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Winter snow and ice on the Pocosin Hollow trail in Shenandoah National Park |
Blissful Hiking
Fulfill Your Hiking Dream! Here to help fellow hikers by offering wisdom, ideas, and lessons learned from a two-time AT North and South, Long Trail, Foothills Trail, Allegheny Trail, Colorado Trail, Florida Trail, Shenandoah Nat'l Park 500 miler completions. Former AT Ridgerunner for six years, Author, Speaker on Hiking and Backpacking
Monday, February 08, 2021
Hiking in the Winter
Friday, August 21, 2020
Anatomy of a Section Hike Adventure
Connecting the dots of a trail by way of a section hike to complete a long-distance trail is a rewarding but difficult experience. As a section hiker, you end up basically starting from scratch
every time you go out - with the aching muscles, blisters on tender feet not used to the strain of hiking every day. For longer distances, and if you can manage it, staying out there, you eventually adapt and the aches and pains subside. But for many that is not practical with work and other commitments. The journey of section hiking a trail really is a monumental experience of fortitude and determination.
I am endeavoring to complete a third round of the Appalachian
Trail from Georgia to Maine and doing so by way of section hiking. It began
back in 2008 and is ongoing to this day, though I have had to curb it quite a
bit due to a prior accident, the 2020 pandemic, and other issues that have
affected the ability to hike for a length of time. But when I am able, I test
myself and attempt a few days out on the trail. This most recent time saw me wandering
along a modest portion of trail spanning three states: NC, TN and VA from Rt 19
E to Damascus.
Day 1 – On the first day, coupled with travel, I usually do shorter miles. This day saw me ascend from the road and into the NC woods of which the glory of Jones Falls greeted me with a good waterfall, considering some of the dryness out there.
Day 2 ended up being a longer day hiking along with the simplistic Mountaineer waterfall greeting me, as the trail traversed some of the wetter seconds that required footbridges and wandering through vast patches of rhododendron. I ran into a fellow hiker that told of an available campsite that night and glad for the intel, which is very important on a trail as it can help you plan and provide an excellent place to spend the night.
Day 3 – I journeyed across Dennis Cove road – home to several popular hostels including Bob People’s Kincora where I stayed with my son back in ’07 and stopped by again on my sobo hike in 2010. The trail took me to yet another impressive waterfall at Laurel Fork, and some confusing trail as for about 20 minutes I had no idea where the trail went and began wandering aimlessly along the banks of the river before realizing that most definitely was NOT the trail. The AT ascended Pond Mtn then, quite a good climb and appropriately named with frogs of all sizes greeting me along the trail, reminiscent of what one might see in a pond! The night was a stay at Boots Off Hostel for resupply and a night of tenting.
Day 4 – A lovely early morning jaunt around Watauga Lake made for a pleasant morning walk and then obtaining water early which the added weight did not feel good at all on my sore back. At Vandeventer Shelter I hung out as a strong thunderstorm roared on by until I was able to sneak out and make it to camp for the night.
Day 5 – Passing by the old Nick Grindstaff grave, I thought about
the man turned hermit who lived by himself for years on Iron Mountain. I noted from the dates inscribed on the stone he
had spent his impressionable teenage years during the terrible Civil War, and I wondered
if that experience had any bearing with his decision to live as a hermit later
in his adult life. And I thought too of the teens bearing the current Covid
crises as I write this and wonder how it will affect them, which is sad to consider.
The trail then took me through lovely pastureland of Shady Valley and a prominent AT symbol on the barn until a return to the woods. I barely had time to set up my tent and partially cook a meal when a terrible storm rolled in, and I endured some of the hardest rain I’d ever been in my tent. I wondered if I would float away. But by a miracle the tent hung in there and I did too.
Day 6 – The after effects of a storm yielded me the beauty
of a fiery sunrise and so many different mushrooms it was like earthly flowers
of different kind along the trail and I headed for my destination and crossing
a state line of Virginia to end in Damascus and the conclusion of this interesting
wander.
For more adventures check out Blissful Hiking Adventures for my new podcast and my Hiking Adventure Series of Books!
Wednesday, August 05, 2020
The Wonders of Hiking and Exploring our National Parks
Backpacking Yellowstone in the Shoshone Geyser Basin |
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Exploring Bryce Canyon, Utah |
Friday, July 24, 2020
A Day in the Life of a Hiker on the Trail - and the Lesson Learned
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photo: Ryan Michael Beck |
Friday, July 17, 2020
Preventing Heat-Related Issues while Backpacking and Hiking
Yes it can get hot with bad water even in places like the Colorado Trail. Prepare! |
How to prevent heat-related illnesses from happening on a hike:
- Take frequent rest breaks in cool, shady areas
- Drink plenty of water and eat salty foods. Carry electrolyte replacement (like Nuun or Liquid IV Hydration) to add to water. Be sure to carry plenty of water in desert environments. if the sources are far apart or contaminated, prepare with filtering capability, a good guidebook, and containers to tote water. You can also over-drink and deplete your sodium levels, leading to other potentially harmful conditions. When you drink, don't overdo it either! Do NOT drink Alcohol which can lead to quicker dehydration as it pulls water from your body.
- Wear lightweight clothing and light colors. Wear a lightweight hat. Use sunscreen to prevent sunburn.
- Carry maps and guidebooks so you know where the water sources are. If you pass a source, no matter what, fill up. You can also collect water off your tent, etc. during storms. Check for areas too where you can take a dip and cool off. Use hiker intel to tell you what water conditions are like en route or ask in hiker forums before you go.
- Never go off on a hike, no matter how short it is, without water.
- Use common sense. If you are prone to heat related illness, choose a different location or wait for a better time to hike (such as early AM or late PM)
- Carry a cell phone for emergencies and hike with a buddy.
- If you feel hot, dry, your urine output is low, that means you are severely dehydrated and your core body temp is rising. Especially if you STOP sweating when you should be. That means DANGER. Stop immediately, rest, and rehydrate. Sunstroke kills!