5 Mileage hacks for thru-hikers Hiking Tips from the trail # 19
Video taken from the channel: BetweenTheBlazes
PCT Desert: What to expect when you hit the trail at Campo & tips to make it easier
Video taken from the channel: Lucky Strike Hikes
10 Hiking Must Haves For Day Hikes Hiking Essentials Tips and Tricks
Video taken from the channel: Will Hike For Food
How to Get Better at Hiking Before You Hit the Trail | Tita TV
Video taken from the channel: Tita TV
How to Plan Your 1st Thru-Hike
Video taken from the channel: Darwin onthetrail
Thru-Hiking Tricks of the Trade
Video taken from the channel: Darwin onthetrail
5 Lessons I’ve Learned in 5 Years of Thru-Hiking
Video taken from the channel: Darwin onthetrail
Keep your knees bent and use side-stepping maneuvers on the steepest parts. A hiking stick or a pair of hiking poles can give you an extra stability. Take your time, breathe, turn around and enjoy the views while catching your breath. The view.Hiking for Beginners Find a Hiking Partner.
If you have friends who hike, ask them to take you on a trek. Most people are happy to share Choose a Hiking Route. Guidebooks.
A hike is a chance to mentally refresh and unwind from a hectic day-to-day while appreciating the great outdoors. But to our bodies, it’s a cardiovascular workou.Thru Hike: A type of hike in which the starting point and ending point are geographically independent from one another. Topo/Topographic: A type of map that illustrates the given terrain of an area – including elevation changes, physical landmarks, and other defining features. Trailhead: The starting point of a given hiking trail.
It’s a great learning experience and can help keep things like poison ivy from poisoning the fun. HIT THE TRAIL. During the hike, kids may get tired, bored or cranky. Here are some tips to help them stay entertained and energized throughout the day. Trail Tasks – Help little ones feel involved by giving them ‘roles’ throughout the hike.Chances are, you have an available pack.
Empty it, repack it, and get outside this summer — but before you hit the trail, make sure you bring along these day hike essentials. If you are missing.Education Outdoors hit the trail game is fun, nature inspired and fast paced. Can you be the first hiker to hike 100 miles in the new dice/card game “hit the trail”? “Hit the trail” Comes packaged in a realistic mini backpack.
How the game is played: deal 7 cards out to each player.Learning the Trails. As I learned new trails in the larger park, I invited others to take those hikes with me to reinforce my familiarity before venturing out unaccompanied. I also researched recommendations from several hiking sites, such as All Trails, that offer information on level of difficulty, ease of navigation, and safety.
Hit the Trail: Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon, Sedona & the Southwest is dedicated to helping those planning a visit to Grand Canyon National Park and the southwest. Whether you plan on hiking, backpacking, taking a mule or a river trip, you’ll find information, tips and resources that will make planning your trip much easier, safer and a lot.On gentle hikes on smooth trails, hiking shoes or trail runners are sufficient.
For treks on rocky, rugged trails, boots will provide more support. Learn more about choosing hiking clothing and footwear. Moisture-wicking underwear.
Moisture-wicking T-shirt. Quick-drying pants/shorts. Long-sleeve shirt (for sun, bugs) Lightweight fleece or jacket.Explore everything you may need to know during the hike: from historical facts and trail guides to the most popular online resources.. I. The History of Vermont’s Long Trail.
Now let’s go back a century to 1910. It is this year that’s considered the starting point for the Trail.I have always told myself that if I can be a role model for living a healthy and active life, then I’ve done my job as a Mom. I push myself to get outside and hike when I’d rather curl up on the couch.
I train for races when I’d rather sleep in. I let [ ].Start with the goal distance and elevation gain on week 10, the week of the actual goal hike, and work backward, subtracting roughly 10 percent each week for 10 weeks. As you train, try to hike with the pack weight you plan on hiking with on your goal hike.
Hit The Trail. Planning your thru-hike is over, now you need to hit the trail and start putting all that preparation and training to good use! This is where your real journey begins with an exploration of yourself and the environment!
Make sure to have purchased insurance if you quit your job to keep you safe if you should have an emergency!Ages 8+ 2-4 players; Can you be the first hiker to hike 100 miles in the new dice / card game “Hit the Trail”? “Hit the Trail” comes packaged in a mini backpack which includes 72 cards, 3 dice, and pencil.
List of related literature:
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| from Afoot and Afield: Los Angeles County: A Comprehensive Hiking Guide |
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| from Molecules of Emotion: Why You Feel the Way You Feel |
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| from On Trails: An Exploration |
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| from Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the… Congress |
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| from Rocky Mountain National Park: The Complete Hiking Guide |
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| from Camping For Dummies |
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| from Trail Tested: A Thru-Hiker’s Guide to Ultralight Hiking and Backpacking |
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| from Discovering Griffith Park: A Local’s Guide |
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| from Four-Wheeler’s Bible |
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| from 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: St. Louis: Including Sullivan, Potosi, and Farmington |
222 comments
I have a specific diet, meaning resupplies are a must. But I hate them and I wish they weren’t:(
I’m preparing my first in Sweden Kungsleden. Seems I’m on the right way. Thank you for your advice!
Wisdom. Thank you for being transparent and honest. Happy trails to you wherever the trail takes you 😉
Yup, a lot of folks have said it, but slow down. I enjoy the trail a lot more now. I stop and try to use my senses. I have found that I am not as sore, my spirits stay high and this is a big one far fewer injuries. Over all, yes, I log less miles, but I gain more smiles (sorry, I lucked into that)
I’m an Asian, is PCT Trial allow. I’m 55 and planning for my dream hike in 2020. Physical still should not have any problem.
I backpacked in the early 70’s. Things sure have changed a lot. Now the only way I can enjoy the high country is on horseback. I practice “leave no trace” through BCHA. I really enjoy your videos and those from others. I have learned a lot about all the high quality equipment that is now available. Thank you for making videos. Travel Blessings!
As much time as you spend hiking I hope you are packing some fire power.
Here in WI, we have the Ice Aged trail…1,200+ miles long, within one state.
cheers man some super helpful tips that’ll help me out later on!!
You have hiked 7k miles? I haven’t even driven 7k miles…..love your channel��
I have a question. What do you all do for a living that you guys can take four to six months off work to hike a trail? I’m genuinely curious because there’s no way I could do that and I wish I could.
Thanks for the advice…!
I will watch more of your videos and I gladly subscribed to your channel…!��
Hey Lucky Strike! I plan on hiking <500 miles nobo.. start date May 12th, you have any info on what permits I should get?? thanks in advance!
I scanned the CT Guide and loaded the PDF to my phone, along with my shopping food list and main water stops/campsite list. Too easy.
Skandinavia: lots of small water runs, but every once in a while you would risk getting water into your boots and going barefooted is awful when not used to pointy rocks. Solution: bring water shoes, I got some really low weight ones around 3 oz for 15 bucks. Also nice in the evening to give your feet a rest in uneasy terrain at camp.
Great words of advice there fella! Love your work, keep it comin. ����
I just planned a two day backpacking trip to Utah this May. Its a short trek, only 10-15 miles. I’m really excited.
I just dont feel compelled to vlog the entire experience. Glad other people enjoy it but I’m more about roughing it, being closer to nature, self reflecting. Not begging strangers for likes and subs.
Lesson 5 is a big one for me. It’s winter 7 months of the year here in Saskatchewan and by snowshoeing in winter it allows me to stay connected to the trail making the long winters more bearable. In winter I also buy new gear and replace old gear which also helps me stay connected to the trail. This winter I’m planning some weekend overnighters for spring and summer where I will use only cheap survival gear from Amazon to camp with to see how it all stacks up if it were ever put to the test in a real survival situation and the planning has been so much I hope the overnighters aren’t a let down when the time comes to get out there and test these products. LOL That’s a couple of the ways I stay connected to the trail and to nature in general when there’s a -40c windchill outside and I’ve got cabin fever.
I use the 1 square shit ticket method so you don’t have to carry too much tp.
As a former Girl Scout I remember making a “sit-upon” with rolled newspaper and contact paper the original “ass pad”!
Embrace the suck… I hiked down a deer trail 5 miles to find the actual trail once. It was horrible, but looking back it was one of the best hikes.
I love the fact that you guys give advice and that is beautiful thing and I would love to stay connected so yes I join your family
One thing I make sure I do is get to a doctor to get a couple back to back 6 month prescriptions of my medication so I don’t have to worry about running out while on my adventures.
✌ �� �� ��
Whatever decision you make on trail, it usually ends up to be a good one
WOW, just finished watching your video on planning for the AT and you have definitely answer some questions I have had for a while I want to do my hike next year so I’ve got to get busy right now, thanks for all the info you offered.
Another great hack is to pour hot water in your meal pouch, seal it up to cook, and use it as a heat pad while your food cooks. Feels great on back and legs!
How do you spend $1000 a month while hiking? I thought the whole point was to escape capitalism. All you really need once you have gear is food. I sure hope you don’t spend 1k on food lol.
I have made the decision to travel the path in the year 2021, for the 2200 miles it has, now I am practically in a stage of learning, and watched all the videos are yours that I found in youtuve, and those of many others, I like the way you approach the ideas that others have, even the simplest ones, all of them can be positive experiences that could be used at any time.
So I urge you, to continue making these videos, because as I can read, somewhere in the world someone pays attention to you. I hope to meet you, maybe somewhere along the way..
Holy shit. I saw in in your Georgia picture! I met him in 2014!
Wow I think this is my fave all of your vids I’ve watched ❤️ Totally with you on points 1,2 and 4. Point 3 you really taught me something. Plus I have a really really bad memory, so I probs need a digital record more than most ��
At the end of the vid you asked what we have learnt on our long hikes, well perhaps for me it’s that we are capable of a lot more than untested, we realise. We are capable of higher performance, more determination and much more variation in how we live. We are cultured to become self-limiting imo. It is amazing and depressing how we become our own gaol wardens as we grow up. And that makes us sad little people in our little ticky-tacky box lives. We should not only be open to adventure and challenge, but should also chase it. We owe it to ourselves, this path to self-actualisation. I like that old Gide quote ‘one cannot discover new lands without first losing sight of the shore’. To find out what life and the world may hold in store for us we must simply head out into it, unfettered by social convention or our own expectation. Break free of all boundaries. So umm in short, it has taught me to reevaluate everything I thought I knew about my place in the world and what kind of life I want, rather than what kind of life I should expect of and for myself.
Btw, when will you venture outside the USA? Surely the time has long since come
I would say mentioned something about wildlife in the area. A lot of these people that have not even hiked before that go on these Trails have no idea when they encounter a large cat bear or anything else in the wild. I thought it was a great video until I heard you say about a thousand a month average. I guess I haven’t done as much research to show that it might cost me that much I guess I am a minimalist and have climbed Mount Shasta for example 29 times and just don’t see how it would cost me that much. If you have any resources that you specifically like please let me know that would be great thanks
In Wyoming we called tp mountain money. Does any one else use that slang?
I am a vet and deal with depression. The trail has helped me to smile and laugh at my moody self.
Lol, an hour before I watched this video I saw a grunt style shirt that said embrace the suck. I thought that would be a good hiking shirt, then I saw this video, lol, so I guess it would beca good shirt.
tip for any PCTers the first 700 miles you will need to carry upto 10 liters of water in places and ther has been assholes shooting water tanks along the trail in year past so never count on them having water
These are really good lessons. One lesson I have learned is that there is no failure, only more adventures.
Instead of a big heavy book carry a.kindle. Then you can carry hundreds of books, guides etc. But also downloaded movies.
I learned that the old America of generosity & kindness still exists on the trail…so many hikers or town folk will just give u a ride, some missing gear, place to stay, food, drinks, etc. Met so many incredibly nice ppl from all over the world… “embracing the suck” is right on; some of the most difficult/exhausting mtn passes became the best memories. Also, if u come across some Canadian chicks, do follow, as they are always positive & like good times.
Thank you very much yes this was very valuable you brought up some points that I did not think of thank you again
Hey Darwin, Can we get an update on this list? Anything new you have learned?
Any plans to celebrate 10,000 miles when you get there? ��0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ ��
As an old man I would say that not only do the sucky days make the good days better, but as you get older the sucky moments are the best moments. They make up most of my favorite memories.
Darwin, it would be very interesting for you to consider doing a large section of a hike going all vegan. (I’ve been one for 30+ years and sectioned hiked 1,700 of the AT. I believe u would be amazed at the difference. We also avoid all processed oils, hence never need to soap your pots. Obviously you would need to try it out for say 3-4 weeks at he prior to a hike. Prob the number one go to site would be Nutritionfacts org, 2,000 + videos. I’m constantly experimenting but generally make all my own food. My off trail diet consists of about 75% unrefined starchy (carbohydrate) foods. I just add lots more raw nuts n no sugar added dried fruits. I also trail run have very good health, take zero meds have no family doctor. I’m 66 wife also dropped 56+ lbs in 8 months (drmcdougall com is a doc we’ve followed for 30 years The Starch Solution). I really Enjoy ur videos ������������������✌��
I’ve learned it’s always a little harder than expected and don’t even think about looking cute or smelling good! ✌��
Loved it! Thanks! I am planning the AT in a few years, and am SUPER excited. I learn new things every day. Thanks for your info!
After doing many various distance hikes in Switzerland I went back to Europe 6 years later. Started in Grenoble France, grabbed a map which had GR routes on it and took off with no specific plan in mind. Went through the Parc National des Ecrin, then to Briancon, decided that Switzerland was I reachch. Took a right turn on GR5 and made it to Montreaux in a month and a half. I saw almost no one! It has been my most favorite hikes I’ve done. My point is, there are tons of walking trails in the world. If you want a solitary experience, don’t follow a well known route, make up your own way.
Funny I loaded my pack down with dirty laundry and hiked to my grandmothers house to do laundry. Just to see if I could be ok with a pack on.
Very Important Tip that you didn’t mention. #1 if you are hiking with other people be absolutely certain that everyone in your group is on the same page visa-vis experience, preparedness and expectations.
How about extras. Im thinking of taking an art journal kit assembled by me.water color box with journal book small carry caseonr that doesnt fall apart.
Optical gear cheap durable camera
Astronomy scope. Not the cheap crap.something like 100mm f5 reflector or 80mm f5 refractor orion or similar. Astronomicsl binoculars and hiking binocs 7×50
Some kind of online device. Phone tablet laptop. Second hand. Oldet mote durable.
Thinkimg whats thè most practical set up.
Thinking in terms of urban countryside wilderness type hiking trekking long distance walking.
Thinking of taking up short trips in quite areas. Basically breaking my self in and my gear in.
Stuff breaks falls apart etc.
There are walking trails internationally.
Id like to try some in the uk japan korea.and us. Using heat that will be legal across orders.eg Dirty boots gas cannisters. Fluid containers. Fruit. Medication etc….. Good blog im reserching different sites seeing other peoples experiences.
Great tips as usual Darwin. I am curious, i noticed you got a new FF Canon eos r camera. And you are still using your trusty 28mm prime lens. Do you need to use a lens adaptor with it since it’s not an rf lens?
One thing that stucked with me till this day is:
” Wherever you are, be all there” Jim Elliot
(As it was saying on the wall at NEAL’ S GAP Outfitters, when I started my thru-hike)
Great videos. Good shots of the poison oak and good advice. Is there anyway of knowing if your clothes have brushed up against it? Can you see the oil residue? 1-3 weeks egaads! Is it growing super close to the trail? What mile was that little water source at?Thanks. I’m a fan! I start April 4 coming from the west coast of Canada. Every little bit of desert info is so helpful. How was that climb out of Hauser creek?
Have another great weekend of hiking.
Thank you so much for your videos, there’s so many people that tell me it’s stupid and there’s no point, but it’s something I’ve dreamed about for years. I’m turning 19 and I don’t want to keep waiting for the perfect time, because that’s never going to just happen. You have to make it happen.
Ripping pages out of a book, that is horrible:-P I wonder if they carry windshield screens up here. Usually we want cars to warm up in the sun instead of sitting on cold hard seats. Actually if you used a kindle paperwhite. It is lightweight and you can have many books on it. Have your cake and…
What is trail magic? New to this but learning as much as I can in the off season
Well as a 19 year old who wanted to try something crazy, the 1k a month thing really killed me.
“Take year to plan hike.”
3 minutes later
“Throw all your plans out the window.” Lol.
8:08 I know you’re talking about “Top Of Georgia”. This is the third time I have heard to steer clear of said hostile so I will be hitting up the local hotel in Hiawassee. it just makes more sense.
Potential option for # 10 Kindle (5.7 oz) super long battery life, and can get the AWOL book for free. XD. they are also pretty thin.
Where you guys been? Expect a friend request on Facebook, I’d really love to hear from you!
Thanks for the advice, Darwin. I’m definitely more aware of local trails for section hikes and can’t wait to get started. Can you do a video specifically on how to mail stuff to yourself?
So, open relationships on the trail. Not sure my wife would be willing to do that. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
Outstanding video, advice and everything else. God bless you.
Take some self-defense classes and maybe learn how to throw some of those special knives that they have learn to defend yourself watch videos about bears and mountain lions what have you. Learn to fast to go a couple days without fo.od does videos on that too.
With total sincerity, How exactly does the trail talk to you? Or are you talking more about your intuition while in the moment?
Hey bro you forgot the IAT. Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin. It’s amazing and it’s 1,220 miles of rugged terrain and high elevations on bluffs,ridges, and much more stuff. Such a beautiful trail. It’s the only trail in the United States that runs through one single state and runs along the glacial formation area of Wisconsin. I’m section hiking it right now.
Bro, instead of trying to remember all the details of your experience, strive to never give up making new memories. We forget things for a reason, and forgetting good things has its place too. Go forth with joy. I did not record much of many of my adventures…and so be it. This perspective keeps me excited for the future and not lamenting any loss of the past. Memories can be lile a ball n chain we cling to that drags us down, or a lovely dove we admire and set free.
you left out stuff like parking/parking fees, permits if applicable, knowing state or federal laws, buying trail guides, maps and navigation, safety (letting someone know you’re hiking), emergency plans, etiquette, leave no trace, etc.
Always called it a shitkit (loo roll and hand sanitiser) but shit tickets, man ��
I use a slightly larger ass pad to serve as a door mat for the tent. I’m old and make a couple “trips” each night. Really handy to roll out on the clean cushion. Keeps the tent clean.
Hey brother…I have some questions I could use some support on. Are you on FB?
Thank you Darwin. Thanks for the video’s. You do a good job. I would like to see you write guide books. One for each trail, or one big book with separate sections detailing how to,,,and places to stay…gear lists… Extreme details. Ive watched quite a few of your videos and I’m certain you can do a good job with a guide book.
I never split a small hotel room with 11 other people in South Padre before but if I did I would only have like two people at the front desk with checking in.
Dude, I was at REI the other day and grabbed the thermarest z pad walked around the store and grabbed a couple of more things. I sat all my stuff down because the guy that works there said he could fit my pack to my spine length, went out to the truck and grabbed it. Came back in, checked out, woke up in the morning and realized I left my ass pad!!!!!
Hi, whenever I’m out in nature I feel totally renewed. I’m always thinking about being out in nature. With that being said I have never been on a real hike. At the moment I live in the city but just retired in December 2018. In April 2019 I’ll be moving into my travel trailer and will begin my nomadic lifestyle (God Willing)��. I really want hiking to become a part of my life. How do I meet people who are willing to teach me what I need to know in order to start?
I’m proud of you,,,your a good soul and very positive,that’s extremely important in life, Thank you for sharing your time and knowledge, I do appreciate it…
Had this video set to 1.5x playback speed to listen and for a minute was wondering how everyone was hiking so fast
Will gaffers tape work for repairs? I ask as it is easier to remove and is not as sticky. I use it on stage to tape down cables. Just a question. Thanks
I learn something new everytime i hear you speek man! Something i actually bennefit from! Thanks for shearing your tips etc
I just realized something after watching this. If you’re doing 20-30 miles, thats probably 6.5-10 hours a day right? Do you ever have free time when you’re hiking shorter days? What do you usually do when youre not hiking, cooking, sleeping, cleaning? Do you ever read a book or anything?
My wife is from Thailand where toilet paper is sold in individually packaged rolls. In Thailand, TP is used to (obviously) wipe your ass, but also in place of tissues and paper towels. So when my wife and I did our first road trip around Isaan region of Thailand, she picked up a roll of TP, poked her finger in one end of the plastic wrap, pulled out the cardboard roll from the center and the TP followed the roll, leading to a self dispensing setup. Clever little siamese lady. I just re-roll my TP into a smaller roll and keep it in a soft sunglasses case with my TentLab Deuce trowel rubber banded to it.
Great info! Thanks for taking the time and effort to help us all out!
It’s true. The trail actually communicates with you. It’s weird, I don’t know how to explain it. But it’s a wonderful connection with nature.
Hey Darwin, I’m just curious if you have ever done some fishing while you’re out on the trail. If so, I would like to see if you had any specific recommendations for an ultralight fishing rod. Please get back to me. Blessings to you on the trail!
Looking forward to more content. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience out on the trail. Starting my NOBO AT thru hike in April 2019
Thanks Darwin.
My brother and I have been planning are semi-thru hike of the AZT and are super excited to hit the trail. The plan is to finish at the Utah border on July 11th. My brothers 60th birthday.
We hope to run into you and snuggles on the trail. Thanks for all your videos and tips.
Shit tickets lol. Use baby wipes you nutter!! Loved the tips though. ��
Listening to you while doing pool drills for long distance 1 rail bankshots and everything was gravy…then 11:26 happen and my roommate’s gf busts out laughing(usually when she laughs its like hehe and done but no this was the “damn she gonna pee herself?” Type laugh…then she say’s, “did He just say to follow him on Instagram for nude(her “d” wasn’t very well enunciated and I heard it as “new” because well…I didn’t see any old nudes of y’all and I have been following for some time…but I digress) photos of him and Snuggles…?” And I thought she was laughing because you called your gf Snuggles and she had images of this young, accomplished, happy go lucky, bearded man dancing around with the Fabric sheet bear…then she asked, “I thought Insta banned nude photo’s?” and I caught on…she heard “nude” and the fabric softener bear…now that is a funny mental image…! Love the video’s been following since the ATC! p.s. I eventually explained trail names…
Creating something from my experience on the trail is so very important to me. I write a blog devoted to mental health and the outdoors plus I usually bring my journal with me. I also started making yearly scrapbooks on Shutterfly. I finally finished 2018 a few months ago and have 2019 in the works.
Hi Darwin. I’m new to your channel and love the content! I don’t backpack (yet-you are inspiring!), but have some limited experience with bicycling touring. I hope to do more of that, and your videos are equally applicable to bicycle touring! You cover topics that bicycle touring channels don’t-just what I was looking for! Thank you!!
#4 is a legit point. Might not make sense too a noob though.
Can you thru hike without the poles I hate the way they look
Hey. great advice in the video. I have a different question. what about when planning for a short through-hike where there is no made trail? have any advice on that? I’m planning to walk the length of our country (Slovenia) its quite small and it will be about 380km (236 miles). Some people have walked this path on-road or on a bike, but my goal is to make it more of a trail walking through forests and away from paved roads. I’m using online maps to mark my trail but I have found that some of the paths through the forests are not on the mas so that makes the planning a lot harder. resupplying and water won’t be that of a problem since there are so many small villages or towns all around that you can practically go off the trail at any time you want and come to a village or town in a few miles. any advice or tips you can give will be appreciated.
Cant believe you people are actually hiking such INSANE distances. The Appalacian Trail is twice the length of Norway (where i live). I have heard of people bikepacking that distance, but i have never heard of anyone actually walking that distance (although im sure it has happened)… The record holder for the AT has an average of 77km in a day… I didnt even know that was possible. I was proud and EXHAUSTED the day i did 50km in one day on my mountainbike…
On the hiker guide one, instead of tearing out pages as I go, I just make copies of the pages I need to start (because I’m one of those book lovers who can’t bring herself to tear pages out of a book) and carry them with me. I put the other copies of pages I’ll need in the future into my resupply boxes. That way I can recycle the old pages (or burn them) when I don’t need them any more and don’t have to carry the whole dang book. I also take pictures of the pages on my phone and keep them in a file there, just in case something should happen to my printed copies.
I use foam from the packing material when I bought my laptop computer. It is ultra light does not absorb water and the best part it was free. It is about an inch thick and you can cut it to size.
I live in CT, and we’re not ALLOWED to be out overnight on any trails here by law. Even on the AT, we’re only allowed to stay at the 1 designated site. It’s so hard to practice doing overnights in any consistent way. I’d love your ideas! The exception is, we can stay at camp sites if we’re willing to pay…but I thought hiking and camping was supposed to be partly about NOT paying fees for wanting to stay outdoors…is my mindset wrong???
ASSPAD is by the far the best purchase I’ve ever made aside from the essentials lol….thanks to you
So if you divide $10,000 up between 2 people that is $5,000 each. You can’t get info like that just anywhere.
Great tips, not sure some of the Scottish hotels would like 6 hikers in a hotel room. ��
I take photos with my phone of guide books so its all on my phone.
Hi on the AT is there any places that have very step dangers drop offs
Since I need to redeem myself and save face: If you use an alcohol stove, sleep with the fuel when it’s cold. Your stove will preheat and bloom much more quickly in the morning. Filtering water the night before and sleeping with it will make it boil much more quickly, especially if you heated it near the previous night’s campfire (I carry a stainless single-walled bottle for that purpose in cold weather). Wait until the bottle cools before putting it in a cozy or socks, so you don’t damage them. Actually, sleeping with any fuel (except fuel tabs) will make your stove more efficient in the morning. Use solid fuel tabs? A dab of hand sanitizer or drop of alcohol (I carry a small bottle of Isopropyl for hand sanitizer and medical use) gets the tab started quickly, as will a square of toilet paper, paper trash, birch bark, etc.
If the drone is stable (adjective) in flight, it flies stabLY (adverb). Adjectives describe things, adverbs describe actions. I am impressed with your device, but not your advertising. Hire a proofreader. ��
Great info! I also wrap a little blister tape around my hiking pole or lighter. If not for myself for another hiker in need. ��
Have you ever done a through hike outside of the US? The first long trail I ever heard of was the West Highland Way in Scotland. at only 95 miles that’s just a quick jaunt compared to the AT or PCT but I’m curious if you have or plan on hiking that trail or if you would do anything differently on a shorter trail like that.
Thanks a million for your genuine advice. I really enjoy it. Good luck
What I love about this video is that it can apply to so many things. Any challenging time in your life. I’ve never done long distance hiking, but I’ve been through chemotherapy. Embrace the suck. Yeah.
If it costs money to send a package to each post office, then is it better to send loads of food to the first office and then forward them for free each time??
Super cold night? I Jetboil some water, put it in bottles and keep them in my sleeping bag to snuggle with.
The bounce box free forwarding mentioned is good only if you do not open the box, otherwise more freight to pay for. I worked for the USPS for a long time.
I thought about carrying out town food but I thought it was a dumb idea, Guess I should stop second guessing myself
Mate can you speak English,I cant understand anything you say.
Ingenious. I thought the last video was awesome, but even better info!
What I do instead of taking the whole AT Guide I took a picture of every page, put it on a 1gb sdcard and just pop it in my camera to read it! It weighs less than a gram! Hope that helps.
I think many of us jump to conclusions without knowing what they’re talking about, a External frame backpack will be the best backpack you could ever carry on a thru hike…but most people will never know because this kind of backpacking takes more then somebody else’s advice to know how good a external frame backpack really is…for many people carrying a External frame backpack will realize how great a frame pack is after about 200 miles…but many people will never know this because they have been told by people how bad a External frame backpack is by people that have never used one!
A External frame backpack, and waist belt system on these kind of backpacks make up for a little extra weight you might carry in a External frame backpack…you can still carry a Ultralight gear kit if you want… A External frame backpack carries most of your weight directly on your hips, and the shoulder straps keep the pack from falling backwards… You get more ventilation with an external frame backpack and you walk with a more upright position, you’re not bent over for 8 hours like you are with other kind of Packs…
With a External frame backpack you do need to get your torso length correct… And you loaded a External frame backpack differently then a Ultralight pack…but taken care of these things will make your External Frame Backpack…the best experience you will ever have in backpacking -Friar Rodney Burnap
Wow, just watched this video. Good stuff. The food bags I have been doing. People that I was crazy, easy to count calorie intake this way also.
I never thought to stay at the Holiday Inn and then carry some cheeseburgers from the store. Great ideas. Thanks
Thanks for the info. What’s it like at the monument itself, in Campo? Were there folks there wanting to register you/check you in or did you just get going..
Hey Darwin,,
,,,,swamp gal here,,,
,i use the winshild cover as a sitts pad cuz its long & can stretch my.legs out & can set my pack on it & when ya stop to eat ya can set your food down on it,&or if ya want to put your feet up a tree,,its great ta lay on & i put it under my sleeping bag as an insulater from the ground,,,double duty,,
DOOOOOOOOOOOD…………… McDonald’s apple pies. 2 for a buck.
Here is my Cozy for cooking….. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074V1H4R7/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
“Welcome to Wal-mart.”
Me: “Point me to your finest ass pads, please.”
You’re simultaneously stronger and weaker than you know. Understanding that paradox helps you everywhere.
in all of your videos, regardless of the weather, it seems that you’re always wearing shorts. Do you ever use pants and if not why is that?
Further to the numbering of your food bags I have green, yellow and red stuff sacks like a traffic light,which represent all my breakfasts, lunches and dinners so I only unpack what I need. I have a whitish one where I put all the crap like medication, repellant, light that I may need at night. It helps me break camp quicker in the morning. My arse pad goes under my pillow.
Sadly, the majority of people will be stuck forever on Step #3 (including myself)….maybe one day…
When backpacking, you aren’t supposed to use toilet paper. If you do, you have to pack it out with you, and no one likes carrying poop in their pack for a week. Using a book or tp and putting it in the hole is leaving a trace, and a damaging one at that.
Also, another reason besides the one you gave for not bringing deodorant: It builds up and clogs up your sweat pores, which is harmful to your health. It also attracts bears.
Good tips. I’m getting stoked! March 15 isn’t that far away. AT baby!
When hiking with a book: Take an Ebook or fotograph the pages with your phone.
Excellent video. An alternative to #5 Stay Connected could be Integrate the Experience. Some experiences are maturing but not repeatable for reasons that are voluntary (e.g., very bad experience) or involuntary (e.g., opportunities in youth unavailable in middle age). Staying connected may be unwelcome or impractical, but integrating the experience and moving forward is progressive.
“Moving to Montana soon, going to be a dental floss tycoon.” Frank Zappa, 1973
Every year I plan to hike the AT and something always keeps me from doing it. Now that sucks lol
For the Ass Pad, I actually make my food coozie big enough to do both. So the only time it doesn’t work as a pad is when I’m letting my food sit in the coozie. The rest of the time, it does the same as the Z-seat and bonus is that after you are finished your food, the seat is warm from the hot food. Just heat up your food first, then while it’s hydrating in the coozie, set up camp. Then come back and take out the food and sit on the now warm sit pad, also good for fanning a fire.
D…. please tell me what info you put on your po box when you don’t know what date you will be at the next town…. name, ….. what info… Bloomington mn
Great views and advice. Strong believer in ‘listen to the trail’!
So, I have used an ass pad for years, and when I met my girlfriend she made fun of me for calling it an ass pad. Then, years later, I find this video and start dying laughing and show her that I am not the only one!
What trail hiking has taught me: I took a 14 night cruise and only packed one under seat carry-on and a small backpack and was fully comfortable for 14 days and 14 dining nights… oh, and I didn’t need to pack food, water, tent, sleeping bag…just a couple extra pair shoes. ��
So you mentioned to listen to the trail. I havent hiked it yet. I start on February 7th 2020. I have been watching tons of videos, yours mostly, and have introduced lots of AT things into my life. But i feel a different pull from the trail. Beyond all the things i bring into my life that involves the trail like videos and books etc. Im finding the closer i get to my depart date im seeing all kinds of AT related things. People talking about it around me that dont know of my plans. Or noticing a hat or a t shirt that’s AT related in a store. The more i prepare the more i notice other things about the trail. Like its calling me telling me its time. The energy is there.
This video is just… WOW!.. thank you for being honest and taking the time to make it.
This is probably my favorite backpacking vid of the year! Well done…
Planning through hikes is like planning your baby’s birth..don’t expect it to go the way you envisaged!! �� ��
Vaseline and cotton balls they burn for about 4 minutes per ball, vaseline is excellent for chapped lips, moisturizing skin, sealing cuts, and waterproofing repair patches.. a pre-soaked cotton ball is good on hot spots before you get a blister, it costs maybe $3 for a jar of vaseline and bag of cotton balls at the dollar store, which is hours of burn time.. you can also save even more by just using a single ball to fire up the twig stove and using twigs to cook (a little messy, but its free and abundant), also it packs down small and is lighter than other fuels when you compare amount of burn time vs amount of fuel. And you know when you get those lonely times in the bush..
Great tips dude, thanks for sharing.
Need some hints about, feet, food, water, fire, rest, gear, #4 is important. The others are no So much. Good video overall thanks.
For those who wish to explore the concept of “embrace the suck,” I suggest reading the short by Patrick McManus, “A Fine and Pleasant Misery”
I started with $0 and hiked over 1000 miles of the AT this year. I played harmonica in town for food. So I would reccomend an instrument even if your not good at it the trail is a good place to learn.
Oh yeah I know,fuck the plans man,your right about that for sure,hahah,I never thought about half the stuff you said like insurance and rent,I’ve always just paid it
Love the ass pad! I wanted one, but all the different uses are fantastic ideas. Hike on!
This stuff makes me want to cancel my rent, find a place to store my stuff, and just live like this for years. Hiking in Norway (where i live) in the summer, and check out warmer countries in the winter. Im getting a disability check, so i dont need to save a lot of money and i also dont feel like its a race where i have to push myself to hike further than i feel like (unless i need to go a bit longer one day to find water). Just staying active enough so that i dont get bored is enough for me. Maybe just set up camp one day and explore the area with just a daypack the next day. Eating at 100 restaurants, swimming in 100 lakes, camping in 100 forests, and climbing 100 (small) mountains. Sounds pretty decent although i wonder if i will still think it is decent if i actually do it. Think im gonna have to go hiking for a month or 2 before i cancel my rent. Just ordered the Zpacks Duplex tent, and next summer sounds like a great time to test it out. I dont think the Norwegian winters are all that tempting for more than maybe 1-10 days…
Serious question… I’m going back to the states, after living abroad for several years.
Planning on doing a van conversion and you’re really motivating me to do some more hiking. (Done more trail running in the past.)
Can you/anyone please advise me as to how feasible it is to drive around in my van and find a trail, leave my van parked and go off for a week or two to start off? Is that doable/safe or even recommended? Thanks!
Great video. Did my first long distance hike last you and I failed with your Tip #6. I had “plans” about what I was going to accomplish, and was bummed out for a couple of days when things didn’t go to plan.
Hello, Darwin, why is it so expensive? what are the main costs?
I really love your video Darwin, Thank you very much for all of this:)
The Trail community is the best in the world, there is no life like trail life as long you embrace it and respect nature with all that come with it. Well said Darwin.
Hiking on the trails weather if it’s a Day hike, Section hike or Through hike nature has gotten me through some really dark places in my life. Hiking got me through a divorce after 20 years of marriage and my wife telling me she never loved me. That will screw a person up really bad. I was in a really dark place for awhile and being out in nature helped me greatly. It’s as if I could hear her telling me I was going to be ok. It’s been four years now and I’m doing better and still Hiking pretty much every weekend unless I have something planned for a few days in the mountains. I’m also a trail runner so I love running in mountains and desert. I’ve learned a lot about myself being in nature and she has showed me things. Thank You for this video Darwin, Theo
1. Break down the distance/time metrics into understandable quantities. For instance, the AT is about 2,200 miles. If you plan to hike the trail from April August that’s about 22 weeks. Therefore, you need to hike 100 miles per week. If you plan to take 1 zero every week, you need to hike about 17 miles a day. If you hike from 7am to 7pm with a 1 hr lunch break, you need to cover about 1.6 miles per hour.
2. Budget your calories. Hiking 17 miles a day for the average male will burn about 2,000 calories. Plus, the average male burns about 2,000 calories a day without exercise. Packing 4,000 calories per day is quite difficult on long hauls. Develop a schedule and method for calorie loading. For instance, eat 5,000-6,000 calories once every two weeks by eating 3 fast food meals.
3. Develop a gear list with base weight between 10%-12% of body weight. We aren’t all physically equal. If you’re a smaller statured person, you will probably need to splurge on ultralight gear. If you’re big and athletic, you have a bit more leeway. Forget the light, ultralight, and super ultralight thresholds. Comfortable base weight depends largely on stature and physical capabilities.
4. Shake everything down. Hike simulations on the weekends. Excercise/hike every night, particularly if the weather is terrible. Carry your pack with your base gear (or close) while training. Eat a calorie restricted diet on the weekdays, then binge on the weekends. Set up and break down your tent repeatedly in bad conditions. Sleep in the back yard a couple of nights. Go an entire day without sitting on a chair, couch, staircase, etc. Do several overnighters or weekend trips if possible.
If you can’t make yourself do these things, there is no reason to develop a budget, make an itinerary, and quit your job. The first part of any thru-hiking plan is to assess your level of adaptability and willpower.
what is that budget spent on besides food and fuel? hotel rooms???
Embrace the pain
Watch into the wild
I think ill understand the ☯
I just committed to hiking the cdt in 2021, see you out there
Do not drop your car insurance, I did not have a car, but I kept myself insured anyway. Because when you go back to get insurance, if you don’t have it, they’re going to charge you a new driver premium and it’s expensive.
For me I kinda prepare for the worse when I’m on the trail, I usually bring an emergency blanket and an extra bar just incase I find someone hurt or really struggling
How many bugs did you breathe in doing this? Looks as bad as my woods.
One important lesson I learned from the “all-encompassing Trail” is: Don’t be stupid.
Practice using each gear system you plan on bringing on the hike so it becomes muscle memory.
If something doesn’t work for you then it’s better to find out sooner rather than on the trail.
Traveled for 4 years hitchhiking around the country with a backpackwith pretty much no money at all. I learned three major things that completely changed my life. There’s one connection to yours too.
1 be open
2 be willing to change
3 be yourself
You showed the Cnoc Vecto used as gravity system. Did it work well connected directly to Sawyer to Bottle? Any probs with vacuum/airflow?
What I’ve learned from watching all of these hiking YouTube channels is that they reconnect with nature and seem to get addicted to it. That’s awesome. Getting away from the city or the daily grind of modern civilization is something I think everyone needs whether they know it or not. I did time in the Marine Corps so I know all about embracing the suck, but I pushed forward and moved beyond what I thought I was capable of and that’s really important.
All if the hikes I have done over the years have taught me that no matter what is going on around me, there’s still a place where I feel like I belong. Growing up, I was always the outcast and too much of an introvert to try and fit in. My first semester in college I went on Geology Dept. Camping trip. That weekend I found where I belonged. I go hiking as much as I can to keep motivated in my “real life” because…well, adulting isn’t free.
Thank you so much, Im a Mexican living in Europe (Prague) and it’s just crazy the amount of front and back country here, I have no Thru-hiking experience, and my only wilderness experience can be narrow to been a little boyscout when I was 10 haha, so this videos are just the best, I have seen almost all of them and I think you are helping me in some many ways to save money, time, unnecesary stress and effort. SO DUDE THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH
Hey bear here great to see another tips from the trail…keep rocking man
Take a piece of Reflectex and cut it into the small shape of your body. This is one of the most versatile equip pieces you can carry. Weighs about 4 oz. Uses: Replaces sit pad by performing all those functions PLUS…..Place inside sleeping bag/quilt on top if you to create extra warmth on cold nights. Like having your own personal heater. (Replaces heavier bag/bag liner, heavier clothing).
Can be used under sleeping pad to protect from punctures on rough/poky ground. Use it under bag for cowboy camping.
Instant shade in exposed treeless areas by rigging it to trekking poles/bush/backpack creating your own shade to rest under.
Water proof and wind proof uses.
And so many more uses and weighs so little.
Thanks Viking. I have the duece and all the rest but I’m just wondering how privacy works when on a ridge. I hope I continue to be lucky.
Keep up your awesome vlogs!
Off Duty
Change car insurance to comprehensive instead of full coverage, something that would cover things like fire damage, theft (even while sitting in garage), tornados, etc.
Awesome video. I found your channel by accident and now I’m really pumped to start planning for my first thru-hike.
How is Hike your own damn hike not #1, or at least on the list? Man I learned never listen to anyone, especially when it comes to footwear. Hike your own hike, live your own life. What you do may not work at all for someone else.
For a major addition to it, if you haven’t done it already before planning, make sure to take some CPR and similar first aid courses. Some of the “sports medicine” ones as well are great, the ones aimed for high school and college coaches aides where they teach a lot of the more focused things for injuries.
In my time hiking, I’ve used a LOT that I picked up from the week long course there that I took to get some sports credits in high school while being the coaches assistant for the cross country team.
Those can save your life, or the lives of others…and CPR and similar courses are cheap to take through the Red Cross. They also tend to be nice certificates to have at almost any job you could apply for in the future.
Another MAJOR thing to consider is medications and the legal situation for it. You’ll need to figure out pharmacies and lower day prescriptions. You might also need to do some trips before your hike to set things up with various doctors in the states with certain medications. You don’t want to have a massive issue where you’d be stuck for a week dealing with getting your meds worked out somewhere.
You also want to update your medical situation before you start. Go to the doctor before you start to get a full checkup if not a physical. That information can be extremely valuable if you hit a medical situation on the trail. It’s probably also a good idea to have a second one after it to make sure you didn’t end up with things.
I really appreciate this video. When it came out I was just day dreaming about the AT and I was scared to get started even though I was certain I wanted to do it in 2019. When you said to make a commitment I realized that was what I hadn’t done yet, no one knew I wanted to do this. The scariest thing was telling my loved ones for the first time. Turns out, they are incredibly supportive! Now I tell everyone and anyone that will listen and I start in March 2019. Thank you for your videos!
Rule # 2 is also Velominati rule #5: Harden the f_ck up (a tad harsher, but still the same).
Here are just SOME of the things I’ve learned in my [almost] 35 years of [wilderness] hiking…
“In the wilderness, your biggest problem is YOU.”
“Every solo adventure takes you in two directions… onward and inward.”
“THE TREKKING RULE: Rest before you’re tired, drink before you’re thirsty, eat before you’re hungry, remove layers before you’re hot, replace layers before you’re cold.”
“THE LOST RULE: Stop, sit, eat, drink, think. THEN apply one of the eight reorienting strategies.”
“Depend on faith to save your soul, but depend on YOURSELF to save your life!”
“Learning from your own mistakes is valuable, learning from OTHERS’ mistakes is priceless.”
“The best survival tool is your mind, the best survival skill is self-control.”
“If it’s hot out, you’re going to be hot. If it’s cold out, you’re going to be cold. If it’s wet out, you’re going to be wet. The trick is not minding so much.”
“No matter how difficult the trek, no matter how qualified the guide, your safety is YOUR responsibility.”
“Survival is not a plan, survival is what you do if the plan FAILS.”
BTW, the expression, “embrace the suck”, has been in the military for a LONG, long time!
M8, i am a dead set new fan lol. My son and I r looking at walking the Bicentennial National Trail (Australia 5330kms) in 2023 and have started looking at tips and tricks for long hauls already. U sir, r a legend! Ty for ur videos, both my 11yr old son and I r finding them extremely helpful ������
thank you I have never been hiking but I want go. I don’t have the knees for 100k but with winkipedia I can find something shorter in Calif where I live. I’m close to Yosemite if that helps. Thanks greatly
1) Weight in the hands or feet is twice as heavy, because they travel twice the distance. Carrying tape on trekking-pole is the least efficient place to carry it. Cut a piece of fat straw (eg McDonalds), roll tape onto straw and carry it in your pack if you want to at least look like you know what you’re doing out there? 3) Food: Use bulk freeze-dried for most staples (meat, beans…), instead of rationing so carefully? Freeze-dried is roughly one-tenth the weight of regular food and less than half the weight of most grocery trail-food. That way you always carry less weight and never run short?
4) Eat heavy food first obvious. 5) Use Twinline Flosser’s for teeth and sewing-thread for sewing. Seam-seal won’t stick well to waxed floss and eventually, you’ll want to seam-seal patches. A few yards of #70 Gutterman’s thread weighs one-gram (1/28th oz) and will be worth the (same) time spent sewing, because it’s a permanent fix. 8) Use a bidet, instead of TP. Bidet cleans everything (salt, dust, etc,) and leaves nothing behind. No carry-out mess either. 10) Phones are lighter than guides.
BRILLIANT!! Best idea for arse pad. I sleep with a pillow between my knees at home, I miss that when sleeping out in the bush and sleep less comfortably as a result. I love my arse pad, I love it even more now that it has yet another use.
Love this video. ��. And listening to the trail, and being spiritual about it, is not weird. It is a practical and a full expression of our ‘humanness’. It’s all good. ����
I DONT KNOW WHAT TO BRING. ATLEAST WHEN I WAS IN THE ARMY WE HAD A PACKING LIST. IM GOING TO SEE IF THIS BRO, GOT ONE ONE HIS PAGE FOR ME TO CHEAT WITH.
would you have a facebook page Mr Viking? love your videos by the way
Darwin is such a good speaker I can watch his videos on 2x speed and still understand what he says. He has so many I don’t have time for regular speed if I want to see them all.
the Ice age trail is a good starter trail tons of water and very flat wide trails and nice people in the tow
ns
Instead of “listen to the trail” my philosophy is “listen to your self” most people live their lives according to self imposted barriers that hinders self growth and happiness. I don’t make much money compared to what I did before, but I feel so much better.
My goal is before the end of the year to have almost all my gear ready. Next year, getting rid of debt, and the year after saving. This is my 3 year plan before hiking the AT. �� And give me 2 years of overnight hike to figure out what works for me and replace as I go.
I love “hike your own hike.” Also, little hack for learning how to work into this: I started wilderness hiking in about 15 years ago. I always take a lightweight journal and pencil. Front to back, I list all the changes I make to my original plans. (stay open) There are always MANY and it’s helpful to remember why I made adjustments. In the back I always keep two lists: 1) things I had and didn’t need + 2) things I needed and didn’t have. After about four years of wilderness segment hiking, reviewing these lists every time I was about to start planning for a new hike -I got pretty damned efficient at packing for new hikes.
Some goods tips and some I was already using. The food for each day in a bag. Love the ass pad
At 56 my first backpacking trip will be the 33 mile Chilkoot Trail in July of 2020 in Alaska/Canada. I had an operation many years ago to cure Ulcerative Colitis, so food and bodily functions are most on my mind. Plus, I blew out an ACL in my training. Currently, I am training on a treadmill with 15 pounds on my back doing 1 mile a day. This feels right,….I can do this!!
The ass pad between the knees to stop the disgusting stickies is genius!! �� �� ��
Plans always fail. Never make plans. Instead, set goals and hike towards them.
Hopefully leaving in September https://www.gofundme.com/appalachian-trail-hike-honoring-mom
Best motivational 10 minute video! it could apply to everything in life. Thanks
So Darwin grabbed some coffee, found out Paramores latest hit song, figured out who was in that restaurant in Florida, listener to some rage comedy and then shot a video. Thank you, internet.
Man! i really enjoyed this video. if you aint learn’in you aint live’in. good stuff.
Love your videos. Very informative and fun to watch thanks Darwin
Looking for camping gear reviews and all of a sudden this dude has me mentally rearranging my life for a 6 month hike
I want to start a thru hike in August. I’m a Veteran and get a monthly income a little over a grand from the VA. I have a car payment close to $300 a month so I guess my question is could I complete a thru hike with around $700 a month?
I live right by wrightwood ca and the PCT runs threw it an the San Andreas fault,,,I’m planning on a solo hike very soon ������������ I’ve been hiking for almost a year and I’m excited to do this
Never ever hiked any of the REALLY long distance treks in the USA, however, during my El Camino de Santiago (roughly 550 miles) I used to do №2 ALL THE TIME! It really makes all the difference! The Mile Bank though…what a great advice, definitelly will do on my first AT thru-hike!:)
True story: I was going on a one week hike in the northeast. A friend who had never hiked but who was in great shape for a man his age (ran thousands of miles per year) was going to go with me. He scheduled out everything down to where we would be at what time. I tried telling him it didn’t work that way, but he insisted this is how he got motivated. The plans went out the window on day one. (And he quit.) It’s too bad because a better approach would have served him much better. He seems to have given up on the idea of any multi-day hikes and is missing out on a great opportunity as a result.
Lesson: Plan a lot, but don’t schedule a lot. I think that’s the point you were making.
Get shoes 1.5 sizes larger than normal… on a 16 mile day hike, my feet swelled such that the 1 size larger wasn’t enough and my left big toe nearly lost the nail… it’s still purple:-/
Treat your clothes and tent/hammock with permethrin before you go hiking. It is amazing for keeping the bugs away.
Love the video! We were just talking with each other about what all we need to bring when we go hiking. Great tips!
Love this video! Lots of great tips! Your whole channel is excellent! ����������
At 1:31 where can I find these trails? It didn’t come up in my search for National Scenic Trails. Plz share link. Awesome videos, I love all your work
s k
1 second ago
In the camping sundries aisle of the store, you can usually find mini rolls of duct tape that don’t have a center. The roll is only about 3/4 inch diameter and has a few yards of duct tape. Very handy to carry and you don’t have to worry about the tape weathering on your trek pole.
Just download the pdf versions of books… most ppl carry their phone and battery back up with them.
Your #1 thing was one of mine too; Thru-hiking is NOT BUSHCRAFT. It’s not wilderness survival. And it’s definitely much more socially-oriented than I expected.
But, another part of that is the lessons about what I thought I needed versus what I actually needed. I started with like 40 lbs of gear, much of which was unnecessary bushcraft gear, and by the end of it, I was basically hiking with what most would have for a day hike or overnight. Once I got comfortable out there, I realized that I was pretty much carrying a ruck full of security blankets.
Another way to carry duct tape. Take one empty toilet paper roll and wrap with duct tape. Two wraps work. Then shove a towel or small piece of clothing into the roll that will compress that you normally carry in your pack. Takes about the same space as the clothing. Or maybe stuff your first aid stuff inside the roll. Just another thought.
Darwin: Instead of a book of maps, or trying to use a smartphone app… what do you think about a tablet like the iPad mini 4? Even with a recharge battery, you would save weight and increase your resource material 1000x.
It weighs only 10 ozs, you can bring all of Half Mile’s maps + The Water Resource + a ton of other trail resources (plants, animals, geology, etc). You can log all your miles and do a daily diary. You can also bring books to read or even movies if that’s your preference… you can bring NightSky to interpret the heavens on those amazing nights under the stars. If you are a musician (I am), bring a small instrument and you have all of your song charts with you. You have a quality music-listening platform with earphones + quality still & video cameras… plus about a boatload full of other information it would be nice to have on the trail.
BigFoot tagged you in the Luxury Item Challenge:
https://youtu.be/2Eb4ll9Xnxc
Hello Darwin, I have a question and I hope that you answer as soon as possible. I’m a 17 years old girl (not American, European) and I wanted to know if it is possible that a girl who is under age goes alone on this trail (PCT)
Got asked to “go take a hike.”
Instantly searched this up.
Smug increased to 100.
Love love this video, thanks for doing this one! Stay Connected! ❤️
1year how about six years after I retire from the military. I’m about to start training this year. I’m about to start in Japan.
Good stuff! You’re one of the few people to really address the mental aspects when, correct me if I’m wrong, mindset is the majority of what you need to deal with? 90% of what I see on youtube is just about gear and places to party lol.
I’m quitting my bullshit job as soon as my get my planning done. Anyone have any tips?
Besides the darwinwisdom in the video of course.
Awesome advice. Great to see a vlog from you! I have a question. We do section hikes and this has not happened yet but I’m sure it will, what do I do if I’m on a narrow ridge and urgently feel the need to plant Dingle berries???? I always hike in fear of this.
Thanks,
Off Duty and Danny Long Stockings