What one piece of advice would you give....

[Johnny Swank]

To an aspiring thru-hiker in three sentences or less? I was just thinking about this earlier today and wanted to see what people would come up with.

Mine would be something like "Make your thru-hike your #1 priority if you want to finish. Gear doesn't get you to Springer (Katahdin for you nobo-types). Heart does."

[Jim Adams]

even heart wont make you finish if you push too hard and hurt yourself or become bored.
1. HAVE FUN!
2. TAKE YOUR TIME.
3. HAVE FUN!
get it?

geek

[RedneckRye]

Slow down and carry a travel size bottle of Gold Bond powder.

[The Weasel]

(1) Go light.
(2) Walk in the light, sleep in the dark.
(3) Live in the moment.

The Weasel

[Johnny Swank]

Slow down and carry a travel size bottle of Gold Bond powder.

I had a friend who carried enough chafe stuff to stock a nursery school with! Dude was hurtin.

[Sly]

I asked a similar question of former thru-hiker I met near the NOC, in two words his advice was: "keep persisting".

[rafe]

I asked a similar question of former thru-hiker I met near the NOC, in two words his advice was: "keep persisting".

I thought it was keep perspiring. Or keep anti-perspirant. Or something. :-?

[hopefulhiker]

Go light. Go slow. Go by yourself.

[Grampie]

First: Have enough money.

Second: Have enough time.

Third: Have enough will power.:)

[Outlaw]

I asked a similar question of former thru-hiker I met near the NOC, in two words his advice was: "keep persisting".
... or, as in the great Nike slogan, "Just Do it!"

[-MYST-]

My first thing to mention would be take your time at the start and don't try to do big miles right away, they will come naturally.

Second would be always have a set of dry clothes, kept dry with your sleeping bag, to put on at camp/shelters and put your wet ones back on in the morning (oh what a feeling).

Third would be a product called body glide, it does amazing things to prevent chaffing in some sensitive areas.



-MYST_
the adventure continues.....

GA->ME'04

[rafe]

What geek said. (Msg. #2.)

[Footslogger]

Plan like hell ahead of time and then just roll with it once you're out there. Don't let it STOP being fun. Get as much out of each day as you can, either in terms of miles or experiences. Other than due to circumstances beyond your control ...FINISH !!

'Slogger

[mrc237]

Don't forget your cellphone:) Bring lotsa cash. Bring lotsa plastic.

[max patch]

(1) Go light.
(2) Walk in the light, sleep in the dark.
(3) Live in the moment.

The Weasel

My advice would be to not take advice on how to do a thru hike from those who haven't actually done a thru hike.

[bfitz]

1. Tough actin tinactin (antifungal powder spray-it is the best for chafing).
2. Never turn down an oppurtunity to have a good time. Side tracks and little misadventures often make for the best stories.
3. You will find your own way to do things. There is no right way. HYOH!!!!!

[Sly]

My advice would be to not take advice on how to do a thru hike from those who haven't actually done a thru hike.

Affirmative! :D

[Jester2000]

Take your time.
Carry enough weight to keep you happy in camp.
Appreciate what role others have in keeping you on the trail (hikers, locals, business owners) and act accordingly.

[Marta]

1) Don't worry about the long-term, try to make each day a good day.

2) Eat lots.

3) If you want to quit, put it off for a couple of days, and keep hiking in the meantime.

That's three sentences, and three pieces of advice. Hmmm. Forget the first two, and go with the last one.

[Accolada]

I can't agree more with Sly. Keep on persisting! =)

[Programbo]

OK..I saw this post early this morning but had to run down to VA and pick someone up at the airport so didn`t have time to reply..But after pondering it all day I have come up with these bits of advice:

1) Make sure you are in good BACKPACKING shape. (Lots of people are in good shape generally but not in the walking with weight on your back up and down hills specific manner and thus problems develope)

2)Take your time and have fun. (If you have to take a month longer because you are carrying 10 pounds more but you are eating well and have those nice little luxuries it`s worth it trust me)

3)MAKE SURE YOU ARE OUT THERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS!!! (This is my biggest piece of advice..I`ve seen statistics saying that only like 10-15% of people starting thru-hikes today finish????..That`s telling me a LOT of people aren`t there for the right reason..Unless you have a LOT of willpower and can force yourself to do something you don't really want to for 4-5 months, I don't think you'll make it unless you REALLY love the mountains and nature and the whole AT lifestyle)

[rafe]

Right reasons? Oy, that's why I never made it.... :cool:

[bfitz]

OK..I saw this post early this morning but had to run down to VA and pick someone up at the airport so didn`t have time to reply..But after pondering it all day I have come up with these bits of advice:

1) Make sure you are in good BACKPACKING shape. (Lots of people are in good shape generally but not in the walking with weight on your back up and down hills specific manner and thus problems develope)

2)Take your time and have fun. (If you have to take a month longer because you are carrying 10 pounds more but you are eating well and have those nice little luxuries it`s worth it trust me)

3)MAKE SURE YOU ARE OUT THERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS!!! (This is my biggest piece of advice..I`ve seen statistics saying that only like 10-15% of people starting thru-hikes today finish????..That`s telling me a LOT of people aren`t there for the right reason..Unless you have a LOT of willpower and can force yourself to do something you don't really want to for 4-5 months, I don't think you'll make it unless you REALLY love the mountains and nature and the whole AT lifestyle)
Don't be discouraged. The best way to get in shape for a thru-hike is to thru-hike. Definitely consider your reasons carefully, but refer to rule number one when consulting others.

[bfitz]

Rule number one is "don't be discouraged".

[Peaks]

No pain, No rain, No Maine

[Jack Tarlin]

1. Be flexible and adaptable in all things.
2. Expect the unexpected and don't be upset when this happens.
3. Keep a sense of humor, cuz you'll surely need it.

[SalParadise]

1. Think of bad weather as a challenge to overcome and don't wallow in it.
2. A positive or negative attitude is your choice.
3. Think of how far you've come from Springer, not how far you are from Katahdin

[Blissful]

Rule number one is "don't be discouraged".


I'll take that one!! :)

[Lone Wolf]

every day is a saturday and every meal is a banquet
pain is just weakness leaving the body
blue-blaze often

[WalkinHome]

1. Take too many pictures of PEOPLE and then take some more.

A. Take your money, ID etc out of your pack before putting it a trunk or back of a pick up etc.

b. Do one last nature call IN the woods before heading into civilization.

Be safe

[Froggy]

A while ago some older ladies gave a slide show about hiking the Colorado Trail. The audience was primarily young athletic folks. During the quesstion and answer period at the end, one youthful chap asked the somewhat grandmotherly-appearing ladies, "How did YOU do it?"

The room became very quiet. After a bit of a pause one of the ladies gave her answer, slightly acerbically:

"Just keep walking. You'll get there."

[bigben]

I like this one I heard some thruhiker say on the "Appalachian Impressions" PBS domuentary.

"Don't trust any decision made while walking UPHILL."

[weary]

Slow down and carry a travel size bottle of Gold Bond powder.
Slow down and carry a travel-size bottle of good bourbon!

[weary]

OK..I saw this post early this morning but had to run down to VA and pick someone up at the airport so didn`t have time to reply..But after pondering it all day I have come up with these bits of advice:

1) Make sure you are in good BACKPACKING shape. (Lots of people are in good shape generally but not in the walking with weight on your back up and down hills specific manner and thus problems develope)

2)Take your time and have fun. (If you have to take a month longer because you are carrying 10 pounds more but you are eating well and have those nice little luxuries it`s worth it trust me)

3)MAKE SURE YOU ARE OUT THERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS!!! (This is my biggest piece of advice..I`ve seen statistics saying that only like 10-15% of people starting thru-hikes today finish????..That`s telling me a LOT of people aren`t there for the right reason..Unless you have a LOT of willpower and can force yourself to do something you don't really want to for 4-5 months, I don't think you'll make it unless you REALLY love the mountains and nature and the whole AT lifestyle)
Programo. If you want us older folks to read what you are writing post in black, not a weak purple.

[RedneckRye]

Slow down and carry a travel-size bottle of good bourbon!

Absolutely, maybe even a bit bigger than travel size so that you can share.

[Jim Adams]

Absolutely, maybe even a bit bigger than travel size so that you can share.


:banana a liter fits in the pack nicely!

[The Snowman]

Have fun. If you stop haveing fun, stop and figuur out way you are no longer haveing fun and fix the promblem don't just push on.