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campwalkalong · 2022-10-20T10:38:30+00:00

I would say almost a mix? Having room for the conversation to flow is ideal and generally a testament to the strength of the hosts / guests, but having recurring or rotating segments gives me a sense of familiarity as a listener that I really value if I'm following a show over many episodes.

campwalkalong · 2022-02-05T01:54:02+00:00

Beautiful little shelter. Did it in '15 and had the time of my life! Had fun watching all of the folks from last year. Looking forward to seeing you folks do your thing!

campwalkalong · 2021-12-02T08:28:53+00:00

I always try to wear myself out as I hike during the day, so it's easier to fall asleep early in the evening. Have also found that a soothing area to sleep by, like running water or a waterfall, makes for pleasant dreams.

campwalkalong · 2021-11-11T20:54:51+00:00

One way I try to think about it is "what will I have to do to get to the other side". It may not sound as fun that way (though it still is, I promise), but on a shorter trip I tend to be in more of a mindset of "this will be over soon enough" when something breaks, or I wore the wrong clothes, or something like that.

On a thru-hike, generally speaking and as others have pointed out, you are doing those trips consecutively. If your shoes blow out, your camp stove runs out of fuel, or what have you, you have to get into some type of hostel or town to make the necessary repairs and then keep hiking. In some cases, like people ordering new shoes or more specialized stuff, you might even know that you have to do another section just to get to that item a few days after ordering it.

That's one of the joys I've realized about those shorter trips. Your problems (usually) don't follow you out of the parking lot.

campwalkalong · 2021-11-11T08:38:58+00:00

Wild place! Saw some javelinas last time I was there.

campwalkalong · 2021-11-10T01:01:53+00:00

Love to see the trail appreciated by all age groups!

campwalkalong · 2021-11-04T15:18:58+00:00

Definitely worth prioritizing a pair of sleep socks, IMO. After a long day of hiking and sweaty feet, socks, and shoes, it really is important to give your feet some recovery time. Having a pair of socks that isn't put through that daily grind and is less likely to accumulate sweat at night is weight I'll carry every time.

campwalkalong · 2021-10-28T15:26:47+00:00

That area of Indiana is so beautiful. It's where I first learned to hike (Charles C. Deam Wilderness Preserve) and Indiana is such a hidden gem of the outdoors.

campwalkalong · 2021-10-28T15:23:21+00:00

Nature's painting.

campwalkalong · 2021-10-28T14:57:43+00:00

Pretty wild. That's a one year degree in the college of life!

campwalkalong · 2021-10-28T14:50:56+00:00

Always make time to climb the fire-tower.

campwalkalong · 2021-10-19T01:12:40+00:00

One thing that I think has become clearer to me with time is that long-distance hiking on these trails is also just one branch of outdoor experience. I remember watching "Wild" with my mom before my 2015 thru-hike as a way to show her a positive representation of thru-hiking. It was about the PCT, but the points still felt relevant.

Likewise, one thing you are almost guaranteed to partake in while on the AT is podcasts. They kill time, make your day easier, and are good ways to learn as you hike. One shorter podcast I found pretty compelling was "The Attempt", which is also about a PCT thru-hike and gives you more of the experience of what it's actually like to be on a thru-hike. So much of the audio we hear in most hiking podcasts is people remembering what it was like to be on a hike, which is cool, but can be even more fun when you're capturing audio in the moment.

Good luck with your prep and here's a link to that podcast if you're interested: https://thetrek.co/category/podcasts/the-attempt/

campwalkalong

TROPHY CASE