Date: 2005-02-18
To: Lessons Learned - thus far
Miles today: 0.0

PLEASE NOTE: BEFORE YOU READ THE BELOW, PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE TRIED TO USE SOME HUMOR IN WRITING LEGITIMATE SUGGESTIONS. SOME FOLKS APPARENTLY FELT I WAS BEING SERIOUS WITH SOME OF MY COMMENTS (I.E. WHO CAN AND CANNOT STAY IN THE SHELTERS). IF MY HUMOR IS THAT "DRY" MAYBE I SHOULD STOP USING IT IN FUTURE POSTS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS SERIOUS AND WHAT IS IN JEST - PLEASE LET ME KNOW.I wanted to try and capture in one spot (here) some of the lesson learned during my January/February thru-hike betweeen Springer and Erwin, Tennessee. I've listed them arranged by categories. Check back periodically and I'll add to the list.GEAR1. If you buy a tent or other form of shelter, and the tent is supposed to already be seam sealed - SEAL IT AGAIN YOURSELF. If the manufacturer says it is already seam "taped" - SEAL IT AGAIN YOUSELF. If you anticipate that only one rain drop will touch the tent during your entire thru-hike - SEAL IT AGAIN YOUSELF.2. Take care of your boots - just like your feet. Carry and slip into a comfortable camp shoe when you are finished hiking each day. Wipe your boots clean and try to keep them from freezing (only applies if the temps that night are also freezing). You can wrap them in your pack cover and put them at the foot, inside your sleeping bag. Believe me, your feet and boots will both get together the next day and say "thank you."3. Carry an extra pair of polypro's and a couple of extra pair of socks - you shouldn't have to wear wet layers or socks when you are in camp or at the start of next day's hike. (Of course you shouldn't have to do a LOT of things in life - but at least this is something you may be able to control).4. Learn how to moderate your body temp while hiking - by adjusting what you are wearing or not wearing - your hat, gloves, layers of clothing. This can really help to determine if you are wet from perspiration at the end of a days hike. WEATHER1. Get a cheap thermometer. It can help alert you to the possible onset of conditions that result in hypothermia; heat stress; etc. And you might just be about to break an all-time low/high temperature record - why suffer in ingnorance?2. Be aware of the winds (strength and direction). More than a few shelters were for some reason constructed with their open side facing the prevalent wind direction. You can disregard this advice when crossing over a Bald - the winds will get you, regardless.3. Be alert to the signs of an icy trail in front of you. Any ground near a stream during the winter months may well be icy. On the other hand, you are probably okay with a dry creek bed during a 100-degree spell in July.TRAIL1. Vary your hiking speed to aid in controlling how hot/cold you are. This sounds simple - so do it! Exertions from climbing or decending can be made easier by slowing down or stopping for a brief break. Or, if your trailname is JAWS - you can always just re-start your hike whenever you feel like.2. Always try to gather info from the hikers you meet during a day's hike. A lot of the hikers may well be local or section hikers who are up-to-date on the weather forecast; upcoming trail conditions; or what happened on the last episode of Desperate Housewives.3. Dogs do not, I repeat DO NOT, have a God-given right to spend the night in a shelter with other hikers. The mice have that legal right - dogs do not. Shelters are "first come, first served". Whomever arrives first gets a spot for the night (except for boy scouts; girl scouts; any scouts; weekend hikers; section hikers; SOBO hikers; or hikers who identify themselves as Mountain Man or Mountain Dew).TOWNS1. If you stay over in a town and plan on drinking an alcoholic beverage, do it inside somewhere. If you decide to drink alcohol outside, don't let town folk see you. If town folk do see you, don't get arrested. If you do get arrested, try to get out of town as soon as possible - because the rest of us have to face the same situation down the road in the same towns. Same goes for anything you enjoy a "toke" of, etc.2. Treat the locals as you would want to be treated - with some courtesy. If you don't have anything nice to say - try telling lies.3. If you are on a budget - share the costs with a fellow hiker. This includes sharing a place to stay; groceries purchased at a store; even the cost of postage on a bounce box that you can both make use of.4. If you are NOT on a budget - leave any excess funds at the post office, care of: "JAWS - General Delivery".