Another newbie with questions

[AdamantiumKid]

Well as my first post, I thought I would ask y'all a few questions that popped up in my mind after reading through various threads for the past day and a half! I know these have probably been answered before, so I'm sorry if these are tedious repeats for everyone. Oh...and they will definately not be my last questions as I plan my thru-hike!

- Seems most are anti cell phone. Is this because of the distraction of the ringing or because it's not "roughing it" to carry one? Is it frowned upon amongst hikers to carry one, turned off so you can have it for emergencies or when in town, away from other hikers?

- Dogs. I have 2. I know it will suck leaving them for the duration of the thru-hike, but what do people do with pets? I have this fear or leaving them with someone who becomes attached and then wants to keep 'em.

- Doc Bronner's. I have used it before I even considered a thru-hike, but that tingle feeling is kinda annoying. Will I change my mind when it's all I have? And do people mostly use the mint because the smell doesn't attract animals or because of the tingle?

- Just about every book I read gives the pros and cons to internal vs. external packs. Internal is comfy cause it forms to your back; external is nice cause it allows air flow and so on... So which is it? And none of this "it's a personal preference" stuff. Let me know what YOU like and why

- Coffee. I drink it every morning. Should I ween myself off of it or learn to love the taste of instant?

-Last one for now... TP. Do they make a kind that is more biodegradable than others? Do you have to pack it out? Bury it?

Thanks guys. I'm very stoked about planning my thru-hike and this site is an awesome resourse. You all rock the house.

[Lone Wolf]

The majority of hikers carry cell phones.
You don't need Bronner's for hiking.
Packs. I like them both. It IS a personal choice.
I drink coffee most every morning while hiking. No reason to give it up.
Carry plain ole TP. Bury it 6 inches.

[SGT Rock]

What he said.

And good luck.

[AdamantiumKid]

You don't need Bronner's for hiking.

Is there something else good to use other than going without "soap"?

[Lone Wolf]

Couldn't tell ya. I've never used soap of any kind while hiking. You don't need it.

[SGT Rock]

Sure, use Ivory bar soap. No smells. And to make it harder and last longer unwrap it and let it sit out for about a month before you start. It will shrink down some before you start using it, won't lather up as much, and last longer. The only think you have to plan for is where to pack a wet bar of soap when you use it.

[AdamantiumKid]

Yeah I had thought of that "where do I put a wet bar of soap" issue.

At home I tend to use liquid soap since it lathers more, but I would imagine on the trail a big lather is unwanted and unneeded-you just something to break the dirt off.

[SGT Rock]

Well here is a suggestion: sandwich size zip lock. Just a suggestion.

[AdamantiumKid]

Durr. Of course it would be something as simple as a ziploc LOL.

[Lone Wolf]

Yeah I had thought of that "where do I put a wet bar of soap" issue.

At home I tend to use liquid soap since it lathers more, but I would imagine on the trail a big lather is unwanted and unneeded-you just something to break the dirt off.

Plain old water and a bandana works fine. Save the soap and such for towns.

[AdamantiumKid]

Save the soap and such for towns.

You just answered my next question. Thanks L. Wolf!

[Alligator]

There are a couple of different ways to make coffee besides instant:
coffee bags (like tea bags)
coffee press
cowboy coffee.

[AdamantiumKid]

There are a couple of different ways to make coffee besides instant:
coffee bags (like tea bags)
coffee press
cowboy coffee.

Yeah, I found that since I got snobbish with my coffee (sorry i worked for Starbucks, don't hold that against me though), the robusta beans used in the coffee bags tastes like cardboard to me. The coffee press is a great idea as long as I can afford the space in my pack. What is cowboy coffee? Or should I be afraid to ask?

[StarLyte]

There are a couple of different ways to make coffee besides instant:
coffee bags (like tea bags)
coffee press
cowboy coffee.

Oh oh cowboy coffee----any of you that were at Trail Days for Whiteblaze breakfast got to sample Mala's cowboy coffee--?? Trail Angel Mary knows what I'm talking about.

The night before I was sitting around camp. Mala filled a HUGE pot with water, put it on a propane burner, then threw a can of coffee right into the water!! I was in shock. He brought it to a boil then turned it off. NPR Gary said that's Mala's cowboy coffee. Sure enough the next morning at the Whiteblaze breakfast I had some. Most coffee grounds were at the bottom of the pot. It was hot. It was great.

It was deelishus. Good job Mala.

That was KICK BUTT java. WOW.

[Lone Wolf]

Cowboy coffee? Throw the gounds in a pot, add water, boil then strain. I think it sucks but others rave about it.

[AdamantiumKid]

So it's kinda like turkish coffee where you throw the ground in hot water and let them settle out... Sound like a mouthful of dirt if you're not careful!

[StarLyte]

So it's kinda like turkish coffee where you throw the ground in hot water and let them settle out... Sound like a mouthful of dirt if you're not careful!

Nooo, if you do it the right way, the grounds settle to the bottom!

[Lone Wolf]

So it's kinda like turkish coffee where you throw the ground in hot water and let them settle out... Sound like a mouthful of dirt if you're not careful!

Yeah, it ain't all that. Overrated.

[jlb2012]

Is the trick to get the grounds to settle in cowboy coffee to toss in a little cold water before drinking?

[AdamantiumKid]

All this talk about coffee, gets me thinking more about breakfast in general. this should be on a new thread most likely, but on the subject of breakfast:

I have a book that mentions people eating cold cereal for breakfast on the trail. Really? Dry or with milk? And if it's with milk, what kind?