First Week

Ok, so I've had an awesome first week on the trail.  The Wolf Pack and I covered 53 miles.  Monk and Thumper (or Trey and Foreman) hit their personal 100 miles on the AT mark.  Ruth got the name Inch Worm, and Dana became Trooper.  We met some pretty cool people.  We also celebrated Monk's birthday with fire roasted cinnamon rolls and my trail calzones. 

We had rain for about 3 days straight, so we spent a lot of time being cold and wet.  Every time our clothes, tents, and sleeping bags would dry out it would just rain again.  It wasn't too miserable though.  We came across some trail magic on one cold day and got to sit under a tent.  I don't mind the rain too much.  I keep telling myself it's the trails way of weeding out the people that aren't gonna make it.  I think there's a phrase: No rain, no Maine.

A few days ago, I crossed the border into North Carolina.  It was kind of funny, because there was a huge group of hikers sitting on a rock by the sign.  No one said anything to me as I hiked up, then when I crossed the border, everyone started cheering.  I joined them on the rock, and we did the same for the next few hikers.

I also hit the100 mile mark, so that was exciting.  My friend Stryder came out to the trail and is hiking the Smokies with me.  I also met a cool group of boys from Long Island I've been hiking with. 

What To Wear Hiking

You're going to need some durable clothes for your hike.  Clothes designed for athletics tend to be more pricey than normal clothes, but you'll be wearing the same stuff everyday.  Consider good clothes to be an investment.  Synthetic materials are the best because they're lightweight, and they dry quickly.  Cotton is the worst.  If it gets wet, it will be cold and take a long time to dry.  Also, remember to layer your clothes if it's cold.

Keep in mind that the first month or two will be colder than the rest of your hike.  It's likely that you'll run into snow in the Smokies.  Some of your clothes can be mailed home or ditched in a hiker box once the weather warms up for good.  These are just suggestions.  You'll probably have your own preferences.

-synthetic t-shirt: this is pretty much a staple, and you'll probably wear it everyday.
-rain jacket: this is great to have because it not only keeps you dry, but you can wear it when you're cold too.
-convertible pants: they zip off above the knee, so they can be shorts or pants.
-long-sleeved shirt: good for nighttime or cold weather.
-synthetic shorts: something loose and breathable.
-wool socks: bring 2 or 3 pairs; you'll probably have to replace them a few times during your hike.
-sports bra (if necessary)

Other options:
-running skirt: these are getting pretty popular on the trail because they're super comfortable and they look cute.
-hiking kilt (for men): most guys think these are for wussies, until they give them a try and see how comfortable they are; I thought they were nerdy until I ran into one hiker that looked like a Gladiator in his kilt.

Cold weather clothes (send home when weather warms up):
-beanie/cap: keep your ears warm.
-gloves: you can probably get by without them if you don't want to carry them, but they're nice to have.
-yoga pants/ long underwear
-fleece/ flannel/ long-sleeve shirt

Of course you'll need a comfortable pair of hiking boots or shoes.  A lot of hikers like to have a pair of sandals to wear around camp, as well.

What to Eat on the Trail

Food is probably the most important thing you'll need to sustain yourself on the trail.  You'll be eating anywhere from 3000 to 6000 calories a day, and you don't want to get bored with your diet.  I'll list the basics that are easy to prepare, and then we'll talk about more creative food ideas.

The Basics:
-oatmeal packets
-Clif bars/ other energy bars
-Ramen noodles
-instant mashed potatoes
-peanut butter
-Nutella
-granola/ oat bars
-pasta sides
-dried fruit and vegetables
-beans and rice
-string cheese
-bagels/ English muffins
-trail mix
-jerky
-Crystal Light
-tea/ hot cocoa
-box mac & cheese
-Pop-Tarts

Trail Meals:
-Easy Pad Thai
Cook oriental flavored Ramen noodles.  Add a spoonful of peanut butter and a spoonful of Nutella.
-Burritos
Cook some beans and rice or used dehydrated refried beans.  Add string cheese.  Use sauce packets (stock up on them when you go to Taco Bell).
-Spaghetti
Cook pasta.  Pour in powered pasta sauce and add a little extra water.
-Pizza bagel
Add sauce to a bagel half.  Put cheese on top.  Set on a rock by the fire to toast.
-Noodles and potatos
Cook Ramen noodles.  Pour in instant mashed potatoes to soak up extra water.
-Cinnamon Rolls
Buy a tube of cinnamon rolls.  Find a stick in the woods.  Wrap a roll around the end of the stick and cook over the fire.  Add frosting.
-Holiday Dinner
(Best done with a group.  Most hikers will spend Easter on the trail, so this is an idea.)
Cook a box of instant mashed potatoes and instant stuffing.  Pass around some jerky.  Roast croissants over the fire.  Do cinnamon rolls for dessert.

You should stock up on sauces because that will add a lot of flavor to your meals.  There are also lots of powered sauces available like pasta sauce, alfredo sauce, and Mexican seasoning.  Be sure that your food has a high calorie to weight content.  Let junk food become your best friend, but sure to get a healthy dose of fruit and veggies while you're in towns.

Really, you can and should eat whatever you want on the trail.  Nothing will put you in a funk faster than not getting enough to eat.  You should keep a variety in your diet, so you don't get bored.

2 Weeks and Counting

OK, so I've decided to start a personal blog section.  I'll be leaving for the trail in about 16 days.  I'm riding to Georgia with a few friends that will be on spring break from Ohio State.  We'll start at Springer Mountain, and they'll be hiking with me for about a week.

Trey and Foreman (or Monk and Thumper) did Georgia with me last year, but two of the other girls in the group haven't done it yet.  Anyway, I need to hike that section again to technically consider it a thru-hike.  I'm pretty excited that I get to spend my first week on the trail with friends from college.  I'm also happy that we decided not to hike the Approach Trail again.  We did it last year, and it was brutal.  I do have to stop at Amicolola Falls State Park though to register as a thru-hiker.

As far as my gear goes, I'm pretty prepared.  I have my base weight around 20 pounds, which is good considering my tent alone weighs 5 pounds.  I'm using a 2-person Marmot tent that I love.  I do have a 1-person tent that isn't very sturdy, and I didn't feel like forking over the money for a new tent.  I think after the first part of the trail, when the crowd starts thinning out, I'll just mail my tent home and get a tarp.  I prefer sleeping in shelters anyway.

I also got a new pack.  I upgraded to the Osprey Aura 65 in Eggplant Purple.  It's really comfortable, it has a mesh back, and the hip belt and back panel adjust.  It is a little small though.  I pack light, so it's not a big issue.  My only thing is that I like to keep all my gear, including my sleeping pad, on the inside of my pack.  Sadly, I have to strap my sleeping pad to the outside of my pack now.  I also switched to a Platypus hydration reservoir, instead of just using water bottles.  I'm hoping that I'll drink more water when I don't have to get my water bottle out every time I want a drink.

Now all I really have to do is buy food for the first few days of the trip and mentally prepare myself.  I think the mental preparation will be the most difficult.  I've been living with my parents for the past few months, and I'm a substitute teacher and a freelance writer.  So I don't have to worry about quitting my job or moving out of my apartment or anything.  I just have to adjust to living in the woods for 5 months at a time.  I think it will be one of those things that doesn't really hit me until I'm on the trail.  I'm mostly excited though.

My Hike

Pre-Hike: 2 Weeks and Counting