Advice from the experienced to the younger one

**Paul Bunyan** · 02-21-2007, 23:54

Hey y'all.

As most of you may know, i am almost ready to start my first thru-hike. Only 9 days to go before i'm off on the trail. I was just wondering if any of you more experienced hikers could give me some advice before i start?

**rafe** · 02-21-2007, 23:58

Originally Posted by Paul Bunyan

Hey y'all.

As most of you may know, i am almost ready to start my first thru-hike. Only 9 days to go before i'm off on the trail. I was just wondering if any of you more experienced hikers could give me some advice before i start?

Watch out where the huskies go, don't you eat that yellow snow.

**Lone Wolf** · 02-21-2007, 23:58

Originally Posted by Paul Bunyan

Hey y'all.

As most of you may know, i am almost ready to start my first thru-hike. Only 9 days to go before i'm off on the trail. I was just wondering if any of you more experienced hikers could give me some advice before i start?

go slow, do low mileage and don't even think about maine right now. if you have an itinerary, throw it out

**Mags** · 02-22-2007, 00:01

Enjoy every day.

Even the most grueling day on the trail is a day of freedom.

Enjoy every wild flower, every vista.

Revel in the freedom most don't have.

**Jim Adams** · 02-22-2007, 00:02

Have fun.
If you get lost, go uphill, it has to be the right way.
Don't make any permanent decisions while going uphill or in the rain.
Go as slow as possible and try to enjoy something EVERY day.
Did I say have fun?
geek

**Sly** · 02-22-2007, 00:16

Respect the trail for what it is, and accept it, rather than fight it..

**ScottP** · 02-22-2007, 00:29

look at your hike as a vacation, not a challenge to be conquered.

**Blissful** · 02-22-2007, 00:39

Originally Posted by Paul Bunyan

Hey y'all.

As most of you may know, i am almost ready to start my first thru-hike. Only 9 days to go before i'm off on the trail. I was just wondering if any of you more experienced hikers could give me some advice before i start?

Listen to your mother.

hee, hee

**Sly** · 02-22-2007, 00:56

Originally Posted by Blissful

Listen to your mother.

hee, hee

Of course,

and if he slips, I'm sure the hikers around will remind him.

**emerald** · 02-22-2007, 01:33

Originally Posted by Sly

Respect the trail for what it is, and accept it, rather than fight it.

If I were to provide only one sentence of advice, Sly's advice would be exactly what I'd recommend.

Here are a few more:

Be patient with your body. It will respond with everything required of it if you don't ask too much too soon.

Remember that you and your mother are are a team and by working together you can both succeed.

Don't not allow yourself to become discouraged -- keep hiking.

Call me when you get to Duncannon.

**hammock engineer** · 02-22-2007, 01:47

Here's my plan.

Put my one foot infront of the other, repeat as needed. Other than carrying enough food and water, I really am not going to plan too much more than that.

Have fun and go with the flow.

It will all work out in the end.

**rafe** · 02-22-2007, 01:50

Originally Posted by hammock engineer

Have fun and go with the flow.

Yeah, that's where I'm headed m'self... straight down the tubes.

**Sly** · 02-22-2007, 01:54

Originally Posted by hammock engineer

Here's my plan.

Put my one foot infront of the other, repeat as needed.

Have you ever counted to 5 million before?

I'm sure y'all will do fine. Even if it's cold/hot/wet/humid/buggy/ miserable and treacherous on occasion, stick it out, it's a great trip.

**hammock engineer** · 02-22-2007, 03:26

Originally Posted by Sly

Have you ever counted to 5 million before?

I'm sure y'all will do fine. Even if it's cold/hot/wet/humid/buggy/ miserable and treacherous on occasion, stick it out, it's a great trip.

I'm the guy that's out hiking in the rain/snow/sun/ice with the smile on my face, given not for months. But considering I could be working in an office at a engineering job, anything the trail has to throw my way is fine with me.

**hammock engineer** · 02-22-2007, 03:27

Originally Posted by Sly

Have you ever counted to 5 million before?

I'm sure y'all will do fine. Even if it's cold/hot/wet/humid/buggy/ miserable and treacherous on occasion, stick it out, it's a great trip.

Thanks.

I'm the guy that's out hiking in the rain/snow/sun/ice with the smile on my face, given not for months. But considering I could be working in an office at a engineering job, anything the trail has to throw my way is fine with me.

**hammock engineer** · 02-22-2007, 03:28

Crap double post. I really need to reup my donation to fix this.

**SalParadise** · 02-22-2007, 03:33

1. be joyful for each painful, miserable step along the way, as your pain will be rewarded upon completion.
2. hike as if you'll never see that section of trail again in your life.
3. go light
4. talk to the trees
5. keep a journal
6. try never to look at a picture of Katahdin until you see it for yourself
7. separate from your group of friends for at least some while
8. try to view hills and rain and mud and exhaustion as a challenge that can be overcome and not an agony you have to endure.
9. every so often, get to a view and try to look south for Springer and contemplate just how far you've come
10. every finished thru-hiker wishes he were you. Relish how far you have to go.
11. ignore all advice.

**SalParadise** · 02-22-2007, 03:35

what's sad is i more realize how great of a journey i was on now that i've finished then when i was actually hiking.

**SalParadise** · 02-22-2007, 03:39

the joy of completion is dependent on the harshness of the journey.

**Marta** · 02-22-2007, 06:59

Keep hiking and you'll get there eventually. If you quit, you'll never know what would have happened next.

This may not make sense to you now, but if and when you hit the northern border of Virginia, it will.

Marta/Five-Leaf

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