Lessons Learned

Don’t try anything new on a long hike. Use only tried and true equipment, clothing on a long hike.

Fix issues immediately when they arise. This one we learned in WFA and quote it to each other all the time. When you have an issue fix it immediately. Don’t wait for the next break or camp to fix any issue no matter how good you feel. Small irritations turn into big issues quickly on the trail. Change your socks, adjust your boots, adjust your pack, eat and drink.

You need more food than you think. You’ll expend alot of energy on a thru hike. Food is what will keep you moving forward. Not enough and your energy will sag and it stops being fun. Don’t skip meals, snack throughout the day. Bring enough food.

Consider the weight you are carrying. We did a good job at keeping the weight in our packs down. Mine at 32 and Joe’s at 42 were reasonable for backpacking. But you can’t go as fast or as far carrying that kind of weight. Next time we will plan for 12 miles a day when backpacking. 18 miles a day backpacking is not doable for me.

Drink water, lots of it. Don’t skimp on water. Drink every time you stop even if you aren’t thirsty. Filter water whenever you are down to half left.

Plan for reasonable miles. Its not just the weight of the pack and the food you are eating you need to consider when evaluating how many miles a day you can do. You will have chores to take care of. Find water, filter water, setup camp, cook food, clean up, handle your overnight food storage, empty virtually all your possessions from your pack, take down camp, re-pack your pack, tend to any problems or cleaning or drying of gear and clothing, rest. This stuff all takes time and are things you don’t have to deal with on a day hike.