Date: 2010-01-20
To: Starting early.
Miles today: 0.0

Its been said we carry extra stuff in the area of our fears. Seems to make sense, doesn¢t it?I heard of one hiker starting up the Approach Trail one season carrying a gallon of Colman fuel (10 lbs), suppose his fear was not having a hot dinner? I personally met a young man in New Jersey on my ¢06 thru-hike ¢ this lad¢s fear was running out of water. Attached to the top of his pack was one of those 2 12 gallon jugs with the handy pull spout as well as carrying a gallon jug in each hand ¢ 45 lbs of just water! Being without any form of guidebook to know that water is everywhere on the AT, his fears directed his decisions.Seems I¢ve also seen many a hiker with pepper spray on their belt too. Guess those videos of rare grizzly maulings got the better of their imaginations. Another group of hiker is afraid of going solo and quickly attach themselves to others for security, although this strategy makes for nice chitchat around the fire. The others one meets during the hike are one of the most cherished aspects of the adventure to be sure. And besides, in a dark isolated forest a field mouse can conjure up images of a giant anaconda seeking a snack.If UFO¢s and possible mind-control abduction in the middle of the forests is your fear, then it might behoove you to hike with aluminum foil ¢ I hear those who sleep with foil on their head have never had a close encounter, or so they can recall. Makes you think, doesn¢t it?Since I¢m starting early, March 1st, my fear is really cold temps. The elevations of the southern Appalachians often go against the valley temps of the Atlanta area. If you¢re a sweat monster like me, every day¢s hike ends with my clothing soaked from my Type A exertion level. I like to go-go when I hike instead of slow slow. This means I get chilled easily when you take a break (so I don¢t take many) and it also means taking extra clothing than I¢d normally carry. Fortunately, my gear refinement over the years has my pack weight a fraction of where I began, but still, I may need a clothing intervention before I set my tread to the trail.It always surprises me how warm we can stay when our packs are tight to our spine while maintaining a good pace despite the frigid temps. The human motor is an amazing heater.But nearly every start date, early or late, hikers get cold. It may be July, in the 50¢s with wind and rain, and it will cut right through your thin summer blood. Shivering sucks. It can actually be warmer to tent out rather than use the shelters on some of those really cold nights, as much as five to ten degrees to guesstimate. As great as the shelter system is on the AT, they can be a frigid place to lay your hat for the night (inspiration for the illustration). This is also why it¢s important to choose properly rated sleeping bags. Since most women sleep colder than men, I¢ve heard most women carry a zero-degree to fifteen-degree bag, where the men usually carry a fifteen to twenty-degree bag. Of course your clothes will also supplement this with warm, of course, this also depends on your starting date. If you wait too long for the southern warmth, I can guarantee you a frosty finish up at Katahdin.March 1st, brrr¢¦makes me shake just thinking about it. Then again, it could be 60 out? The trail is nutty that way.