How I Navigate On a Thru-Hike
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Date: 2020-08-18
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Comments and reviews: 9
frenstcht
Absent the cairns on Mt. Washington, me and my entire family would be dead from the worst blizzard I've ever seen, and it was in August. These way markers are life savers, and that's why they exist. Making things that look like way points -- rock stacks that resemble cairns -- isn't graffiti, it's screaming FIRE! in a crowded theater, and it should be treated as such. Imagine you're night hiking and get led astray because I think it's artistic and fun to paint little white rectangles on trees. It would be indefensible for me to do that, just as it's indefensible to make faux cairns, no matter what the motive may be.
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Absent the cairns on Mt. Washington, me and my entire family would be dead from the worst blizzard I've ever seen, and it was in August. These way markers are life savers, and that's why they exist. Making things that look like way points -- rock stacks that resemble cairns -- isn't graffiti, it's screaming FIRE! in a crowded theater, and it should be treated as such. Imagine you're night hiking and get led astray because I think it's artistic and fun to paint little white rectangles on trees. It would be indefensible for me to do that, just as it's indefensible to make faux cairns, no matter what the motive may be.
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Coniferous
4: 54. and not just like I felt building this decoration =DD its too funny // And this one not funny at all- lines across the trail indicating this is the wrong path? Omg why wouldnt someone just make a sign there showing the right way. I will take signposts and a sledgehammer with me to build all these route signs along the way to prevent people from getting lost and wasting days of strolling. this way my first hike will take 4 years until I finally will be able to fly through it in 2 months with proper markers on it.
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4: 54. and not just like I felt building this decoration =DD its too funny // And this one not funny at all- lines across the trail indicating this is the wrong path? Omg why wouldnt someone just make a sign there showing the right way. I will take signposts and a sledgehammer with me to build all these route signs along the way to prevent people from getting lost and wasting days of strolling. this way my first hike will take 4 years until I finally will be able to fly through it in 2 months with proper markers on it.
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Jim
Superb navigation breakdown. thanks for taking all the time to film, edit and upload all your vid. have you made a vid where you break down the cost of through hikes. E. g. multiple pairs of shoe, socks, shirts, shorts, hats gloves, hotel stays, food resupply in towns gear resupplies in town, washing cloths in town, also doctor visits if needed. At home one can buy supplies at less cost then being isolated where one billfold can get gouged. I am most interested in the CDT where I plan to do it when i turn 60.
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Superb navigation breakdown. thanks for taking all the time to film, edit and upload all your vid. have you made a vid where you break down the cost of through hikes. E. g. multiple pairs of shoe, socks, shirts, shorts, hats gloves, hotel stays, food resupply in towns gear resupplies in town, washing cloths in town, also doctor visits if needed. At home one can buy supplies at less cost then being isolated where one billfold can get gouged. I am most interested in the CDT where I plan to do it when i turn 60.
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Vladika
Compass at least. The woman who died in Maine got off the trail and had she used a compass she would have straight lined back to the trail rather than walked in circles. If you ever get to Maine you'll see how dense the forests are. Dixie mentioned on another video that she went the wrong way one day getting back on the trail. A quick compass check and that would have been avoided. You'll NEVER find a Maine Guild, Woodsman or Bushcrafter that would enter the woods without a compass.
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Compass at least. The woman who died in Maine got off the trail and had she used a compass she would have straight lined back to the trail rather than walked in circles. If you ever get to Maine you'll see how dense the forests are. Dixie mentioned on another video that she went the wrong way one day getting back on the trail. A quick compass check and that would have been avoided. You'll NEVER find a Maine Guild, Woodsman or Bushcrafter that would enter the woods without a compass.
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Jack
Montana 650t gps, smartphone, suntco compass, and the good old topo.
They sell state topi maps at any Walmart or book store. Well at least here in the states.
Trucking taught me to have no fewer than 3 methods of nav!
That is call dead reckoning.
Also the more information you have the better. Sat imagines are a god send! Google maps too!
Ps! High visibility tape will help you!
Even leaving three slash marks on trees ever 20 feet will help you as well.
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Montana 650t gps, smartphone, suntco compass, and the good old topo.
They sell state topi maps at any Walmart or book store. Well at least here in the states.
Trucking taught me to have no fewer than 3 methods of nav!
That is call dead reckoning.
Also the more information you have the better. Sat imagines are a god send! Google maps too!
Ps! High visibility tape will help you!
Even leaving three slash marks on trees ever 20 feet will help you as well.
reply
Don
Awesome! However, I never go wandering without a decent compass. My Brunton Tru-arc 3 weighs about an ounce. It works anywhere on this world and will keep you walking in a straight line, maps or none. You gotta go potty, pick a bearing and walk and count your paces and just reverse that bearing and walk a similar number of paces right back to your pack: ) I call this old school brain. Sending love and hugs from the Great Smoky Mountains. you've been here
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Awesome! However, I never go wandering without a decent compass. My Brunton Tru-arc 3 weighs about an ounce. It works anywhere on this world and will keep you walking in a straight line, maps or none. You gotta go potty, pick a bearing and walk and count your paces and just reverse that bearing and walk a similar number of paces right back to your pack: ) I call this old school brain. Sending love and hugs from the Great Smoky Mountains. you've been here
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The
Hey Dixie, I am planning to do the PCT next year, i saw your videos about it, however, after you reached the Canada Terminus it all ended. I am curious, since I am going to do the same thing next year, did you guys back into the trail and the hike into a town in the USA or did you hike into Canada, the Vancouver, BC. I feel I am missing information. What happened? How, in detail please, did you get back into civilization?
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Hey Dixie, I am planning to do the PCT next year, i saw your videos about it, however, after you reached the Canada Terminus it all ended. I am curious, since I am going to do the same thing next year, did you guys back into the trail and the hike into a town in the USA or did you hike into Canada, the Vancouver, BC. I feel I am missing information. What happened? How, in detail please, did you get back into civilization?
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JACK
My wife never used a map on the VA section of the AT. this almost caused me to miss the Grand morning summit of MacAffee Knob. She was enlightened at the preceding shelter and she managed to text me to alter original resupply. that is my grandest moment on the AT and all backpacking with My Wild Woman. She as well got mixed up in Damascus. towns can be confusing without a good map.
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My wife never used a map on the VA section of the AT. this almost caused me to miss the Grand morning summit of MacAffee Knob. She was enlightened at the preceding shelter and she managed to text me to alter original resupply. that is my grandest moment on the AT and all backpacking with My Wild Woman. She as well got mixed up in Damascus. towns can be confusing without a good map.
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Sarah
On the Cairn topic, I like to add to them as I pass by, especially if they're smaller and harder to notice. That way I get to feel like I'm part of it and it's not overboard like people complain about. Where I hike there's a need for them and have saved me multiple times! Thanks for the video! Will help with my next trip!
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On the Cairn topic, I like to add to them as I pass by, especially if they're smaller and harder to notice. That way I get to feel like I'm part of it and it's not overboard like people complain about. Where I hike there's a need for them and have saved me multiple times! Thanks for the video! Will help with my next trip!
reply
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