20 Things I Wish I Knew BEFORE my Appalachian Trail Thru Hike...
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- Опубліковано 4 лют 2025
- Here are 20 things I wish I'd known before I thru hiked the Appalachian Trail. From gear choices, to social choices, to personal choices, there's always room for improvement on the Appalachian Trail, and hopefully this will be able to help YOU if you're planning on hiking the Appalachian Trail in the future. Appalachian Trail.
Trail Tales episode 173 (Kyle Hates Hiking podcast)
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I am almost 76 years old. I don't backpack or hike but I wish I would have when I was younger. That being said.....I listen to the very end. I always enjoy your content.
that's so kind of you to say! Folks like yourself keep me going. Also, it's never too late to try it! Just start slow and be careful
@@trailtalespod I just oredered a tent and intend to do some car camping and will indeed do some short hikes in the woods. Until my wife became ill, I did do a weekly rucksack hike for a couple of miles to a local creek and would start a stick stove fire, make some coffee, enjoy a good cigar and then hike back. That was three years ago. I now have gotten into a rut of just sitting around doing nothing. So, I have decided to get off my butt, do some camping maybe some short hikes. You have inspired me young man. You are awesome and I thank you for your response.
It's not too late!
@@WayneTheSeine rooting for you! Car camping is fun in it's own way, so much lovely things to see
Wayne theSeine. I’m 74 and I hike every week. Start slow, do easy hikes 2 miles with 200 feet elevation get a good pair of shoes and hiking poles and a small day pack for some food and water and go. I noticed every year I lose a little endurance. I go a little slower. And I have a great time. Good luck with your new hobby.
Re: camp shoes... Never underestimate the psychological and physical benefits of little comfort items. Factoring in some hot meals rather than cold soaking everything, camp shoes, one of those plastic collapsible bottles like what comes with a Sawyer and fill it with wine at town stops (can use with water after emptied), little knife for whittling, paper diary/journal, edible plants guide (great for making a little tea with leftover hot water), etc.
I use swimming shoes/wet shoes as camp shoes besides water crossing.
I've read other hikers who say camp shoes are important too. I don't hike but I can see that they would be.
There are those new very lightweight camp shoes that cost an arm and a leg. They have traction and seem like they would be ideal for water crossings. Definitely will invest in a pair when I go on my long hike.
I did 13 miles in crocs my camp shoes 😂
@@thisbeem2714 moccasins hard to beat but can also be expensive
My boyfriend picked me up at Carver's Gap TN. To this day, he jokes about how he works in the oilfield and at the end of the day, 5 sweaty guys ride home in a crew truck and all 5 of them didnt smell as bad as me 😂 Also about the reminiscing over the photos, I do that too. My regret is not keeping a journal to go along with the photos. Would've loved to be able use both to relive the adventure.
Re: sweat. I am a freckley pale red head. There is a photo of me at the 1/3 of the way sign where I am sweating out sunscreen and I look like I just opened the Arc of the Covenant and my face is melting off 😂😂😂
You learn to just embrace the sweat and the funk. It doesn't matter what you do, how much you try to "freshen up", what kind of deodorant and stuff you bring with you. None of that matters. None of that works. The "Trail Funk" always wins out in the end, every time. The best thing (and pretty much the only thing) you can do is just embrace it and keep ok keepin on. 🤷♂️
I really appreciate that you continue to post your backpacking content the way you do on this channel. I’m grateful that your other channel blew up, but sometimes I miss a classic “20 things” video from Kyle. Thanks for all the great content! I appreciate it.
Thank you for watching! At the end of the day I'm still a hiking nerd, and thus this podcast isn't going anywhere. I'm also thinking of using this channel to post my future thru hiking vlogs as well.
@@trailtalespod I recently started watching your PCT vlogs and really enjoyed them so I would be all for that.
I love them both. Just discovered them last week. Hope he gets his 1M subs! He does a great job imo.
Only just discovered this channel, been watching his other one for ages. Now I love both! Kyle's content is so valuable, and he's just got a great personality
I hiked in 2009 and carried heavy Tevas all the way. It rained 60% of the time that year. They were worth their weight in gold! I was going days and days in the rain and mud I wouldn't have survived without them😊😊😊
Love your honesty as you quoted "I really am quite stupid". Where you make up for this is you can keep the attention of the audience and you are a good story teller. And I always watch until the end.
A trick some people do for camp shoes is to bring two bread bags or oven liner bags, so you can put them on and have a waterproof barrier between your dry camp socks and wet hiking shoes walking around camp
People don’t like flip flops bc of the weight ?
Love it! That's how we rolled on the playground in the 80's. #oldschool
Great job with your adventure! I am 63 years old and enjoyed the entire video. One thing I've learned is that I can always learn more from listening to others, no matter how much experience they have. I'm from Northern Michigan and back in fall of '84 rode cross country on mountain bikes with 4 friends. I left Mackinac Island in late October and rode from Mackinaw City to San Diego. (Two of us completed the trip. We all had the most current bikes and equipment and made it with minimal funds (camping for the most part). I can't imagine making that trip as a 24-year-old in today's social and economic environment. It was a terrific experience! Thanks for your video and keep up your work.
My perspective on your trouble with food planning...when in the store, I actually arrange the food in the cart according to my eating schedule. So, eg for a 4-day carry: 4 breakfast grains (8 oatmeal packets), 4 breakfast proteins (real bacon pieces), 4 tea bags; 4 x 2nd breakfasts (protein bars); 4 lunch savories (pepperettes and cheese sticks or tuna or chicken salad packs, or dehydrated hummus/peanut butter), 4 wraps, or a bag of Triscuits, a lunch treat, eg cookies; afternoon snack (trail mix and 4 candy bars); 4 hot dinners (raman mixed with half a dehydrated meal, mashed potatoes with spinach, bacon pieces or hot dog). I always have enough for 1 full extra emergency meal, and don't touch it. Hope this helps! Diddly, PCT Class of 2019
This makes total sense.
Thank you for this video. I hope to do the AT one day. I also hope to do the JMT, the PCT, the CDT, and the Colorado Trail. Admittedly, time is running out; I am 72. Your insights into through-hiking will be invaluable if I can get myself in shape to do it.
Keep on rockin'!
Get yourself into shape, physically and mentally. I’m hiking the JMT at 60 this summer and my friend, 73, is coming with me for the best 1/2.
Go for it. Don’t wait. I’m much younger, but I just realized, I don’t need to wait until I believe I can do thousands of miles. I can get out there and “go as far as I get.” You can do it.
Go now! You'll get in shape! 😂🥰
A cheap double room at a hotel is luxurious and affordable. Plan on eating, showering, getting laundry done, eating, shopping, eating, unwind (beer +pizza) repack all of your fresh, clean, dry, stuff and waking early so you are ready to hit the trailhead. Energy drinks and cold pizza are considered gravity reducing drugs after a zero day.
Food, carry an extra day of super light foods. Like mountain house. Eat the heavy stuff first. Also, carry extra ramen noodles. This will help you when you get held up by weather or just going slower than you expect. Also, extra noodles are a cheap and easy way to help out other hikers who need a little assistance or encouragement. My hard and fast rule is to never feed lazy people who won’t carry anything and try to mooch off the other hikers. An ultra lighter who talks trash about traditional hikers but then begs food every time someone reaches into a food bag… (saw a lot of that) Let that guy who carries a single snickers bar and no tent on a 3 day leg drink water and sleep under the picnic table at the shelter.
Every once in a while, empty your backpack and wash it out. I didn’t smell bad because I sweat a lot more than the average person. Fresh sweat actually helps reduce pit and crotch odor. Washing in streams is fine. Never had an issue. My pack was another story. It soaked up sweat and needed washed out at least once a week. Really smelled bad.
Best out of town food as a treat is avocados. They are better than anything else I ever found in a small town grocery for the trail.
I used crocs for camp shoes and they were worth it. I pulled out my hiking shoes insoles and placed them in a breezy spot to dry. I also had a pair of cotton socks that I wore to draw the moisture out of my feet. I would wash them and hang them to dry before putting them away.
Snakes, avoid. They will avoid you if they get a chance. You get more aware as you go. If it is a busy day, warn others.
Shoes, Trail runners and half size larger than your normal daily shoes. After a few days, your feet will swell and stay that way. Have a set bought and boxed in a prepaid fedex pack so you can have them sent by your home contact. Spend money on good quality socks. I had two pair of smart wool socks last 500 miles and I swapped them out but they were still good. Bought 5 pairs of them in 2006,
They’re still good in 2024.
Spend money on your feet and your sleep system.
Good sleep and healthy feet are going to make or break your body on a wet route like the AT. If you can’t recover you just get weaker.
You are 100% correct. On ALL accounts. Especially the rule about not feeding the mooches. I saw a whole lot of the that too. A whole lot of ultralight hikers who were CONSTANTLY circling like buzzards during stops, and at camp while everyone was preparing dinners and going thru their evening routines. It'll be at least 3 or 4 days hike to get to the next spot to resupply, and they will literally buy a half a day worth of snack food, and then brag about how little they need to hike. But then beg like bums every evening when people start opening their packs and pull food bags because they are starving. And the no tent thing. Or carrying just a small tarp. Like, WTF are you even thinking?! It's the AT! You spend literally half of the whole damn hike getting rained on! And not just little showers here and there either. It fucking STORMS out there! You get hit with straight up downpours. It feels like you are wet and miserable more often than you arent. As a general rule, I carry a tarp that I string up over my tent (which is a single sleeper) , just for added protection in a strong downpour. I'm all about making my rucksack as light as I can, but I used to hump 100 pound rucks in the infantry, and while I didn't carry 100 pounds on the AT, there are some things that I simply won't go without, and have no problem carrying the extra weight. A quality tent with long steel tent spikes, a good tarp for added protection, a good comfortable sleep system, good quality rain gear, and enough food so I can have a nice hot meal at the end of the day before bed, are just a few of them.
Living in Washington, DC and watching you look right into the camera while trying to pronounce and spell Potomac River 😂😂😂
Always carry day and a half more food than you need. Have meet hiker’s that I that I had to share food with that didn’t pack enough
Yes Karen
The quarry gap shelter in Pa is one of the nicest shelters on the AT. The people that upkeep on that shelter are awesome. They even decorate them for the holidays!
Just found your channel after randomly watching some AT vids. I've hiked the distance of the AT on the AT, but only repeating certain sections over and over (outdoor instructor). I'm older now but it still gets a twinkle in my eye thinking of doing the whole thing.
Your penchant for correcting yourself about correcting yourself about correcting yourself is just very human. Don't fret it! See you on the trail!
***** **
I really like the talk about the trail upkeepers! Up in Lonesome Lake in NH. Me and my son where talking about how much work it must have been to put all the timbers used to make the trail around the entire lake! So much work!!!
Ik this is an old video but the value of extra shoes in all aspects of life is not to be underestimated. They recommend rotating shoes pretty regularly esp if you have foot problems to keep your feet feeling "fresh" because every shoe will feel a little bit different. So the idea of camo shoes on a thru hike i think seems so important. You need to let your feet relax and change shape and have different pressure points etc. The muscles in your feet will thank you.
I'm not a hiker or even a camper but I do enjoy your videos. I think the most important thing you talked about is body tole and foot care. I would think this would be the main topics all hikers would talk about since your feet are the most important part of your body in hiking.
I can promise you that age will take a tole also. You won't be able to hike like that as you age. You will be slower. I know this first hand.
Thanks for the episode. It's amazing how many things you have to consider before a thru hike. You're definitely helping all of us go in stronger and more prepared. Keep shining bright.
best of luck out there, and thank you for watching!
“I didn’t freeze to death”
…thank you, Kyle, for this exciting revelation 😂
I will have to get my sons to watch this as they talk about doing the Appaalachian Trail--This is very good information. Thank you and if this is where you leave a 5 star review-here it is.
Heads up Kyle. A lot of these points will apply to life in general. The same things happen when you have children. Enjoy as many moments that you can even when it's incredibly difficult. Take videos and pictures and just absorb everything. I always had that in mind when my kids were babies. I would stare at their face and just breathe in every second. I knew it wouldn't last. I'm so thankful I didn't take it for granted. Babies are difficult and amazing at the same time, just like trail.
Never made that connection, but it makes total sense. I was sick when my baby was little and I missed a lot that I will never get back.
You guys don’t know what cold is at all. I welcome you to the North/Norway 🇳🇴 😂
All about ultra light backpacking, but some of you guys are insane
Being the soft-footed weenie that I am, I always take camp shoes, even when car camping. They are a huge physical and psychological comfort item.
camp shoes when car camping makes total sense! only reason I don't take them backpacking is because of the weight. If I were to hike a longer wet trail (like the AT) I would probably consider it though... never desired them on the PCT.
@@trailtalespodI can’t remember the brand but there are those super light sandals that seem to have fair traction. They’re super expensive, but after this video I think I’ll invest when I go on my “as far as I get” AT hike.
Hiking the AT in 2025. Thanks for the insights!
That’s really cool that you’re going to hike the AT. I want to go but it’s a pretty big commitment! lol. Hopefully someday I can make that decision.!!
I just started pondering a section hike in 2025. For years I was waiting until I could plan a thru hike. But then I got sick and very out of shape. Recently I decided to plan an “as far as I get” hike. I will get back into shape, but I am not going to wait until I think I’m ready to do the whole thing. We should all go for it. Hope your plans pan out.
Same round 2 and I’m going slower more time to just suck it all in not just a push to finish lol
Me too! Thinking March first NOBO.
Me too! 2/28/25. It’s getting real!
We ran into the AT club while section hiking in CT repairing a simple bridge but it’s hard work making those logs that go across also while camping at the limestone campsite I was astonished on how they built a shelter in that area.
I'm 21 now and it is one of my dreams to through hike the Appalachian trail and I really like your stories! Thanks!
Make time now. I do some section hiking at 62, I wish I had made the time!
35:58 i moved from Maine to Oregon, where on one of my first hikes, I nearly stepped on a rattlesnake while picking blackberries. I was wearing sandals bc I had just finished swimming. I happened to look down just as I was about to set my foot down, and there it was-coiled with its head up. I was wearing headphones, so if it rattled, I didn't hear it. Without any snake experience, I screamed and ran. It never lunged, but I cut that hike short. I'm back in Maine and loving the snake sitch.
I got to the end. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thanks. From my brief experience with the AT, I learned it’s the steps you take not the miles you make. Wishing you peace and good fortune. Happy Trails!
When I was young we had zero videos and we got an Instamatic with 12 pictures for a regular vacation. For special trips we got a whopping 20 shot model!!
Kyle! I will see you at Trail Days. 😊
Congrats on the growth and success. Can we also get a Flossy update? He is missed.
I'm Bagga Donuts...I'm beyond an under budget thru hiker..Ill be out on trail this year with a budget. I'm a bit nervous of judgement 😅
.Be great to Your body.
Comfort and consistency in safety are the key factors.
Sometimes it just takes research and reviews. Thanks man.
Love your content! Hope to see you on a trail some day.
Thx for the honest review, found myself in a lot your thoughts ❤👊
I hired a Sports Nutritionist to give me a nutrition plan, which I can do by macros. That way I can pack for macros per day and I'm good with food/nutrition. It's one of the smarter things I've done for myself.
Wow! Such a great idea.
Yep, blue eyes are more sensitive. I have blue and can TOTALLY relate!!! I love the sun but it's not always my friend. 😎🌻
It’s a wife’s tail, nothing to do with eye colour. Blue eyes and red head both claim the same thing.
😂😂
I have been told by several optometrists that blue-eyed people should wear sunglasses all the time when they are outside because blue eyes get damaged more easily by the sunlight
I have dark brown eyes but they’re extremely light sensitive.
@@nsrvtqcit’s not. My optometrist told me it is a real thing. Red headed problems are also real. Just for people in here reading this and are thinking you might be right. You’re wrong.
There is no way that I would go out solo on a hike, camping are anything like that anymore.i used to do things like that a lot.but the way people are and the evil things I have seen on your podcast. There is no way no more. And if anyone goes and does things like outdoor sports.please woman and men don't go alone and always have protection with you, don't let it be visible cause it could be took from you and used to harm you. I remember when I was growing up,my parents could put us to bed and leave our door unlocked all night. The world is full of evil people that would hurt anyone. So be safe people and always think before you go off by yourself. Thank you kale for the videos you show and give people awareness of the dangers in life.God bless you.
'took'?
I hope to meet you at Trail Days. I will be on my 2nd section hike up from Hot Springs as far as I can get in 4 weeks then come back down to the fest!!
I love that “as far as I get” idea. A long time ago I decided that I would head out on the AT and when asked how far I was going my answer would be, “As far as I get.” I don’t even plan to set a time limit. Well, if I have that luxury. I wonder if that would be my trail name, because I assume I’d have to say it often.
Heading back for my first trail days since I thru hiked in 2018. Would be stoked for a meetup!
Thanks for the insight!
The PATC!! Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. Awesome group. They are the one you were trying to get off your tongue.
I enjoy your content. This may be my favorite video you have ever made. I think more lesson learned videos would be great.
Going to my first Trail Days this year!
AT Class of 2023
NORTH⭐️STAR
You are all good Kyle. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Always enjoy your podcasts.
Thanks for sharing. i wish in portugal we had more space and woods and trails.... and more permissive laws for nature walks.. this is frustrating. seeing so much from usa and just can dream about it...
No way, the first hostel he showed is where i stayed at, laurel hostel, before figuring out my arches were gone in my feet and had to get off trail, and he was hangin out with steppin wolf playin harmonica, what a trip. Steppin wolf gave me my trail name, cowboy, cause the way i played his guitar 😂
" I'm really quite stupid" 🤣 i laughed hard
I loved this! Thank you it was very helpful. I am through hiking this year but am unsure as to when I will be in Damascus. Hope to meet you.
I’ve been holding back with comments so far but I’m totally the shoe guy😂😂😂 I actually did the entire AT with ONE pair of Keen H2 sandals. I just kept sewing them and repairing them. First sewing session was at the NOC😂 Keen was awesome, and actually hooked me up after I told them what that one pair had accomplished, but I busted my ass so many times in VT-ME because I had no grip whatsoever. But I was determined at that point that I was doing it in one pair!
Potomac. You pronounced it properly. Yes it is a river and a town in Maryland. That section is really nice for sure
Always fun hearing about the AT
Listened to the end! I can’t remember if you have talked about this before on trail tales (😂 ) but would you ever re hike the AT again in the future or was it more of a one and done type of adventure for you?
I’ve wondered about this as well. Do thru hikers do the at/pct etc again?
about the food and how much to carry honestly too much is better than not enough I've seen some hikers run out of food and worry about getting into town quick to eat that day
Photos are my most prized positions ❤
I am pretty sure you are about to though hike the AT again. You were really getting nostalgic toward the end of this video. On another note, the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club maintains the AT from southern PA down through the Shenandoah National Park.
I’m from CA, very near Yosemite, did a section hike of the AT last year and honestly couldn’t fathom sleeping inside an actual shelter vs in my tent. Glad that where I was it was not mandatory. I just don’t get shelters…yet.
I much prefer my tent but I will admit when it pouring rain and for days on end I do seek out shelters. I also sleep in them when they are empty. It’s makes packing up in the morning super easy.
Really like your stuff, Kyle 👍❤
Absolutely bring camp shoes, even in the West. I’m Ultralight specifically so I can bring a few comfort items. Bring an ultralight chair and an ultralight set of camp shoes that breath and my God does it just make being at camp so nice
Basically a hostel minus a shower at that point haha
I dub thee "The Psycho Hiker" 😂 Love you Kyle!
I could hear in your voice that you miss the AT like a lost love. It's the curse we all must endure after. Welcome to the family.
5 star review grew up near peters mountain pa.... thats a hell of a shelter....maybe going trail day inbetween kayaking and festivals
On your point about pictures, I am the same way. Luckily, my GF is always taking tons of photos but for some reason I just never remember to. Then I regret not having anything to reference for past trips. Trying to really force myself to stop and record things more often.
I do these foot exercises called “The MELT Method”, which involves different ways of rolling your feet over different size little balls. Looks simple but has really helped with pain, stiffness and misalignment/
food: one cup of cooked dehydrated rice, one cup of cooked dehydrated quinoa, plus dehydrated veg and spices, four tablespoons of olive oil, two cups of mix nuts, one 1/4 - half of dark chocolate bar 50g, one tablespoon of protein powder, two tea bags - per day. Sometimes corn chips if i'm craving them. I usually measure out for 5 days for 60-80km. Or if i'm going around 100 - 120 km I'll take 8 days.
Is this all mixed together or separate? What are your normal calorie needs in a day?
We love you too!! You're a kick!!
The Potomac River is the one that goes through Washington D.C. When I consider the amount of money and 'affluent free time' in that area I'm not at all surprised they Gucci'fied their part of the trail.
You gotta try Peak Re-Fuel meals I really can't stand those meals but Peak Re-fuel are hands down the best meals I ever tried and super easy to cook with minimal water
Initially we did not use freeze dried trail meals because I thought they were expensive compared to buying grocery store food. However, eventually learned the real economics. Since small grocers closed when locals started going to new big box grocer 10 miles away we needed Uber rides to resupply at big box grocers. And that usually also turned into a motel night. I was spending an additional $2 for every $1 of groceries. We could easily carry 8 days of freeze dried meals. Weight and space was 5 day limit for groceries. Turned out cheaper to carry more of the “expensive” freeze dried meals. Would have saved us 2-3 motel nights per month on thru hike (rather have motel nights somewhere fun, not wasted near an Interstate exit ramp). Now that we only do section hikes we don’t need resupply for a 2 week trip.
Disregard “…2 week trip”. Supposed to be “…1 week trip”.
Not a glimpse of a bud light in the back of a truck.😂😂😂
You don't "Get slack" - you cut slack - it's a nautical term. You get flack. Also - they are opposing terms.
I’m not sure it is nautical. Slack refers to any activity that uses lengths of rope/webbing/cloth. You’re just cutting extra, not the exact length required, or feeding them out a bit extra, maybe 10 or 20% more. In general usage you’re allowing someone to do something good enough, rather than perfectly, or maybe even make a few mistakes. You generally cut someone some slack, or give someone some slack.
Flack or Ack-Ack is a hail of missiles, over a short period of time, designed to comprehensively cover a loosely defined- usually quite large- area. You are not firing on one specific target. In general usage getting flack, means you are suffering many critical comments all at once, some of them at least will have nothing to do with the specific issues initially discussed, but might just be random personal attacks.
I have no idea where Kyle used these terms, I missed that, maybe you could give a time stamp.
Y'all are being very mildly pedantic (and yeah I've only seen a couple of his videos and he's used it a few times and it's annoyed me every time) so I'm gonna be _very_ pedantic! It's not "Flack" it's FLAK. It's often used as just a common term for any anti-aircraft artillery now, but it's actually a German acronym for Fliegerabwehrkanone
@@chrisc1140 in USA it’s spelt flak, in the UK it can be spelt flack. The anti-aircraft guns were generally referred to as Ack Ack guns. I gathered its meaning and usage from British 2nd World War films made during and just after the war, as well as filmed interviews with people who served in that war. My Uncle served in The Desert Campaign, one of my grandfathers was a night fire watch warden at his local small munitions factories, the other was stationed at an anti-aircraft artillery unit in the South of England. British Airmen certainly used the term flack, but as a spoken word, and would not necessarily know it’s origins, they had not seen it formally written down, so in any reports they would just spell it the way it sounded, ‘flack’.
I wasn’t being pedantic, just correcting an inaccuracy made by the original commenter. As I said in my first comment I have no idea what Kyle said, so my comment was not directed at him.
@@hulabiker21 I don't care who your uncle or grandfather were? If they spelt it "flack" then they were wrong too. This isn't an English word to have US vs UK spelling differences over. It's a German abbreviation that caught on in both the US and UK.
Other than that, your commentary about what "getting flak" _means as a phrase_ is spot on and is what Kyle _should_ be saying based on the way he's using it. What he's saying instead is "getting _slack"_ (example right near the start at 4:20 ). And I don't know about the original commenter saying it's a nautical term, I've normally heard it comes from horse riding: giving slack to the reigns to let the horse do what it wants. In other words _almost_ the opposite of how Kyle is using it.
@@chrisc1140 words can end up being spelt in ways that are not ‘correct’, and over the years if that ‘incorrect’ spelling is normal usage, then that becomes the correct spelling in that location. It is something that commonly happens in language. For instance there are numerous spellings for both ‘Chupatti’ and ‘Bhaji’ in the area I live…this is because the spellings are a phonetic representation of the original word, in the English language. None of these are correct, none are incorrect, as no single spelling has been generally accepted as yet. This is what I was trying to explain with flack. The servicemen of the time, and those decades later, spelling it in this way are not wrong, if that is how that word is generally accepted as being spelt in that location. The derivation of a word should also include its usage over time.
Dictionaries only reflect usage, they do not define it. Even then they are written to cover specific populations, eg Miriam-Webster and Chambers for North America, Collins for Britain. Up until the last few decades, with the advent of emails, the internet and text on mobile phones…the most accurate guide to usage was observation of verbal usage by different sectors of the population over time…ie listening to peoples conversations. If you want to know the usage of a word that originated in the 2nd World War then talk/listen to those that were there, and that is what I’ve done.
Yup! Hiking around in NH Peterborough, I was paying attn thank goodness. A little unnerving to say the least!
planning on section hiking the AT and I wanted to be over-prepared as much as i can. ❤
Hiking the AT this year and will 100% be at trail days. I'm down to hang my dude.
Yes, will be at Trail Days. My 50th year class reunon!
I think weight is misunderstood. The Idea is don't condition yourself on the trail. Know what you're comfortable with carrying. I have always brought my camp shoes. Sometimes I bring fishing gear, and a collapsible stool. I always bring coffee, with a travel mug. I never regret it. I dropped some weight by switching to a trekking pole tent, and a water filter. Im a pretty small guy, but I can hike all day with a 35-40 pound pack. A comfortable camp experience is something to look forward to after an intense day.
So, in answer to your query about food planning...I calculated the exact grams of protein/fat/carbs that I wanted to consume daily based on a 3500, 4000, and 4500 calories per day diet. I made a spreadsheet, found the calculations for how many calories are in carbs/fat/protein per gram, and then calculated the proportions. It's a lot of work, but it's definitely been worth it. I used backcountry foodie website for making all my own dinners and many snacks. The owner of the site is a registered dietician and ultralight thru hiker. She's also a vegetarian/vegan and I am not, so I added beef to the dinners I made for the extra protein. Her recipes are excellent.
I’ll see you at Trail Days!
What was your starting and ending pack weights? I know you probably mention it in a video but so I don’t have to dig around, if love to know
AT through-hikers (obviously) burn WAY more calories per diem than a typical weekend/4-5-day backpacker (I have been the latter).
Many of the freeze-dried backpacker dinners I've experienced were portioned 1.5 to 2 "servings" per package, which can be a bit much for a weekender.
In addition, they typically contained up to 1500 mg of SODIUM, which is excessive (though a proper balance of sodium AND potassium is important). But having one stashed away for "emergencies" is always a good idea, given the minimal weight. And beats daily "potato flakes" (unless you're marooned on Mars XD).
I would like to go to Trail Days. Never went before. Is it easy to find a camping spot or do you recommend booking a hotel?
I haven't been before either, but I think there is a public tenting area. Hotels in Damascus are likely booked up at this point, but you could probably find something if you're willing to drive a little bit
Trail Days 2024
Have to represent in the parade.
I buy sunglasses at Home Depot, no cap. Less than $6, UVA & B blockers, shock drop and roll resistant. Heck, go nuts, buy two! They have the regular and also wraparound types. No, not an ad, I'm just horrible to the poor things!
PATC - Potomac Appalachian Trail Club do a great job!
That section is amazing!
A lot of things I would have never thought of....have never done a through hike. Wish we had more of that here in Ontario Canada. Loads of trails and cool spots. We have the Bruce Trail but oddly, there is very little wild camping along the way. Sad really. Growing up near Algonquin Park, always assumed you could just throw up a tent anywhere and camp. Now that I'm getting more into hiking, here in Southern Ontario there is pretty much no wild camping at all. Makes it difficult to do multi-day hikes unless you have a car.
Dude, listen to song " glory days ", Bruce Springstien. You can will relate.
An interview with Austin Seder would be nice. Just finished watching his CDT documentary 👍
I’d really like to know if you faced anything paranormal on the AT. Did you ever face anything that made you want to run, not hike?
This is perfect as I prepare for mine later this year! 👊👊 I’ll be there for sure!
You definitely need an underquilt when hammocking.
Blue eyes are more sensitive to light changes. My eye doctor told me that. It takes our pupils longer to change size and they aren’t as efficient at it. I have a lot of trouble at twilight because everything blends together.
“Mullet Mike” - how awesome of a trail name is that? 😂
Hi, for your nutrition question I would shout for 1.0 to 1.5 grams per kilogram of body weight of protein and 0.5 to 1kg grams of fat each day and fill in the remaining balance with carbohydrates.
I wish I had taken more pics and videos when I was younger outdoors.....but we had no cell phones and I couldn't carry a camera.....maybe a polaroid....lol
Foot care is of great importance. Get great boots and socks. Nothing matters more than your feet. I once had a job that involved a lot of walking, so I know what I am talking about. Spend whatever you must to get the RIGHT boots and socks, then next in importance is your backpack.
If boots, socks, and backpack are not right, you may as well stay home.
Yes, potomac river
Your Awesome!!!!❤❤❤❤❤
Yea, dude, summer in the south ain’t no joke!
I live out west and I have lost count of the number of rattlesnakes that I have stepped over. Scares the hell out of me every time. One time I was actually peeing on one without realizing it. Once I did realize what I was doing I stopped and apologized to the poor snake. It never even rattled at me.
I am a first-time watcher. I enjoyed your content except one thing - Stop calling yourself stupid! Words are so powerful. You are awesome and I am looking forward to watching your playlist. Was the rattle snake your only snake sighting on this trip?