Em on Hiking

Gear List for Backpacking in the Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Em Stecker) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:36:00 +0000

As a public service to those who are relatively new to hiking, I have just published a free e-book in which I describe the gear I use for backpacking in the summer. The title is An Annotated Gear List for Backpacking.

I have an interesting mix of feelings in making this list available to the public. On the one hand, I am proud of the knowledge and experience that went into the honing of my gear list over time. And, as a teacher, I want to share it with those looking for the information. On the other hand, the contents in a person's pack are, well, personal.

So, why publish it? Because I empathize with new hikers trying to get over the gear hurdle so they can experience the joy and freedom of backpacking. Hiking is such an individual sport that there isn't one best way to do things and there isn't one best collection of gear to carry. So, how do you decide what is best for you?

You can search the internet and find a number of backpacking gear lists. But, most are generic, so you still have to figure out how to customize the list to you, to the trail you are hiking, and to the season when you are going.

You can search the printed literature, and find many books and magazines that will teach you about all the possible gear choices. But that can be overwhelming and still leaves the new hiker figuring out which choice is best for them and their hike.

I publish my list as a complement to these other sources. You can see how mine diverges from the generic lists, where I make choices specific to me and to hiking in the summer at lower elevations. And, you can see which of the range of gear possibilities I have chosen, and why. (If I don't give enough of the "why" for your needs, just ask me, either by leaving a comment on this blog post, or by sending email.)

Of course, my list represents just one person's choices. I think it would be really useful if there were a repository where experienced hikers could post their lists and new hikers could browse or search across lists. Maybe this exists somewhere and I just haven't found it; if you know of such a place, please let me know!

You can get a copy of my e-book by joining the mailing list at the Peace Journeys website.

Happy trails!

And They're Off! (NOBOs, That Is)

noreply@blogger.com (Em Stecker) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:41:00 +0000

As April comes to a close today, the majority of this year's "class" of northbound Appalachian Trail thru-hikers (a.k.a. "NOBOs") are on trail.

Some started in February (a few even earlier) and some will start in May, but the majority of NOBOs have touched the plaque on Springer Mountain and are en route to Katahdin.

Their journeys will last 4-7 months, depending on many factors. And that's presuming they go all the way to Katahdin, almost 2200 miles north. For many, the journey ends somewhere south of there, for any of a number of reasons.

Today, there are NOBO thru-hikers on trail from Georgia into Virginia, with a few even farther north. A section of trail that is hosting a passel of thru-hikers is said to be experiencing "thru-hiker season," a boon to businesses in small towns near the trail.

Hikers take on "trail names" as an easy way to refer to each other. This year, some of the names are: Catching Dreams, Denver Dave, Flatlander, Green T, Groove, Ketchup, N Da Wind, Phoenix Rising, Ramble~On, Yard Sale, and my favorite name so far: The Dread Pirate Ishmael Buttercup Thyme; Child of Fortune. (Surely, his trail name must have a nickname!)

Lots of hikers post journal entries at TrailJournals.com, which can be a fun diversion and quite the time sink for those of us who wish we were on trail. Trail Journals is also a way for hikers to keep up with each other while on trail--jump on a computer in town and check "TJ" to see where your trail friends are and to leave a note for them.

For folks at home, living in "street life," it seems strange, crazy, or at least abnormal for someone to spend weeks and months on trail. But for a hiker, it doesn't take long for trail life to feel totally normal--like that's what a person is supposed to be doing, and it's the people in street life who are living an illusion.

My, I can really get to missing it all!

I wish all of the '09 hikers well, thru-hikers and section-hikers and weekenders, on the A.T. and other trails. I sum up this wish in three words, the ones I use to close my trail register entries...

Happy trails, y'all!

Key Hiking Principle #3: HAVE FUN!

noreply@blogger.com (Em Stecker) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:54:00 +0000

This is the third of three key principles I share when I teach backpacking. Like some of the ideas in key principles #1 and #2, it seems perhaps a no-brainer, but let's not give it short shrift. After all, I have met plenty of people who, on learning that I enjoy backpacking, have said, "For Heaven's sake, why?!?"

For me, "Have Fun!" is shorthand for "Whatever your reasons for backpacking, get the most out of it." I doubt there are as many reasons to hike as there are hikers, but there surely are a breadth of reasons.

Enjoyment. It's fun to pop out of the trees and onto a rock outcropping with a 180-degree view. It's fun to see wildlife in their own habitats. It's fun to laugh with friends over oatmeal laced with Ghirardelli chocolate bits.

Bonding. Spending time with family or friends where there is no interference... Ahhhh!

Exercise. Nothing like carrying 30 pounds up a steep trail to get the heart pumping!

Gratitude. When life is simple, it's easier to notice and appreciate the little things: a cool breeze, a flat-on-your-back rest, the amazing colors in nature, or the kindness of another person.

Self-Reliance. There is something sublimely powerful about carrying your house on your back. Sure, your pack is full of items purchased via modern convenience, but carrying all you need for several days gives a sense of self-reliance that is rare in today's society.

Going Places No Vehicle Has Gone Before. Hiking gives you access to places that are not reachable by vehicle (save, maybe, being lowered from a helicopter). In a society where most people stay close to their cars, it's empowering to reach a remote places on foot. Even better if it's a landmark you can see from a distance and know, "I walked there!"

Disconnecting. It's hard to be disconnected in a society where everyone has a phone in her pocket. Many hikers bring phones into the woods, too. But at least for now, battery life limits the time a phone can be turned on, and you can't be sure you'll get a signal where you're going. So you can honestly tell the folks at work and home that you will be unavailable and unreachable, and you can choose to leave that phone at home or turned off.

Spiritual Renewal. Being immersed in nature. Walking for hours. Sitting in silence before a beautiful view. Going to bed at 9pm. All of these are rare in daily life, and all are opportunities to rest the mind from daily worries, to instead hear the voice of whatever is important within your spiritual belief system.

These are some of the ways people "have fun" while backpacking. If you're a hiker and have other reasons, please post a comment and share them.

Going hiking? #1 Stay safe. #2 Hike your own hike. And, #3 Have fun!

Key Hiking Principle #2: Hike Your Own Hike

noreply@blogger.com (Em Stecker) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:05:00 +0000

Hiking is an individual sport. You get to make your own decisions and you get to live with the consequences. This is just one way in which hiking is a metaphor for life: there's no right way to hike any more than there is a right way to live.

The wide open, make-your-own-decisions nature of hiking can be overwhelming for someone new to the sport. Without experience, how does someone make a choice that will have desirable consequences for them? That's why, when I'm teaching backpacking, I give specific instructions and provide a specific list of required gear items. (I also tell them that all can change as they gain experience.)

Gear is the most obvious area for self-determination. Lots of choices to be made! Do you want to sleep in a tent, under a tarp, or in a hammock? Do you want to cook over a stove fueled by white gas, alcohol, propane, solid chemical, or wood? Do you want to treat your water by using a filter, iodine, chlorine, or ultraviolet light?

That's just the start in the "what should I carry" category. There's also what kind of backpack, clothing, sleeping gear, eating and drinking vessels, various tools, and toys. ("Toys" is anything optional, like a camera, cellphone, journal, book, music, hacky sack, playing cards, GPS, etc.)

Related to "what should I carry" is "how much weight should I carry?" In the last 10-15 years, a lot of attention has been given to this question. Before high-tech lightweight materials were available and inexpensive enough for the average hiker, you carried whatever weight was necessary to be equipped. Now, there is titanium, silicone-impregnated nylon, LED lights, and plastics in every weight, shape, and size.

So, part of the question becomes "how much money am I willing to spend to reduce the burden on my body?" But there's another aspect, too. People are changing their ideas about what is essential. Some people hike without a map and compass (two of the Ten Essentials). Some hike without boots; wearing trail runners, sandals, or even Crocs. Some hike without underwear. The list goes on. Essentially, the simpler one wishes to live, the less one needs to carry.

There are other decisions areas, too. Such as
* where do I want to hike?
* what type of campsite do I want?
* how many people do I want to see?
* in what size a group do I want to hike?
* how far do I want to hike in a day?
* in what season do I want to hike?
* do I prefer to take a long lunch break, or several short snack breaks?
* do I want to use one hiking stick, two trekking poles, or none?
* when it rains while I'm hiking, do I put on rain gear?
* when there is lightning, do I stop or keep moving?
* what are my values and behaviors related to impact on the earth and others? E.g., how closely do I wish to follow Leave No Trace principles?
* what actions will I take, or avoid, to keep myself healthy and safe? (see Key Principle #1)

As individual a sport as hiking is, we hikers sometimes find ourselves in passionate disagreements about one choice or another. Gear gets us excited--after all, we've made careful decisions about what we have in our packs. And actions having impact on the earth and others can get us riled up--that's because these decisions reflect our core values, our beliefs about what's fundamentally right and wrong.

To reduce or end these disagreements, we have a saying: "Hike Your Own Hike." Ideally, it means, "I know that my choice is the best one for me, and I respect that your choice is the best one for you." (Sometimes, I think there's an implied, "even if you just don't know any better" in there.)

Hiking is an individual sport. You make your choices and you live with the consequences. And, you hope that any undesirable consequence is minimal and affects only you.

Hike your own hike! And, happy trails!

Key Hiking Principle #1: Health and Safety

noreply@blogger.com (Em Stecker) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:50:00 +0000

When I'm teaching backpacking, I like to share three key principles. In this post, I will speak to one of these: health and safety.

Everyone wants to stay healthy and safe, both on trail and in street life. When hiking, the risk of illness or injury is elevated as we:

increase our body weight by 20% or more
move over uneven terrain, often including steep grades
have greater exposure to the weather
rely on natural water sources
spend time in an environment with potentially dangerous plants, animals, insects, and reptiles.

Furthermore, we put ourselves in locations that may require significant time between the onset of illness or injury and receiving definitive medical care.

To hike without attention to the elevated risk of injury and illness is irresponsible, in my opinion. What can we do to mitigate the risks? Preparation ahead of time, and conscious attention during the hike.

Preparation includes making care-full choices--such as about gear, clothing, food, and the trip's itinerary. It also includes education--such as about wilderness first aid, basic survival, and what to do in various weather conditions.

While hiking, it is the responsibility of each hiker to pay attention to her body to ensure that she stays well-hydrated and well-fueled, maintains a relatively constant body temperature, and is not receiving injuries such as sunburn and blisters. Care should also be taken when walking (especially off-trail where rocks and sticks hide under leaves and duff) and when putting her pack or other gear on the ground, avoiding such things as poison ivy and bees' nests.

Maintaining good hygiene practices is also an individual responsibility. "Washing" hands after going to the bathroom and before eating is perhaps a no-brainer, but I have met hikers who don't do this. On trail, we don't have as much access to soap and water, but alcohol gel (a.k.a. "hand sanitizer") is easy to carry.

A corollary to staying clean is to be care-full when sharing food. Never eat food that someone else has touched; likewise, don't offer to share food you have touched. Another no-brainer? Not! I often see hikers reach into each others' bags of trail mix, nuts, chips, etc. Get into the habit of pouring from a snack bag rather than reaching into it. (People are bad about this in street life, too, but at least our hands have a better chance of being clean when sinks and showers are available.)

Staying healthy and safe in an environment of elevated risk requires conscious attention. But it's worth the effort, as it's much easier to have fun when you're feeling well!

Permethrin to Repel Ticks

noreply@blogger.com (Em Stecker) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:40:00 +0000

Ticks, especially deer ticks, are well-known pests on trail. In reading hikers' stories, it seems to me that the number of long-distance A.T. hikers getting lyme disease is only increasing.

Doing a tick check every day is essential, but far from foolproof. Deer ticks are the size of a pinhead, easily hidden and overlooked during a tick check.

I strongly recommend that hikers use permethrin to protect themselves from ticks.

I treat my hiking clothes with permethrin before I start hiking and then about once a month while I'm on trail. On each item, I treat only the entry points:

tops of socks
top and bottom edges of gaiters
hems and waists of pants and shorts
hems, sleeve cuffs, and collars of shirts
leg openings and waist opening of underwear
headbands and hat brims

In the interest of full disclosure, I will share that when I attended a talk by a former thru-hiker, I made this recommendation to the others in the audience. The speaker strongly disagreed with my recommendation. He didn't believe that treating clothes is effective and urged the audience instead to treat their skin directly with a 100% DEET insect repellent.

I can't speak to the effectiveness of permethrin except to say that in my 3500 miles of A.T. hiking, I have found only a few ticks on me, none imbedded. If there were others, I didn't find them. And I have not been stricken with Lyme. This doesn't prove efficacy; maybe I just naturally repel ticks, or maybe I have just been lucky.

(Note: For about 100 of these miles, I also used low-level DEET repellant; otherwise permethrin has been my only repellant.)

Another anecdote to support the effectivenss of permethrin... One day a tick happened across my path while I was treating clothes. I set the tick on my treated sock, and it acted like a cat in the snow, lifting each leg high off the fabric as it sought escape. That still doesn't prove anything, especially since the sock was still wet. (I haven't run the experiment on a treated item after it has dried.)

Regardless of whether a hiker uses DEET or other insect repellant, treating clothes with permethrin surely can't hurt. And it surely might help.

A Thank You to Jasmine

noreply@blogger.com (Em Stecker) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:09:00 +0000

While hiking solo on the A.T. in November 2007, I caught my toe on a rock and did a serious faceplant into a collection of Pennsylvania rocks. As I was mid-stride at the time, my hands were tied to my trekking poles, so I landed on my side, making contact with my shoulder and my head. Did I mention the rock garden? Yeah, so my head smacked one of those rocks as I landed.

My first thought was "Oh, that was not good!" As I eased myself and my pack back into vertical orientation, my next thought was, "Angels, I need help...now!"

Solo long-distance hiking has given me an opportunity to deepen my faith, both my faith in other people on the planet and my faith in the spiritual realm. By the time of this faceplant, I was practiced at calling on angels when I needed assistance, especially my guardian angels and Archangel Michael. Practiced, because every time I called on them, they were there. This time was no different.

Not 30 seconds had passed after my request for help, when I looked up to see a woman hiking down the trail towards me. This might not have been unusual in the middle of summer, but in November there were very few other hikers on the trail.

Her name was Jasmine. Or at least that's what I remember; honestly, I'm not sure. I asked her for help and she agreed to walk with me the 1.5 miles to the next road crossing, at Little Gap. For the 45 minutes it took us to get to the road, she kept asking me questions, which not only distracted me from my injury but also allowed her to continuously assess my level of consciousness. I knew that's what she was doing, and I was grateful.

Jasmine waited with me at the road until I reached someone who would pick me up and take me to a place to stay for a couple of nights (where I iced a goose egg and endured a headache but otherwise was okay). Then she continued her own solo journey.

She was out for a four-day spiritual retreat of her own. As the ridge was blanketed with 6-10 inches of snow over the next couple of days, I thought of her often, wishing her the love and light she so generously gave me for that one hour on a Friday afternoon in November.

Jasmine, if that's your name and if by chance you ever read this, know that I will always be grateful to the angels who lead you across my path and to you for stopping and helping me. I wish I had thought to ask for your name and contact information before you hiked away; I would rather have written this note to you directly. Nonetheless, thank you. May your kindness return to you nine-fold.

Trail Dames Go Hiking

noreply@blogger.com (Em Stecker) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:37:00 +0000

When I lived in Durham NC, my hiking buddies and I frequently hiked one of the two 6-mile loops at Umstead State Park, or the 3-mile loop around Lake Johnson. Walking amongst trees, with dirt and rock underfoot, feeds my soul at levels that defy verbiage.

Now that I live in Atlanta, I have yet to find places I want to go hiking. I live in the shadow of Stone Mountain, and have enjoyed the 2-mile roundtrip to the top a few times. And the local park's 1-mile paved loop is fun. But I'm wanting more.

I ran across an Atlanta hiking group on Meet Up--The Atlanta Wilderness Backpackers (http://backpackers.meetup.com/126/). They seem to be active, with frequent overnight trips. But in reading postings that indicate that they like to hike 10 miles a day, I know the group is too young or too fit for my needs. That's not to say that they wouldn't welcome my joining and offering to lead more modest trips, but I'm not ready to get that involved at this point.

While on that site though, I saw a "related link" to the Meet Up group for Trail Dames (http://www.meetup.com/traildames/), which describes itself as a "hiking club for women of a curvy nature." Now, that's more what I'm looking for! Yes, I'm getting curvier, now 12 pounds heavier than when I finished hiking in June. But that's not the primary draw. What I'm excited about is their hiking for the simple joy of hiking. All the photos show women smiling, having fun. That's what it's all about!

So, I've now joined Trail Dames, and am looking forward to an outing with them. Very fun!

Teaching Hiking

noreply@blogger.com (Em Stecker) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:05:00 +0000

For the past 8 years, I have called myself a "hiker," and now that I have 3500+ A.T. miles on hipbelt, I know I have gained hiking expertise enough to share.

For all of my lifetime, I have called myself a "teacher." The teaching roles have looked different at different times, but in general I'm happiest when I'm facilitating someone else's learning or growth process.

Since 2000, I have been blessed to be both "hiker" and "teacher" simultaneously, as I've had the opportunity to teach hiking with teenage Girl Scouts. What an honor and privilege! And so much fun!

Now that I have moved 300 miles away from that Girl Scout program, I am looking for new opportunities to teach hiking. One possibility is to work with the Girl Scouts and their leaders here in Atlanta. Another possibility is to join the staff of organizations that lead people on trips. Or, maybe I'll start my own such organization. I'm not sure yet, but teaching hiking is definitely a passion, so I'll find something...

I'm open to suggestions!

Back to Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Em Stecker) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:21:00 +0000

My last post was in the middle of summer, and here it is almost winter. Since then I've done almost no hiking, a little bit of teaching hiking, and a lot of introspection. Before it becomes en vogue to make resolutions, I'm making one to keep my blogs more current... Stay tuned to see how well I do with that!

Photos at My End Points

noreply@blogger.com (Em Stecker) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:36:00 +0000

It's traditional for A.T. 2000-milers to send their "finish" photos to all those who supported them during their hike. If you happen to be in a trail town along the A.T., stop in at a motel, hostel, outfitter, or restaurant and look for a bulletin board with lots of these photos posted. Most show someone at the sign on Mt. Katahdin, as most 2000-milers finish at Katahdin. As my hike was in 5 sections (counting the final 3.8-mile section), I have five finishes, though two were at essentially the same place.

On 03 June 2007, I finished the section from Damascus, VA to Springer Mtn, GA:

On 20 Sep 2007, I finished the section from Killington, VT to Mt. Katahdin, ME:

I finished in the Port Clinton area twice. I hiked south from Killington, VT, and got to Port Clinton, PA on 28Nov07. An impending winter storm encouraged me to get a ride south 50 miles to Duncannon, PA and hike the section northbound back to Port Clinton. (It would put me in a better place to sit out the storm, if necessary.) I hiked one day northbound, but on the second day, the wind chill was too cold. So, on 01Dec07, I got off-trail at a remote road crossing between Duncannon and Port Clinton. As I sat out the storm, I decided to stop hiking until spring, as the constant eye on the weather was not how I wanted to spend my hike. I don't have a photo of that unexpected finish.

This spring I set out northbound from Damascus, VA. Two days shy of Duncannon, I was hit with food poisoning, which made me very tired and unable to eat much. But I had less than 100 miles to go, and about a week to do it. So, I rented a car and "slackpacked" the rest of my hike. That means I carried just a daypack during the day, and slept indoors at night. Each day I parked the car at the end of the day's hike and got a ride back to the start of the day's hike. I skipped the day-and-a-half section I'd hiked out of Duncannon. This worked really well, and, other than being ill for five days, was a terrific way to end the journey. My last three nights were spent in the 501 Shelter, pictured here. I finished this section on 06 June 2008.

I finished the entire journey by hiking a gap I left last year: 3.8 miles in the Smokies, from the Fork Ridge Trail up to the summit of Clingmans Dome. Here's a photo of me near the summit on Independence Day, 2008:

My little green and blue friend is Hike Monkey, who hiked the trail with me.

Happy trails,
Em

2000-Miler

noreply@blogger.com (Em Stecker) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:30:00 +0000

I just put my 2000-miler application in the mail to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC). Yippee!

"2000-Miler" is the designation for people who have walked all (not just 2000) of the miles of the Appalachian Trail. "2000" was chosen as a nice round number, as the length of the trail changes from year to year due to minor relocations that are done for various reasons. (In 2007, the official length was 2174 miles.)

The ATC doesn't care if you walk all of the miles in one year (a "thru-hike") or in sections over multiple years (a "section-hike"). They also don't care how much weight you carry or how fast you walk (or run). Or, if you go northbound (NOBO) or southbound (SOBO) or a combination thereof. But if you miss any of the trail's white blazes, it needs to be on an official detour route for bad weather, forest fire, construction, etc.

My hike in 2007-2008 started out as a thru-hike, but it ended up that I didn't finish within 12 months, so it's officially a section hike. Rather than starting at one end and hiking to the other, I chose a unique itinerary, mostly because prior commitments required me to be off trail for most of June and July in 2007.

The itinerary of my 2007-2008 hike was:

Mar 24 - Mar 27, 2007:
SOBO - Pearisburg, VA to VA 606 (~24 mi)

Apr 09 - Jun 03, 2007:
SOBO - Damascus, VA to Springer Mtn, GA (~470 mi)
[minus 3.8 mi on the north side of Clingmans Dome]

Jul 24 - Sep 20, 2007:
NOBO - Killington, VT to Mt. Katahdin, ME (~500 mi)

Sep 25 - Dec 01, 2007:
SOBO - Killington, VT to Port Clinton, PA (~450 mi)
[plus 17 mi NOBO from Duncannon, PA to PA 325]

Apr 06 - Jun 06, 2008:
NOBO - Damascus, VA to Port Clinton, PA (~720 mi)
[minus VA 606 to Pearisburg, and Duncannon to PA325]

Jul 04, 2008:
SOBO - Fork Ridge Trail to Clingmans Dome summit (3.8 mi)

What a fabulous itinerary! In spring last year, I hiked south in the section where the folks who'd started in Georgia were hiking north. I loved meeting them as we passed!

Then in the summer, I dropped into the middle of the pack and got to hike north with them. I remembered many of them, mostly from their trail names. Many were hiking faster than me, so I'd see them for a day or two once or twice, but some were hiking the same pace as me, so I got to have some trail family, which is really great. I summited Katahdin on Sept 20th with Partner, Stand By Me, and Route 66, whom I had met on my first or second night out in July. Awesome!

I "flipped" right back to Killington and headed south, expecting to see and hike with some of the folks who'd started in Maine. But I ended up having to be off trail for 2.5 weeks in October, so I got behind the pack and had quite a lot of solitude as the "last southbounder of 2007." By late November, there were winter storms passing through every five days or so, and the nights were consistently below freezing. On Dec 1st, I woke up to 26 degrees inside the shelter; that was fine, but not when complemented by a strong northwesterly wind. I could not keep myself warm in that windchill, not even while hiking. So, I got off trail, originally just to sit out the wind and impending storm, but then decided that hiking alone in winter conditions wasn't something I wanted to do.

After four busy months of "street life," I returned to trail in April. Having had my solitude opportunity, I decided to join the "class of '08" northbounders. It was very fun hiking with them, getting to know folks and building community. I feel very blessed to have been part of the thru-hiking community in both years.

Missing the 3.8-mile section on Clingmans Dome was a dumb glitch at the time. In the end, though, it was very cool to finish this journey at the A.T.'s highest point, and on Independence Day! :-)

So, I'm now a 2000-miler, or, I will be when they send me my patch and certificate. And that is very cool.

Happy trails,
Em

All Things Hiking

noreply@blogger.com (Em Stecker) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:30:00 +0000

In this blog, I'd like to share my thoughts about hiking. By "hiking," I mean primarily what many folks call "backpacking."

I now have over 3000 Appalachian Trail miles under my belt, or on my feet. This total is a combination of the 1000+ miles I hiked during four months of 2000, the 2174 miles I hiked during eight months of 2007-2008, and the miles hiked during a few dozen shorter trips with friends and Girl Scouts.

On any given day, I may choose to share a story from the trail, or lessons I've learned in teaching backpacking with Girl Scouts, or something I've learned about gear or technique.

Happy trails,
Em