Call a-holes on their use of HYOH when they mean, “Don’t call me on my bad behavior.” LNTP are for everyone’s benefit and people that break these essential principle should be taken to task.🌿
Happy to hear you address the anti - cotton cliches -- Back in the 60s and 70s maybe even 80s, we only had cotton or wool. I hiked in cotton all of the time. Wool makes me itch - so I have to wear cotton - or silk, underneath. When I lived in China - the only long underwear that I could afford ( and the one that most people wear) was cotton. It was so cold that you rarely could break a sweat. If you wear cotton and it gets wet and the weather turns cold - take it off and put something else on, or put on something over it and keep moving until it dries out. If it gets wet and you sit -- you will get really cold. Keep moving, and you can keep generating heat. Next - the boots -- I wore boots on the JMT - but I am rather heavy and have had a long history of plantar fasciitis so my feet needed the stiff and solid protection for my heels and soles. I did not need boots for ankle support. When hiking on those granite pebbles and those golf ball and tennis ball sized rocks -- I loved my boots. I did not bruise the soles of my feet ever. So -- footwear is a highly personal choice - and depends on the needs of your body, not any one else's experience or opinion. Thank you for the talk.
still to this day, I can't wear synthetics for long periods. I break out in rashes, sweat profusely, and overheat in any but extremely cold weather. Cotton or linen is what I can wear, and that's about it. Footwear? I much prefer being barefoot, if the terrain allows it at all. Good hiking sandals otherwise. Again, anything else leads to excessive sweating and inevitable blisters and sores. Having feet that don't fit almost any "standard size" shoes makes it even worse.
To me, one of the best parts of backpacking for your soul is a) having to come to terms with the difference between a need and comfort and mostly b) learning every day, just how little you actually need to live and more importantly be happy. When you can find happiness with couple dozen pounds on your back including food and water, you learn to truly appreciate the several thousand pounds of comfort in your home when you get back.
I’ve been following you for years and I’m finally taking my first backpacking trip this spring. And solo! It’s people like you that encouraged and empowered me to take the first step! ❤🎉😊
If I didn't hike alone I would never do any hiking! I just research my routes beforehand and try to go for ones that are well-marked, and always take a backup navigation method with me. So far so good, touch wood! I wear hiking boots most of the time - I do find that I roll my ankles a lot more in trail runners, though I know that's because I need to work on my ankle stability - however the main reason is that I live in Scotland and it's wet!!! A lot of time you are walking through bogs and it doesn't really get warm enough to dry your footwear out. If I did a long backpacking trip in trail runners I would probably end up with trench foot. Boots and gaiters for me! Though if I were hiking in a warmer and dryer climate I would definitely want to try using trail runners
I really hat how people use "you pack your fears" as a way of shaming people who pack things they see as unnecessary. Pack what you need to be confident, yes packing ice axes to backpack in the desert might be over-packing, but you have to learn your confidence level
If you're hiking alone and your heavy pack doesn't lead to you needing a rescue due to exhaustion/injury, then 100%. Carry whatever the heck you want. But there are group trips where there is an expectation that the group is going to maintain a minimum hiking speed to meet an agreed upon itinerary. In those cases, if someone shows up with a heavy pack full of unnecessary items, I will definitely perform a pack shakedown and off criticism and suggestions of things to leave behind.
Good Talk. Cotton or linen are good fabrics for high heat and low humidity. or a cotton linen blend. The wrinkles create ventilation to aid in evaporation cooling. Concerning how to dress to start on a cold morning, If you have ever competed in a varsity sport. You put on your warmups and start easy and spend the First 15-20 minutes warming up the muscles and raspatory system. Warm muscles work better. The best way to get in shape is not having to get in shape. Instead lead an active daily life. Bike or walk to work, dig your garden with a spade instead of power tiller. I knew a doctor who carried his trail pack with the same load weight he used hiking every day to hospital where he worked.
So glad to hear you say not to worry about boots I literally hate them every pair of boots I’ve ever owned has been so clunky and heavy and inflexible I just can’t stand them except in the harshest of winter conditions. Recently started walking in vivo barefoot la and love them haven’t fully gotten used to them especially on hard surfaces but hiking around the nearby trails and parks on soft forest ground they are fantastic
Hi Dixie.....there is so much info on how to put one foot in front of the other, what to wear,how to wear it ....i have watched waaaaaay to many videos...i have reversed course and have abandoned hiking the AT....im gonna do the ADT instead....i saw enough videos to convince me to not hike the AT.....3-5 million people average that trail...that is waaaaaaay too many "cat holes" for me....millions of cat holes on top of the ridge means that all that is deposited into the top ridge is flowing unto the water system...no wonder they tell you to bring a filter. ...to me that is a SERIOUS environmental issues to say the least. .as they say...shit flows down right into natural water resourses....leave no trace appears to be magnanimously hypocritical if we are deficating by the "millions on the same mountain top ridges year after year
In the 60s we pretty much all wore Levi 501 shrink-to-fit button fly jeans. We had thick cotton long johns for night because our cotton Sears sleeping bags were for maybe 50°. We section hiked the PCT, JMT, and other high Sierra trails. Can't recall any of us left for dead, but jeez were our packs heavy with redundant clothes. 🤣 A couple kids had pieces of that new invention, bubble wrap, for insulation/sleeping pads.
Another exception I have found to "cotton kills" is underwear, specifically panties. I had 2 pair of sport undies for my through hike and they were synthetic except for the crotch liner, which was the only cotton part. It really helped, especially if you are a person that is prone to infections down there and it is such a small piece of cotton I never really had issues with it not drying out or anything. As an alternate, I have also seen an uptick in tencel fabric underwear and that also seems to be a nice medium, offering benefits of natural materials but having some of the properties of synthetics.
In the military we had a saying, "If you can't hack it don't pack it". Other soldiers are not going to carry your excess comfort items or gear when they aren't bring extra gear. Only carry what you need and leave room for extra equipment that may be given to you for the mission. Same goes for hiking, leave room for extra water or food for those extended periods you may have to walk before a resupply.
I’ve hiked a lot of “thru-hike” trails, but never claimed to have completed one… I’ve never been one for “start here, end here” kind of things. I live by “hike your own hike”, three weeks of meandering in a circle or down a river, take a zero day or three in a row to do some fly fishing, I carry extra comfort gear, snacks, painting gear, etc. You don’t need to go in a straight line to escape. Side note: I carry a gun, I’m also a trained SAR and wilderness first responder, so I am that guy who carries a 3 lb trauma kit ;)
As always, we fight how we train. We care how we train. Fellow military here. I know what is in that trauma bag. I had to learn that in Stretcher barer training. Fun days!!!!
I swear when you slipped, I almost fell out of my chair! LOL!! Very glad you are ok..Ive slipped several times hiking close to the creek after a recent rain or flood and always felt a bit embarrassed even when I was hiking alone.
Glad to see you're getting out, Dixie! Our WV weather has really been getting in the way of winter day hikes here, so I sure do understand "stir crazy.". Still praying for a good definitive report for your heart. 😊
HI DIXIE 👋 GLAD TO SEE YOU 👀 OUT & ABOUT ! THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO 📹 CAN'T MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY . GLAD YOU'RE OK FROM YOUR SLIP IN THE MUD / SOFT WET SOIL . BE SAFE 😊 🙏HAVE FUN 😊 🙏GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS ON YOUR ADVENTURES 😊 🙏 THANK YOU 😊 🙏 ❤
I've started biking every day for 1-2 hours and I feel that has really helped with elevation gain! Plus my mental health is buffed lol.. Certainly don't need to do anything special like you said. I did a bunch of hikes, including Angels Landing, back on 2021 before I started exercising regularly and I was fine. My heart was POUNDING though.
All sound reasoning, Dixie. I certainly concur with all of your points. To my mind, the true "bottom line" is : find what works for YOU and stick with it. Of course, that does NOT mean it is ever OK to engage in behaviors which are annoying or destructive. It is NOT. That is a given. Unfortunately, those who are not experienced with backpacking tend to follow whatever advice they are given, good or bad. That is where experience comes in. Backpacking has a learning curve. It's as simple as that. Until one gains enough experience to be able to handle all aspects with full confidence (and succeed)...one is still on the learning curve, period. That doesn't mean that experienced people have nothing left to learn - only that the normal issues are no longer a true challenge. Lastly, I think it is very important for all of us, experienced or not, to actively respect each other and our choices. Avoid getting into lecture mode at all costs. Remember, nobody appointed those of us with experience as teachers. Teach ONLY if requested to do so.
I agree with the pack your fears. I always pack an extra pair of sunglasses and eye glasses as if they break I’m gunna have a bad time. I also pack a lot of pills in my med kit for allergies , sickness, tums etc. I’d rather have them and not need them then need them and not have them. I will also say there really isn’t much “training” you can do prepare yourself for this kind of journey. I agree the trail will get you there. Plus you need to experience this kind of backpacking to understand what it’s like day in and day out.
When I first started hiking I would occasionally roll my ankles when not paying attention on tricky terrain. After a while I quit rolling them. The muscles had strengthened and I also was more careful about watching my steps.
I met an AT hiker while on the Long Trail who said "I'm a thorough hiker, not a thru hiker" and I liked that. :) She stopped in every dang town along the way to explore.
One thing about cotton is the same as you mentioned in footwear. If you are on an open maintained trail, you don't need as much durability. If you are hiking off trail in brush and briers, heavier cotton clothes come in handy
Thanks for the video Dixie ! One of the things I like best about her is that she is willing to keep her own slips and falls in her videos instead of editing them out. Most of us slip and fall occasionally. It's amusing to watch so long as nobody gets hurt. It makes such excellent content I'm surprised that she doesn't do it on purpose once in a while . . . or maybe she does ? 😜
@@HomemadeWanderlust it’s great to see such reality and the ability to laugh at oneself is refreshing content… the good bad and ugly! The three things that we are supposed to invest in quality are footwear beds and sofas because we spend our lives in one of the three at any one time… Whilst the lighter load we carry the less calorific energy we consume, it’s certainly a fine art in getting the right balance…. You might say horses for courses… Like off road vehicles and tyre types snow chains and studs::: With hiking footwear as you say the lighter the less durable.
As a person working up short backpacking trips to figure out if I really want to do a thru-hike, I think workouts working up to my longer trips are essential. I only have a handful of days to hike, and I want to spend my time thinking about the woods, not about how much my feet hurt. I'm starting to do strength training and serious hiking miles pre-trip for a 5-8 day trip in late april (deciding between two trails, we'll see how in shape I get and how much time I have) and I can already feel the ways that it's going to help me enjoy my time better. I imagine it's more essential for section hiking/short sporadic backpacking trips because you're not out long enough for the trail to condition your body, but considering how many people injure themselves early on thru hikes I bet it helps your chances there
i took one summer to work up my endurance levels from 5 miles to 20 miles a day- in a 10 hour day that is. that was a semi relaxed hike pace. My own hike this year across canada will be the same, max 20 mile days, with at least 1 off day each week. I mapped (and im lucky cause our trail follows town very closely as its meant to be accessible to people on purpose) to be able to at least re supply every 2 days which takes away so much poundage on my back. If i could gave any advice, dont over over think it and make sure you got 9 out of 10 ducks in a row before you go - 9 because every scenario is planned and the 1 for the unseen. and i opted to carry more water instead because water is one of my 3 comforts/ fears. - the three things that both make and break your hike. i dont even have three if im honest. if i get lost oh well, i technically cant on THIS particular trail across canada. predators, we dont have them on the section im doing first (going the OTHER way to the west coast, yes ill have to plan for bears and cats). if i had to choose 3 - water, cold and mine and my dogs safety.
We spend the winter hiking in central Arizona. The trails are incredibly stoney. Hiking boots are a much better choice here than trail runners. You need something with a stiff chassis to get you through these trails. At home in Wisconsin, where you hike on soft forest soil, trail runners are fine.
This was a great topic and I really enjoyed hearing your perspectives. I've been considering ditching the high top hiking boots for awhile and I think you've convinced me that it's OK.
I’ve done plenty of section hikes, 150-200 miles. I can attest to the fact that taking training seriously and starting to prep a good 6-8 weeks prior to your hike makes a huge difference, hikes that I didn’t take seriously and did little to no training, I had a much more difficult time. Today’s ultralight hiking boots in my opinion, aren’t a whole lot different than trail runners, they’re generally quite comfortable and lightweight. I think the differences are so minor that I’ll grab whatever I can get that are cheapest and will last.
Hi Jessica. Thank you for again another great and informative video. I remember you said when you wore all natural fiber material (like Grandma Gatewood) that you did not have any allergic reactions. I wonder if you might have some allergy to the plastic or coatings in materials made with plastic fiber (synthetic material). About the cotton thing. For my UPPER body - it has always worked for me, even in cold weather!! When cross country and downhill skiing, I wear only a long sleeve 100% cotton T shirt and ski pants, boots and gloves. I get so warm that I sweat and the sweat, even in the cold evaporates from the shirt, the shirt dries and I stay warm. It wicks just fine on me in cold and hot weather. All wool, even merino wool, makes me itch. Plastic fiber (synthetic material) on me is always extremely stinky and hot. Just my two cents. Again, thank you for your wonderful content. You are always a bright light on the internet spreading great info and positivity. Linda from Grass Valley CA.
People are different. They have different goals and needs. These also change over time. A spill that a 40 year-old can shake off could leave an older person in trouble. Some of us wouldn't hike anywhere, anytime without long pants and shirts. Others don't. Some of us carry the 10 essentials, even on tame outings. Others don't. Still, it's not just about packing fears, it's also about packing past experiences. If you've ever gotten hurt or turned around while off trail, whether hunting or fishing or hiking, you'll be glad you packed for it.
Dixie, how about an episode on the logistics of a through hike. Not just the packing but the process the permits, the post office drops, that sort of thing I think it would be interesting. Perhaps you’ve done this in the past, but not all have seen everything that you have done thus far just a suggestion thank you.
Good video as always. I'm "guilty" of using "Be Bold, Start Cold" a lot, especially when working with less experienced hikers in the winter. So many people just think they need to bundle up when they are going to warm up quickly. The problem comes when hiking with a group folks don't want to stop the group to down layer. As a result they sweat. So I use then when teaching as folks are less likely to sweat if they start cold.
ive always taken "be bold start cold" to apply to day hikes, meaning dont take that extra layer since its likely just going to go for a ride in your pack after the first 10 minutes. if youre backpacking and have to carry the layer anyway, why not just put it on? lol im actually split on trail runners vs boots, i have and use both. trailrunners tend to be for summer days when i know its going to be warm and dry. if i suspect its going to be muddy (the ADKs of new york) then i always go boots, and the trail runners get hung up for the season around november when i want alittle more water proofness to keep my feet dry.
It isn't all or nothing for ankle support. Grew up hiking and still very comfortable with good hiking boots. But I tried the Lone Peak regulars first section hike of AT and my ankles took a beating. Ironically I think it was mostly that section is so heavily traveled a lot of the trail is concave and it was the perpetual leaning in of the ankles that did it. After that I got the Lone Peak ankle highs and I have just loved them. They don't have the ankle support of full boots but I found it to be plenty for me. So other than what you mentioned; bushwhacking or really broken terrain where I would still wear good boots, the ankle high trail runners are what I wear. Oh and what we always said was dress for the 2nd mile. Means the same though. I do usually try and follow that, but if you are actively and noticeably cold, layer up and then strip down BEFORE you start sweating. If it is really seriously cold, that last part needs to be gospel.
Despite needing boots myself, on the more-travelled trails to others I would always say lighter is better. Boots become more useful the more off the beaten path your walk will be, and the wetter the weather is going to be.
Some of those are new to me. I used to live along the blue ridge parkway. Never attempted a thru hike. I've done a ton of short hikes...thats my jam 🤗 I can do 12-15 a day for 3 or 4 days... then I want a break. Hats off to you folks that can and do thru hikes.👍
I have done a LOT of solo hiking, and whether it's in the form of other hikers being there or not, it is vital to do it in some kind of structure -- could be a trail infrastructure, could be an ad hoc support network, and what's worked best for me is doing it village to village in rural Europe. Solo wilderness hiking off the beaten path might not be the best choice (though it can always become necessary sometimes to get from A to B), if you're not a hardcore survivalist that is. As to cold & warm, personally I warm up really quickly, so I start out with what I know that I *will* need about 45-60 minutes later. So I start cold if I know I'll feel warm later ; or I start warm if it's a particularly cold or rainy day. I have a cape rather than a jacket, so I can use that over a t-shirt and bare arms and I don't get too sweaty, which really helps. I can sort of have it both ways. Overpacking is most reasonable if you're walking in a group of about 4 people or more, because the extra stuff can be shared out between 4+ packs ; so it's less what "I" need and more what "we" need. I had to train mostly before my 1994, and 2014 Ways of Saint James, though I'll nearly always do a few day hikes before starting something (don't always need to) -- but before my 1994 I really needed to get into proper shape, so I combined a radical dieting & weight loss programme with 100 to 200 kilometres / 60 to 120 miles a week over about 6 months ; and before my 2014, both my knees had more or less collapsed from arthrosis, and I needed a full year of walking pretty much every day just to get back to being capable of a longer hike again. -- Thing is though, if you're still mostly "in training", which is to say capable of getting out and hiking without any reral issues, then you may not need a specific pre-hike training regimen. I like leather army boots, but then again I NEED the ankle support. I would only really recommend boots like that to people who are walking longer ones (1,500 Km / 1,000 miles or longer) in wet weather conditions, including if a good portion of the hike is to be on tarmac rather than trail. I *do* think that rubber-soled traditional leather rambling *shoes* could be a way to combine the advantages of leather with those of wearing lighter footwear. Otherwise, the whole shoes vs. boots thing is nearly always best determined by personal needs and preferences rather than any dogma -- though I *do* like the fact that my own large boots do keep my socks and feet dry, even crossing a stream. I wear them every day anyway, so the weight of them is just normal for me.
The problem with wearing wet cotton is CHAFING! I'm also a start warm person. I know I'm going to have to stop in 5 minutes to remove layers, but I'm too big of a wimp about being cold and forcing myself to start cold is just miserable. I even do this for winter walking in my neighborhood - I'm only walking 2-3 miles, and I bring a comfortable daypack to stuff my huge winter coat in when I warm up. I guess this is one way I 'hike my own hike'! I used to hike in boots thinking I needed the ankle support. It turns out using trekking poles is WAY more effective at keeping me from rolling my ankles! And when I use them, it doesn't really matter what's on my feet. I only wear boots right now in the winter, it's wet and muddy and COLD and I like having big warm boots. I have trail runners for wet conditions or excessively rocky terrain, but mostly hike/backpack in Keen sandals all summer.
I did the exact same thing hiking in Sipsey only I was wearing a 50lb pack. I stepped down a slight hill and found soft patch of mud. I tend to agree on shoes. One of my longest hikes was with Merrell's on an out and back across Oak Mountain State Park. I stopped at the dam and had lunch while taking pictures of the dog.
I always sleep in cotton top & bottom. Feels good for sleeping. And i start warm and shed my puffy when i feel the first bead of sweat running down my back.
Very clever. I haven't watched one of these in a while. I think the last vid I watched was the movie review, which I liked a lot. I rented the movie because. How many of those old time guys(mostly in paintings) hike with those thirty lace boots?
Totally agree with how boots are not needed. Most jobs I have worked have required boots, one or two of them even required ones with over built ankle suport. Most ankle and feet injuries I have had happened atleast in part because of the fact I had boots on. For me, closer to barefoot the better
If you’re going to “train on the trail,” be sure to set quite modest goals, with zero days built in at the beginning….and GRADUALLY increase mileage. That means you’re going to be out longer than you think.
At 70 I definitely have to train for a hike including PT. My body just doesn’t respond as fast to workouts as it did when younger. What used to take 2 weeks takes 2 months to get in shape. I am in the start warm camp depending on how fast the actual outside temperature is going to warm up.
Training is not needed for the Camino de Santiago though it can help. Training for very difficult terrain that's different. You might not have that terrain anywhere in your training area. Having fitness can help you adapt. If it's very steep then fitness on bare rock helps to gain power output. Training on just 10 m of steep rock that's similar is better than going without that experience. Upper arm strength can be required but specific types. This though is rare to be needed on the bulk of thru hikes.
when people skip hard parts of the trail with no good reason ruining their continuous footpath saying hike your own hike (completely fine) but then go on to state they thru hiked the whole trail and completed it. Completely undermining the challenge and effort put in to actually thru hike the trail and claim that status. little controversial but that one grinded my gears most.
Like skipping permanently or flip flopping past something and then going back and doing it? If it's the latter I don't think there's anything wrong with it, it's much better for the environment
@@JadeAkelaONeal i mean, coming upto a road not feeling it for the day and hitching 30 miles ahead the town and then carrying on from there with no intention fo going back. Or people who did actually skip whole sections maybe because of weather with not intentions of going back. Again all are completely acceptable and valid behaviours hike your own hike, but then dont claim the glory of thruhiking the trail when other people did put the graft in and said person failed to achieve it. My belief is nobody is owed a thru hike or that achievement, you work for it. hike your own hike is an abused phrase for people to skip whilst still claiming to thruhike.
They're just cheating themselves. Medical needs or injuries can lead to it, including if you're hiking with a disability, but that's completely different and justified. There's a LOT of this on the Camino Francès, people busing to skip the "boring" bits, or getting a taxi to get up or down the few more "difficult" mountains. Not everyone has all the time they'd need which is another "reason" people have for skipping sections, but there is *nothing* wrong with starting from somewhere further along so as to be able to get to your destination after a continuous hike.
I have both boots and trail runners. I wear the boots when bushwhacking or in very cold weather. With some wool insoles, they are much warmer than my trail runners. I understand beginning a hike with warm muscles, but if I’m getting out of the car, stepping into the cold, then starting my hike, I’m probably going to start off slightly chilly because I’ll be warm in about 10 minutes. If I’m climbing out of my tent to start my hike, I’m going to get warmed up before removing layers. I think it is a difference between chilled to the bone and warm with chilly skin. Good job on the graphics, Aaron. The forehead tattoo was awesome 😂.
Love my keen boots. They easily last 1200 miles and need no breaking in. Can't justify to the wife spending 600 on 4 pairs of running shoes that barely last 2 months. Hiking in Colorado, I'd rather not roll my ankles on scree fields...no idea how trail runners manage that because it seems everytime I head on trail with my Asics, my ankles end up perpendicular to my legs
Sorry, i live in climate where it may be +3c today and -20 tomorrow, esp with elevation, and even worse when accounting for windchill. So i keep packing my fears. More people die in our barely 2000m mountains compacted into 40km ridge than on everest every year. Lost, frozen, avalanche, lightning strike, you name it.
I'll be brutally honest... I genuinely consider myself to have more experience than 99% of people because I spent years of my life backpacking. I've often created my own trails and I did it for much longer than most. In 2009 I traveled for 11.5 months and spent 10 months straight in a tent. Took me three weeks to get used to a bed again. Now, that said, most of what I do, carry and eat, doesn't make sense to other allegedly "experienced" backpackers. It's all nonsense. Everything boils down to whatever works for you.
Call a-holes on their use of HYOH when they mean, “Don’t call me on my bad behavior.” LNTP are for everyone’s benefit and people that break these essential principle should be taken to task.🌿
You're very lucky Dixie, every year I pass dozens of body's on the side of the trail and they are all wear jeans... It's a sad way to go!
I love these videos of older Dixie giving younger Dixie the wisdom of her years.
"Hike your own hike" can be used by some in the same way as "Bless your heart."
Happy to hear you address the anti - cotton cliches -- Back in the 60s and 70s maybe even 80s, we only had cotton or wool. I hiked in cotton all of the time. Wool makes me itch - so I have to wear cotton - or silk, underneath. When I lived in China - the only long underwear that I could afford ( and the one that most people wear) was cotton. It was so cold that you rarely could break a sweat. If you wear cotton and it gets wet and the weather turns cold - take it off and put something else on, or put on something over it and keep moving until it dries out. If it gets wet and you sit -- you will get really cold. Keep moving, and you can keep generating heat. Next - the boots -- I wore boots on the JMT - but I am rather heavy and have had a long history of plantar fasciitis so my feet needed the stiff and solid protection for my heels and soles. I did not need boots for ankle support. When hiking on those granite pebbles and those golf ball and tennis ball sized rocks -- I loved my boots. I did not bruise the soles of my feet ever. So -- footwear is a highly personal choice - and depends on the needs of your body, not any one else's experience or opinion. Thank you for the talk.
still to this day, I can't wear synthetics for long periods. I break out in rashes, sweat profusely, and overheat in any but extremely cold weather.
Cotton or linen is what I can wear, and that's about it.
Footwear? I much prefer being barefoot, if the terrain allows it at all. Good hiking sandals otherwise. Again, anything else leads to excessive sweating and inevitable blisters and sores. Having feet that don't fit almost any "standard size" shoes makes it even worse.
To me, one of the best parts of backpacking for your soul is a) having to come to terms with the difference between a need and comfort and mostly b) learning every day, just how little you actually need to live and more importantly be happy. When you can find happiness with couple dozen pounds on your back including food and water, you learn to truly appreciate the several thousand pounds of comfort in your home when you get back.
Nice observation.
I’ve been following you for years and I’m finally taking my first backpacking trip this spring. And solo! It’s people like you that encouraged and empowered me to take the first step! ❤🎉😊
That is awesome! Have fun :)
If I didn't hike alone I would never do any hiking! I just research my routes beforehand and try to go for ones that are well-marked, and always take a backup navigation method with me. So far so good, touch wood!
I wear hiking boots most of the time - I do find that I roll my ankles a lot more in trail runners, though I know that's because I need to work on my ankle stability - however the main reason is that I live in Scotland and it's wet!!! A lot of time you are walking through bogs and it doesn't really get warm enough to dry your footwear out. If I did a long backpacking trip in trail runners I would probably end up with trench foot. Boots and gaiters for me! Though if I were hiking in a warmer and dryer climate I would definitely want to try using trail runners
Always appreciate your videos! Starting the AT soon! Also in bama! 🤘🏻 happy hiking!
You are so honest and nice. It's always a pleasure to watch your posts
Take care and be well. AT '86.
I really hat how people use "you pack your fears" as a way of shaming people who pack things they see as unnecessary. Pack what you need to be confident, yes packing ice axes to backpack in the desert might be over-packing, but you have to learn your confidence level
If you're hiking alone and your heavy pack doesn't lead to you needing a rescue due to exhaustion/injury, then 100%. Carry whatever the heck you want. But there are group trips where there is an expectation that the group is going to maintain a minimum hiking speed to meet an agreed upon itinerary. In those cases, if someone shows up with a heavy pack full of unnecessary items, I will definitely perform a pack shakedown and off criticism and suggestions of things to leave behind.
I often see people barely moving on the trail because they are simply carrying to much crap. I like the saying pack to hike not to camp.
Dixie! it's awesome to see you back in the woods again. Thanks for still another great video.
I remember you explaining “hike your own hike” a while ago, and that has always stuck with me. 😃
Glad to see you out and hiking, continue to love your videos, for the love 🥾🥾
OMG, "like the horse in the Neverending Story" I just cried
Nice one! I always like to get a little Dixie fix when I can.
✌️😃
Loved this! You always have such great wisdom!
Good Talk. Cotton or linen are good fabrics for high heat and low humidity. or a cotton linen blend. The wrinkles create ventilation to aid in evaporation cooling. Concerning how to dress to start on a cold morning, If you have ever competed in a varsity sport. You put on your warmups and start easy and spend the First 15-20 minutes warming up the muscles and raspatory system. Warm muscles work better. The best way to get in shape is not having to get in shape. Instead lead an active daily life. Bike or walk to work, dig your garden with a spade instead of power tiller. I knew a doctor who carried his trail pack with the same load weight he used hiking every day to hospital where he worked.
So glad to hear you say not to worry about boots I literally hate them every pair of boots I’ve ever owned has been so clunky and heavy and inflexible I just can’t stand them except in the harshest of winter conditions. Recently started walking in vivo barefoot la and love them haven’t fully gotten used to them especially on hard surfaces but hiking around the nearby trails and parks on soft forest ground they are fantastic
Good to see you on here 😊 You look happy and healthy!
Hi Dixie.....there is so much info on how to put one foot in front of the other, what to wear,how to wear it ....i have watched waaaaaay to many videos...i have reversed course and have abandoned hiking the AT....im gonna do the ADT instead....i saw enough videos to convince me to not hike the AT.....3-5 million people average that trail...that is waaaaaaay too many "cat holes" for me....millions of cat holes on top of the ridge means that all that is deposited into the top ridge is flowing unto the water system...no wonder they tell you to bring a filter. ...to me that is a SERIOUS environmental issues to say the least. .as they say...shit flows down right into natural water resourses....leave no trace appears to be magnanimously hypocritical if we are deficating by the "millions on the same mountain top ridges year after year
What a great video. Thank you Dixie, I really enjoy the videos where you hike and talk to us.
You're the best.😊
Cotton doesn’t kill, hypothermia kills.
In the 60s we pretty much all wore Levi 501 shrink-to-fit button fly jeans. We had thick cotton long johns for night because our cotton Sears sleeping bags were for maybe 50°. We section hiked the PCT, JMT, and other high Sierra trails. Can't recall any of us left for dead, but jeez were our packs heavy with redundant clothes. 🤣 A couple kids had pieces of that new invention, bubble wrap, for insulation/sleeping pads.
Another exception I have found to "cotton kills" is underwear, specifically panties. I had 2 pair of sport undies for my through hike and they were synthetic except for the crotch liner, which was the only cotton part. It really helped, especially if you are a person that is prone to infections down there and it is such a small piece of cotton I never really had issues with it not drying out or anything. As an alternate, I have also seen an uptick in tencel fabric underwear and that also seems to be a nice medium, offering benefits of natural materials but having some of the properties of synthetics.
Thank you Dixie, always good to watch your videos.
In the military we had a saying, "If you can't hack it don't pack it". Other soldiers are not going to carry your excess comfort items or gear when they aren't bring extra gear. Only carry what you need and leave room for extra equipment that may be given to you for the mission. Same goes for hiking, leave room for extra water or food for those extended periods you may have to walk before a resupply.
I especially agree with the cotton one. I usually have one cotton shirt somewhere in my pack.
That was a very graceful fall. 👊
I like how she just lounged on the ground for a few moments like it was exactly what she wanted to do.
I’ve hiked a lot of “thru-hike” trails, but never claimed to have completed one… I’ve never been one for “start here, end here” kind of things. I live by “hike your own hike”, three weeks of meandering in a circle or down a river, take a zero day or three in a row to do some fly fishing, I carry extra comfort gear, snacks, painting gear, etc. You don’t need to go in a straight line to escape.
Side note: I carry a gun, I’m also a trained SAR and wilderness first responder, so I am that guy who carries a 3 lb trauma kit ;)
Thanks for being that guy.
I am just wondering what is in a 3 pound first aid kit? That’s a lot of stuff.
Do you spend time in NH by any chance?
As always, we fight how we train. We care how we train. Fellow military here. I know what is in that trauma bag. I had to learn that in Stretcher barer training. Fun days!!!!
"Artax, don't let the Swamp of Sadness take you!"
I saw that movie for the first time last year and it was pretty good but boy was it strange. LoL
Neverending Story is one of the first movies I really remember understanding as a kid. That scene is burned into my memory.
Thanks, Dixie!
Health is a number one priority.
I swear when you slipped, I almost fell out of my chair! LOL!! Very glad you are ok..Ive slipped several times hiking close to the creek after a recent rain or flood and always felt a bit embarrassed even when I was hiking alone.
Glad to see you're getting out, Dixie! Our WV weather has really been getting in the way of winter day hikes here, so I sure do understand "stir crazy.". Still praying for a good definitive report for your heart. 😊
HI DIXIE 👋
GLAD TO SEE YOU 👀 OUT & ABOUT ! THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO 📹 CAN'T MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY . GLAD YOU'RE OK FROM YOUR SLIP IN THE MUD / SOFT WET SOIL . BE SAFE 😊 🙏HAVE FUN 😊 🙏GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS ON YOUR ADVENTURES 😊 🙏 THANK YOU 😊 🙏 ❤
Great, honest video, Dixie! TY!
I've started biking every day for 1-2 hours and I feel that has really helped with elevation gain! Plus my mental health is buffed lol.. Certainly don't need to do anything special like you said. I did a bunch of hikes, including Angels Landing, back on 2021 before I started exercising regularly and I was fine. My heart was POUNDING though.
All sound reasoning, Dixie. I certainly concur with all of your points. To my mind, the true "bottom line" is : find what works for YOU and stick with it. Of course, that does NOT mean it is ever OK to engage in behaviors which are annoying or destructive. It is NOT. That is a given.
Unfortunately, those who are not experienced with backpacking tend to follow whatever advice they are given, good or bad. That is where experience comes in. Backpacking has a learning curve. It's as simple as that. Until one gains enough experience to be able to handle all aspects with full confidence (and succeed)...one is still on the learning curve, period. That doesn't mean that experienced people have nothing left to learn - only that the normal issues are no longer a true challenge.
Lastly, I think it is very important for all of us, experienced or not, to actively respect each other and our choices. Avoid getting into lecture mode at all costs. Remember, nobody appointed those of us with experience as teachers. Teach ONLY if requested to do so.
I agree with the pack your fears. I always pack an extra pair of sunglasses and eye glasses as if they break I’m gunna have a bad time. I also pack a lot of pills in my med kit for allergies , sickness, tums etc. I’d rather have them and not need them then need them and not have them. I will also say there really isn’t much “training” you can do prepare yourself for this kind of journey. I agree the trail will get you there. Plus you need to experience this kind of backpacking to understand what it’s like day in and day out.
When I first started hiking I would occasionally roll my ankles when not paying attention on tricky terrain. After a while I quit rolling them. The muscles had strengthened and I also was more careful about watching my steps.
I met an AT hiker while on the Long Trail who said "I'm a thorough hiker, not a thru hiker" and I liked that. :) She stopped in every dang town along the way to explore.
One thing about cotton is the same as you mentioned in footwear. If you are on an open maintained trail, you don't need as much durability. If you are hiking off trail in brush and briers, heavier cotton clothes come in handy
I'm from the country and I love this information.
Thanks for the video Dixie ! One of the things I like best about her is that she is willing to keep her own slips and falls in her videos instead of editing them out. Most of us slip and fall occasionally. It's amusing to watch so long as nobody gets hurt. It makes such excellent content I'm surprised that she doesn't do it on purpose once in a while . . . or maybe she does ? 😜
Good advice. I like the titles in the video. Well done!
12 months to complete AT. : Oct - Dec. NC to Amicalola. May- Oct , NC to Maine. Done.
Don't have sad thoughts then you won't sink ... Great video full of interesting information.
Love that your slip made the edit and that it contradicted your footwear choice 🎉hike your own hike❤
These weren’t trail runners lol. But still funny!
@@HomemadeWanderlust it’s great to see such reality and the ability to laugh at oneself is refreshing content… the good bad and ugly!
The three things that we are supposed to invest in quality are footwear beds and sofas because we spend our lives in one of the three at any one time…
Whilst the lighter load we carry the less calorific energy we consume, it’s certainly a fine art in getting the right balance…. You might say horses for courses…
Like off road vehicles and tyre types snow chains and studs:::
With hiking footwear as you say the lighter the less durable.
Thank you for this video. You make good sense.
I have been a dedicated user of hiking boots, but I may have to switch to trail runners.
Hello from Blount County
Tennessee, First time viewer and I want to say how much I enjoyed this content.
She’s delightful!
As a person working up short backpacking trips to figure out if I really want to do a thru-hike, I think workouts working up to my longer trips are essential. I only have a handful of days to hike, and I want to spend my time thinking about the woods, not about how much my feet hurt. I'm starting to do strength training and serious hiking miles pre-trip for a 5-8 day trip in late april (deciding between two trails, we'll see how in shape I get and how much time I have) and I can already feel the ways that it's going to help me enjoy my time better. I imagine it's more essential for section hiking/short sporadic backpacking trips because you're not out long enough for the trail to condition your body, but considering how many people injure themselves early on thru hikes I bet it helps your chances there
i took one summer to work up my endurance levels from 5 miles to 20 miles a day- in a 10 hour day that is. that was a semi relaxed hike pace. My own hike this year across canada will be the same, max 20 mile days, with at least 1 off day each week. I mapped (and im lucky cause our trail follows town very closely as its meant to be accessible to people on purpose) to be able to at least re supply every 2 days which takes away so much poundage on my back. If i could gave any advice, dont over over think it and make sure you got 9 out of 10 ducks in a row before you go - 9 because every scenario is planned and the 1 for the unseen. and i opted to carry more water instead because water is one of my 3 comforts/ fears. - the three things that both make and break your hike. i dont even have three if im honest. if i get lost oh well, i technically cant on THIS particular trail across canada. predators, we dont have them on the section im doing first (going the OTHER way to the west coast, yes ill have to plan for bears and cats). if i had to choose 3 - water, cold and mine and my dogs safety.
Thank you for your wisdom!
We spend the winter hiking in central Arizona. The trails are incredibly stoney. Hiking boots are a much better choice here than trail runners. You need something with a stiff chassis to get you through these trails. At home in Wisconsin, where you hike on soft forest soil, trail runners are fine.
This was a great topic and I really enjoyed hearing your perspectives. I've been considering ditching the high top hiking boots for awhile and I think you've convinced me that it's OK.
Thanks for another great video!
You make the best videos. I always enjoy them. Thanks.
I’ve done plenty of section hikes, 150-200 miles. I can attest to the fact that taking training seriously and starting to prep a good 6-8 weeks prior to your hike makes a huge difference, hikes that I didn’t take seriously and did little to no training, I had a much more difficult time. Today’s ultralight hiking boots in my opinion, aren’t a whole lot different than trail runners, they’re generally quite comfortable and lightweight. I think the differences are so minor that I’ll grab whatever I can get that are cheapest and will last.
Hi Jessica. Thank you for again another great and informative video. I remember you said when you wore all natural fiber material (like Grandma Gatewood) that you did not have any allergic reactions. I wonder if you might have some allergy to the plastic or coatings in materials made with plastic fiber (synthetic material). About the cotton thing. For my UPPER body - it has always worked for me, even in cold weather!! When cross country and downhill skiing, I wear only a long sleeve 100% cotton T shirt and ski pants, boots and gloves. I get so warm that I sweat and the sweat, even in the cold evaporates from the shirt, the shirt dries and I stay warm. It wicks just fine on me in cold and hot weather. All wool, even merino wool, makes me itch. Plastic fiber (synthetic material) on me is always extremely stinky and hot. Just my two cents. Again, thank you for your wonderful content. You are always a bright light on the internet spreading great info and positivity. Linda from Grass Valley CA.
Yeah, cotton here too. For some of us, it works just fine !!
Lindaferencik6791...
Cotton is awesome...
People are different. They have different goals and needs. These also change over time. A spill that a 40 year-old can shake off could leave an older person in trouble. Some of us wouldn't hike anywhere, anytime without long pants and shirts. Others don't. Some of us carry the 10 essentials, even on tame outings. Others don't. Still, it's not just about packing fears, it's also about packing past experiences. If you've ever gotten hurt or turned around while off trail, whether hunting or fishing or hiking, you'll be glad you packed for it.
Dixie, how about an episode on the logistics of a through hike. Not just the packing but the process the permits, the post office drops, that sort of thing I think it would be interesting. Perhaps you’ve done this in the past, but not all have seen everything that you have done thus far just a suggestion thank you.
Dooodoooo 😮😂 been there done that. Appreciate this video and your perspective. 🤓
Good video as always. I'm "guilty" of using "Be Bold, Start Cold" a lot, especially when working with less experienced hikers in the winter. So many people just think they need to bundle up when they are going to warm up quickly. The problem comes when hiking with a group folks don't want to stop the group to down layer. As a result they sweat. So I use then when teaching as folks are less likely to sweat if they start cold.
ive always taken "be bold start cold" to apply to day hikes, meaning dont take that extra layer since its likely just going to go for a ride in your pack after the first 10 minutes. if youre backpacking and have to carry the layer anyway, why not just put it on? lol
im actually split on trail runners vs boots, i have and use both. trailrunners tend to be for summer days when i know its going to be warm and dry. if i suspect its going to be muddy (the ADKs of new york) then i always go boots, and the trail runners get hung up for the season around november when i want alittle more water proofness to keep my feet dry.
It isn't all or nothing for ankle support. Grew up hiking and still very comfortable with good hiking boots. But I tried the Lone Peak regulars first section hike of AT and my ankles took a beating. Ironically I think it was mostly that section is so heavily traveled a lot of the trail is concave and it was the perpetual leaning in of the ankles that did it. After that I got the Lone Peak ankle highs and I have just loved them. They don't have the ankle support of full boots but I found it to be plenty for me. So other than what you mentioned; bushwhacking or really broken terrain where I would still wear good boots, the ankle high trail runners are what I wear.
Oh and what we always said was dress for the 2nd mile. Means the same though. I do usually try and follow that, but if you are actively and noticeably cold, layer up and then strip down BEFORE you start sweating. If it is really seriously cold, that last part needs to be gospel.
Despite needing boots myself, on the more-travelled trails to others I would always say lighter is better. Boots become more useful the more off the beaten path your walk will be, and the wetter the weather is going to be.
Nicely presented hiking cliches.
" Be bold, start cold". That's the only way I roll, warm after 5-10 minutes up the trail. Wear boots all the time here in the rugged Olympics.
You have hiked over 10,000 miles? YOU are my hero!
Oh, stop. Just ... stop. She isn't. She ain't. She can't be. She couldn't be. She wouldn't be, even if she wanted to be. Girls can't be heroes.
@Navy1977
Heroines; am I right?
@@nicksweeney5176 never use the stuff!
@Navy1977
🧠😉👍🏻
Two more favorites of mine, “Start out slow, and then taper down”, and “ If it ain’t rain’ it ain’t training’”
Just popping in to wish you both well and to thank you (Jessica) for the hours of pleasure you have brought me. Live well, little angel.
Some of those are new to me.
I used to live along the blue ridge parkway.
Never attempted a thru hike. I've done a ton of
short hikes...thats my jam 🤗
I can do 12-15 a day for 3 or 4 days...
then I want a break. Hats off to you folks that
can and do thru hikes.👍
@Navy1977 I have done a kayak challenge...2021 miles... I completed that in
116 days. But I slept in my own bed every night.
Wow, that's pretty cool! I'm off to your channel to see what ya got.@@slighwentwalking2024
I like NorthFace trail running shoes .. Altras are too square and I tripped hiking and broke my ankle.
I have done a LOT of solo hiking, and whether it's in the form of other hikers being there or not, it is vital to do it in some kind of structure -- could be a trail infrastructure, could be an ad hoc support network, and what's worked best for me is doing it village to village in rural Europe. Solo wilderness hiking off the beaten path might not be the best choice (though it can always become necessary sometimes to get from A to B), if you're not a hardcore survivalist that is.
As to cold & warm, personally I warm up really quickly, so I start out with what I know that I *will* need about 45-60 minutes later. So I start cold if I know I'll feel warm later ; or I start warm if it's a particularly cold or rainy day. I have a cape rather than a jacket, so I can use that over a t-shirt and bare arms and I don't get too sweaty, which really helps. I can sort of have it both ways.
Overpacking is most reasonable if you're walking in a group of about 4 people or more, because the extra stuff can be shared out between 4+ packs ; so it's less what "I" need and more what "we" need.
I had to train mostly before my 1994, and 2014 Ways of Saint James, though I'll nearly always do a few day hikes before starting something (don't always need to) -- but before my 1994 I really needed to get into proper shape, so I combined a radical dieting & weight loss programme with 100 to 200 kilometres / 60 to 120 miles a week over about 6 months ; and before my 2014, both my knees had more or less collapsed from arthrosis, and I needed a full year of walking pretty much every day just to get back to being capable of a longer hike again. -- Thing is though, if you're still mostly "in training", which is to say capable of getting out and hiking without any reral issues, then you may not need a specific pre-hike training regimen.
I like leather army boots, but then again I NEED the ankle support. I would only really recommend boots like that to people who are walking longer ones (1,500 Km / 1,000 miles or longer) in wet weather conditions, including if a good portion of the hike is to be on tarmac rather than trail. I *do* think that rubber-soled traditional leather rambling *shoes* could be a way to combine the advantages of leather with those of wearing lighter footwear. Otherwise, the whole shoes vs. boots thing is nearly always best determined by personal needs and preferences rather than any dogma -- though I *do* like the fact that my own large boots do keep my socks and feet dry, even crossing a stream. I wear them every day anyway, so the weight of them is just normal for me.
I've found cotton polyester blends to be a little warmer than 100% cotton. There's a place for both.
The problem with wearing wet cotton is CHAFING!
I'm also a start warm person. I know I'm going to have to stop in 5 minutes to remove layers, but I'm too big of a wimp about being cold and forcing myself to start cold is just miserable. I even do this for winter walking in my neighborhood - I'm only walking 2-3 miles, and I bring a comfortable daypack to stuff my huge winter coat in when I warm up. I guess this is one way I 'hike my own hike'!
I used to hike in boots thinking I needed the ankle support. It turns out using trekking poles is WAY more effective at keeping me from rolling my ankles! And when I use them, it doesn't really matter what's on my feet. I only wear boots right now in the winter, it's wet and muddy and COLD and I like having big warm boots. I have trail runners for wet conditions or excessively rocky terrain, but mostly hike/backpack in Keen sandals all summer.
Love your updates
Would like to hear your thoughts on the great divide trail in Canada
I did the exact same thing hiking in Sipsey only I was wearing a 50lb pack. I stepped down a slight hill and found soft patch of mud.
I tend to agree on shoes. One of my longest hikes was with Merrell's on an out and back across Oak Mountain State Park. I stopped at the dam and had lunch while taking pictures of the dog.
I always sleep in cotton top & bottom. Feels good for sleeping. And i start warm and shed my puffy when i feel the first bead of sweat running down my back.
Very cool intro, hiding behind the tree👍
Expecting the trail to bring you in shape is a guarantee for injury. Maybe not right away, but you will see the impact later…
Boots for portaging a canoe plus pack over boulders.
Very clever. I haven't watched one of these in a while. I think the last vid I watched was the movie review, which I liked a lot. I rented the movie because. How many of those old time guys(mostly in paintings) hike with those thirty lace boots?
Thank you for leaving that little slip and fall in the video. I feel a little bit more normal now. 😂
Wise words.
Totally agree with how boots are not needed. Most jobs I have worked have required boots, one or two of them even required ones with over built ankle suport. Most ankle and feet injuries I have had happened atleast in part because of the fact I had boots on. For me, closer to barefoot the better
If you’re going to “train on the trail,” be sure to set quite modest goals, with zero days built in at the beginning….and GRADUALLY increase mileage.
That means you’re going to be out longer than you think.
Excellent!
Always told trail runners (Hashers … look it up) Cotton is Rotton. They learn quickly and convert the next run.
Very nice video 😊
At 70 I definitely have to train for a hike including PT. My body just doesn’t respond as fast to workouts as it did when younger. What used to take 2 weeks takes 2 months to get in shape. I am in the start warm camp depending on how fast the actual outside temperature is going to warm up.
Training is not needed for the Camino de Santiago though it can help.
Training for very difficult terrain that's different. You might not have that terrain anywhere in your training area.
Having fitness can help you adapt. If it's very steep then fitness on bare rock helps to gain power output.
Training on just 10 m of steep rock that's similar is better than going without that experience.
Upper arm strength can be required but specific types.
This though is rare to be needed on the bulk of thru hikes.
“Hike your own hike” is about as annoying as “it is what it is”
Sounds like you're not hiking you're own hike 😂
What do you have against it is what it is
@@patrickjones8255nobody has ever told me that. At least, not yet. I’m just tired of hearing it.
@@rayretz362it sounds really ignorant.
Or "just saying"
...actually start walking"...uhh falling. 😂 Woops! No shade from me! I struggle to stay upright every day. Great job Aaron!! Love the creativity. ❤
when people skip hard parts of the trail with no good reason ruining their continuous footpath saying hike your own hike (completely fine) but then go on to state they thru hiked the whole trail and completed it. Completely undermining the challenge and effort put in to actually thru hike the trail and claim that status. little controversial but that one grinded my gears most.
Like skipping permanently or flip flopping past something and then going back and doing it? If it's the latter I don't think there's anything wrong with it, it's much better for the environment
@@JadeAkelaONeal i mean, coming upto a road not feeling it for the day and hitching 30 miles ahead the town and then carrying on from there with no intention fo going back. Or people who did actually skip whole sections maybe because of weather with not intentions of going back. Again all are completely acceptable and valid behaviours hike your own hike, but then dont claim the glory of thruhiking the trail when other people did put the graft in and said person failed to achieve it. My belief is nobody is owed a thru hike or that achievement, you work for it. hike your own hike is an abused phrase for people to skip whilst still claiming to thruhike.
PREACH 🙌🏻
They're just cheating themselves. Medical needs or injuries can lead to it, including if you're hiking with a disability, but that's completely different and justified.
There's a LOT of this on the Camino Francès, people busing to skip the "boring" bits, or getting a taxi to get up or down the few more "difficult" mountains. Not everyone has all the time they'd need which is another "reason" people have for skipping sections, but there is *nothing* wrong with starting from somewhere further along so as to be able to get to your destination after a continuous hike.
@@samsammmm470I wholeheartedly agree with you on this!!!
60F is beach weather here in Northern Minnesota
I have both boots and trail runners. I wear the boots when bushwhacking or in very cold weather. With some wool insoles, they are much warmer than my trail runners.
I understand beginning a hike with warm muscles, but if I’m getting out of the car, stepping into the cold, then starting my hike, I’m probably going to start off slightly chilly because I’ll be warm in about 10 minutes. If I’m climbing out of my tent to start my hike, I’m going to get warmed up before removing layers. I think it is a difference between chilled to the bone and warm with chilly skin.
Good job on the graphics, Aaron. The forehead tattoo was awesome 😂.
Love my keen boots. They easily last 1200 miles and need no breaking in. Can't justify to the wife spending 600 on 4 pairs of running shoes that barely last 2 months. Hiking in Colorado, I'd rather not roll my ankles on scree fields...no idea how trail runners manage that because it seems everytime I head on trail with my Asics, my ankles end up perpendicular to my legs
Sorry, i live in climate where it may be +3c today and -20 tomorrow, esp with elevation, and even worse when accounting for windchill.
So i keep packing my fears. More people die in our barely 2000m mountains compacted into 40km ridge than on everest every year. Lost, frozen, avalanche, lightning strike, you name it.
@@ElephantProtector eastern europe. Ah, and we have grizzlies too.
I'll be brutally honest... I genuinely consider myself to have more experience than 99% of people because I spent years of my life backpacking. I've often created my own trails and I did it for much longer than most. In 2009 I traveled for 11.5 months and spent 10 months straight in a tent. Took me three weeks to get used to a bed again.
Now, that said, most of what I do, carry and eat, doesn't make sense to other allegedly "experienced" backpackers.
It's all nonsense. Everything boils down to whatever works for you.
I start comfy & then shed the lumpy