One of the biggest things I learned after my year of living abroad was how important it is to also show an interest in the lives of your support team while you're away. You are off having incredible adventures, but their lives are still happening and they've got things to share with you too - make sure to take time to let them share those things with you and really put an emphasis on how much you care about the cool things happening for them.
This video, Dixie, is quite possibly the best one you have ever done. Being in my 40s and when I told my parents about my first 6-day/85mile trip, their first words were “You can’t do that!” Made me want to go even more. I’m going to have them and my wife watch this video. Thank you, thank you!
Just believe in yourself and take that first step. I’m 52 and still crunching miles. My mother in law is 86 and did a 2 day trip with us last summer. Life’s to short for regrets. Sometimes it sucks and sometimes the views are so clear and beautiful it’s like looking directly into the mind of God.
when you know you're going to backpack, nothing will really stop you. my family was and still does worry. I think theybare starting to come around. I'm 36. I'm planning a trip now and this time my family is excited instead of concerned.
I'm in my 40's as well and my parents were surprisingly supportive, though I'm sure privately they think I'm nuts :D Agree this video is awesome and I'll be sending the link to friends, family etc. for some help with the conversation.
Same! I'm 44 and I'll be 45 when I start the AT. My husband, father and my grown daughter are extremely supportive. My mother on the other hand is a nervous wreck about it! This video is great to show her!
Hi Jessica. I'm dying and will never be able to go on a serious hike again but am so grateful for all the enjoyment you have brought, not only to me but for so many people you will never meet, through your adventures. It's astonishing to see the transformation between the 'ingenue' Jessica from episode 1 of your AT hike and the confident woman that you have become. I say astonishing because the 'transformation' is not accidental and you were, and still are, you. Time passes so fast and I love your independent and mummy-defying spirit, as well as your devotion to your family. Keep plodding Jessica, and never look back.
Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement 😭 I’m so sorry to hear your time here is limited, but I admire your courage to talk about it and appreciate your perspective ♥️ Sending you love! ✨
Hello Loved One of a hiker. Welcome to this lovely person's channel. If your thru-hiker is offering this video to you, rest assured they know what they're getting into. Dixie is the absolute queen of this thing (and she's a darn nice person too!). Stick around here for your own entertainment too. You'll enjoy it.
Twizzlers! If your support team wants to send you things, tell them Twizzlers. If you don't want to carry them on trail, your tramily will have them gone before you leave the post office. My daughter sent me Twizzlers and a bottle of Jack Daniels every 3 weeks. Changed my mood and my tramilies mood instantly. Great video!!!!!
On the theme of emotional support, let me add one thing that those at home should NOT do: do not bring up problems at home if the person on trail cannot do anything about it. For instance, when I was out on the BMT there was a power failure at home and my wife called to tell me a certain piece of electronic equipment wouldn't come back on when the power was restored. There wasn't a single thing I could do from several hundred miles away. It wasn't enough of an emergency for me to get off the trail, so all that message did was make me worry and feel helpless. Do not do that sort of thing to someone out on a trail.
I will never forget Cory's (Second Chance) start on the PCT. It took him 3 days to go 5 miles. He cried constantly. But he kept going and eventually changed so much! The trail, fellow hikers & his own determination has made him healthier, happier & better able to manage difficulties. I had to laugh at the guy in town showing how much too big his jeans 👖 had become. I really enjoy your videos Dixie because you are so positive and upbeat, you lift the spirits of other hikers & you don't judge those who have a different perspective from you. It is amazing how far Darwin hikes in a day but his legs are miles long. You could probably keep up with him on your normal length (but very strong) legs & that is due to your miles and miles of hiking! So impressive.
That is a very impressive thing to say.... "I've hiked over 10,000 miles on long distance trails"!!! Hell YEAH! That is awesome Dixie. I've learned from....and taken vicarious trips with you now for a few years..... Thank You!
That's amazing how things have changed. When we started backpacking in the early 70's we had no cell phones. We took 5 cans of chili, 3 lbs. of granola, coffee, pot, acid, a Primus 2260 stove, and a tube tent.
Great point made by Dixie on folks thinking it's just a leisure stroll with camping. When I cram a 50ish mile loop over 4 days (including the hours of driving eachway) in the high sierra, I'm beyond exhausted. Couldnt imagine the physical and mental toll during a long multi-month thru hike.
IF you are able, and if you care enough about your hiker that they feel you need to see this video, buy them the tech to be able to track them on trail. That kind of money is hard to shell out when you're the hiker trying to buy lighter gear which costs more money. It'll make you feel better, the hiker will roll their eyes and take it to shut you up, and it could save their life.
Thanks for this Dixie! I'm starting AT March 19, God willing. I wake up panicking every morning...leave of absence from work, still paying bills... the physical walking doesn't phase me... it's the loneliness and uncertainty and missing my dog sleeping on me that gets to me. I've been watching you a while and appreciate all you taught me.
Thank you for posting this video. The link was sent to me by my daughter who will be starting her AT thru hike in March 2022. You've given me a lot of ideas on how to support her and make her journey more enjoyable and fulfilling for both of us. Thanks again and happy trails.
Thanks for making this. Moms and I don't speak the same language all the time, this video helped her worry less by breaking it down into bites she could chew. Appreciate it.
Dixie, this was fantastic! So comprehensive. I think you covered everything even the, "don't send your hiker 3 pounds of trail mix." My mom would send me a lump of fruitcake every ten days or so and we communicated by collect calls and post cards. I never really liked fruitcake but she had read somewhere that it was highly caloric and good for hikers. Now I need it at least annually to satiate the nostalgia. Thank you so much for this and all your terrific videos!
Dixie ... The The Olympic Peninsula, of Washington State has some wonderful backpacking trails and opportunities you might want to consider for future adventures. From coastal rain forests to Alpine meadows. Day hikes to weeks on trail. Love all your content, this one especially
"need to do this" That sounds about right. There's just something inside of me, clawing at my heart, saying, "You just have to!" I want to as well, but it's one of those things that I fell like I'll regret it for the rest of my life if I don't go and hike the AT. But I am nervous I might get it in my head that I want to hike the PCT and CDT as well xD
One thing I learned while on trail, was to let my friends and family help. I had it in my mind when I started that it was my choice to be out there, and I did not want to burden them with expenses or things I needed. But the thing was they wanted to help me, and to help me make it. I did start letting them help and they felt like they was part of the journey.
Great point. That was one reason why a dear friend of mine stopped his thru-hike nearly half way through. So many “fans” are hiking vicariously with you, it blesses them.
Well done Dixie! I wish this video was around when I first tried to somehow explain what my planned thru hike was all about when I wasn't even sure myself. For every question friends had I had a dozen more. But your very first video was my very first real inspiration for hiking the Appalachian Trial. The following season I was on the trail. Thank you for that first video, and thank you for your continued effort in helping so many of us to realize some of our own untapped potential.
I’m such a black sheep to my family/“trail support team”, so much so, that when I started my AT hike, about 1/5 way in, they blocked my number, put the house up for sale and took my dog with them with no forwarding address. Been 10 years and still no word. ….pick your Trail Support CAREFULLY. 🥴😉
Hey Dixie, I just wanted to say thank you for the inspiration to begin my thru hike on the AT on March 19th. Registered and ready to go. I'm still in need of a few things and wanted to ask if you or anyone that sees this comment can give some pointers on a sleep system for a bad back on a budget? I am 45 and I had broken my back in my T9,10,11 thoracic spine just below Mcaffee knob in VA back in 2004. I had lived in Lynchburg VA back then and broke my back sledding on ice and hitting a drainage pipe dead on and tail end first and my back just snapped. My chin hit my pelvic so hard that they both were badly bruised and bleeding. Anyway, I had gotten addicted to heroin and had walked away from that in September of '06. I'm a statistic. But I survived and the trail has been calling my name and I really want nothing more in this life than to find peace and gain some faith back in humanity. If it wasn't for God I would not be here. I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate you and how you keep accomplishing all of these highly challenging hikes! And that's no small thing. Also, if you know anyone that is heading out around March 19th '22 on the AT, please let them know that I am looking for someone to hike with. I'm an introvert, but I need to come out of my shell.. lol! Again thank you! My name is Donn BTW. Trail name is to be determined..lol that would actually be a good trail name.. determined! God bless and hope to cross paths one day Dixie!!!
I love this! Thank you for making this! I'm at least 5 years out from a long thru hike, but this is super helpful, and I love that you included tips for both the hikers AND the support crew/loved ones. Keep doing amazing things!❤
For me it's mentally for sure. Back in the city I became more and more frustrated over the years by my commute. Going from my stone and concrete home, over the asphalt streets to work in a concrete building and doing that 5-6 days a week. :) Add to that all responsibilities you have, all the rules (I'm from the Netherlands so we have micro-managed rules for everything) and you get a bit longing for NOT having all that. And hiking works a treat I have to say. To me, that's actually a vacation, even when you go through very physical annoying things... yes please! Finally :)
Hello Dixie, thank you for sharing this timely video. You always have a wealth of practical information. The best to you for your good health and safety. 🤗
My family was pretty cool about my thru. Accept for my niece who at the time was 7 years old and was certain I was going to get eaten by a bear. Now shes 10 and wants me make another attempt so she can go with me!
Didn't even consider that this topic is something hikers should think about. Thanks for reminding us to remember thru-hiking is hardly ever a solo journey!
You just described military life in a nutshell. Boot camp, overseas deployment and combat areas as far as the mind goes except no visitation from family or families. Goood job Semper Fi
One of your best and most useful videos!!! Our significant others will likely absorb this better coming from you than even from ourselves!?!? Especially, the sentiments about the 'need' to make this hike and the significance of this hike building w/in them for years. Well done! HYOH !
An especially nice one Miss Dixie. I just shared this with some hiking friends who got PCT permits for this year. They've backpacked before, but nothing longer than the JMT. I think the length of a thru-hike can freak out some people. I've been backpacking for years, and I'm "just" joining my friends between Tehachapi and Donner Pass, and even that has caused some questions. Someone asked "Is everything okay?". This video is a nice idea. Thanks.
"They've been marinating on it for a long time".....yep, ever since I started watching your first video six years ago. I was 51 years old then but it's been on my bucket list ever since. My wife knows I want to do the AT and I've decided to do it in 2024 when I turn 60. Does she think I'm crazy? Probably. Will she support me? Hopefully. She supported me during my deployments to Iraq in 2006 and Afghanistan in 2010 so I think she'll be okay with this. She might not be exactly happy about it but knows that once I've got something I want to do, it's just a matter of time before I do it.
This is a much needed video! Thank you! I think folks that don’t hike wonder why we like to hike just to hike! Sometimes they’re clueless. You have been my inspiration for years Dixi!
This is awesome, thanks! The 1st video I showed the folks was Julia "Rocket" Sheehan's documentary on the AT so this is also going to be a great resource 😃
Thank you Dixie! I wanted to start backpacking last year, but on my first outing to scout some car camping spots to test gear, I broke my foot! This put me on my butt and inside the house for 3 months. I gained weight, injuries suck! It healed weird with arthritis, and I thought I was going to have to have surgery till yesterday! I’m about to start PT, and hoping to at least car camp to test my gear very soon. I’ll be 59 in 2 months, and I would love to at least partially hike the AT next year when I turn 60! I have one big negative against me though, I’m have type 1 diabetes. I’m unsure about carrying all the needed supplies, and keeping insulin cold. Have you met any thru hikers that were type 1? I’m wondering what my chances are realistically. I would have to go slower than most to take care of my feet, can’t afford wounds on the feet as a diabetic. And also wondering if it’s scary in the woods if you find yourself alone for the night! Any input would be great!😊 BTW, you, Kelly Hays Hikes, and Sintax77, helped get me through the lonely days while I was stuck at home with my broken foot!
Hi Nancy, I car-camped 32 national parks out west in '18 after getting stoked by Dixie's videos. It is very doable. I watched a lot of videos on car camping. I bought a Kelty tent, bag, foldable camping table, and Coleman stove. Got my tires checked at Discount TIre/(Tire America out West) to get in their computer system for discounts, which I needed halfway thru my trip, bot Lumilights at Walmart and a small dashboard fan and extra shade visors for the front windshield while driving into the western sun. I had a wonderful time and got my mojo back. YOu can do it too. all the parks have loop roads with short or long hikes off them, so I was able to do short hikes my knees could handle. I met such nice people all over the country. I didn't know how big we are! I was 70 that year. I did tend to get tired easily, but just cooled my jets a bit and changed my plans to adjust. YOu can camp in your tent out of the car, or in the back of your car. I bot a 2015 Buick Encore second-hand just for the trip when my Toyota died. ENcore seats fold down flat in the back so it's easy to make a comfy bed if the weather does not cooperate. Try it! Take a few weekend trips first to break in your stuff and get the hang of it. If you go in summer, an extra-large black umbrella from Harris Teeter will be a good thing to have to shade you from the sun. 118 degrees in Death Valley was a killer without the umbrella. I got caught in heavy snow in Colorado and the umbrella saved me at Maroon Bells Wilderness. For being alone at night, you get used to it. The sounds, or the quiet are unnerving at first but you get used to that. A few weekends of practice before you start will really help you with that. Gel soles in your shoes. 1/2 size larger than usual. Good luck and have fun! PS: DOn't buy a 2015 Encore. THey smoke like a house on fire! oops!
So much great advice here, Dixie. Thanks for sharing the knowledge you’ve gained from your own first hand experience, it’s going to be really helpful when I go off on a multi-day hike later this year.
Nicely done Dixie🌿As you approach in a few short years, the 10K+ that have taken decades to acquire, compiling these experiences in a single video is a feat in itself. Keep HYOH.🌀🌿✨
Yes to the Garmin. I do lots of long trips in my van by myself. The preset message saying I'm safe for the night and sends my GPS location to my loved ones goes a long way to keep everyone happy. My Inreach mini is $12.00 each month for the basic plan with additional cost if you text beyond the preset message. Thanks for your video.
Thanks Dixie. Really informative. I'm in the early stages of planning for the Camino. We don't have really long trails here in the UK, but am planning on doing our Coast to Coast, to get some much needed experience before heading off to France and Spain..
One trick I used to keep in touch with my family was to use Facebook as a journal. Throughout the day when I took pictures I would post them to Facebook along with a note on where they were taken at. And When I got to camp at night I would post where I was and recap the days events. Even if I didn’t have enough service for it to post that night, when I got somewhere that did have service the post would go through. The same thing with messages and Facebook messenger.
You are such an inspiration and I have been folowing you on your channel for some years now. I are so authentic and not over acting like many youtubers. Love your hikes and videos. / Johan, Stockholm, Sweden.
Thank You Dixie. Now I know what im getting for my wife's up coming birthday. Planning a thru hike of the Ohio and Erie Towpath. She got me the companion guide to the trail. I'm gonna get one for her. TYIA...
Dixie: From the few through hikers I spoke to and from my own limited hiking experience I think the reason many do this is the sense of true freedom not the make-believe freedom in the social word. This feeling of true freedom and self reliance is addictive in a good way.
This was an awesome video and a subject I wouldn't have thought about! Hopeful Class of 2024 here, and I'll make sure to loop my people in better than I had planned, so thank you!
Dixie, Thank you for ALL the things that you do! This video is just one more example of the plethora of types of information you provide for us! Your information is always very thorough! ❤️
Thank you very much for this video Dixie. I have been suffering with an illness for a long time. I really would like to do some thing to restore my faith in myself. My self-confidence. This is a big help. God bless you and your family.✝️
Well said...you have been out doing a while now: Well qualified. "Encourage them". Yeah that Sierra area has little cell reception: Neat alternate electronics. Late summer in Yosemite, the High Area (Muir Trail Check) had ceased postal operations, transferring things (hiker's food & supp) elsewhere, creating much chaos with a few hikers. One almost went postal as he struggled to find out what happened to his expected supplies & where he had to go. I think he had to ho to Lower Yos Valley or maybe even catch the Yart Bus to Monmouth, but it was the last day for the bus to run...I would be postal too.
Hello 👋 Dixie, sincere thanks for sharing this most informative video. I've shared your channel with several friends. Most of them have said a big 'thank you'. Continued sincere wishes for your good health and safety. I always look forward to your next exciting video. 🤗
Awesome video Dixie....you bring so much to the community,....hope to meet you on trail some day...and you mom is absolutely wonderful to be so involved and supportive... she's ba treasure...happy trails.
Dixie, You warm my heart with your advise. Thanks for being you. I hiked the grand Grand Canyon rim to rim with confidence based on the info you shared in all your videos. You have inspired me to take adventures. Thank you so much!
Great video Dixie. I truly appreciate you sharing this highly informative footage. As a newbie to trail hiking, this, by far, has been the most helpful with all the great advice & guidance provided.
Thanks so much for this video! I got my PCT permit for April 2022 and many of my friends and family think I'm heading out on a death march ; ). I will definitely be sharing your video.
Dixie, I liked your video so much I shared it on my Facebook page. Just so my love one's may stop calling my hikes ""Big Johns suicide march" (lol). Sending a whole lot of love your way for sending a Christmas card with the I poop in the woods tank top I ordered for my granddaughter. She loved it! The card made me feel special and I will keep it always. Capt. America
I hardly ever comment on RUclips videos but this was stellar. You nailed it. Excellent points all around, very thoughtful and well presented. Thank you!
This was such a good video. I’m planning a 220 mile section hike on the AT in May. So many good tips for communicating with my kids and my mom. Thank you 😊
•“Hiking From Home” by Juliana Chauncey: amzn.to/3qluy2L
•Hiker Terminology Videos:
ruclips.net/video/7w620XuTHyI/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/aQdx9ufAeC0/видео.html
One of the biggest things I learned after my year of living abroad was how important it is to also show an interest in the lives of your support team while you're away. You are off having incredible adventures, but their lives are still happening and they've got things to share with you too - make sure to take time to let them share those things with you and really put an emphasis on how much you care about the cool things happening for them.
This video, Dixie, is quite possibly the best one you have ever done. Being in my 40s and when I told my parents about my first 6-day/85mile trip, their first words were “You can’t do that!” Made me want to go even more. I’m going to have them and my wife watch this video. Thank you, thank you!
Hi Jeff! You can do it and you will. And then you will do it again 🙂 you’ve got this
Just believe in yourself and take that first step. I’m 52 and still crunching miles. My mother in law is 86 and did a 2 day trip with us last summer. Life’s to short for regrets. Sometimes it sucks and sometimes the views are so clear and beautiful it’s like looking directly into the mind of God.
when you know you're going to backpack, nothing will really stop you. my family was and still does worry. I think theybare starting to come around. I'm 36. I'm planning a trip now and this time my family is excited instead of concerned.
I'm in my 40's as well and my parents were surprisingly supportive, though I'm sure privately they think I'm nuts :D Agree this video is awesome and I'll be sending the link to friends, family etc. for some help with the conversation.
Same! I'm 44 and I'll be 45 when I start the AT. My husband, father and my grown daughter are extremely supportive. My mother on the other hand is a nervous wreck about it! This video is great to show her!
Hi Jessica.
I'm dying and will never be able to go on a serious hike again but am so grateful for all the enjoyment you have brought, not only to me but for so many people you will never meet, through your adventures.
It's astonishing to see the transformation between the 'ingenue' Jessica from episode 1 of your AT hike and the confident woman
that you have become. I say astonishing because the 'transformation' is not accidental and you were, and still are, you.
Time passes so fast and I love your independent and mummy-defying spirit, as well as your devotion to your family.
Keep plodding Jessica, and never look back.
Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement 😭 I’m so sorry to hear your time here is limited, but I admire your courage to talk about it and appreciate your perspective ♥️ Sending you love! ✨
Praying for your physical and emotional health. You are not alone.🙏🙏
Hello Loved One of a hiker. Welcome to this lovely person's channel. If your thru-hiker is offering this video to you, rest assured they know what they're getting into. Dixie is the absolute queen of this thing (and she's a darn nice person too!). Stick around here for your own entertainment too. You'll enjoy it.
Dang, thank you Kimberly ♥️
Twizzlers!
If your support team wants to send you things, tell them Twizzlers. If you don't want to carry them on trail, your tramily will have them gone before you leave the post office. My daughter sent me Twizzlers and a bottle of Jack Daniels every 3 weeks. Changed my mood and my tramilies mood instantly.
Great video!!!!!
On the theme of emotional support, let me add one thing that those at home should NOT do: do not bring up problems at home if the person on trail cannot do anything about it. For instance, when I was out on the BMT there was a power failure at home and my wife called to tell me a certain piece of electronic equipment wouldn't come back on when the power was restored. There wasn't a single thing I could do from several hundred miles away. It wasn't enough of an emergency for me to get off the trail, so all that message did was make me worry and feel helpless. Do not do that sort of thing to someone out on a trail.
I will never forget Cory's (Second Chance) start on the PCT. It took him 3 days to go 5 miles. He cried constantly. But he kept going and eventually changed so much! The trail, fellow hikers & his own determination has made him healthier, happier & better able to manage difficulties. I had to laugh at the guy in town showing how much too big his jeans 👖 had become. I really enjoy your videos Dixie because you are so positive and upbeat, you lift the spirits of other hikers & you don't judge those who have a different perspective from you. It is amazing how far Darwin hikes in a day but his legs are miles long. You could probably keep up with him on your normal length (but very strong) legs & that is due to your miles and miles of hiking! So impressive.
Starting the PCT april 17th! Sending this out to everyone now. Thank you Dixie you're my inspiration to get out there
Snickers Bars!!!! Always pack lots of Snickers Bars!!! 😋
That is a very impressive thing to say.... "I've hiked over 10,000 miles on long distance trails"!!! Hell YEAH! That is awesome Dixie. I've learned from....and taken vicarious trips with you now for a few years..... Thank You!
I didnt know or forgot she has the triple crown. quite impressive. Florida trail isn't a short trip either.
That's amazing how things have changed. When we started backpacking in the early 70's we had no cell phones. We took 5 cans of chili, 3 lbs. of granola, coffee, pot, acid, a Primus 2260 stove, and a tube tent.
Great point made by Dixie on folks thinking it's just a leisure stroll with camping.
When I cram a 50ish mile loop over 4 days (including the hours of driving eachway) in the high sierra, I'm beyond exhausted.
Couldnt imagine the physical and mental toll during a long multi-month thru hike.
I just sent this to all my friends and family
Awesome! Hope it helps :)
IF you are able, and if you care enough about your hiker that they feel you need to see this video, buy them the tech to be able to track them on trail. That kind of money is hard to shell out when you're the hiker trying to buy lighter gear which costs more money. It'll make you feel better, the hiker will roll their eyes and take it to shut you up, and it could save their life.
Just sent this to my little Momma. Thanks so much. I know she thinks I’m crazy, but like you said, I’ve been marinating in it for some time.
Thanks god i have the whatsapp of my psychologist, sometimes we are the unlucky ones who don't have that kind of support of a "family". Nice video.
I’m so sorry you don’t have a support team ♥️ I’m glad you’re here and a part of this community, though.
Thanks for this Dixie! I'm starting AT March 19, God willing. I wake up panicking every morning...leave of absence from work, still paying bills... the physical walking doesn't phase me... it's the loneliness and uncertainty and missing my dog sleeping on me that gets to me. I've been watching you a while and appreciate all you taught me.
@@Mikehikes61 thanks!
Thank you so much for making this video. You have calmed a mommas heart a tiny bit. 💜
Awww, yay!
Thank you for posting this video. The link was sent to me by my daughter who will be starting her AT thru hike in March 2022. You've given me a lot of ideas on how to support her and make her journey more enjoyable and fulfilling for both of us. Thanks again and happy trails.
Thanks for making this. Moms and I don't speak the same language all the time, this video helped her worry less by breaking it down into bites she could chew. Appreciate it.
Dixie, this was fantastic! So comprehensive. I think you covered everything even the, "don't send your hiker 3 pounds of trail mix." My mom would send me a lump of fruitcake every ten days or so and we communicated by collect calls and post cards. I never really liked fruitcake but she had read somewhere that it was highly caloric and good for hikers. Now I need it at least annually to satiate the nostalgia. Thank you so much for this and all your terrific videos!
Dixie ... The The Olympic Peninsula, of Washington State has some wonderful backpacking trails and opportunities you might want to consider for future adventures. From coastal rain forests to Alpine meadows. Day hikes to weeks on trail.
Love all your content, this one especially
yesss way better than the cascades
Incredibly well done! You're definitely the Queen of the Trails! Thanks for what you do, it is appreciated!
"need to do this" That sounds about right. There's just something inside of me, clawing at my heart, saying, "You just have to!" I want to as well, but it's one of those things that I fell like I'll regret it for the rest of my life if I don't go and hike the AT. But I am nervous I might get it in my head that I want to hike the PCT and CDT as well xD
I dont know when, but someday I will DEFINETELY hike the PCT. Its been my dream since i saw the movie wild when i was like 10 years old.
One thing I learned while on trail, was to let my friends and family help. I had it in my mind when I started that it was my choice to be out there, and I did not want to burden them with expenses or things I needed. But the thing was they wanted to help me, and to help me make it. I did start letting them help and they felt like they was part of the journey.
Great point. That was one reason why a dear friend of mine stopped his thru-hike nearly half way through. So many “fans” are hiking vicariously with you, it blesses them.
Essentially you are a professional athlete... an entertainer, as are all professional athletes.
Well done Dixie! I wish this video was around when I first tried to somehow explain what my planned thru hike was all about when I wasn't even sure myself. For every question friends had I had a dozen more. But your very first video was my very first real inspiration for hiking the Appalachian Trial. The following season I was on the trail. Thank you for that first video, and thank you for your continued effort in helping so many of us to realize some of our own untapped potential.
I’m such a black sheep to my family/“trail support team”, so much so, that when I started my AT hike, about 1/5 way in, they blocked my number, put the house up for sale and took my dog with them with no forwarding address. Been 10 years and still no word. ….pick your Trail Support CAREFULLY. 🥴😉
Hey Dixie, I just wanted to say thank you for the inspiration to begin my thru hike on the AT on March 19th. Registered and ready to go. I'm still in need of a few things and wanted to ask if you or anyone that sees this comment can give some pointers on a sleep system for a bad back on a budget? I am 45 and I had broken my back in my T9,10,11 thoracic spine just below Mcaffee knob in VA back in 2004. I had lived in Lynchburg VA back then and broke my back sledding on ice and hitting a drainage pipe dead on and tail end first and my back just snapped. My chin hit my pelvic so hard that they both were badly bruised and bleeding. Anyway, I had gotten addicted to heroin and had walked away from that in September of '06. I'm a statistic. But I survived and the trail has been calling my name and I really want nothing more in this life than to find peace and gain some faith back in humanity. If it wasn't for God I would not be here. I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate you and how you keep accomplishing all of these highly challenging hikes! And that's no small thing. Also, if you know anyone that is heading out around March 19th '22 on the AT, please let them know that I am looking for someone to hike with. I'm an introvert, but I need to come out of my shell.. lol! Again thank you! My name is Donn BTW. Trail name is to be determined..lol that would actually be a good trail name.. determined! God bless and hope to cross paths one day Dixie!!!
I love this! Thank you for making this! I'm at least 5 years out from a long thru hike, but this is super helpful, and I love that you included tips for both the hikers AND the support crew/loved ones. Keep doing amazing things!❤
Please give a thumbs up if you like the video and help out Dixie.
Dixie, so well done! So comprehensive.
I am saving this video so that my family can watch it when the time comes for me to "wander off". This was super informative and honest advice!
For me it's mentally for sure. Back in the city I became more and more frustrated over the years by my commute. Going from my stone and concrete home, over the asphalt streets to work in a concrete building and doing that 5-6 days a week. :) Add to that all responsibilities you have, all the rules (I'm from the Netherlands so we have micro-managed rules for everything) and you get a bit longing for NOT having all that. And hiking works a treat I have to say. To me, that's actually a vacation, even when you go through very physical annoying things... yes please! Finally :)
Hello Dixie, thank you for sharing this timely video. You always have a wealth of practical information. The best to you for your good health and safety. 🤗
Your informational videos are a perfect example of giving back to the community. Thank you so much!
Great info! such a smart idea to snap the tag of a hitch ride vehicle..stay safe and don't let the zombies catch you..Cheers from Tn.
My family was pretty cool about my thru. Accept for my niece who at the time was 7 years old and was certain I was going to get eaten by a bear. Now shes 10 and wants me make another attempt so she can go with me!
Dixie thank you sooo much, I'm doing the AT this year and I can't wait to watch this with my mom and dad. I'm 35 but still lol :)
Didn't even consider that this topic is something hikers should think about. Thanks for reminding us to remember thru-hiking is hardly ever a solo journey!
Gonna show this to my mom the day I tell her about the hike (which will also be first day on the trail).
You just described military life in a nutshell. Boot camp, overseas deployment and combat areas as far as the mind goes except no visitation from family or families. Goood job
Semper Fi
Dixie, you are a blessing to the world!
One of your best and most useful videos!!! Our significant others will likely absorb this better coming from you than even from ourselves!?!? Especially, the sentiments about the 'need' to make this hike and the significance of this hike building w/in them for years. Well done! HYOH !
This is possibly the best video you've done. Thanks.
An especially nice one Miss Dixie. I just shared this with some hiking friends who got PCT permits for this year. They've backpacked before, but nothing longer than the JMT. I think the length of a thru-hike can freak out some people. I've been backpacking for years, and I'm "just" joining my friends between Tehachapi and Donner Pass, and even that has caused some questions. Someone asked "Is everything okay?". This video is a nice idea. Thanks.
Dixie...THANK YOU for this info! This is great and well said for us folks who really do need help with a thru hike...Support system is so important!
"They've been marinating on it for a long time".....yep, ever since I started watching your first video six years ago. I was 51 years old then but it's been on my bucket list ever since. My wife knows I want to do the AT and I've decided to do it in 2024 when I turn 60. Does she think I'm crazy? Probably. Will she support me? Hopefully. She supported me during my deployments to Iraq in 2006 and Afghanistan in 2010 so I think she'll be okay with this. She might not be exactly happy about it but knows that once I've got something I want to do, it's just a matter of time before I do it.
This is a much needed video! Thank you! I think folks that don’t hike wonder why we like to hike just to hike! Sometimes they’re clueless. You have been my inspiration for years Dixi!
This is awesome, thanks! The 1st video I showed the folks was Julia "Rocket" Sheehan's documentary on the AT so this is also going to be a great resource 😃
This video made me cry in a very happy way. Thank you for another wonderful vid!
Thank you Dixie! I wanted to start backpacking last year, but on my first outing to scout some car camping spots to test gear, I broke my foot! This put me on my butt and inside the house for 3 months. I gained weight, injuries suck! It healed weird with arthritis, and I thought I was going to have to have surgery till yesterday! I’m about to start PT, and hoping to at least car camp to test my gear very soon. I’ll be 59 in 2 months, and I would love to at least partially hike the AT next year when I turn 60! I have one big negative against me though, I’m have type 1 diabetes. I’m unsure about carrying all the needed supplies, and keeping insulin cold. Have you met any thru hikers that were type 1? I’m wondering what my chances are realistically. I would have to go slower than most to take care of my feet, can’t afford wounds on the feet as a diabetic. And also wondering if it’s scary in the woods if you find yourself alone for the night! Any input would be great!😊 BTW, you, Kelly Hays Hikes, and Sintax77, helped get me through the lonely days while I was stuck at home with my broken foot!
Hi Nancy, I car-camped 32 national parks out west in '18 after getting stoked by Dixie's videos. It is very doable. I watched a lot of videos on car camping. I bought a Kelty tent, bag, foldable camping table, and Coleman stove. Got my tires checked at Discount TIre/(Tire America out West) to get in their computer system for discounts, which I needed halfway thru my trip, bot Lumilights at Walmart and a small dashboard fan and extra shade visors for the front windshield while driving into the western sun. I had a wonderful time and got my mojo back. YOu can do it too. all the parks have loop roads with short or long hikes off them, so I was able to do short hikes my knees could handle. I met such nice people all over the country. I didn't know how big we are! I was 70 that year. I did tend to get tired easily, but just cooled my jets a bit and changed my plans to adjust. YOu can camp in your tent out of the car, or in the back of your car. I bot a 2015 Buick Encore second-hand just for the trip when my Toyota died. ENcore seats fold down flat in the back so it's easy to make a comfy bed if the weather does not cooperate. Try it! Take a few weekend trips first to break in your stuff and get the hang of it. If you go in summer, an extra-large black umbrella from Harris Teeter will be a good thing to have to shade you from the sun. 118 degrees in Death Valley was a killer without the umbrella. I got caught in heavy snow in Colorado and the umbrella saved me at Maroon Bells Wilderness. For being alone at night, you get used to it. The sounds, or the quiet are unnerving at first but you get used to that. A few weekends of practice before you start will really help you with that. Gel soles in your shoes. 1/2 size larger than usual. Good luck and have fun! PS: DOn't buy a 2015 Encore. THey smoke like a house on fire! oops!
So much great advice here, Dixie. Thanks for sharing the knowledge you’ve gained from your own first hand experience, it’s going to be really helpful when I go off on a multi-day hike later this year.
one day when i will do my thru-hikes, i will stay in touch with no one. that will be the best part of being out there.
Nicely done Dixie🌿As you approach in a few short years, the 10K+ that have taken decades to acquire, compiling these experiences in a single video is a feat in itself. Keep HYOH.🌀🌿✨
very good info Dixie for all hikers and non hikers fears. stay safe and warm.
Tips for the support system's point of view to help the hiker out, is a genuine idea. I get it, to help the hiker complete the trail.
Yes to the Garmin. I do lots of long trips in my van by myself. The preset message saying I'm safe for the night and sends my GPS location to my loved ones goes a long way to keep everyone happy. My Inreach mini is $12.00 each month for the basic plan with additional cost if you text beyond the preset message. Thanks for your video.
Thanks Dixie. Really informative. I'm in the early stages of planning for the Camino. We don't have really long trails here in the UK, but am planning on doing our Coast to Coast, to get some much needed experience before heading off to France and Spain..
Haven’t watched one of ur videos In a while. Doesn’t come up on my feed. Weird. Glad to watch it
One trick I used to keep in touch with my family was to use Facebook as a journal. Throughout the day when I took pictures I would post them to Facebook along with a note on where they were taken at. And When I got to camp at night I would post where I was and recap the days events. Even if I didn’t have enough service for it to post that night, when I got somewhere that did have service the post would go through. The same thing with messages and Facebook messenger.
Thank you for this! I'm planning on hiking the trail next year April.
Woooohooo! That’s awesome
You are such an inspiration and I have been folowing you on your channel for some years now. I are so authentic and not over acting like many youtubers. Love your hikes and videos. / Johan, Stockholm, Sweden.
Thank You Dixie. Now I know what im getting for my wife's up coming birthday. Planning a thru hike of the Ohio and Erie Towpath. She got me the companion guide to the trail. I'm gonna get one for her. TYIA...
Love how you say hikers..
Great video dixie the information in your videos is always spot on.
Dixie: From the few through hikers I spoke to and from my own limited hiking experience I think the reason many do this is the sense of true freedom not the make-believe freedom in the social word. This feeling of true freedom and self reliance is addictive in a good way.
This was an awesome video and a subject I wouldn't have thought about! Hopeful Class of 2024 here, and I'll make sure to loop my people in better than I had planned, so thank you!
Dixie, this was a great idea for a video topic. And it was well done too. Great job!
Dixie, Thank you for ALL the things that you do! This video is just one more example of the plethora of types of information you provide for us! Your information is always very thorough! ❤️
Thank you very much for this video Dixie. I have been suffering with an illness for a long time. I really would like to do some thing to restore my faith in myself. My self-confidence. This is a big help. God bless you and your family.✝️
Well said...you have been out doing a while now: Well qualified. "Encourage them". Yeah that Sierra area has little cell reception: Neat alternate electronics. Late summer in Yosemite, the High Area (Muir Trail Check) had ceased postal operations, transferring things (hiker's food & supp) elsewhere, creating much chaos with a few hikers. One almost went postal as he struggled to find out what happened to his expected supplies & where he had to go. I think he had to ho to Lower Yos Valley or maybe even catch the Yart Bus to Monmouth, but it was the last day for the bus to run...I would be postal too.
Hello 👋 Dixie, sincere thanks for sharing this most informative video. I've shared your channel with several friends. Most of them have said a big 'thank you'. Continued sincere wishes for your good health and safety. I always look forward to your next exciting video. 🤗
Another absolute gem. Thank you for all the work you put into these videos. They have helped me a lot.
Awesome video Dixie....you bring so much to the community,....hope to meet you on trail some day...and you mom is absolutely wonderful to be so involved and supportive... she's ba treasure...happy trails.
Again, a video reminder on what an amazing hiker you are.
Dixie,
You warm my heart with your advise. Thanks for being you. I hiked the grand Grand Canyon rim to rim with confidence based on the info you shared in all your videos. You have inspired me to take adventures. Thank you so much!
Great video Dixie. I truly appreciate you sharing this highly informative footage. As a newbie to trail hiking, this, by far, has been the most helpful with all the great advice & guidance provided.
im planning my first 2-week long hike and im definitely taking pointers here. thanks!
I love all your videos...... this one is definitely one of your best, thanks Jess
Thanks so much for this video! I got my PCT permit for April 2022 and many of my friends and family think I'm heading out on a death march ; ). I will definitely be sharing your video.
Really appreciate the shoutout for My wife Rigga’s Mom Cathy.
She was amazing! Such a joy ♥️
Dixie, I liked your video so much I shared it on my Facebook page. Just so my love one's may stop calling my hikes ""Big Johns suicide march" (lol). Sending a whole lot of love your way for sending a Christmas card with the I poop in the woods tank top I ordered for my granddaughter. She loved it! The card made me feel special and I will keep it always. Capt. America
Awww, thank you so much! Happy New Year and Happy Trails :)
I hardly ever comment on RUclips videos but this was stellar. You nailed it. Excellent points all around, very thoughtful and well presented. Thank you!
This is a great inspirational video for life.
Great advice. I made sure my Wife (POC) watched it with me in preparation for my next long distance hike. Keep up the very informative work you do!
This was a very informative video. I feel encouraged to go out hiking
This was such a good video. I’m planning a 220 mile section hike on the AT in May. So many good tips for communicating with my kids and my mom. Thank you 😊
Thank you, Dixie. This is truly a help. I will take a whole lot of this advice. Kentucky
Wow, my wife loved this - thanks!
Thank you for putting this together! Hope to meet you soon on an adventure
Great idea!
Thank you so much!! Worried about my daughter who will be starting and I believe and hope finishing the PCT this year.
thanks a million dixie
Thanks for the video
Thx Dixie. Your video helped me to understand what my son will be going through. Bless u stay safe.
You are such an inspiration Dixie! Thanks to you I want to hike the AT, and I live in Sweden, is 42 yo and overweight.
Getting out on trail is a "sanity pause" from the real world. Good Luck, Rick
Great video - I’ve shared it with my friends & family to watch in advance of my AT thru hike this year! Thanks!