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| Switchback after a recent 23 mile hike |
As you can imagine, I have received a myriad of questions since I posted my first post. In this episode, I will list my top questions and attempt to answer them the best I can.
Warning: Some of my answers will still not make sense to you. Deal with it.
Q1: Are you going to carry a gun?
A1: No. I see no reason to carry a gun. I do own guns but choose not to carry them. They add weight and are not worth the effort. Besides, I need to leave them for my wife to defend the homeplace while I am gone. I have spent many many nights in the woods, walked thousands of miles and have never even come close to wishing I had a weapon.
Q2: Are you scared of bears?
A2: Yes, but not scared enough to keep me out of the woods. The reward here is greater than the risk. Using your head and being aware of your surroundings will keep you out of danger.
A3: Nobody. I tend to hike alone. I like the solitude hiking offers. However, there is a great community of hikers on the trail and there is never a lonely feeling. I have met some of the greatest friends on the trail. Campsites at night are a great place to meet other hikers and share stories.
Q4: Do you carry a Cell phone/ What do you do in case of an emergency?
A4: No/ I will deal with it. Cell phones or technology are the exact reason I enter the woods. That may sound strange coming from me if you know me and what I do for a living. However, I have found that you must escape at some point even if it is for a day... or 90. When I enter a trail head, the only technology I have on me is a camera and a flashlight. No watch, no cell phone, no pager, no ipod, nothing else that needs batteries. There is great freedom in this escape.
Emergencies can be handled without cell phones in every pocket.
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| Tarp Shelter |
Q5: Do you sleep on the ground everynight?
A5: No. My shelter system this year consists of a tarp. So when I am in the woods I will likely be directly on the ground. There will be nights when I choose to sleep in a shelter and 1-2 nights a week you may find me in a hostel or hotel in some trail town.
Q6: Do you carry all your food with you?
A6: No, I carry just enough to get me to the next town or resupply point.
Q7: How often do you bathe?
A7: Not that it helps all that much, but about 1 time per week average.
Q8: How much does your pack weigh?
A8: With all of my gear and before food or water... 8.5lb. I hike ultralight. I do not take anything that is not 100% necessary and most items I take have dual purpose. Once you add food and water for 4 days, my pack will weigh around 15lb. I will be posting a very specific pack out list soon.
Q9: How many miles do you walk per day?
A9: As many as I want. I love saying that and that is the beauty of hiking. You do not have to follow any schedule or listen to any one else tell you what to do. However, after I get my legs and lungs acclimated, I tend to walk around 20 miles per day. That is a lot of miles for most people but I can do it because I pack light, start early and have long legs.
Hope this answers some questions. Please feel free to comment or ask more questions. I can talk about this topic all day and them some.
-Switchback
