It's always darkest right before it goes pitch black.
Walk quietly, stop often, look around, breathe.
It's always darkest right before it goes pitch black.
Walk quietly, stop often, look around, breathe.
Yup. In fact, the countdown starts 180 days before the trip and we get real serious at this time of year with less than 90. Maps come out, we debate how many miles we can do in a day, start talking menus, and how much Scotch will be needed.Originally Posted by ATRagamuffin
A tradition I started with my brother on our first section and follow each year at the start of our 50 miles:
Walk 10 paces from the car, stop, hold hand to right ear, "Do you hear that? [pause] No whining women!" Walk 10 more paces, stop, hold hand to left ear, "Do you hear that? [pause] No whining kids!"
Personally, I like Sgt. Rock's "No sniveling." Sort of captures it all.
Last edited by Tin Man; 07-06-2005 at 16:00.
Always pack your sense of humor! Second only to duct tape!
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"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matter compared to what lies within us."
Wow, lilmtngirl, two very good comments. Really hit my soul. Thanx. Alot of other good ones also, but I was stopped in my tracks by this post.
Walks
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Hey Doctari, I just noticed this thread is in the article forum. Was it your intent to put it here to create an article or was that an accident?
SGT Rock
http://hikinghq.net
My 2008 Trail Journal of the BMT/AT
BMT Thru-Hikers' Guide
-----------------------------------------
NO SNIVELING
Better in you than on you
(drink plenty of water...)
Hiker's Prayer
Lord, if you pick 'em up, I'll put 'em down.
Hope for the best, Plan for the worst, Take what you get
Twas on purpousOriginally Posted by SGT Rock
My hope is to gather these nuggets together into one page for postarity. Sort of as a primer / refresher / guide.
I'm even thinking of going thru the other posts & compiling some of the hints on: cooking, hammocking, etc.
Guess I should have posted this intent with the first message shouldn't I.
Another hint, & a comment: Getting old SUCKS!
Doctari.
Curse you Perry the Platypus!
I'd rather be lost in the woods than found at home.
Climbing Katahdin is like The Final Exam. For about a mile of it, the toughest climb on the whole AT. The one that determines if you "graduate." The one that you're never gonna forget.
Few items weigh less or are as useful as a good old fashioned cotton bandana
Compede blister dressings with atheletic tape to hold them on
Learn the rest step and use it
not all who wander are lost - JRR Tolkein
Leave no Trace.
skinny d
I have maintained a 2x weekly e-mail list for an informal outdoor group here in Boulder since Feb 2003.
Since taking over the list, have put a outdoor related type quote on every e-mail.
I just uploaded the list if anyone is curious. The quotes come from my reading, or cribbed from other sources (other quote files for example) or take from other hikes. Sometimes I would google for an appropriate quote (e.g. a Valentine's day quote) Some I stole from people on White Blaze.
Have all the quotes picked out until Aug 30 2005 (HEy..I get bored at work sometimes. ), and some extra ones thrown in for later.
Most of the quotes are ones I picked. Some are from people who did the e-mail list when I was away temporarily (when I did the Colorado Trail, for example).
Anyway, enjoy.
Any flames..direct them to me.
http://magnanti.com/miscwritings/chaosemailquotes.txt
Paul "Mags" Magnanti
http://pmags.com
Twitter: @pmagsco
Facebook: pmagsblog
The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau
Those are great Mags. I love some of them because they describe some many aspects of how I like to hike, like this one:
That link is a winner Mags! Thanks.We wanted to make good time, with the emphasis on good and not time.
-Pirsig, ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE
SGT Rock
http://hikinghq.net
My 2008 Trail Journal of the BMT/AT
BMT Thru-Hikers' Guide
-----------------------------------------
NO SNIVELING
Originally Posted by SGT Rock
Glad you enjoyed them. After two plus years of doing the e-mail list, have accumulated a not-too-shabby quote list, if i do say so.
Paul "Mags" Magnanti
http://pmags.com
Twitter: @pmagsco
Facebook: pmagsblog
The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau
I learned this the very hard way. "Don't allow another person to control your destination, stand up for yourself and be in control" "The one who blames is the one that is of blame".
Keep a journal: Days, weeks, months after your hike, you may find that those “Forever memories” are firmly etched in, , , vapor. Take pictures for the same reason.
This has already been stated, but bears repeting: Better in you than on you (drink plenty of water...)
Learn basic first aid skills (from the Red Cross?) before your hike.
Try to eat lunch as a walking feast instead of as a one stop (traditional) meal. Small snacks each time you take a break, and as you walk provide a more constant source of energy.
You can take a zero miles day in the woods much cheeper, & perhaps less stressful, than in town. Can't spend money in the woods.
Doctari.
Curse you Perry the Platypus!
I haven't yet hike all the AT, am planning though. Here are some quotes that I've learned along the way.
"Pain is your friend, it let's you know you are still alive"
"Carry in, carry out"
"Look ahead to where you are going, not back from where you came."
"Some people are weatherwise but most are otherwise.” - Benjamin Franklin
Don't try to make your hike a competition.
There will always be someone with a lighter pack; and someone with a heavier pack.
There will always be someone who hikes faster than you; and someone who hikes slower than you.
There will always be someone who is more experienced and knows more than you do (hard for some to accept this); and someone who is less experienced and knows less than you do (hard for some beginners to believe this as well, but it's true!).
Most of all, enjoy yourself! This is supposed to be fun!