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Ditto on the pruning scars. My trail crew is taught to prune all the way around the tree so they're not lop-sided, but not all crews do that.

And this is pretty much the solution to most of life's problems (beside rhubarb pie). The best way to get warm is to never get cold to begin with.

And don't forget hydration. I've found it's more...

I've been on some hikes that were a little too exciting and I wished for a boring day.

It's often MTBers and runners that get attacked, usually from behind. You look more like the cat's usual prey that way, a deer running away. The biker did you a favor by riding away. He was your...

Great story. I grew up with older brothers like that, made sure you didn't get soft. We used to play hockey on a lake in Wisconsin. We'd build a fire right on the ice.

I only use gaiters in deep snow. I definitely don't like them in summer. I'd rather knock the dirt out of my shoes at breaks than mess with gaiters. I usually hike with long trousers, and maybe that...

I'll add a couple:

8. Overall safer, no risk of stove accidents (scalds, burns, wildland fire).
9. One less chore during town stops, with no fuel resupply.

If you want a more accurate model, also include the extra time spent out in harsh weather heating water on the stove. If you're in the early stages of hypothermia, add extra time and factor in the...

I think it's not a safety issue. In cold emergencies, a hot drink is helpful, administered by a rescuer, and is pretty far down on the priority list. Always concentrate on shelter and dry insulation...

The Marmot Helium bag may be found for a good sale price occasionally. It's not the highest end bag, but well made for the price. I've always had good service from Tarptent shelters, and don't think...

If you use rolled oats, they're already parboiled in processing and no further cooking or soaking is needed. I've tried soaking steel cut oats and instant grits overnight and to me neither is edible.

Tarptent Protrail.

Another vote for warmer ground over the cold ventilated floor. Hammock hangers need to use underquilts in winter. The shelter floor is somewhat analogous.

One of my mentors in stoveless hiking had a trail diet consisting of nothing but muesli and peanut butter. I tried that on one resupply and it didn't work well for me. I kept with the stoveless idea...

The first day may not be lighter, but the last day sure is! Imagine having emptied your food bag for breakfast, town is 12 miles away, and you have no pot, stove, or empty fuel container. You don't...

I put the boots under my knees outside the bag.

All great advice above. Here's a photo of my favorite snow camp:
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Tarptent Contrail with a CCF pad doubled up with a layer of Reflectix and a 0F bag. Overnight single digit temps. In Crater...

Most of the hikers I know have started in April and hiked a reasonable pace. You'll spend less time holed up in motels or worse, in hostels, in bad weather. And you may carry less foul weather gear.

My favorite rain jacket is a homemade silnylon anorak, under 3 oz and packs the size of a fist. A hiking friend made it and I've used it heavily for over ten years, including an AT thru hike and a...

Short answer, no. Ditto on raingear while doing laundry.

Some good advice I heard a long time ago was that you should be able to wear all the clothing in your pack at the same time, as part of a...

Yes it is. The author is a good person, too.

What are your trail shoes? Mine are so comfortable and dry so quickly it makes no sense to bring second pair.

I've known plenty of AT thru-hikers with $10K+ in expenses, even nearly twenty years ago. My AT hike cost me about $3500 in 2008. But I normally live inexpensively, had experience on other long...

A friend used Armor All on the front bench seat of his 70s Cadillac. His wife drove without a seat belt and on the first left turn she ended up hugging the passenger side door. Gladly no one was...

My climbing partner and I have several decades of experience together and have always worn similar gear. But he's a Nikwax guy, I'm a Snoseal guy. We never discussed it, certainly never argued about...