10 Things I've Learned in 10 Days on the Trail

Hey again! I can't believe it's been 10 days on the trail! Part of me feels like I've been hiking forever, while another part feels like I only got started yesterday; it's a very strange dichotomy. Over the last several days, I've been putting together a little list of things I've learned so far on the trail, and I've figured that it might be worth sharing. So, without further adieu, I present to you all "10 Things I've Learned in 10 Days on the Trail."

1. Hiking is hard

Like, really hard. I thought I was in good enough shape, and I thought that I had decent enough hiking experience. I was wrong. The very first climb up Springer Mountain left me huffing and puffing, and it has been a (literal) uphill battle from there. It turns out that nothing can really prepare you for spending 8-10 hours a day lugging a 40lb pack up and down mountains.

2. Hike Your Own Hike

Some folks hike fast, some folks hike slow. Some guys pride themselves on carrying the lightest packs possible, while others don't mind carrying a few extra pounds of comfort. In the end, we're all out here for our own reasons and to our own ends. You've got to respect that.

3. Trail Magic is Magical

I can't even begin to describe how wonderful Trail Magic can be. Imagine stumbling down a mountainside 30 miles from town. It's hot, you're tired and dehydrated, you've still got 5 miles before your next campsite. Suddenly, you hit an old dirt road and are greeted by a group of former hikers handing out hot food, cold drinks, and energy rich candy from the back of an SUV, all free of charge (BIG shoutout to Sherpa and Frankenfoot). Everyone you meet is supportive of your hike and wants to do anything possible to see that you make it to the end. THAT'S Trail Magic, and it is awesome!

4. Planning Ahead Actually Kind of Matters

Who would have thought that blindly blazing into an 8 mile dry stretch of trail with only half a liter of water was a bad idea?

5. Old Folks Can Rock and Roll

I have been surprised by the number of old geezers I've run into on this trail; I've been INCREDIBLY surprised every time one of them breezes up a hill while I'm breaking my back trying to get to the top!

6. The Extra Mile is Worth It

After a tough day on the trail, the sight of a blue blaze (the mark of a side trail) can seem extremely unappealing. But following those blue blazes has taken me to some of the most awesome and beautiful bits of Appalachia that I've seen yet.

7. The Trail Calls to all Kinds of People

When I set out for this hike, I imagined that there was a certain "type" of person who hiked the AT. I couldn't have been more wrong. From "Twigs and Berries," the barefoot twins hiking in loin cloths, to Jack the 11 year old, I've encountered all kinds of interesting and wonderful people on the trail.

8. Just Pee Already!

This one's a bit more practical for any of you folks thinking about taking off on some wilderness adventures. It's most useful when it's freezing cold outside, and you're all bundled up in your sleeping bag. If you have to pee, get up and do it! Apparently, your body has to expend a decent amount of energy keeping that extra liter of water at a toasty 98°F, and this steals heat from the rest of you. I guarantee you'll be warmer and happier if you get up and get it done!

9. Calories per Ounce / Eat the Heavy Stuff First, You Idiot

While I certainly appreciate the pre-departure trip to Wal-Mart with Mom, I certainly didn't appreciate carrying 20 lbs of food down Springer. I think I'm getting the hang of this "hiker food" thing, as I'll elaborate in a future post.

10. No Pain, No Rain, No Maine

Simply put, if you don't hike through pain and you don't hike in the rain, you'll never make it up to Maine.