Pre-hike obsession

[Wildflower_90]

Since I made the decision to thru hike the AT I have had this obsession with it. Hiking is all I think about, at work, at home. I'm constantly researching, it's my main focus. Is this a common problem among thru hikers or is it just me?

[hikerboy57]

Of course we are all obsessed what do you think we're doing here?

[Grits]

Obsessed with a gear addiction. How many have at more than one tent and a hammock or two???? Maybe more than one cook set, different sleeping bags for different time of year, dehydrate your food and of course you took over the spare bedroom as a gear room.

[Jeff]

Wait a few months....it gets worse.

[Double Wide]

Same here. On a rainy day off a few weeks back, I spent the entire day bouncing between here, Trail Journals, and YouTube watching AT videos.

Seven more months, and then I'll be obsessing about food, warm soft beds, and chairs with backs on them....

[coach lou]

I love how no matter how tough the walk is, no matter how much I piss and moan while I'm climbing down some nasty pitch......as soon as I get home, I've got the maps out and am planning the next walk!

[rjhouser]

Planning is half the fun

[Onedawg]

I'm at work now! Plus, I have GAS (gear acquisition syndrome)!

[coach lou]

I'm at work now! Plus, I have GAS (gear acquisition syndrome)!

GAS is not a hiker only affliction

I have 4 bicycles
5 Fly Rods
3 pairs of ice skates
6 tents

[Ktaadn]

I have no current plans of thru hiking but I still think about and talk about hiking so much that it freaks out my wife sometimes. Especially when I tell her about the elaborate plans that I've made up in my head that involve her shuttling me to various trailheads for section hikes. She always wants to know why I didn't consult her before making these plans. 'Just thinking out loud honey...'

[icdaywee]

Yes! I am planning on starting in March/April of 2014 and I cannot stop looking up gear/reading trail journals everyday/visiting Whiteblaze everyday! Good thing I have a trip abroad first to distract my mind, otherwise it would be a LOONG 7-8 months.

[Teacher & Snacktime]

I'm at work now! Plus, I have GAS (gear acquisition syndrome)!

painful, isn't it?

[Teacher & Snacktime]

GAS is not a hiker only affliction

I have 4 bicycles
5 Fly Rods
3 pairs of ice skates
6 tents

6 bikes, 4 fresh-water poles, 2 salt-water poles, 2 sets of golf clubs, 3 bowling balls, 5 sewing machines, wall-to-wall fabric collection, 3 easels, 2 bins of art supplies, a ping-pong table and a dart board. Artifacts of past pasttimes and passions.

Now, talking hiking gear........

[Ezra]

You will find that everytime you are shopping for groceries, you will be be scanning the shelves for new trail food ideas.

Oh it's a powerful addiction...enjoy it.

[coach lou]

6 bikes, 4 fresh-water poles, 2 salt-water poles, 2 sets of golf clubs, 3 bowling balls, 5 sewing machines, wall-to-wall fabric collection, 3 easels, 2 bins of art supplies, a ping-pong table and a dart board. Artifacts of past pasttimes and passions.

Now, talking hiking gear........

.........................

[coach lou]

You will find that everytime you are shopping for groceries, you will be be scanning the shelves for new trail food ideas.

Oh it's a powerful addiction...enjoy it.

I suffer from that also!

[Ezra]

I suffer from that also!

Always, always watching for pouched chicken (like tuna) to appear. Just can't find it in my area!

[Onedawg]

GAS is not a hiker only affliction

I have 4 bicycles
5 Fly Rods
3 pairs of ice skates
6 tents

23 guitars!

[capehiker]

G.A.S is very powerful when you're waiting for the next trip. I can spend hours making gear lists for different scenarios. I'm getting 3 days on the trail starting tomorrow. It's a quick fix to quell the shakes (and to try my new alcohol stove). 😀

[Plodderman]

Welcome to our obsession, a healthy addiction of the next whiteblaze. Just cannot get enough of them.