Originally Posted by
The Old Boot
If there's just one thing I've learned from WB it's that the concept of HYOH is not honoured often enough. I'm one who holds the concept in highest regards.
I know that come the day I get to hike the AT, I'm stubborn enough to make sure that I do it MY way and no one elses'.
I read here that towns, hostels, shelters, taverns, AYCE buffets and pizza joints described as the 'finer things in life'. Ummm, MY definition of the finer things is polar opposite from that definition. A wonderful sunrise, a spectacular sunset, rainbows, mountain vistas and wildlife sightings are on the top of my list of 'the finer things'.
Yes, I'll need to go to town for laundry but given my dietary restrictions, I WILL be supplying most of my own food, not shopping along the way at the convenience stores. I don't drink beer, eat pizza and know better than to fill my face at an AYCE (it's guaranteed I'll be sick for at least a day). Will that keep me from having fun on my hike...not a chance, I don't consider any of them crucial to MY concept of fun!!
Heck there's hardly anything I would or could eat from them now, why would I start just when nutrition is even more critical.
I won't sleep in hotel/motel beds when I travel now, why would I change that on a hike. There's a reason I'm intent on buying a better sleep system for hiking. And yes, when I absolutely had to motel it for business trips with a couple of other staff members, I gladly let them have the beds while I carried my BYOB.
Guess since I have no desire to keep others up all night with my snoring, I won't get to 'enjoy' that part of the trail experience either.
Do what's comfortable and convenient for you. Don't let either those on WB or the new friends you meet on the trail tell you how to HYOH. Oh and don't tell them how to hike theirs' either!!
Enjoy all those amazing vistas, save the energy for taking as many blue blazes as you want and make sure that you stick to your own hike.
Oh, and if it took a 5x5x7 to store 'all your stuff', you still have way too much stuff...rofl!!
Have fun, make this hike what you want it to be!