Date: 2005-05-08
To: Just inside PA
Miles today: 0.0

Longer DistancesAt firstwhen I met other hikers who said they just go backpacking for five or six days at most at a time, I replied that that's what I do, since that's about as much food as I'm willing to carry; I'm just doing it over and over again. Later I realized that wasn't so, that new skills enter into the loner distances. For five or six days, you'd probably gather and check your gear, and then set out with your full supply of food and fuel. For that short a time you can (almost) neglect the cleanliness of your person and clothing, the condition of your boots, tent and other gear, your body weight, and the quality of your diet. All of that can be taken care of when you "get back". To the extent that a longer distance hiker makes heavy use of town services (laundromats, showers, and outfitters), their life is closer to that of the five to six day hiker. There's no getting around the need for regular resupplies of food and fuel, but except for that you could be on the trail or in your tent nearly all the time. Then some of the new issues arise.What weight do you want to be, and how much food a day does it take to get to that weight and maintain it? If most of your daily calorie needs are due to excercise, you can eat so much that you're never hungry and still lose weight.How often do you need to wash to stay healthy, long term? Just because you jump int the shower at home and your whole body gets washed at the same time, you may not question that procedure, but on the trail it becomes an issue. In winter months outdoors you need less bathing, since you may never sweat, which works out really well since it's hard to get enthusiastic about taking off your clothes when it's often cold and dark. In the summer, when you need it, you have plenty of daylight and warmth. But the one-shower-washes-all concept at home only really exists because showers are cheap and abundant. On the trail I wash up piecemeal, washing my hands very oftenm my face and head next most often, then my underarms, groin and feet, and finally, all the rest. I think this approach would work fine indefinitely.Your gear also will deteriorate without maintenance. I'm at a point now where I think I need to look at everything everyday or two, just in case something is getting close to failing. Are there the starts of cracks, tears, or fraying?Phsychologically I thought the first two or three weeks might be tough because of those extra adjustments, and that other unsuspected issues might arise after one, two, or three months. But instead it became easier, especially physically. My shoulders and hips, whick had complained about the burden placed on them for at least the first month, don't complain anymore. If you've hiked up Dragon's Tooth (mile 656.3 in Central Virginia), you've already experienced the most rugged trail in at least the first thousand miles, so you have at least a rough idea of the most you might be asked to face in that regard. Sometime between two and three months, getting up each day and going just became what I did. And things I was fairly certain of, like "needing" a rest day after a number of days of exertion, I am much less certain of now.