Tips For A Successful Thru hike
video description
1. take out the insole and stand on it with your hiking socks on, you'll want to make sure they're the right width. if sides of the insole follow the edge of your feet, great! if the have a bunch of spare room to the sides, try a narrower shoe, if your feet fall over the sides, try a broader shoe.
by standing on the insole it also becomes a lot easier to see if you have the thumb's breadth left in front of your toes.
2. most hiking stores will allow you to try the shoes on inside (your home/work place for example) for a day and return them if they turn out not to fit. this allows you more time to get to know the shoe, and allows you to try the shoes with your feet to swollen up like they do during the day. I highly recommend sing this option.
3. if you are going to hike on trail runners, make sure you are well trained (hiking wise) before going into the mountains, otherwise your muscles and tendons will not be strong enough to handle the stress and you will injure yourself. If you are not going to be trained up before you hit the mountains, consider going for a hiking boot instead, as the added stability of these boots will take a lot of stress of the tendons and muscles. (which is why most casual hikers still prefer boots)
Date: 2020-08-18
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Comments and reviews: 9
jane
Absolutely sound advise on all counts! For example I had been a 'barefoot runner so started with an extremely minimal shoe. With even every ounce counted in my pack, weight together with daily miles I damaged my feet so embrace the cush. Personal preference altras -- zero drop and toe splay. Another example was spending so much time and money ounce counting then I started out with way too much food. Really silly. Also, I'd also planned ahead and sent bounce boxes of food then later tired of the flavors and just wanted to buy different food along the way. . but I did appreciate my veggie organic food. I started late and was overseas and pressured by the return ticket and didn't allow extra time. I really appreciated extra money because the showers and bed, restaurant stops are so wonderful here and there. So this video is spot on!
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Absolutely sound advise on all counts! For example I had been a 'barefoot runner so started with an extremely minimal shoe. With even every ounce counted in my pack, weight together with daily miles I damaged my feet so embrace the cush. Personal preference altras -- zero drop and toe splay. Another example was spending so much time and money ounce counting then I started out with way too much food. Really silly. Also, I'd also planned ahead and sent bounce boxes of food then later tired of the flavors and just wanted to buy different food along the way. . but I did appreciate my veggie organic food. I started late and was overseas and pressured by the return ticket and didn't allow extra time. I really appreciated extra money because the showers and bed, restaurant stops are so wonderful here and there. So this video is spot on!
reply
Paul
Hi Dixie. I am planning a through hike of the Colorado Trail this summer. I am completely overwhelmed with the amount of information available and what/who to follow for insight and advice. I have made you my #1 source for information on my hike. I love your delivery and down to earthness. Ironic, you just mentioned paralysis of analysis this is how I have become! My background is as a golf instructor and we used this term quite frequently. I can relate the fact that not everything (usually nothing) is going to go the way you plan and this has to be the case on a through hike, so flexibility and preparation is key. I appreciate your work and your passion!
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Hi Dixie. I am planning a through hike of the Colorado Trail this summer. I am completely overwhelmed with the amount of information available and what/who to follow for insight and advice. I have made you my #1 source for information on my hike. I love your delivery and down to earthness. Ironic, you just mentioned paralysis of analysis this is how I have become! My background is as a golf instructor and we used this term quite frequently. I can relate the fact that not everything (usually nothing) is going to go the way you plan and this has to be the case on a through hike, so flexibility and preparation is key. I appreciate your work and your passion!
reply
Sean
Thanks again Dixie. I have handled pain over the years, especially repetitive. I have slept in horrible places with cold extremes and so on. Your video as usually is very detailed with information (thanks again. The one thing you mentioned that I know I will have issues with is the mental aspect. Not sure how to prepare for that one. I am good at bad days, but I ALWAYS have 4 projects on the go at once. I need to be doing things, therefore just walking for 5-6 months in 2021, I know I have to prepare my mind for doing nothing. It is the boredom that will worry me for the first 1-2 months. lol
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Thanks again Dixie. I have handled pain over the years, especially repetitive. I have slept in horrible places with cold extremes and so on. Your video as usually is very detailed with information (thanks again. The one thing you mentioned that I know I will have issues with is the mental aspect. Not sure how to prepare for that one. I am good at bad days, but I ALWAYS have 4 projects on the go at once. I need to be doing things, therefore just walking for 5-6 months in 2021, I know I have to prepare my mind for doing nothing. It is the boredom that will worry me for the first 1-2 months. lol
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Lucy
Hi Dixie, someone already said it but please could you do an international hikers video about things that people overseas might like to know? I'm planning to hike one day and would love to be able to know things that could help. (Visas, airport security, car rental, accommodation, phone plans, medical things etc) And to see if people from overseas who have hiked would have recommendations or tips. It seems like the biggest barrier to me hiking at the moment as I know America is quite strict and it's scary: (
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Hi Dixie, someone already said it but please could you do an international hikers video about things that people overseas might like to know? I'm planning to hike one day and would love to be able to know things that could help. (Visas, airport security, car rental, accommodation, phone plans, medical things etc) And to see if people from overseas who have hiked would have recommendations or tips. It seems like the biggest barrier to me hiking at the moment as I know America is quite strict and it's scary: (
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danny
On a video a year ago, you said you didn't care about base weight. Your CDT base weight has decreased by 5-9 lbs compared to your PCT sections. Have you come to the conclusion that base weight does matter? On a thru-hike, you would be carrying and extra 5-9 lbs for more than 2500+ miles. That weight transfers to all your joints & hiking form. Otherwise, I like watching your videos & you offer a great perspective.
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On a video a year ago, you said you didn't care about base weight. Your CDT base weight has decreased by 5-9 lbs compared to your PCT sections. Have you come to the conclusion that base weight does matter? On a thru-hike, you would be carrying and extra 5-9 lbs for more than 2500+ miles. That weight transfers to all your joints & hiking form. Otherwise, I like watching your videos & you offer a great perspective.
reply
Shadow
If you're like me and hate mosquitoes and are going to be going through areas with heavy mosquitoes then I highly recommend a head net. Nobody will think you look dumb and it will make your life VASTLY better. It may trap in a little heat but it beats having them constantly buzz into your eyes, ears, mouth and nose. Also umbrellas are pretty great for both rain and the sun.
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If you're like me and hate mosquitoes and are going to be going through areas with heavy mosquitoes then I highly recommend a head net. Nobody will think you look dumb and it will make your life VASTLY better. It may trap in a little heat but it beats having them constantly buzz into your eyes, ears, mouth and nose. Also umbrellas are pretty great for both rain and the sun.
reply
Smitty
Hi Dixie love your videos chic lol
Where are you from /live (AZ?
It be cool if you made a video of a smaller how to hike such as a 2-4 day hike! :-)
And if from AZ suggestions/options for trails! Beginners, intermediate, Experienced? scale 1-10 trail rate maybe
How do you motivate yourself to get out and hike in between hikes or to fit it in in between life
reply
Hi Dixie love your videos chic lol
Where are you from /live (AZ?
It be cool if you made a video of a smaller how to hike such as a 2-4 day hike! :-)
And if from AZ suggestions/options for trails! Beginners, intermediate, Experienced? scale 1-10 trail rate maybe
How do you motivate yourself to get out and hike in between hikes or to fit it in in between life
reply
Autumn
I'm planning my first ever weekend backpacking trip in Texas and have just been devouring your videos, Dixie. Thanks so much for all the helpful tips and advice you give. I'm hoping I can do a shorter thru-hike someday (student loan debt is holding me back from a 6-month journey, and I feel like I'll be as prepared as I can be for such a journey thanks to these videos.
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I'm planning my first ever weekend backpacking trip in Texas and have just been devouring your videos, Dixie. Thanks so much for all the helpful tips and advice you give. I'm hoping I can do a shorter thru-hike someday (student loan debt is holding me back from a 6-month journey, and I feel like I'll be as prepared as I can be for such a journey thanks to these videos.
reply
Carl
Dixie, Love your Videos I have just started watching and learning a lot.
Speaking of early starts and be snowed out. Why is it that a majority of thru-hikers start in the south and go north. It seems that by hiking south you would not be taking as big a risk of bad weather.
I do realize that you may risk hot weather but that seems better than very cold weather.
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Dixie, Love your Videos I have just started watching and learning a lot.
Speaking of early starts and be snowed out. Why is it that a majority of thru-hikers start in the south and go north. It seems that by hiking south you would not be taking as big a risk of bad weather.
I do realize that you may risk hot weather but that seems better than very cold weather.
reply
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