This is a part of this blog I wanted to have done a long time ago but other things just kept having higher priority. As a result, I don't even have time to edit the things I wrote, let alone complete the portions I never started. So this is still very raw. But there is some good information in here and I am hoping some people find it useful.

There are a lot of things a hiker can do to make things more comfortable when hiking distances they may have never hiked before. The tips listed below can make all the difference in the world. They can be the difference between hiking a long ways in agony or doing the exact same hike in a way that doesn't feel much worse than your average hike. We first noticed people doing this type of hiking in Montana. Loop trails that we thought needed to be done backpacking three days were being done in a single day. We are talking about 20 to 30 miles per day in somewhat rugged terrain and over two or three tall passes. While it is true that people backpacking the Pacific Crest Trail get to the point of hiking this distance over the course of a month or so, your average day hiker cannot because they are not hiking every single day with nothing else to do. So how do these day hikers turn in mileages like this? Some of it is conditioning. They hike a lot and some also cross train in a very specific way. But conditioning alone usually isn't enough. That's where strategies like we have listed below come in. You don't need to do all of them because almost every strategy listed will produce noticeable improvement in your hiking. But it is also true that the more of these strategies you master, the more you will surprise yourself by what you are able to do. Still, you can't get there all at once because these techniques need to become second nature to you to have their maximum effect. So work on a few at a time and add in more only when you are certain that the techniques already learned are pretty much in place for good.

We can't even begin to tell you how amazing it is to be able to cover this amount of ground on a day hike and the be able to go out the next day and do another amazing hike. As you'll see, you are absolutely not rushing when you hike this way. If anything, you are more relaxed, comfortable, and observant. You will be able to enjoy the whole hiking experience even more than you always do while not paying a heavy price. For many, distance hiking changes everything and raises their passion to whole new level.

All information copyright (c) Bill Smith 2013

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Match your gear to your hike

There are quite a few hikers who believe that it is best to always carry pretty much the same thing when they are hiking.  By doing so, they are always prepared, able to predict with great accuracy how far they can comfortably hike, and they can easily see the improvements they are making as they hike more and more.  There really is something to be said in favor of this type of hiking, but it is no way to hike if you are trying for longer distances.  

By contrast, the distance hiker changes things almost every time they hike to take advantages of such things as weather, trail conditions, water availability, and so on.  The SMB event is a great example.  No need to carry a lot of water because bottled water is only a mile
or so away at any given point.  Then, even if the weather isn't so great, and constantly changing, you can still take advantage of the fact that your car is nearby and there are a lot of other hikers on the trail who will lend you a hand if you get into trouble.  When you think about it, the trails that the SMB follow are almost perfect for distance hiking.  There is even a nice bathroom pretty close by for when that need arises.

This one tip is one of a few that you will be paying attention to for a long time if you start enjoying hiking the longer distances.  If you usually hike in boots, as long as you have no medical reason not to, you may find that trail running shoes are much better on most trails.  They are much lighter than boots and they grip even better.  You may still need boots on some trails, but not many.  The difference between trail running shoes and boots is something you will notice in a big way in the first mile of your hike and then every mile after that.  Many of these shoes come in both waterproof and non-waterproof versions.  You might want to have both on hand.  On days when water is not an issue, the non-waterproof shoe will be lighter, will breath better, and will be more comfortable overall.  What about socks?  Did you know that some companies make socks that are designed for right and left feet?  They are amazing compared to normal socks and, because foot comfort is such a big issue when hiking, they can make a huge difference as well.

Here's the deal.  Figuring out when to wear what pants, what shorts, what bra, etc., is really not an easy thing to do.  Definitely don't go the route of just doing whatever people seem to think is best.  This is a very individual thing.  For example, there are many people who will tell you the Keen footwear is amazing, and it is.  But there are also a lot of people who have tried Keen products and absolutely hate them.  Why?  Well, it has nothing to do with the style of shoe or boot they bought.  Keen goes to great lengths to make sure that once you find the size that works for you, pretty much everything they have in that size will fit the same way.  Other companies like Merrel do the same thing.  It always comes down to what works for you.  That is why it is often best to buy gear from a company that has a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee like REI and Altrec.  It may sometimes cost a bit more at these stores, but you save money in the long run because of the guarantee.  But higher cost isn't even a factor when it comes to quality gear.  One of the lowest priced outdoor stores in the world, Sierra Trading Post, has a guarantee that is equally as good.

As you pay more and more attention to the gear you have and use on a given day, you will notice a huge difference in your hiking.  This topic could easily take up an entire book or, at least, a chapter in a book.  I'll see if I can find some more info on the web and post the links here as I find them.


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