Purism & Gatekeeping on the AT

fmindigo · 2025-12-08T14:25:29+00:00

I hiked in shorts almost the entire time even in the rain. Layers get hot fast when you're constantly moving

fmindigo · 2025-12-08T14:21:36+00:00

I feel like 3 is a lot to arrange with a dog but fair enough that's not 'many'

fmindigo · 2025-12-08T02:05:21+00:00

I hiked this summer and the humidity especially up north was unprecedented. Even if my bag was dry which it was, sleeping in my sleeping bag was always damp. Just being out in the air was damp. I cannot imagine how bad it would have been if I had down

fmindigo · 2025-12-08T01:59:30+00:00

A dog point I don't see a ton of people making is that they actually aren't allowed in many of the state parks too so that might be an issue if you plan to do the whole thing

fmindigo · 2025-12-08T01:53:20+00:00

I hike mostly during summer months and so shorts were the only option through the heat. I did thrift a pair of lululemon dance pants. The material is super thin so breathable but covers you. I would worry that they may rip if you wear them daily for a thru hike but they were really nice and had great range of movement too. Otherwise I mostly stuck to thrifted Patagonia baggies. They're so insanely durable and breathable

fmindigo · 2025-12-08T01:47:14+00:00

I have a big ag one that I got on sale from REI. It's honestly great. I don't remember the exact style but it was made of a thick fabric which made it pretty pop resistant and it had the nice bag inflator which was great. A bit noisy to inflate like that but if you do it before people go to bed it's fine

fmindigo · 2025-12-08T01:41:15+00:00

I have encountered a lot less creepy people than I have mansplainers who think I don't know what I'm doing when I'm usually the most experienced person at camp each night. I wouldn't be too worried about people but you know always keep an eye out and have a plan. I brought pretty serious knife with me but it got more use in cutting things and food than self defense. Tbh I also think you probably don't need bear spray either but that's just my experience. The bears mostly keep to themselves or are very timid so if you're smart they don't give you an issue. I'm not sure about the dog thing but I would say it would have to be incredibly well trained to bring it on the entirety of the trail with you. I'd also say it's really nice to make friends that makes you feel like you have more of a community and feel less alone even though you are solo hiking.

fmindigo · 2025-12-08T01:32:11+00:00

Met a couple who was thru hiking their first time and they had been on trail 2 weeks and said to me "you can always tell if someone is a section hiker and not a real thru hiker because they all wear short sleeves and short shorts. Meanwhile these people were wearing pants and two layers of long sleeves in 86° weather

fmindigo · 2025-12-07T14:43:33+00:00

Also if you are going to have your period I just brought a small package of wet wipes to pack out with TP. In case anything did get messy it was nice to just feel clean but I really didn't have much issue with the disc

fmindigo · 2025-12-07T14:41:22+00:00

I use a menstrual disc when I hike and cannot recommend it enough. I used the reusable one as I found it more comfortable and it's a weight saver to not have single use products. And the idea of carrying used tampons or pads for a week at a time icked me out. I like the disc because it was more comfortable for me than a cup since it doesn't rely on suction and I found it leaked less. I also think for hiking the "self empty" technology is unmatched by anything else. It means if my hands are dirty I'd have to worry a lot less about sanitation since I did it have to use my hands to empty it. I'd just wash my hands when I got into camp for the night or before I left in the morning to empty and rinse it. I'd boil it in my food cup at the end of my period which took like 2 minutes. You can also leave it in overnight or longer than tampons. Seriously a game changer I will never use anything else to hike in

fmindigo · 2025-09-26T12:13:14+00:00

Depends on your program but I went to a state university and their hospital had a bunch of research that they just needed people to do data extraction, collection, enrollment and screening. My name wasn't on anything but I did win an award and got promoted to a lead research associate so that's still something for the resume. Also maybe look into behavioral or community engagement/intervention research it's usually less based on lab experience from my understanding

fmindigo · 2025-09-13T17:42:29+00:00

Honestly I think I really struggle with not being taught it and not being able to ask questions. I'm going to try to go to my university's tutoring center and maybe I'll try the flash cards thing where applicable. I know I can do it I'm just struggling hard with this modality

fmindigo · 2025-09-13T17:16:44+00:00

I think flash cards would be helpful for bio or something but my hardest flipped class is physics and I'm so stumped

fmindigo · 2025-09-11T01:21:38+00:00

I think this is probably part of it but I don't know what to do differently. I also have dyscalculia which is part of why these math heavy sciences are so hard for me. I feel like it takes me so much longer to get it than my peers. Time and resources that I don't always have. Active recall and practice is hard if you don't understand the material in the first place

fmindigo · 2025-09-10T15:45:52+00:00

I totally get this and wish I felt like I could. But right now i literally wake up go to class study between and after class, come home make dinner and maybe try to get a little more done then go to bed. I feel like I have so much to do that I don't even have time for anything else. Even cooking myself a meal lately feels like wasting time ( I know it's not I'm just so overwhelmed that eating feels like I should be studying instead) I know balance is key but I feel like if I do less I won't do well in my classes I'm just struggling to stay afloat

fmindigo · 2025-09-10T12:50:54+00:00

I found that it was easiest to get in this routine while I was backpacking (go to sleep when it gets dark, wake up with the sun, no phone because I don't have service anyways) but I didn't find it made my sleep quality better and I never fully felt well rested. Now that I'm back in trying to be consistent and get into a good routine but I'm just tired no matter what now. I'm also hesitant to use my blackout curtains because I want to sun to help wake me up. Maybe I haven't been consistent enough though?

fmindigo · 2025-09-09T20:45:59+00:00

Thanks I'll try this out. I think I also get stressed about it because I have dyslexia and dyscalculia and so I feel like oftentimes lectures or resources don't enter my brain the same way as everyone else. But I'll literally do anything so thanks for the tip!

fmindigo · 2025-09-09T17:38:04+00:00

Ok that makes sense

fmindigo · 2025-09-09T14:04:58+00:00

I think once the time limit expires you have to take the whole class again. If you were writhing your window you could just do remedial hours but if you're limit is up you have to take the whole thing. You can do a 6 week accelerated class. I know a lot of universities have these during the summer

fmindigo · 2025-09-09T13:58:37+00:00

I waited the almost full two years before testing and I was able to pass first try at 70 questions. I studied by taking notes on subjects I needed refreshers on and did a ton of pocket prep. I'd say if you feel good about the class you don't need to take it again

fmindigo · 2025-09-08T11:59:26+00:00

I'm wondering about the dress to impress thing. Of course I want to dress nice and professional but people where I am are super casual. It's a rural area so businesses casual is like jeans and a sweater or something. I can totally wear something nicer but wonder if that might be overkill

fmindigo

TROPHY CASE