Tips of the Trail

Precautions:

Never camp near a road.
Never tell anyone you are hiking alone. Always tell them your hiking partner is
     about a half mile back.
Take care of "hot spots" on your feet immediately.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
If you come into a campsite and you are uncomfortable with who is there; move on.
Call your parents/loved ones often and let them know where you are and that
      you are ok.
Never get caught out in the open during a thunder storm.
Before setting up your hammock/tent, look up and make sure there is nothing
      that will fall on you.
Hang your food every night.
When you need help, ask for it. Everyone on trail looks out for each other.
Purify your water.
Rest your body in a hostel occasionally. It will help you in the long run.
Make noise when you suspect a bear near by.
Be able to recognize poison ivy.
Optional: Carry a small bottle of pepper spray on a carabiner on your pack.
Treat minor cuts and scratches with neosporrin to prevent infection.


Overview and thoughts:

Hike your own hike. The right way to hike the trail is your way.
Get in shape. This will be the most physically demanding thing you have ever
       done.
It will also be an experience that you will cherish the rest of your life. It will alter the way you look at things and people.

The views are awesome but the people you will meet will renew your faith in humanity.  Most of the people you meet will be brief encounters but create long lasting memories.

People with their long miles and they get sore- Start out with lower mileage than your best until you develop your "trail legs".    Many start out trying to impress and get discouraged. They drop out very early.
The trail is not a race.   Just keep saying, I'll be there when I get there."
Never make an important decision while going uphill.
Take pictures and keep a journal.
Be nice to people. Enjoy the "alone time".
Start each day recognizing how lucky you are to be on this quest.
Remember, no rain, no Maine.


By: Cliff "Tabasco" Dodson

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The average amount of money people spend on a thru-hike: 1,000-2,000 on gear and 4,000-5,000 on
           food/board/transportation/etc.

Only about 1/4- 1/5 of people attempting a thru-hike actually make it

Gear List and Online Resources

Most of this information was provided by Cliff "Tabasco" Dodson and Joanna "Baby Ruth" Krohn. Thanks so much folks!!!!! You were a life saver! I was able to purchase 90% of my gear from the wonderfully helpful folks at Diamond Brand Outdoors/ Frugal Backpacker in Asheville NC. They were FABULOUS!! 



Most important gear:  **Make sure a professional fits you on these purchases.

Shoes: If your feet aren't happy, you are not going to have fun.
Pack: It must fit your torso but be small enough to prevent you from adding things you don't need.
Sleeping bag: Get a good one. It is not fun freezing at night.

List:

pack 

cooking pot (titanium- large mug size)

pack cover 

stove and windscreen (going to make out of a can)

fuel ("Heet" alcohol-found in gas stations or auto parts sections of stores)

water pump (Sawyer 3 way-attach to water bladder)

small knife (to cut food, straps or duct tape)

sleeping bag and cover

water bladder with drinking tube

1 or 1/2 L (Platypus) to refill bladder 

small first aide kit

sleeping bag liner 

tent or hammock

walking sticks 

dry bag (clothes)
dry bag (food)
trail shoes camp shoes(crocs/flip flops)

bear bag rope (para cord)

sleeping pad

head lamp and batteries

sleeping pad (choose between down or synthetic)
2 smart wool socks
2 synthetic underwear
sports bra
rain jacket
rain pants (if you bring them, I did not)

lightweight synthetic bottoms (long)

lightweight synthetic shirt (long/short)

lightweight jacket/fleece

Appalachian Guide (loose-leaf) by: David Miller   http://www.shop.theATguide.com/

Clothes:
NO COTTON (either synthetic or wool)

          -wool is the better option, it regulates body temp well and doesn't hold odor like synthetic)
Change all clothes when you get into camp and put on your dry night clothes. Hypothermia can happen quickly even when it is not really cold.
Darn tough socks are expensive but have a lifetime guarantee. ($22.00)

For Women: 

OB tampons (dont have applicator, so there is less garbage)

Town Dress - with built in bra (so you can wear something in town while you wash your clothes) ~   

           and look cute :)

**Cold Weather:
toboggan 

down jacket 

heavy synthetic shirt  (long)
heavy synthetic bottoms (long)

pants and belt 

gloves

**Warm Weather  (after Mt. Rogers you can go to a 40 degree sleeping bag.)
Send home winter bag, down jacket, rain pants, gloves, toboggan and long pants. Most people hike in shorts/skorts. Will update warm weather on the trail.                                  

Other supplies:
lighter/matches
toilet paper in a baggie (start saving the ends of rolls and take out cardboard)
Map

spork

bandana 

food (Lightweight. Get creative!)
tooth brush (some people cut off the handles to save weight)

mole skin (for "hot spots" and blisters)

energy supplements

baby whipes 

paper and pen (journal)

shamwow (towel)

First Aid: IBprofren, Immodium, Pepto, Benadryl, Allegra, Alcohol whipes, Band-Aids, Neosporin, etc.

SOS pad (to clean dishes)

whistle
mirror

Ziplock (for ID, money, CC, Health card)

Chapstick

32 oz. gatorade bottle (1 or 2)

1 backup Aquamira pkg. (in case filter fails)

knee high (to filter debris from water)

1 gallon Ziplock for trash

trash compactor bag to line your pack
extra shoe laces
carabiner

glide & foot powder (if you choose)

camp shoes (like Crocs or flipflops)

small bottle of Dr. Brommers- dishes, clothes, etc.

duct tape (wrap around walking stick-for storage)

ground cloth (for tent)

safety pin

floss

ear plugs

toe nail clippers

cheap bandana
gaiters
phone and charger
camera and batteries

Don't Need:

Sunglasses/ Sunscreen (you're in the trees/woods)

Bugspray -doesn't help with "no-see-ums)

Online Resources:
http://whiteblaze.com- general information, forums and gear review
http://www.hiketheappalachian.com- 2 male hiker's blog/website- gives reviews on their gear
http://www.trailspace.com- gear review
http://www.appalachiantrail.org- Appalachian Trail Conservacy
http://acornhikes.com  - blog by solo female hiker
http://www.trailquest.net/thruhike.html - general info and weather chart


Online Gear Resources:
http://www.diamondbrand.com/ - located in Asheville, NC - very helpful staff
http://www.frugalbackpacker.com/ - located in Asheville, NC - very helpful staff - lots of discounts

http://hennessyhammock.com (if you take a hammock)

https://www.ems.com (they have good sales -Oct and March/April)

https://www.campmore.com - cheaper equipment

https://www.rei.com - usually more expensive but have lots of stores and options

http://www.mountaincrossings.com/ -
http://www.mpgear.com - cheaper equipment
https://www.bigagnes.com- good quality equipment

Appalachian Trivia

The Appalachian Trail is the one of the longest continuously marked footpath in the world, measuring roughly 2,186 miles in length. The Trail goes through fourteen states along the crests and valleys of the Appalachian mountain range from the southern terminus at Springer Mountain, Georgia, to the Trail’s northern terminus at Katahdin, Maine.  The Appalachian Trail is not just a trail, but a look into the wilderness, scenery, and culture that surrounds the trail.  People from across the globe are drawn to the trail for a variety of reasons: to reconnect with nature, to escape the stress of city life, to meet new people or deepen old friendships, or to experience a simpler life.

Known as the “A.T.,” it has been estimated that 2-3 million people visit the Trail every year and about 1,800–2,000 people attempt to “thru-hike” the Trail. People from across the globe are drawn to the A.T. for a variety of reasons: to reconnect with nature, to escape the stress of city life, to meet new people or deepen old friendships, or to experience a simpler life.

The A.T. was completed in 1937 and is a unit of the National Park System. The A.T. is managed under a unique partnership between the public and private sectors that includes, among others, the National Park Service (NPS), the USDA Forest Service (USFS), an array of state agencies, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and 31 local Trail-maintaining clubs.

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FUN FACTS
  The Trail is 2186 miles long,  passing through 14 states.
  More than 6,000 volunteers contribute about 200,000 hours to the Appalachian Trail every year.
  Crosses six other units of national park systems.
  Traverses eight national forest.
  More than 250 three-sided shelters exist along the Trail.
  Virginia is home to the most miles of the Trail (~550), while West Virginia is home to the least (~4).
  Maryland and West Virginia are the easiest states to hike; New Hampshire and Maine are the hardest.
  The total elevation gain of hiking the entire A.T. is equivalent to climbing Mt. Everest 16 times.
  Lowest elevation: 124 feet – near the Trailside Museum and Zoo at Bear Mountain, New York.
  Highest elevation: 6,625 feet – on Clingmans Dome in Tennessee
  Approximately 165,000 white paint blazes mark the trail’s route.
  It takes approximately 5 million footsteps to walk the entire length of the trail.
  The A.T. is home to an impressive diversity of plants and animals. Some animals you may see include black bears, moose, porcupines, snakes, woodpeckers, and salamanders. Some plants you may encounter include jack-in-the-pulpit, skunk cabbage, and flame azalea.

HIKERS
  The A.T. has hundreds of access points and is within a few hours drive of millions of Americans, making it a popular destination for day-hikers.
  “Thru-hikers” walk the entire Trail in a continuous journey. “Section-hikers” piece the entire Trail together over years. “Flip-floppers” thru-hike the entire Trail in discontinuous sections to avoid crowds, extremes in weather, or start on easier terrain.
  1 in 4 who attempt a thru-hike successfully completes the journey
  Most thru-hikers walk north, starting in Georgia in spring and finishing in Maine in fall, taking an average of 6 months.
  Foods high in calories and low in water weight, such as Snickers bars and Ramen Noodles, are popular with backpackers, who can burn up to 6,000 calories a day.
  Hikers usually adopt “trail names” while hiking the Trail.

Information found at:      http://www.appalachiantrail.org/about-the-trail

Twigging the Thistles

"Twigging (verb to understand or realize) Thistles" will document the process leading up to hiking the Appalachian Trail, completing the amazing hike, and all the adventures in between. I will try to provide as many updates along the way as well as information for those interested in attempting their own hike. (i.e. facts, tips, equipment, etc.)

Guatemalan sunrise from Santa María

         I don't have a long-standing background in hiking. In fact, I had never attempted hiking until (3) years ago. I was living in Guatemala while volunteering full-time with a wonderful non-profit organization, the Highland Support Project (HSP). I never could have anticipated how rewarding that year and a half would turn out to be.  HSP and their sister organization, AMA (Asociacion de Mujeres del Altiplano) whose main office is located in Quetzaltenango, (in the Highlands of) Guatemala, work with groups of indigenous Mayan women and their communities in order to empower and provide opportunities for transformational development. By encouraging active participation, HSP fights to break the cycle of dependency in an effort to create sustainable and long-lasting change. (link which expands on dangers of dependency- HSP Mission.) Along with meeting incredible individuals and learning a new language (or at least attempting), I experienced a completely different culture and landscape. The beautiful region of Quetzaltenango or Xela (pronounced Shay-la) lies cradled among the mountains, attracting hikers from all over the world. One of the most popular and interesting hikes is Santa María, an active volcano that towers 12,375 ft above Xela. Those of us who travel/work abroad get much more out of our experiences than we could ever give back, but I believe HSP balances the scale impressively. It is an organization that I admire and, if not for them, I would have never attempted this trek.

      Those who have heard of my "purposed hike" have responded in various ways, but the majority leans toward, "Why [would you want to do something like that]?" (followed by, "Are you taking a gun?"). I'm looking forward to simplifying my life down to bare necessities, and [I feel] it's productive to sometimes push one’s material limits or deny oneself the luxuries (we are accustomed to which are many times considered a necessity).  As Vernon Howard said, "You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need". My outlook will most definitely be altered by this adventure in ways that I can't predict, but I imagine it could be similar to living in a developing country like Guatemala and forces me to look at myself, my values, and my possessions differently and with more appreciation. It will probably be the most physically demanding thing I will ever attempt... as well as incredibly emotionally straining. The A.T. will at times dampen spirits and push you to return home prematurely, but the reoccurring theme from everyone I've read or spoken with describes the A.T. as a place that will renew one’s faith in humanity. The trail becomes a community of people who look out for one another and perform "trail magic" (a kind of pay-it-forward, performing random acts of kindness).

MY PURPOSE:
         I've decided that, due to the inherent growth Guatemala provided me, I will try to give back in a similar fashion. That’s why I intend to dedicate this walk to fund-raise for the Nutrition and Cooking project that I helped to pioneer. The purpose of this program is to provide information about healthy eating to our Women's Circles and cooking class to show how to prepare these nutritious foods for their families (with a focus on children). It is also connected with an entrepreneurial aspect, allowing the participants to create small businesses by selling healthy treats! Since Guatemala has the highest rate of chronic malnutrition among Latin American children and the 4th highest in the world, there is a lot to be done! Hopefully this will not only be a time of reflection and growth for myself, but also grant me the ability to bring attention to a subject that I care for very deeply.

If you'd like to contribute to the Highland Support Project...

Click Here to Donate!

Or if you have questions about:
HSP: http://www.highlandsupportproject.org/
AMA: http://www.amaguate.org/
Taking volunteer groups to Guatemala: http://www.partnersinservice.org
Alternatives (HSP's fair-trade store in Richmond, VA): https://alternativesonline.com/store/