backup.
If you ask my dad, you need at least 6 maps and two GPS units xD
@@gibrigg Its true that we do have a bit of an obsession with maps, although historically it comes less from empire building than it does from a desire for national defence. The Ordinance Survey (our national mapping agency) was set up to map the country so that the military would have a better understanding of our own geography, initially to help end the Jacobite uprising, and then to improve defence against Napoleon - the OS was actually a predecessor to the Ministry of Defence, so its been around for a long time and is quite a beloved institution.
I would have thought that the history of American expansion and exploration westward would have created an atmosphere in which maps were used and cherished. Even so, its not all that ling since using a map would have been an absolute necessity in America (I presume), so its interesting how much Americans have embraced GPS. But yeah, you'e probably right about the sheer scale of the country being a factor - Around 400 1:25,000 scale maps cover the whole UK, I assume America has a hundred times as many!
The logistical side of carrying all the maps (impossible) or getting them to resupply points at the time that you need them is a prime consideration , as well as the financial cost of buying them all or even printing them out. Since phones became waterproof some of the 'bombproofness' of map and compass has also been undermined. I think may US hikers are just as old school as the British ones but ultralighers are their own special creation and there just more of them in the US.
Much as I love OS maps, the CDT is over 3000 miles long whereas a 1:50000 OS is 25 miles on each side. Just a 10-day stint between resupplies could be 8 maps and paper is neither light nor cheap - something we forget on our weekend wanders.
Back in "98 I used a broken mini compass zipper pull (the broken compass also had a broken thermometer) and Wingfoot's AT Guidebook to navigate with good results. On at least two occasions I got off trail but just backtracked with no issues.
Gut hook is such a valuable tool. Discovered it while section hiking the smoky mountains. Love it!!
Very good info. I also use modern tech but always take a compass. Not always a map. You are right. One must know how to use them. Doing smaller hikes like day hikes and knowing a general sense of your surroundings is super important. One that experienced hikers often take lightly. Things like look back once in a while because everything looks different. If you get to a place where the trail just vanishes, stop. Know where the trail ended then proceed. I have mapped hikes then did the hike and found that some peaks looked different in reality but had a good idea where I was. Learning things like Orion's sword always points south. The north star is between the big dipper and Cassiopeia. Learning about hand rails and back stops. Always know where you are. Know that you can get lost to not having enough water and food, not necessarily be completely lost. So be prepared and careful.
Even though the AT is a highway and unlikely to get loss, the really big benefit of Guthook is knowing the distance to next camp or water. If you are getting tired and find out your campsite goal is too far, it give you the benefit to know you need to start looking for something right away. And the user feedback with date and time is really beneficial. Click on the trail anywhere to see the mileage to know how far you are from any marker on the trail.
I have tried the trails many times over the years, I am 68 and still kicking. For some reason unbeknown to me I decided to just hike by the direction of the sun some 15 or 20 years ago. Most people are nice, very few were not. Overall it's been great. So, in conclusion I would love to make that one last super hike with a professional like this on a marked trail. Oh well soldier, march on. A plan without action is just a dream, action without a plan is a nightmare.
I just point my nose towards the nearest salt and vinegar kettle chips.
Works for me.
The most useful tool I tell new homers to use is a waterproof notepad and rain writeable pen. It's easier to take notes on, leave notes behind for searchers if you're lost that won't get ruined, etc etc.
i met 2 retired marines on the PCT.i think they used a compass that always pointed to the next bar.worked for them.
Excellent resource Dixie! Gracias!
I used Guthook for the S end of the Florida Trail... some sections are not blazed well... Guthook kept me on the trail!
I just wanted to drop in and give a big thanks for recommending the guthook app, not only is it going to save me alot of money on my AT thru hike next year but alot of weight as well... Thank you Thank you Thank you... Keep putting out the great videos !
Great "how to" video. Congrats on the Tripple Crown. Thank you for addressing the "brain" as part of the navigation system. So many people forget to us it!!
Dixie, just love the videos. Always a joy to watch. Just common sense is the biggest part of life.
Hello Dixie, thank you for another very informative video. You always address the critical questions that U-tubers have regarding the outdoors. As always, take care and be safe. 🤗
Great job, as always, Dixie!
Awesome info, Dixie! Also, I listened to your guest spot on the Limitless Podcast today. So cool to hear more of your story!
It's really fun when you're on backcountry trails out in the Colorado Plateau and the trails are marked with cairns, since you can't really make a visible trail on slickrock, and people who have no business being there make a bunch more cairns to confuse everyone.
Dixie do a video on the weather apps or websites that you use to find the local mountain weather.
weather.gov (National Weather Service) use the search to get close, then use the displayed map to select your exact location.
www.mountainweather.com/ is a good site that works well on mobile browsers
I think you mentioned that Aaron was thinking about hiking the AT this year. Is he definitely hiking and is he going to VLOG his hike? I would love to follow his journey.
Awesome info. Again well presented.
Trick that I have learned.
Listen to an experienced hiker like you.
I do want to learn guthooks.
I have been using paper maps. But I think the electronic maps and layer seem smarter.
Thank you for information again.
Dixie on a Sunday what could be better . thank you for all you do too help others.
Common sense is always paramount as well. Not to fond of cairns but understand their purpose. Too many random rock stackers sometimes can confuse the issue. Thanks for the input! You've come a long way (in more ways than one) since that first step in Georgia!
My wife never used a map on the VA section of the AT. this almost caused me to miss the Grand morning summit of MacAffee Knob. She was enlightened at the preceding shelter and she managed to text me to alter original resupply. that is my grandest moment on the AT and all backpacking with My Wild Woman. She as well got mixed up in Damascus. towns can be confusing without a good map.
THANK YOU! BE SAFE! HAVE FUN! GOD BE WITH YOU ALWAYS! ENJOYED!
Love that you posted this now before I'm stuck at work all day! Yayyyyy it's a good morning now
Superb navigation breakdown. thanks for taking all the time to film, edit and upload all your vid. have you made a vid where you break down the cost of through hikes. E.g. multiple pairs of shoe, socks, shirts, shorts, hats gloves, hotel stays, food resupply in towns gear resupplies in town, washing cloths in town, also doctor visits if needed. At home one can buy supplies at less cost then being isolated where one billfold can get gouged. I am most interested in the CDT where I plan to do it when i turn 60.
You always have excellent hiking advice Dixie thanks for taking the time to share it.
The screen shot you used on this video ........ I watched you do this in that episode and all I could think is - she bushwhacks in shorts! You are awesome!
The apps only have small parts of the NCT. The longest trail in the north America. 4600 miles and 8 states. We get the maps from the north country trail system offices.
Your videos are always so helpful! I hope
to one day do a section hike and maybe even do a thru-hike! Hope you’re doing well Dixie! xoxo
Thank you so much for such great information
Thank you for sharing, much appreciated. Cheers!
Excellent video. I was hoping to add something but I think you covered it all :)
Oops, just remembered one thing I would add. Most disasters happen when a perfect storm of events happen. Unlikely, but it is possible to loose all nav tools. One thing I do is memorize the terrain I am going over and easiest way out. I study maps, google earth images, images from different vantage points, and try to memorize as much as possible. Sometimes serious rock climbers memorize every handhold and foothold of a route, no need to go into that detail, but I think it is worthwhile to memorize something about the area you are hiking in.
Last summer I was suppose to head out onto the ice age trial. I took a class to refresh my map and compass skills. The Age trial association recommends using the Mammoth Tracks app as well as maps and a compass due to some areas being hard to navigate.
I live in N.M. and I wish the would work on making the cdt in the state a little more accessible. It’s slowly getting better.
finally someone mentioned this. NM section seems to be the most hairy navigation-wise. It is as if it is neglected or something... it needs signs and markers.
Tammy Martinez and Coniferous Forests, I live in NM and am thinking of hiking the CDT. Was this problem widespread over all of NM, or just some sections? Wondering how/whether I and friends could help remedy that. Do you mean making the trail easier to follow or to get to?
Blazes are on both sides of the trees and trails. Just sayin' . I bought Gurhook after I passed a shelter without it's sign and a friendly guy headed the other way told me I had. Commando. I learned how a good map recon each night helps gauge progress through the day and ready for all that comes your way. Distance can be subjective, so GPS shouldn't lie. Trust your instruments, know your wherabouts. Stay on the trail wherever possible and safe. InReach rules. Save phone batt for navigation. ' Running Water'
Hi Dixie! As far as alternates on the CDT go, what would you recommend? I’ve been looking at the Ley maps and it’s giving me a headache trying to figure out when the official red route is preferable and when the purple routes could be attractive.
Are only long distance trails marked with paint on trees and so on in the US?
Here in Europe (especially in places like France, Germany, the Alps generally etc) its common to have an abundance of painted trail indicators on trees, meaning you'll often have two or more painted signs indicating the direction of off-going trails at intersections. So local trails (going a few dozen km somewhere) will generally have their own symbol (often a simple shape painted or a plate in white and a primary color), with better known or long distance trails having their own symbols - the Camino being a yellow shell and the French Grand Randonees being a white and red stripe (Polish flag), both having a variation of those symbols for support trails (leading to the main trail).
The idea of (white) blazes reminds me more of what you get in Norway for example, where red "T"s are more or less the uniform symbol of trails. If I'm correct about this - I figure that would then be mostly a function of trail density...but that wouldn't apply to more touristic places in the US with many local trails?
Fantastic video! Thank you again for sharing your experiences.
Yes, use your head and trust your instincts....backtracking is way better than being totally lost :)
It cracks me up that Dixie say Ray-men but says Sierra Nev-ahh-da. Native Californians say Nev-AD-a and Rah-men.
Karyn Boatman this native Californian says Ne vah da when talking about the Sierras and Nev add a when talking about the state.
Lots of very good info Dixie. Thank you.
Geraldine Largay (aka Inchworm) left her SPOT locator behind at one of her stopovers with her husband. Taken together with her other risk factors, that decision pretty well sealed her fate.
Thanks for posting. Enjoyed more about your experience, process with getting lost and specifically how you recovered; i.e. your story at end about importance of taking phone along when leaving other gear on trail for bathroom. Kinda like crapping britches, lost is thru hike experience.
Great tips and reminders. Did you mention that you should talk to other hikers for trail intelligence especially those coming from the direction you are going? I guess you sort of did by pointing out the comments section on Guthook. And give those hikers information about what you just hiked through as well.
Compass at least. The woman who died in Maine got off the trail and had she used a compass she would have straight lined back to the trail rather than walked in circles. If you ever get to Maine you'll see how dense the forests are. Dixie mentioned on another video that she went the wrong way one day getting back on the trail. A quick compass check and that would have been avoided. You'll NEVER find a Maine Guild, Woodsman or Bushcrafter that would enter the woods without a compass.
Great tips and advice. Thanks for all the links!
My older brother was a boy scout in the eighties. He learned orintiering and taught me. We backpack together now.
A downside with phones is that they are *not* very energy-efficient. The big touch-screen draw a lot of power, and they also run a lot of "power hungry" system apps in the background that you dont need for navigation. A 3000mAh 3,7V (11,1Wh) phone battery takes about 5 times more power to charge than a couple 930mah 1,2V black Eneloop Pro batteries (2,23Wh) that will run my Garmin "eTrex 32x" (142 grams without batteries) for around 25 hours with normal use. This means that this GPS only draws about 90mW (milliWatt) power. I believe my phone would last around 5-8 hours when i kept my hiking app running (so it would record the path - just like my GPS does). If it last 8 hours, it draws 1387mW - which is over 15 times as much as my GPS. The "eTrex 35 Touch" (same GPS model as i use, only *with* a touchscreen) only lasts 16 hours, which means that it is only 56% as "power efficient" as my "non touch screen" version.
Anyone who wants to use a solar panel for hiking/bikepacking really need to consider things like that, and use a battery efficient GPS and camera, and leave their devices off when they are not using it.
When it comes to actual navigation, i find that a compass is the best tool to use to get the direction. As it hangs around my neck, i just pick it up and hold it flat, and it shows me what direction i need to go. With my GPS or phone, you generally have to get it out of the pocket, and then swipe the screen or push a button to get the screen to turn on. Both my GPS and phone compass also have the problem that they do not update their compass very smoothly, and the phone also needs to be calibrated on a regular basis (my GPS dont seem to have this issue). As the compass is so small and lightweight, i see no point in leaving it behind.
Excellent video
Looking forward to you coming to Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC. :)
Very helpful as usual, thanks Dix
Just a note: 2 is one. One is none. Meaning, best is to have more than one of anything if you can. Considering weight & impotence. Especially small items.
At 45 I dunno if I'll ever get to go, but I've always dreamed of doing the pct or cdt. all y'all youtube hikers have certainly lit a fire under my butt. Thanks for all the inspiration!
Hi there I am 56 and ever since i saw wild and read the book I have wanted to do the pct now I have started saving like there is no tomorrow going to Spain san sebastian in August trust me if I can do it so can you inspiration and will power
You have the rest of your life to be old. I’m 44 and hiking the pct next spring. Get out. Start hiking short distances to get in shape like I’m having to do,. Best of luck
When you are hiking all day using your phone for navigation how do you recharge the phones batteries in the wilds ?
@@DanOutdoorsUK and if it rains for several days? How do you manage?
I use anker battery banks. Most folks can manage a 3-5 day trip with a 10,000 mah charger.
I’ve watched so many of your videos now my so goes “Dixie!!” When you pop up on the tv haha
Hey Dixie, I am planning to do the PCT next year, i saw your videos about it, however, after you reached the Canada Terminus it all ended. I am curious, since I am going to do the same thing next year, did you guys back into the trail and the hike into a town in the USA or did you hike into Canada, the Vancouver, BC. I feel I am missing information. What happened? How, in detail please, did you get back into civilization?
Thanks, Dixie!
My trail name is Compass... and even though I carried one on my thru-hike, I never actually had to use it ;-)
Awesome!! Thanks Dixie🤘
Did you see anyone using Gaia GPS? I've used it for dayhikes in NC, not sure how detailed it is in more remote areas.
Thankyou for being kind&helpful...some fun outgoers get very overwhelmed very quickly&some fret n foget their brain is attached...you know what i mean...thanks again...Godbless to yall... 👣...
lovely, as always.
i always navigated with my thumb on my location on my topo map, and kept track of distance between waypoints by sliding pace count beads along a lanyard, but that was in the old days before technology. i only had to backtrack once - when you cause 120 soldiers to do extra work, you learn fast to not lose your place!
Another tip: Pay attention to the sun, and at night to the North Star (assuming you can see them). Coordinate the sun’s direction to the time of day, i.e. it’s noon, so the sun is about south. (So I’m going to guess that for this video it’s about four or five p.m. because the shadows are getting long and thus you’re facing about ENE. Unless you had your coffee really early and made the video in the morning. 😄)
Dear Jessica! You said you've used PLB on pct. I wonder if the medical emergency requires helicopter extraction/evacuation would a person in trouble end up paying astronomical bill for the rescue operation or it is somehow reimbursed/defrayed by the company you buy the life saving device from? I guess health insurance would be the best bet before hiking in any case, and yet... Ive heard that there are some plans that cover rescue missions be it on the ground or involving a helic. Id put it this way.. it is obvious that insurance is the best way to deal with all the process from finding you to transporting and getting treatment. But... what are the others options to deal with the bill afterwards. There are so many devices it is confusing, reviews are extremely conflicting... it is mind-boggling .
Navigation and communication are the most important things to me right now. I know I'll have a topa map and compass but my main concern is being able to have real time weather warnings or disasters like wild fires. I've been looking at BLACKVIEW BV9800 PRO RUGGED PHONE as well other devices that are similar. Do you or anyone you know have any experience with rugged backpacking or Gps devices on trail with the mentioned device?
Where do I get maps for my location in in Pennsylvania an I'm not sure if I get a imperial or metric utm or metric an imperial. Pls help I new to all this an looking for info
What about cell service on the AT??? I'm taking my son on the N.C section this fall (early fall) I want the Gut hook app but I'm scared I won't even have service to gps where we are...
When you come to a wide field, or a large field of rocks, where there is no worn path, how do you know where to go? I've seen several such places on videos of the AT. Most of the time there is an obvious walking path through the forest, but not always.
I'm hooked on your videos, btw. Very nicely done by an Alabama girl. (I'm your neighbor from Georgia.)
Compass bearing?? Or finding a landmark further ahead to move in the direction of.
An excellent job, young lady. I definitely saved this to my library for Hiking & Camping. Thumbs up, for sure. Where and when is your next hike?
Lukas Aurelius Thank you! I’ll be back out on the PCT to fill in fire closures this summer with my mom :)
Homemade Wanderlust - YAY !!! Your Mom will love it! But don't go too fast. Remember, she doesn't have her trail legs yet. ;-)
Legend.
With the with the ribbons you can wear them from where you started and where you ended when you were in the bathroom so she couldn't if she did that she would have been up where we don't want to be yet
Sometimes I feel like I'm being to cautious when checking an app all the time, but after having to back track miles to get back on the right trail, I don't mind feeling too cautious lol
According to your lighter pack information, you used Solomons in the desert. Is there a reason you wore solomon's during the desert then went back to Altras? You have mentioned the Dr Scholls insert you use for PF. Can you share which item it is? There are several to choose from, a few say they are for PF. Wasn't sure if you bought a very specific model.
Well done, those following you will benefit from this information. As you have now completed three of the recognized " National Scenic Trails" have you given any thought to doing the other 8 ?