Standing ovation from me to you! So refreshing to see someone so prepared. All those items that you completed will help ease your mind when the Mental demons come calling. Well done!
You are doing a fantastic job at preparing for the AT!! I watch a lot of hikers on several trails and I have to say that you have got to be the most prepared hiker!! So excited for you and thank you for letting us all follow along!!!
Thank yo so much for the vote of confidence! I have no idea what I’m doing compared to others, just tying to cover all of my bases. So many little details 🥴
It's amazing what motivation will make us do! I wanted to hike the AT so badly, I made myself paint my house! :) I'm getting really eager to get this show on the road - only two weeks until I head south!
I'm also part of the 50+ crowd and have had to do some preventative maintenance so to speak. When I got my new glasses I also bought a pair of prescription sunglasses. When I have a physical the doctor didn't like my slow heartbeat. Come to find out I have an irregular heartbeat. As well as some needed dental work. All this so I can go on multi_day/section hikes on the PCT and other trails. You've taken "Be Prepared" to the next level. 👍😁
Thank you for your tips and wisdom. Your approach will serve you well as you journey to Katahdin. There are a myriad of logistics of a thru hike. You will be successful in your adventure. Press on.
Great job with all the prep. I look forward to following your adventure. Please share pics and vlogs as oven as possible. It should be much drier than last year so your timing is good.
Thanks for the support! I will put pictures on instagram (link on RUclips banner) I think most days...and will put out a video blog once or twice a week. Here's to a drier year!
Great information, thanks for telling us about the your ginger/honey/lemon. I love it and feel it helped during a recent cold/sinus infection. It's my morning routine now plus now an addition to my pack. Prayers for your steps
Thank you for sharing. I agree with ER_71's comment. You are going to do excellent on the trail. Also you have done well identifying the many things people don't think about before they attempt a long hike, everything from financial to medical. There is a lot of great advice others should listen to and follow. Can't wait to see you on the trail.
Your approach to taking care of what you can to eliminate as many potential concerns while on trail sounds familiar! I have lists of what I can do to best prepare myself for my hike next year. Your life wisdom & fortitude will serve you well out there-both in peace of mind & practical preparedness.
Your preparation is amazing , and no doubt you will make it to Katahdin! Great expense counter with the paint project, however I’m hoping my wife misses this episode. Hope to see you on the trail!
That's hysterical...in our case it was totally my idea and I think my husband was pretty psyched about it...he knew I would get it done quickly as well, as I can't stand an unfinished project! Thanks for your encouragement!
I appreciate your honesty about your medical issues and admire your resolve in staying the course. I myself have a tooth that may or may not need a crown. It is causing stress for my dentist as she understands the need to get this resolved before I leave for the trail. She would like to give the tooth more time to see if it will settle down. I'm a bit more relaxed about it than she is!
Thank you. It’s so hard to pull the trigger and do so much, but ultimately I didn’t want any of these things to bring me off trail. The odds are against thru hikers completing the trail, and if this brings me from 20% to 25% chance of success, I’ll take it! Good luck as you figure out the best course of action for your tooth!
Have you hiked it too?! The top half really was tough! My mileage went from 18 miles a day down below 10 once I hit App Gap...but stunningly beautiful! Thanks for your support!
@@SaraHikesNH I only hiked 70 miles of it this past summer from South of Stratton Mt to the other side of Killington (Pico) Was a good trip was surprised i had to pay to stay at certain shelters!!!
I too have been trying to get all the things taken care of before my hike. Dentist, orthopedist, physical therapy. I am so glad you shared your information.
Very impressive amount of prep, thank you for sharing. I loved the smile that comes on your fave when you begin to explain how you made it work finically. If I’m a thru hiker this year, it would be a major boost of confidence to cross paths with you. I know you will be a major blessing with this year’s trail community.
Wow, your preparation is impressive. I also have done the Lasik surgery and have never regretted it. Congrats on the weight loss. I have said to myself many times this year, if I could just loose the weight of my pack this would be so much better! The next few weeks will fly by and before you know it you will be on trail. Good Luck!
Sara, I can strongly relate to this video. In preparation for my AT thru hike this year, I also went for PRK lasik surgery, dental visits and have been counting calories. It’s funny how preparing for this trek quickly deflated my fears and procrastination tendencies to take care of myself.
Well thought out preparations...can't wait for you to get on the trail so I can follow along and hopefully have a chance to meet you while you are in GA. (Winkle - trail name)
Woohoo! You are going to crush it Sara! 👍🏻 I had persistent pain in my left knee since my 20s -- a series of cortisone and "experimental" injections throughout my 30s. I wear compression, watch my electrolyte levels and elevate. You got this! Age is just a number. 🌺
Thank you so much for the encouragement and support. Interesting about the electrolyte levels - I will need to do more reading about that - thanks for the tip!
Thanks Sara, great info for all considering an AT thru hike. I can certainly say I too had to manage many of your concerns. I am balancing and managing a fairly serious health issue. We'll see what the trail has to say, because the trail always gets a vote. Take care and good luck.
Hey Sara Hikes NH! I really respect and admire you and your meticulous planning you have done for this adventure. Time and effort well spent. Sounds as if you have reduced risk of failure and increased your pleasure of hiking and success of completion. Your preparation is great advice for those wanting to thru hike. I would like to follow you and encourage you as you go.
Thank you so much - i truly appreciate the support and kindness! I know that the prep alone won't get me there, but as you said, I hope it increases my odds.
You are the best prepared person ever…you have planned for every detail. Certified Wilderness First Responder, do you need a hiking partner? I will being great comfort to my family to know I was hiking with a "woofer"…Best of luck
Between your PT and my WFR, we’d be quite a team 🤣. I have actually teased if be a better Wilderness Hospice Nurse than First Responder! It’s going to be a great season. So glad your shakedown was so successful and you got good feedback on your gear!
Great question. I am leaving early for two reasons. First - I will be getting off the trail at the end of May for up to a week for my youngest child's college graduation. I also have a long running girl's get away weekend that I really want to do in July with my girlfriends...so I know I will be taking up to 10 days off the trail. Second - as a result, and knowing I'm not going to set a land speed record, I only want to deal with winter once. I'd rather deal with a southern winter over a Maine winter any day of the week. Winter came really early in northern New England this year - we are talking FEET of snow in October. I want to be home and warm and dry for that this coming year!
Sara Hikes NH sounds good and good luck again. I was hiking in that snow in the fall too. Didn’t help much trying to complete my NH winter peaks this year but should have!
Oh that’s great! My niece is going for a single season Winter 4K attempt this year...she’s more than half way through! I have completed the 48 4K, and have 50/52 WAV...those last two alluded me with the snow! Keep at ‘em...you’ll get them done!
Thanks for the info! What about health insurance on the trail? Especially across states and out of network deals? I have bad bone on bone rubbing in both knees, no pain (yet), I am 30 so thanks for the idea of the “knee-Lypo” I’m just beginning my career and am SECTION hiking currently. But desire a thru
My husband carries insurance, and that will not change while I’m on trail, so I haven’t had to explore options for this. We are fortunate to have a pretty impressive plan. My daughters are 21 and 24 and both still on our plan in both OH and DC...and we haven’t had a problem so far... fingers crossed! The procedure is called Lipogems ... and is a form of stem cell therapy. I hope you can achieve your goals! Thanks for following along!
So, I know this woman, a great hiker, a very determined woman who didn't need men to help her. Well, she wasn't feeling good, there was a problem with her back, and she knew she had a fever. But finally she told herself, when I get to camp I'm going to ask for help, even if it's a man. And so she got to camp, very much divided, ready to ask even a man for help. There was only one person there, my old friend, Bill Irwin, the blind AT hiker. The next day, collapsing, 3 hikers got her to town, where she had surgery on her back cyst, her hike was over, she had to finish a year later. True story. Good call to take care of yourself beforehand.
I can soo identify with a lot of what you have said here. I have arthritis, and also a connective tissue disorder , duypuytrens disease, and in the feet same issue called of all things lederhosen disease, ( connective tissue problems that cause contractures ) . I also injured my knees as a young woman. However, with my walking program, what a huuge difference it is making, and really my joint pain is minor. I walk ten miles daily regularly, and when training for a hike, minimum of fifteen miles daily, more if I can fit it in. But I also have a eating disorder, and have to stick to a certain diet. Or it means issues for me. So......I have decided to choke up the expense and ship myself regular resupply packages, supplemented by things in grocery store. I will be hiking PCT, as I am worried about the whites, etc. and all the rock scrambling later on in the AT as to whether or not I could do it. I section hike the PCT a lot, so I am familiar with most parts of at least the California parts, and recognize the skill level needed, but really feel unsure about the AT. But it is mostly convenience stores, etc. along the way, and hitch hiking into towns , that may not have dehydraged vegan foods. Fresh fruits and veggies just weigh a lot....lol...And, since as a vegan the nutrition has to be spot on, I am doing the boxes.....kind of bummed about it....a lot of extra time hiking in on the PCT to towns to pick up the boxes, but have just decided I cannot go back to where I was....so working with my health practitioner on nutritional needs, calories, etc. on a thru hike as the longest thing I have done so far strictly due to ability to get time off work, is a week, doing The Great Glen Way in Scotland. Everything else has been 4 days or shorter for me.....so we shall see. Looking forward to following you.
Wow...you have really dialed in how to be successful despite having some serious issues to deal with...kudos for thinking it all through and I hope the trail proves to be everything you are looking for. The PCT sure is amazing. I am doing the AT for the same reason you are doing PCT...it’s more familiar and comfortable. How can I follow your journey?
Love this video! Great information and proactive care that people may not think about that can absolutely sideline a thru hike. Agreed, I do believe we may be soul mates! Osteoarthritis (right hip for me)...check. Ridiculous fear of the dentist...check. Felt bad as I did not have a contributing income so took a part time job for the past year and change to offset my gear purchases and upcoming trail expenses. Oh, and I got my NOLS certification in Wilderness First Aid. : - ) Can't wait to meet you on the trail!
Can I love this a hundred times???? So validating to know there is someone else like me out there! Sometimes I think i'm a very rare unicorn! When will you head out???
@@SaraHikesNH Yes you can and done! Being a rare unicorn is magical. But it's always fun to find other magical souls on life's trail! I am targeting the 20th (Feb) unless there is some crazy weather event that would probably have me off the trail anyway. I'm confident that we will share this path at some point!!
Standing ovation from me to you! So refreshing to see someone so prepared. All those items that you completed will help ease your mind when the Mental demons come calling. Well done!
I think this is the highest compliment ER - thank you!
You are doing a fantastic job at preparing for the AT!! I watch a lot of hikers on several trails and I have to say that you have got to be the most prepared hiker!! So excited for you and thank you for letting us all follow along!!!
Thank yo so much for the vote of confidence! I have no idea what I’m doing compared to others, just tying to cover all of my bases. So many little details 🥴
@@SaraHikesNH you are doing a great job and yes lots of details but I know it will all work out and that you will be a blessing to others!
Sara you are so prepared! And wise! I'm so excited to follow you and continue to learn from you!
Thank you so much! I hope I can help other hikers, just like I’ve been helped!
Wow! That’s a lot of prep! You can say you did everything you could to be ready for the AT! Can’t wait to follow your journey!
Thank you! I know none of it guarantees success, but at least these things won’t take me off trail!
You painted that big old house yourself!! You will be fine! Such excellent preparation and advice...very refreshing!
It's amazing what motivation will make us do! I wanted to hike the AT so badly, I made myself paint my house! :) I'm getting really eager to get this show on the road - only two weeks until I head south!
I am soooooo excited! I am so impressed with you! Love you guys....
Dennis Putthoff the BIG question is will you come visit me in Chattanooga???? Would make my send off complete to get a hug for you all!
I'm also part of the 50+ crowd and have had to do some preventative maintenance so to speak.
When I got my new glasses I also bought a pair of prescription sunglasses.
When I have a physical the doctor didn't like my slow heartbeat.
Come to find out I have an irregular heartbeat.
As well as some needed dental work.
All this so I can go on multi_day/section hikes on the PCT and other trails.
You've taken "Be Prepared" to the next level. 👍😁
So glad you found out about your heart, what a scare! The PCT looks stunning, the mountains are gorgeous. Enjoy your hiking and thank you!
Your journey is going to be amazing! I’m so excited I get to follow along!
Thank you so much!!!
Thank you for your tips and wisdom. Your approach will serve you well as you journey to Katahdin. There are a myriad of logistics of a thru hike. You will be successful in your adventure. Press on.
Thanks Mark - it has been an all consuming endeavor - and I think my friends and family are ready for me to LEAVE ALREADY! :)
Gosh, you're GOOD! I love that you're sharing all of this, makes me feel like all my deep thinking is okay too lol You're so badass!
I always find it validating when I hear what others are thinking about and planning. And I’ll take that compliment! 🥰
Very well done. It’s good to hear about all the non-gear prep.
Thanks for the kind words!
i hadnt seen this on my list to watch until today. awesome job on this. smart and logical cant get much better
thanks so much, i appreciate your kind words and support!
Way to go Sara! Looking forward to your hike!!
Thanks TL!
Great job with all the prep. I look forward to following your adventure. Please share pics and vlogs as oven as possible. It should be much drier than last year so your timing is good.
Thanks for the support! I will put pictures on instagram (link on RUclips banner) I think most days...and will put out a video blog once or twice a week. Here's to a drier year!
Great information, thanks for telling us about the your ginger/honey/lemon. I love it and feel it helped during a recent cold/sinus infection. It's my morning routine now plus now an addition to my pack. Prayers for your steps
I’m so glad you found it helpful, and hope you are feeling better! Thanks for your kind words and support 🥰
Your preparation is impressive. Looking forward to following along with your journey.
Wow, impressive preparation! I can’t wait to watch your journey.
Thanks so much!
Thank you for sharing. I agree with ER_71's comment. You are going to do excellent on the trail. Also you have done well identifying the many things people don't think about before they attempt a long hike, everything from financial to medical. There is a lot of great advice others should listen to and follow. Can't wait to see you on the trail.
Thanks so much for your encouragement and kind words! It's truly appreciated!
Excellent job, I'm in the process of getting everything ready for my 2020 thru hike. This helps me look at things I've not really thought about.
Oh I’m so glad! Best wishes to you as you get ready, it’s such an exciting time!
Your approach to taking care of what you can to eliminate as many potential concerns while on trail sounds familiar! I have lists of what I can do to best prepare myself for my hike next year. Your life wisdom & fortitude will serve you well out there-both in peace of mind & practical preparedness.
Thank you so much Michele...It’s good to know I have kindered spirits out there! 💗
Kudos to you! It seems we are about the same age and I look forward to living my hiking dream through your adventures!
Thank you Wendy! You keep supporting me, and I'll keep walking for you! :O)
Sounds like you’re ready 👍🏻😊 can’t wait to follow along.
Thank you so much! I appreciate it!
Your preparation is amazing , and no doubt you will make it to Katahdin! Great expense counter with the paint project, however I’m hoping my wife misses this episode.
Hope to see you on the trail!
That's hysterical...in our case it was totally my idea and I think my husband was pretty psyched about it...he knew I would get it done quickly as well, as I can't stand an unfinished project! Thanks for your encouragement!
I appreciate your honesty about your medical issues and admire your resolve in staying the course. I myself have a tooth that may or may not need a crown. It is causing stress for my dentist as she understands the need to get this resolved before I leave for the trail. She would like to give the tooth more time to see if it will settle down. I'm a bit more relaxed about it than she is!
Thank you. It’s so hard to pull the trigger and do so much, but ultimately I didn’t want any of these things to bring me off trail. The odds are against thru hikers completing the trail, and if this brings me from 20% to 25% chance of success, I’ll take it! Good luck as you figure out the best course of action for your tooth!
I have no doubt you'll be just fine. You accomplished the long trail which is a feat in of itself. If you did that you can do the thru hike!!!
Have you hiked it too?! The top half really was tough! My mileage went from 18 miles a day down below 10 once I hit App Gap...but stunningly beautiful! Thanks for your support!
@@SaraHikesNH I only hiked 70 miles of it this past summer from South of Stratton Mt to the other side of Killington (Pico)
Was a good trip was surprised i had to pay to stay at certain shelters!!!
What a beautiful section...and I had forgotten than detail...between VT and NH I’ll have to carry some $5 bills in my pocket to make it through!
I too have been trying to get all the things taken care of before my hike. Dentist, orthopedist, physical therapy. I am so glad you shared your information.
Hoping your knee holds strong too! You got this!
Very impressive amount of prep, thank you for sharing. I loved the smile that comes on your fave when you begin to explain how you made it work finically. If I’m a thru hiker this year, it would be a major boost of confidence to cross paths with you. I know you will be a major blessing with this year’s trail community.
It would be an honor to bump into you for sure...thank you!
Great discussion on preparation. Should help a lot of people planning their hike. Happy Trails
Thanks so much! I am eager to watch your latest video tomorrow!
Impressive! Thank you for sharing and allowing us to tag along.
Thanks so much!
Great video. Thanks for sharing, it will be helpful to many
Wow, your preparation is impressive. I also have done the Lasik surgery and have never regretted it. Congrats on the weight loss. I have said to myself many times this year, if I could just loose the weight of my pack this would be so much better! The next few weeks will fly by and before you know it you will be on trail. Good Luck!
I'm glad you had good success with it as well! I'm so excited to hit the trail. Thanks so much for your continued support! :)
...great prep dialogue, thanks.
Thank YOU!
Sara, I can strongly relate to this video. In preparation for my AT thru hike this year, I also went for PRK lasik surgery, dental visits and have been counting calories. It’s funny how preparing for this trek quickly deflated my fears and procrastination tendencies to take care of myself.
Well done! Yes indeed, let's get this show on the road! Ha! See you out there, Lamplighter 2019 out! 😎😉
See you out there!
Well thought out preparations...can't wait for you to get on the trail so I can follow along and hopefully have a chance to meet you while you are in GA. (Winkle - trail name)
Thank you Winkle! I really appreciate it!
Awesome video.
Thanks!
Woohoo! You are going to crush it Sara! 👍🏻 I had persistent pain in my left knee since my 20s -- a series of cortisone and "experimental" injections throughout my 30s. I wear compression, watch my electrolyte levels and elevate. You got this! Age is just a number. 🌺
Thank you so much for the encouragement and support. Interesting about the electrolyte levels - I will need to do more reading about that - thanks for the tip!
Sara it sounds like you are very well prepared for your hike can"t wait to follow along.
I know prep alone won't make me successful, but hoping it will increase my odds! Thank you!
Ditto on what early riser said. Your BA!!!
My goal in life is to be a BA! THANK YOU!
Thanks Sara, great info for all considering an AT thru hike. I can certainly say I too had to manage many of your concerns. I am balancing and managing a fairly serious health issue. We'll see what the trail has to say, because the trail always gets a vote. Take care and good luck.
Wishing you the best as I'm so excited for your success on the trail this year. Hoping all stays under control and you have no issues at all.
Hey Sara Hikes NH! I really respect and admire you and your meticulous planning you have done for this adventure. Time and effort well spent. Sounds as if you have reduced risk of failure and increased your pleasure of hiking and success of completion. Your preparation is great advice for those wanting to thru hike. I would like to follow you and encourage you as you go.
Thank you so much - i truly appreciate the support and kindness! I know that the prep alone won't get me there, but as you said, I hope it increases my odds.
You are the best prepared person ever…you have planned for every detail. Certified Wilderness First Responder, do you need a hiking partner? I will being great comfort to my family to know I was hiking with a "woofer"…Best of luck
Between your PT and my WFR, we’d be quite a team 🤣. I have actually teased if be a better Wilderness Hospice Nurse than First Responder! It’s going to be a great season. So glad your shakedown was so successful and you got good feedback on your gear!
@@SaraHikesNH I truly have trail fever.
Food is fuel good fuel high performance body great mental game you'll do it
Thank you Charlotte!
Going to follow your trip. Good luck. Curious why you are leaving so early?
Great question. I am leaving early for two reasons. First - I will be getting off the trail at the end of May for up to a week for my youngest child's college graduation. I also have a long running girl's get away weekend that I really want to do in July with my girlfriends...so I know I will be taking up to 10 days off the trail. Second - as a result, and knowing I'm not going to set a land speed record, I only want to deal with winter once. I'd rather deal with a southern winter over a Maine winter any day of the week. Winter came really early in northern New England this year - we are talking FEET of snow in October. I want to be home and warm and dry for that this coming year!
Sara Hikes NH sounds good and good luck again. I was hiking in that snow in the fall too. Didn’t help much trying to complete my NH winter peaks this year but should have!
Oh that’s great! My niece is going for a single season Winter 4K attempt this year...she’s more than half way through! I have completed the 48 4K, and have 50/52 WAV...those last two alluded me with the snow! Keep at ‘em...you’ll get them done!
Thanks for the info! What about health insurance on the trail? Especially across states and out of network deals? I have bad bone on bone rubbing in both knees, no pain (yet), I am 30 so thanks for the idea of the “knee-Lypo” I’m just beginning my career and am SECTION hiking currently. But desire a thru
My husband carries insurance, and that will not change while I’m on trail, so I haven’t had to explore options for this. We are fortunate to have a pretty impressive plan. My daughters are 21 and 24 and both still on our plan in both OH and DC...and we haven’t had a problem so far... fingers crossed! The procedure is called Lipogems ... and is a form of stem cell therapy. I hope you can achieve your goals! Thanks for following along!
So, I know this woman, a great hiker, a very determined woman who didn't need men to help her. Well, she wasn't feeling good, there was a problem with her back, and she knew she had a fever. But finally she told herself, when I get to camp I'm going to ask for help, even if it's a man. And so she got to camp, very much divided, ready to ask even a man for help. There was only one person there, my old friend, Bill Irwin, the blind AT hiker. The next day, collapsing, 3 hikers got her to town, where she had surgery on her back cyst, her hike was over, she had to finish a year later. True story. Good call to take care of yourself beforehand.
Wow...you have just made me completely psyched that I had the cyst removed...thank you!!!!
I can soo identify with a lot of what you have said here. I have arthritis, and also a connective tissue disorder , duypuytrens disease, and in the feet same issue called of all things lederhosen disease, ( connective tissue problems that cause contractures ) . I also injured my knees as a young woman. However, with my walking program, what a huuge difference it is making, and really my joint pain is minor. I walk ten miles daily regularly, and when training for a hike, minimum of fifteen miles daily, more if I can fit it in. But I also have a eating disorder, and have to stick to a certain diet. Or it means issues for me. So......I have decided to choke up the expense and ship myself regular resupply packages, supplemented by things in grocery store. I will be hiking PCT, as I am worried about the whites, etc. and all the rock scrambling later on in the AT as to whether or not I could do it. I section hike the PCT a lot, so I am familiar with most parts of at least the California parts, and recognize the skill level needed, but really feel unsure about the AT. But it is mostly convenience stores, etc. along the way, and hitch hiking into towns , that may not have dehydraged vegan foods. Fresh fruits and veggies just weigh a lot....lol...And, since as a vegan the nutrition has to be spot on, I am doing the boxes.....kind of bummed about it....a lot of extra time hiking in on the PCT to towns to pick up the boxes, but have just decided I cannot go back to where I was....so working with my health practitioner on nutritional needs, calories, etc. on a thru hike as the longest thing I have done so far strictly due to ability to get time off work, is a week, doing The Great Glen Way in Scotland. Everything else has been 4 days or shorter for me.....so we shall see. Looking forward to following you.
Wow...you have really dialed in how to be successful despite having some serious issues to deal with...kudos for thinking it all through and I hope the trail proves to be everything you are looking for. The PCT sure is amazing. I am doing the AT for the same reason you are doing PCT...it’s more familiar and comfortable. How can I follow your journey?
Love this video! Great information and proactive care that people may not think about that can absolutely sideline a thru hike. Agreed, I do believe we may be soul mates! Osteoarthritis (right hip for me)...check. Ridiculous fear of the dentist...check. Felt bad as I did not have a contributing income so took a part time job for the past year and change to offset my gear purchases and upcoming trail expenses. Oh, and I got my NOLS certification in Wilderness First Aid. : - ) Can't wait to meet you on the trail!
Can I love this a hundred times???? So validating to know there is someone else like me out there! Sometimes I think i'm a very rare unicorn! When will you head out???
@@SaraHikesNH Yes you can and done! Being a rare unicorn is magical. But it's always fun to find other magical souls on life's trail! I am targeting the 20th (Feb) unless there is some crazy weather event that would probably have me off the trail anyway. I'm confident that we will share this path at some point!!