#lifeonthetrail

[panchoandleftyshop]

Juniper Ridge scented candles just arrived! #panchoandlefty #juniperridge #lifeonthetrail #scentedcandles #cascadeforest #redwoodmist #coastalpine #indigofera #candles https://www.instagram.com/p/CQutwwgrHQg/?utm_medium=tumblr

[orbiplex]

The trail starts here, but the journey started a long time ago. Sometimes we waste our energy and efforts in changing what cannot be changed; it's better to embrace what we have, enjoy it, and let go of the negative. . [🌱] [][][] [][][][] [][][][][] #bezen #believeinyourself #beyourself #letgo #letgodbewithtyou #lozen #worrynot #embracethejourney #lifeisgood #lifeonthetrail #whidbey #whidbey (at Deception Pass West Beach) https://www.instagram.com/p/COMby2_lth7/?igshid=jajsox0323kr

[wandererynn-blog]

The Appalachian Trail: A Thru-Hiker’s Endeavor

Per your request, I introduce to you some of the basics of hitting the Appalachian Trail!

The Miles: The A.T. is currently 2,189 miles long. The miles change as the trail gets re-routed due to trail maintenance for various reasons (e.g. weather). In 2001, the trail’s distance was 21 miles shorter (2,168.1). 

The States: The A.T. runs through 14 states, starting in Springer Mountain, Georgia and traveling through North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and ending in Baxter State Park in Maine - a mountain known as “Katahdin.” 

Passing through these states, a hiker will hit major intersections from U.S. Route 25/U.S. Route 70 in Hot Springs, North Carolina, Interstate 81 near Roanoke, Virginia, Interstate 76 in Middlesex Township, Pennsylvania, U.S. Route 302 in White Mountain National Forest, to U.S. Route 201 in Caratunk, Maine. The A.T. passes through 6 National Parks and 8 National Forests. A thru-hiker will need to obtain a permit when passing through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and must be purchased in advanced. 

The Timing: Hiking the A.T. usually takes between 5-7 months. This average takes into account factors such as possible weather delays and the number of zero days a hiker takes. A “zero” day is a day in which a hiker does not hike. It is important to remember that thru-hiking the A.T. is not a “job” in which you must attend from 9am-5pm every day. It is important a hiker enjoys his or her journey. While, hikers may have a schedule they are trying to keep - it is entirely up to them how they choose to hike the trail, and often, things will not go according to plan. Just remember- if hiking NOBO (north bound), Katahdin closes on October 15th, so you must reach it’s summit by then. 

The Casualties: Casualties do not mean death, but references the drop out rate for those attempting to thru-hike the A.T. Drop outs are due to various reasons such as injury (e.g. sprained ankle, etc). Though the A.T. is the most completed thru-hike, it’s completion rate by those who started in 2016 was only 20%. That same year, 3,337 hikers started the trail NOBO and only 685 individuals reached Katahdin. In total, only 1,110 hikers were recorded as 2,000 milers of the Appalachian Trail. Only about 1 in 4 will finish. 

The Resupply: There are plenty of resupply stops along the trail. Typically, a hiker will carry 3-4 days worth of food before stopping in a town to resupply at a convenience store or outfitter, or pick up a delivered resupply box sent from home. The exception is when a hiker enters the 100 Mile Wilderness in Maine before reaching Katahdin, though there is an opportunity to arrange a food drop - it can be expensive. Here will be a thru-hikers longest stretch without the constant reassurance that there is a town approaching. This means at least 10 days worth of food before entering. The Hundred Mile Wilderness is a difficult and strenuous endeavor, but is a buck hike for most! This portion of the hike requires preparation, which is why many thru-hikers choose to hike NOBO to tackle this portion after they have developed their trail feet. The Hundred Mile Wilderness is a remote and often unforgiving section of the A.T. 

Well, there it is! A quick run down of the basics! I will likely explore more of these topics at length in my future posts! I’d love hearing readers suggestions for what they’d like to see here - so please send any requests my way!

Happy Hiking!

[rayuhikeprep]

Winterhike V Rayu -aka the black ninja- maakte in de laatste week van 2020 nog een winterhike met winterkamperen. In net geen 100 km struinde ze 5 dagen van Zutphen naar Doetinchem. Geen route, geen plan, geen gps-tracks, geen routepaaltjes: freestyle. Een korte blik op de kaart werpen de avond ervoor en op de dag zelf steeds het mooiste paadje kiezen. Dat werkt verrassend goed, hoewel er ook lelijke stukken bij zaten die niet hadden gehoeven. Het mooie aan geen concreet doel of pad hebben, is dat het hiken zelf louter nog als doel dient. Nog méér dan anders. Ook ben je minder aan het focussen op paaltjes, markeringen, of een beeldscherm, maar op hoe de natuur zich voor je ontvouwt en waar de mooiste paadjes zullen zijn. Kamperen in de winter heeft altijd iets bijzonders. En de zwaarte zit 'm zelden in de kou, maar veel vaker in vocht en de wind. Zelf vind ik de 'waterkou' zoals de afgelopen week één van de zwaardere, veel zwaarder dan lage maar droge temperaturen. Enkele dagen achtereen 24 uur per dag buiten zijn, zonder vuur of binnenruimte -op je tent na-, is tegelijkertijd pittig en verrassend goed te doen......als je maar goed voorbereid bent. Volg je daarom Rayu ook in 2021? #winterhike #winterkamperen #hikeprep #rayu #voettochtvoorbereiding #trektocht #hiking #hike #winter #goedvoorbereidoppad #hikenbeginthier #koud #hikinggirl #beprepared #prep #freestyle #wandelen #trekking #kamperen #blackninja #hikeninja #lifeonthetrail #homeiswherethetentis https://www.instagram.com/p/CJcK16qjvYo/?igshid=k7ykiw39j161

[juniperridge-blog]

Hello #mthood, I believe we have a date- you're looking so beautiful all dressed up in your summer daisies and lupines, and god knows you still make me swoon after all these years #crush #lifeonthetrail

[kindredones]

Missing this about now. #adventure #campvibes #polerstuff #glaciernational #nature #lifeonthetrail

[redcrowgoods]

[panchoandleftyshop]

Juniper Ridge, Essential Oils, Online Now! #panchoandlefty #juniperridge #lifeonthetrail #mountainsinabottle #whitesage #redwood #essentialoils

[juniperridge-blog]

Oh gawwwd it's pretty up here, sweet swimming around every corner #mokulmnewilderness #sierragranite #lifeonthetrail

[juniperridge-blog]

The way home #natureisnotaplacetovisititishome #lifeonthetrail

[panchoandleftyshop]

Juniper Ridge / Buddy Lee. #panchoandlefty #juniperridge #mountainsinabottle #lifeonthetrail #buddylee #bigsur #mojave #whitesage

[juniperridge-blog]

Wildflower bloom still going off in the Sierra Nevada. #lifeonthetrail #mountainsinabottle #nofakefragrance