Great advice. As a volunteer in Georgia I see so many people who end their hikes in the first week. Mostly it’s folks who say it’s just not what they expected. Getting mentally and physically prepared is so important. I’m a huge proponent of shake down hikes.
jack you rock. I completed pct, azt yoyo, ct, trt, at to Maryland this year before all the flooding I am 60 years old now, mental preparness is very important, I raced road mtb until 44 years old, been fit most of my life and yet first time on Azt around Roosevelt lost the trail and couldn't find my location on farout. long story freaked out and started to cry. sat down and started to meditate and was able to continue. moral of story all the fitness in the world doesn't do the job independently. doing trails with little trail use can be scary because most of the time I don't have cell signal nor see anyone for days at a time. Remember life is a roller coaster and so is thru hiking. Enjoy the good times and look forward to them when bad days happen because they will.
What a year! Awesome work. And very true, I like to think when things are all going wrong that this just means life is setting me up for some amazing experience coming up because it can't stay bad like this forever.
@@QuadzillaHikes lol unlike you I didn't do it in one calendar year pct 2016, retired 2019 Azt 2020,trt 2022, ct 2022, and at this year. I am not crazy like you. lol joking what you did in a year most don't do in a lifetime. congrats. jack take care my middle daughter is an accountant also. I accounted 5k for the AT don't remember pct but I was fast and much fitter then so was not staying in many hotels no hostels, lake equal shower , Azt 3k there aren't many places to stay in hotels, 2,5k back approx. Ct was only 400 miles cheap airfare 60.00 Amtrak 60 back home 4 resupply boxes 60 approx. food etc prob around 1k but I was a practicing physician 30 years I wasn't concerned that much with a budget. but I am cheap. my youngest daughters opinion of me. BTW great advice about nutrition.
Thank you for watching! If you're interested in the coaching program here's the link: www.couchtotrail.com/appalachian-trail-thru-hike-expert-coaching-for-every-step-of-your-journey/ Sorry about the clickbait title and thumbnail. It's just the game that needs to be played here in 2023. I'll keep the content relevant and thorough.
That was solid gold, out of the many videos I’ve watched to help me prepare for the PCT you really touched on the finer specifics. Thank you for your knowledge!
By the way, you are one of the most underrated hikers / people in general here on youtube. The fortitude, logistical planning, and battles you conquered during your triple crown is hard for us to get our minds around. Seriously inspiring.
Thank you, Jack, for another informative and beneficial video. I’ll be honest, I am not able to be a thru hiker, but I enjoy watching the videos of others trying to fulfill their dream of completing a thru hike. I think it is a brilliant idea to offer a training program to your fellow hikers. So many of the hikers I see, fail their hikes because of AT LEAST one of the seven necessary preparations. You would definitely provide a great service to set them up for success. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. Being a triple crowner in less than a year makes you the ultimate authority. Keep up the great videos.
Great video. Loved the food portion especially. I do not usually have that problem because eating and carrying plenty of food is not my issue. However, I have met so many hikers who do not eat enough and can’t figure out why they are so worn out. I feel like that’s a bigger problem than people realize.
Thank you so much! All great advice! My daughter and I are listening and appreciate that what we’ve learned from you will most definitely help us have a successful thru hike next year. Can’t wait for March to get here!
This is an excellent video. You especially have great advice on the physical, mental, and nutrition aspects of preparation. The physical and mental elements are almost like identical twins. If you physically train well in advance of your thru-hike, making it a daily or almost daily habit, then you're mentally preparing yourself as well, though you may not realize it at the time. Getting the consistent miles in every week, regardless of weather conditions, is mental training as well. You would be a great coach. Thanks
Very true, the physical and mental are absolutely linked and a big part of how I developed my mental resilience is through these extreme physical activities.
Great video! Thank you. It could really use chapters (ie I was only interested in some topics and it was near impossible to find them). Love the Barbie set. You've hiked Kenough!
Really great advice! I’m preparing for my first ever big thru hike for 2024 and your videos have been really inspiring and helpful. Especially when you mentioned preparing physically 6 months to a year in advance gives the majority of benefits I felt really grateful because that’s exactly what I’m doing haha. Thank you so much for all the content on and off the trail!
Absolutely, no one ever regretted getting in top shape before their hike! Good luck with everything, I'll be putting out more prep and training oriented videos
all such good advice! Especially the nutrition part. I dont know how many hikers I've followed just over the last 3 years Ive seen struggle with depression and exhaustion on trail, and they cant figure out why. But all theyre eating is ramen bombs for months on end. I've heard of more than one have even ended up in hospital with starvation! A bag of spinach is really ultra-light! Eat more green things, fewer ramen bombs 😂 And some animal protein so your muscles can recover and rebuild.
I looked back on my AT attempt back in 2018, and found that, including multiple nights in hotels, new shoes, switching out gear, including sleeping bag, etc., I spent at least 2-3k/mo. This also included phone and other non-trail expenses. Btw, only made it 1,450 miles, so I plan to try it again in 2024. I hope to have all my gear settled before I start this time.
You know I don't have much desire for ultra endurance stuff right now, I got my fill in the cytc, focusing on learning muay thai and taking a few fights in thailand. I got good at the ultra endurance stuff now I need to get comfortable with the ultra high intensity work.
Is there a perfect food, I have been thinking that if I could only eat one food it would be Walnuts, calorie dense @ 3000 calories per pound, shelf stable, no cook, mostly Fat for fuel (64%) some protein (14%) & carbs(14%) - Fiber (7%), Walnuts are a low carb food. I guess second choices would be meat & cheese for protein & fat. There has to be a perfect food to eat that I can buy at most grocery stores that gives me the macro nutrients and the energy we require. I know I get an immediate energy boost from Peanut Butter, mostly from the Trans Fat while carbs give me an energy boost 1.5 hours after I eat them and only last for a couple hours. If I am eating carbs I need to keep eating every 2 hours to keep my energy up.
Eating only one food will set you up for nutritional deficiencies just as much as eating only junk food does. Walnuts are great as a snack but don't contain enough micronutrients that your body needs. Especially vitamin B12, which can only be found in animal proteins. I've done a lot of studying nutrition since I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2009, and more recently, diagnosed with Pernicious Anemia. Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to, among other things, mental and physical exhaustion, 2 things that are pretty important to being able to complete a thru-hike! It also causes depression, which gets a lot of vegetarians and vegans, unfortunately. I know quite a few who struggle. Plus, you're going to get really tired of walnuts in about a week! 😉 A diet with varied foods, including animal protein and green vegetables, will serve your goals much better.
@@musingwithreba9667 My basic diet is Meat, Cheese, Nuts, Eggs, & Salad. Love Walnuts and always bring 1 pound for 5 day food bag and accounts for 600 of my daily calories. On trail I get eggs, salad, & rotisserie Chicken in trail towns. Recently started adding Dehydrated Refried Beans + Minute Rice for trail meals but can't find Dehydrated Refried Beans anywhere along trail, so when I run out, that's it.
Great advice. As a volunteer in Georgia I see so many people who end their hikes in the first week. Mostly it’s folks who say it’s just not what they expected. Getting mentally and physically prepared is so important. I’m a huge proponent of shake down hikes.
jack you rock. I completed pct, azt yoyo, ct, trt, at to Maryland this year before all the flooding I am 60 years old now, mental preparness is very important, I raced road mtb until 44 years old, been fit most of my life and yet first time on Azt around Roosevelt lost the trail and couldn't find my location on farout. long story freaked out and started to cry. sat down and started to meditate and was able to continue. moral of story all the fitness in the world doesn't do the job independently. doing trails with little trail use can be scary because most of the time I don't have cell signal nor see anyone for days at a time. Remember life is a roller coaster and so is thru hiking. Enjoy the good times and look forward to them when bad days happen because they will.
What a year! Awesome work. And very true, I like to think when things are all going wrong that this just means life is setting me up for some amazing experience coming up because it can't stay bad like this forever.
@HappyJacksChannel Better days ahead my friend 🙏 🙂
@@QuadzillaHikes lol unlike you I didn't do it in one calendar year pct 2016, retired 2019 Azt 2020,trt 2022, ct 2022, and at this year. I am not crazy like you. lol joking what you did in a year most don't do in a lifetime. congrats. jack take care my middle daughter is an accountant also. I accounted 5k for the AT don't remember pct but I was fast and much fitter then so was not staying in many hotels no hostels, lake equal shower , Azt 3k there aren't many places to stay in hotels, 2,5k back approx. Ct was only 400 miles cheap airfare 60.00 Amtrak 60 back home 4 resupply boxes 60 approx. food etc prob around 1k but I was a practicing physician 30 years I wasn't concerned that much with a budget. but I am cheap. my youngest daughters opinion of me. BTW great advice about nutrition.
Loved the nutrition portion of this! Would love a follow up video to cover more details on trail nutrition you focused on personally.
That's a good idea I'll definitely make a video like that in the future.
Thank you for watching! If you're interested in the coaching program here's the link: www.couchtotrail.com/appalachian-trail-thru-hike-expert-coaching-for-every-step-of-your-journey/
Sorry about the clickbait title and thumbnail. It's just the game that needs to be played here in 2023. I'll keep the content relevant and thorough.
Thank you! Loaded with such important info!
That was solid gold, out of the many videos I’ve watched to help me prepare for the PCT you really touched on the finer specifics. Thank you for your knowledge!
Great stuff! Really informative. Your mindset rocks! ❤
By the way, you are one of the most underrated hikers / people in general here on youtube. The fortitude, logistical planning, and battles you conquered during your triple crown is hard for us to get our minds around. Seriously inspiring.
Thank you, Jack, for another informative and beneficial video. I’ll be honest, I am not able to be a thru hiker, but I enjoy watching the videos of others trying to fulfill their dream of completing a thru hike. I think it is a brilliant idea to offer a training program to your fellow hikers. So many of the hikers I see, fail their hikes because of AT LEAST one of the seven necessary preparations. You would definitely provide a great service to set them up for success. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. Being a triple crowner in less than a year makes you the ultimate authority. Keep up the great videos.
Thank you for your kind words :)
Great video. Loved the food portion especially. I do not usually have that problem because eating and carrying plenty of food is not my issue. However, I have met so many hikers who do not eat enough and can’t figure out why they are so worn out. I feel like that’s a bigger problem than people realize.
I think it might be the #1 issue for hikers. It's just taken for granted that it's normal to lose 20lbs in a month, like, that's not good at all!
Thank you so much! All great advice! My daughter and I are listening and appreciate that what we’ve learned from you will most definitely help us have a successful thru hike next year. Can’t wait for March to get here!
This is an excellent video. You especially have great advice on the physical, mental, and nutrition aspects of preparation. The physical and mental elements are almost like identical twins. If you physically train well in advance of your thru-hike, making it a daily or almost daily habit, then you're mentally preparing yourself as well, though you may not realize it at the time. Getting the consistent miles in every week, regardless of weather conditions, is mental training as well. You would be a great coach. Thanks
Very true, the physical and mental are absolutely linked and a big part of how I developed my mental resilience is through these extreme physical activities.
Great video! Thank you. It could really use chapters (ie I was only interested in some topics and it was near impossible to find them). Love the Barbie set. You've hiked Kenough!
I think after a bit of time RUclips generates those automatically but I'll throw in some into the description. Good idea.
You are one tough mother!
You are def an amazing athlete BUT your mental toughness is inspiring!
Thank you! And it's all just from daily practices that anyone can do
Thank you Jack !👊 Hope you're doing well my friend , always great to hear from you 🙏Stay safe, take care 🙂 Appreciate you!
Thanks for always commenting :)
@HappyJacksChannel Subscribed to the newsletter my friend 👍Thank you 🙏
Really great advice! I’m preparing for my first ever big thru hike for 2024 and your videos have been really inspiring and helpful. Especially when you mentioned preparing physically 6 months to a year in advance gives the majority of benefits I felt really grateful because that’s exactly what I’m doing haha. Thank you so much for all the content on and off the trail!
Absolutely, no one ever regretted getting in top shape before their hike! Good luck with everything, I'll be putting out more prep and training oriented videos
thank you because I HAVE only heard the "just do it" no-training thing on youtube
all such good advice! Especially the nutrition part. I dont know how many hikers I've followed just over the last 3 years Ive seen struggle with depression and exhaustion on trail, and they cant figure out why. But all theyre eating is ramen bombs for months on end. I've heard of more than one have even ended up in hospital with starvation!
A bag of spinach is really ultra-light! Eat more green things, fewer ramen bombs 😂 And some animal protein so your muscles can recover and rebuild.
Great points!
I looked back on my AT attempt back in 2018, and found that, including multiple nights in hotels, new shoes, switching out gear, including sleeping bag, etc., I spent at least 2-3k/mo. This also included phone and other non-trail expenses. Btw, only made it 1,450 miles, so I plan to try it again in 2024. I hope to have all my gear settled before I start this time.
Good luck in 2024! Yeah switching gear on trail is such a pain
Have you considered applying to the Barkley marathons?
You know I don't have much desire for ultra endurance stuff right now, I got my fill in the cytc, focusing on learning muay thai and taking a few fights in thailand. I got good at the ultra endurance stuff now I need to get comfortable with the ultra high intensity work.
Tough! Fighting strikes me as quite the jump. All the best.
Is there a perfect food, I have been thinking that if I could only eat one food it would be Walnuts, calorie dense @ 3000 calories per pound, shelf stable, no cook, mostly Fat for fuel (64%) some protein (14%) & carbs(14%) - Fiber (7%), Walnuts are a low carb food. I guess second choices would be meat & cheese for protein & fat. There has to be a perfect food to eat that I can buy at most grocery stores that gives me the macro nutrients and the energy we require. I know I get an immediate energy boost from Peanut Butter, mostly from the Trans Fat while carbs give me an energy boost 1.5 hours after I eat them and only last for a couple hours. If I am eating carbs I need to keep eating every 2 hours to keep my energy up.
Nuts, cheeses, tuna, sausages are all pretty good. Then add some dates and chips for the carbs.
Eating only one food will set you up for nutritional deficiencies just as much as eating only junk food does. Walnuts are great as a snack but don't contain enough micronutrients that your body needs. Especially vitamin B12, which can only be found in animal proteins. I've done a lot of studying nutrition since I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2009, and more recently, diagnosed with Pernicious Anemia. Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to, among other things, mental and physical exhaustion, 2 things that are pretty important to being able to complete a thru-hike! It also causes depression, which gets a lot of vegetarians and vegans, unfortunately. I know quite a few who struggle.
Plus, you're going to get really tired of walnuts in about a week! 😉 A diet with varied foods, including animal protein and green vegetables, will serve your goals much better.
@@musingwithreba9667 My basic diet is Meat, Cheese, Nuts, Eggs, & Salad. Love Walnuts and always bring 1 pound for 5 day food bag and accounts for 600 of my daily calories. On trail I get eggs, salad, & rotisserie Chicken in trail towns. Recently started adding Dehydrated Refried Beans + Minute Rice for trail meals but can't find Dehydrated Refried Beans anywhere along trail, so when I run out, that's it.
2k a month now
Dead on…