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Some advice I've collected from Through-Hikers:
1. Don't worry about making miles.
2. Drink lots of water (purified).
3. Quit caffeine (long) before you start hiking.
4. If your feet hurt, stop.
5. Beer will make you lazy, especially in Parisburg.
6. Domestic dog is the greatest cause of injury on the trail.
7. Every local will tell you the section you're on is the hardest section of the trail. Only in the Whites are they right.
8. Don't take days off from the trail.
9. Don't stay in shelters near roads.
10.If you feel like quitting, hike three more days and see how you feel then.
11.You don't really need a fire.
12.Everyone gets lost.
13.Don't hit a skunk on the nose if it eats your left over tuna. (I know someone that did this!)
14.Poisonous snakes are endangered species...leave them alone.
15.Do it again.
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2 pr boots. This is kind of what I did. I had a pair of boots
that were in decent shape and so just bought a new pair, which I tried
to break in before I started, and then I got them in Harpers Ferry.
One-shot laundry detergent. You can get it at most laundromats.
I was mailing other stuff, ao it was just easier to go ahead and pack
it.
Bug nets. I'm telling you, the bugs aren't bad at all. For the
few times you'll want any protection, just set up your tent.
It was really 21 drops, plus being full at the beginning, so it was
more like a week between mail drops. The most I carried was 9 days
of food, for parts like the 100 mile wilderness, and some sections in
VA.
Rain Gear. My gear was pretty durable. It was made by and bought
at EMS. I had bought it a couple of years beforehand. Capilene is
high-tech polypropylene. It is softer, and doesn't absorb odors
like polypro does, but has the same wicking/insulating properties. It
is a Patagonia product. I don't like the poncho idea, but others do.
Actually, I had two pairs of clothes. One to hike in, and one to
wear in town. In all honesty, I got pretty nasty by the time I rolled
into town. No one bothered me when I went into New York City though :),
but my sister threw me in the shower right after saying hello.
Starting time. Snowy, rainy, cold, nice, everything. There
weren't too many other people starting. I mostly passed them pretty fast
and started to catch up with people who were in front of me. Half the
fun of hiking the trail is the people you meet. The crowds will die
away, plus there will be chances to get away from people.
H2O filters. I agree with being anal about water purification.
Keeping healthy is one of the more important aspects of finishing
the trail. I mailed my replacement filter, and I backwashed a couple
of times in town. I think it was the PUR Explorer. The only
complaints I have heard about the MSR Waterworks is that it clogged pretty
easy, and wasn't quite as simple to clean as the manufacturer claimed.
Shelter/lean-to sleeping works great. You don't have to mess with
setting up your tent, there is a nice flat spot to cook on, and the
evenings and mornings are great opportunities to joke around with your
friends. Remember to hang your food though, cause they are mice magnets.
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SAFETY POINTERS:
I. Avoid camping near road crossings or staying in shelters within a mile
of a road crossing.
II.
III. Do not tell strangers exactly where you intend to camp for the night.
IV. If you get a funny feeling about someone sharing a campsite or shelter
with you, move on no matter how late it is or how tired you are.
V. Take any valuables (e.g., wallet) with you; do not leave anything of
any worth in your car at the trailhead.
VI. Hiking with others does not ensure your safety. A couple should be
as wary as a solo hiker.
VII. If something does happen, report it to local law authorities (and the Appalachian Trail Conference) no matter how insignificant it may seen. It may be a part of a bigger picture you are unaware of.
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