WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 60
  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-14-2011
    Location
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Age
    36
    Posts
    8

    Default Your Two Cents...

    For those of you who have thru-hiked, done an extensive amount of hiking, or anything of the sort...I pose a question for any and all of you. If you could give just ONE piece of advice to someone about hiking, what would that singular piece of advice be?

    I'm sure we could all talk for ages and argue about all types of things, but I'm curious as to what everyone would choose to throw in as their two cents about hiking, especially thru-hiking the AT.

  2. #2
    Registered User Big Guy's Avatar
    Join Date
    12-29-2002
    Location
    Johnson City, Tn 37615
    Posts
    144
    Images
    17

    Default

    No a trhru hiker. Done some setions and like to hike.
    My less tahn 2 cents:
    HIKE YOUR OWN HIKE!
    Big Guy
    and ye shall know the truth
    and the truth shall set you free.
    St. John 8.32
    "Be Safe"

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    01-28-2008
    Location
    Spokane, WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    4,907

    Default

    Cn any hike, start cartoonishly slow.
    "It's fun to have fun, but you have to know how." ---Dr. Seuss

  4. #4

    Default

    It's not a competition.

    Faster, more miles, biggest pack, smallest pack, "purest" hike, longest hike, best equipment, oldest hiker, youngest hiker, smartest hiker, LNT royalty, most peaks bagged, most miles hiked, best shape, worst shape, stinkiest socks, whatever it is, the only thing you're up against is yourself.

  5. #5
    Registered User Papa D's Avatar
    Join Date
    06-23-2008
    Location
    Athens, GA
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,856
    Images
    7

    Default

    Wear shoes - not boots (unless snow is deeper than 3")

  6. #6

    Join Date
    07-18-2010
    Location
    island park,ny
    Age
    66
    Posts
    11,909
    Images
    218

    Default

    its the journey, not the destination

  7. #7

    Default

    allow some flex in your schedule, and be prepared to give up a lot of control.

  8. #8
    Garlic
    Join Date
    10-15-2008
    Location
    Golden CO
    Age
    66
    Posts
    5,615
    Images
    2

    Default

    Don't do it unless you really love to walk.
    "Throw a loaf of bread and a pound of tea in an old sack and jump over the back fence." John Muir on expedition planning

  9. #9

    Default

    learn to build a fire with a match before you ever leave home.

  10. #10
    Registered User
    Join Date
    06-18-2010
    Location
    NJ
    Age
    47
    Posts
    3,133
    Images
    1

    Default

    all this advice is no substitute for experience.

  11. #11
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-04-2002
    Location
    various places
    Age
    48
    Posts
    2,380

    Default

    First - bring alot of money, you will benefit from having it (in particular not having to worry about not having enough money).

    Second - embrace rhythm and momentum...they are your greatest assets. They are greater assets then things like zero's, hostels, and drinking beer.

    Third - learn to accept rain, not attempt to avoid it, once you get past the fear of rain there are dozens of assets you can see with just one drawback, it's wet!

  12. #12

    Join Date
    05-05-2011
    Location
    state of confusion
    Posts
    9,866
    Journal Entries
    1

    Default

    Your shoes are your most important piece of equipment. Take care of your feet.

  13. #13

    Default

    learn all you can about the environment your traveling through,and let it sink in,It's quite wonderful.

  14. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    02-18-2007
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    1,610
    Images
    36

    Default

    Good one,

    1 thing huh?

    Take less, to me, lighter and less is tons better.

  15. #15

    Default

    Learn to become tolerant of discomfort...perhaps even learn to enjoy it.

  16. #16

    Default

    You'll enjoy the hike more if you've attained at least a modicum of aerobic fitness beforehand.

  17. #17

    Default

    Get plenty of rest after each day of hard hiking and bathe often or wash down with a Camelbak and Dr. Bronner's soap.

  18. #18

    Join Date
    08-04-2004
    Location
    Jacksonville, Fla
    Age
    67
    Posts
    686
    Images
    8

    Default

    Relax and enjoy.
    Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. -Kahlil Gibran

  19. #19
    Registered User Different Socks's Avatar
    Join Date
    07-07-2009
    Location
    Havre, MT
    Age
    60
    Posts
    1,368
    Images
    5

    Default

    My advice? Just get out there and do it. Any trail, any where, any length, any weather, any age, any terrain.....no more excuses not to do it!!

  20. #20
    CF97 > Everything Else.
    Join Date
    09-09-2011
    Location
    Freeport, IL
    Age
    35
    Posts
    291

    Default

    We are getting a lot more advice than just 2¢ worth. Keep it coming folks!
    "... I know it is wrong, but I am for the spirit that makes young men do the things they do. I am for the glory that they know." --Sigurd Olson, Singing Wilderness.


    AT '12, LT '13, CT '14, PCT '15

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast
++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •