When Hiker Clichés Are WRONG

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
  • 00:00 Hey Y'all
    00:28 Cotton Kills
    01:58 Hike Your Own Hike
    03:36 Never Hike Alone
    04:55 Be Bold, Start Cold
    06:43 It's The Smiles, Not the Mile/Last One To [Destination] Wins
    09:08 Don't Pack Your Fears
    10:11 The Trail Will Train You
    12:05 Life Is Better In Hiking Boots
    Homemade Wanderlust Merch: homemadewanderlust.com/shop/
    * I do NOT accept anything from gear companies. I do not do paid reviews. I do not have any sponsors. All opinions are my own, based on my experiences. I do not plan to ever incorporate sponsorships on this channel in an effort to remain 100% impartial. If I were to accept gear in exchange for a review I would disclose it per FTC regulations.
    Disclosure: There are Amazon Affiliate links in my gear lists and possibly in product links in this video description. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases (doesn't only have to be backpacking gear).
    Amazon Affiliate Page: www.DixieAZ.com
    WAYS TO SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL & ADVENTURES:
    *Patreon: / homemadewanderlust
    (You can pledge as low as a $1/month to support my upcoming hikes.)
    *Gear Wish List: a.co/cVZeFo3
    (Purchase an item from my gear wish list. Some of the items may require contacting me for shipping details. See address below.)
    *Buy My Book
    Take A Thru-Hike: Dixie's How-To Guide for Hiking the Appalachian Trail (ebook): homemadewanderlust.com/produc...
    *ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION:
    -PayPal: homemadewanderlust@gmail.com
    -Bitcoin (BTC) Wallet: 1PLcRstR4bamTYKpwd9Nzus75WjfjMY6gG
    Contact information:
    Blog: www.homemadewanderlust.com
    twitter: @homemadeWL
    Instagram: homemadewanderlust
    facebook: homemadewanderlust
    PO Box 4192 Opelika, AL 36803
    For business/interview inquiries *only*: homemadewanderlust@gmail.com

Komentáře • 238

  • @Swimdeep
    @Swimdeep Před 4 měsíci +18

    Call a-holes on their use of HYOH when they mean, “Don’t call me on my bad behavior.” LNTP are for everyone’s benefit and people that break these essential principle should be taken to task.🌿

  • @francespyne7316
    @francespyne7316 Před 4 měsíci +22

    I really hat how people use "you pack your fears" as a way of shaming people who pack things they see as unnecessary. Pack what you need to be confident, yes packing ice axes to backpack in the desert might be over-packing, but you have to learn your confidence level

    • @jjmcwill2007
      @jjmcwill2007 Před 4 měsíci

      If you're hiking alone and your heavy pack doesn't lead to you needing a rescue due to exhaustion/injury, then 100%. Carry whatever the heck you want. But there are group trips where there is an expectation that the group is going to maintain a minimum hiking speed to meet an agreed upon itinerary. In those cases, if someone shows up with a heavy pack full of unnecessary items, I will definitely perform a pack shakedown and off criticism and suggestions of things to leave behind.

    • @mtadams2009
      @mtadams2009 Před 4 měsíci

      I often see people barely moving on the trail because they are simply carrying to much crap. I like the saying pack to hike not to camp.

  • @hikeandkayak7406
    @hikeandkayak7406 Před 4 měsíci +5

    I love these videos of older Dixie giving younger Dixie the wisdom of her years.

  • @brianadventures9622
    @brianadventures9622 Před 4 měsíci +9

    You're very lucky Dixie, every year I pass dozens of body's on the side of the trail and they are all wear jeans... It's a sad way to go!

  • @backpacker3421
    @backpacker3421 Před 4 měsíci +11

    To me, one of the best parts of backpacking for your soul is a) having to come to terms with the difference between a need and comfort and mostly b) learning every day, just how little you actually need to live and more importantly be happy. When you can find happiness with couple dozen pounds on your back including food and water, you learn to truly appreciate the several thousand pounds of comfort in your home when you get back.

  • @mollziki
    @mollziki Před 4 měsíci +12

    If I didn't hike alone I would never do any hiking! I just research my routes beforehand and try to go for ones that are well-marked, and always take a backup navigation method with me. So far so good, touch wood!
    I wear hiking boots most of the time - I do find that I roll my ankles a lot more in trail runners, though I know that's because I need to work on my ankle stability - however the main reason is that I live in Scotland and it's wet!!! A lot of time you are walking through bogs and it doesn't really get warm enough to dry your footwear out. If I did a long backpacking trip in trail runners I would probably end up with trench foot. Boots and gaiters for me! Though if I were hiking in a warmer and dryer climate I would definitely want to try using trail runners

  • @samgoeshiking
    @samgoeshiking Před 4 měsíci +8

    OMG, "like the horse in the Neverending Story" I just cried

  • @Wayneburg
    @Wayneburg Před 4 měsíci +18

    "Artax, don't let the Swamp of Sadness take you!"

    • @Uncle_Jacob
      @Uncle_Jacob Před 4 měsíci

      I saw that movie for the first time last year and it was pretty good but boy was it strange. LoL

    • @anthonyjohnson5372
      @anthonyjohnson5372 Před 4 měsíci

      Neverending Story is one of the first movies I really remember understanding as a kid. That scene is burned into my memory.

  • @sIosha
    @sIosha Před 3 hodinami

    I've started biking every day for 1-2 hours and I feel that has really helped with elevation gain! Plus my mental health is buffed lol.. Certainly don't need to do anything special like you said. I did a bunch of hikes, including Angels Landing, back on 2021 before I started exercising regularly and I was fine. My heart was POUNDING though.

  • @JudyWebring-Reynolds
    @JudyWebring-Reynolds Před 3 měsíci +6

    I’ve been following you for years and I’m finally taking my first backpacking trip this spring. And solo! It’s people like you that encouraged and empowered me to take the first step! ❤🎉😊

  • @RyanGr33n
    @RyanGr33n Před 4 měsíci +10

    I’ve hiked a lot of “thru-hike” trails, but never claimed to have completed one… I’ve never been one for “start here, end here” kind of things. I live by “hike your own hike”, three weeks of meandering in a circle or down a river, take a zero day or three in a row to do some fly fishing, I carry extra comfort gear, snacks, painting gear, etc. You don’t need to go in a straight line to escape.
    Side note: I carry a gun, I’m also a trained SAR and wilderness first responder, so I am that guy who carries a 3 lb trauma kit ;)

    • @kristymoore7052
      @kristymoore7052 Před 4 měsíci +4

      Thanks for being that guy.

    • @mtadams2009
      @mtadams2009 Před 4 měsíci

      I am just wondering what is in a 3 pound first aid kit? That’s a lot of stuff.

    • @beckiejani7782
      @beckiejani7782 Před 4 měsíci

      Do you spend time in NH by any chance?

    • @MasuseDeMojo
      @MasuseDeMojo Před 4 měsíci

      As always, we fight how we train. We care how we train. Fellow military here. I know what is in that trauma bag. I had to learn that in Stretcher barer training. Fun days!!!!

  • @PrybarCommando
    @PrybarCommando Před 4 měsíci +12

    Cotton doesn’t kill, hypothermia kills.

  • @stpetie7686
    @stpetie7686 Před 4 měsíci +14

    Dixie! it's awesome to see you back in the woods again. Thanks for still another great video.

  • @lindaselover2536
    @lindaselover2536 Před 4 měsíci +4

    Happy to hear you address the anti - cotton cliches -- Back in the 60s and 70s maybe even 80s, we only had cotton or wool. I hiked in cotton all of the time. Wool makes me itch - so I have to wear cotton - or silk, underneath. When I lived in China - the only long underwear that I could afford ( and the one that most people wear) was cotton. It was so cold that you rarely could break a sweat. If you wear cotton and it gets wet and the weather turns cold - take it off and put something else on, or put on something over it and keep moving until it dries out. If it gets wet and you sit -- you will get really cold. Keep moving, and you can keep generating heat. Next - the boots -- I wore boots on the JMT - but I am rather heavy and have had a long history of plantar fasciitis so my feet needed the stiff and solid protection for my heels and soles. I did not need boots for ankle support. When hiking on those granite pebbles and those golf ball and tennis ball sized rocks -- I loved my boots. I did not bruise the soles of my feet ever. So -- footwear is a highly personal choice - and depends on the needs of your body, not any one else's experience or opinion. Thank you for the talk.

    • @jwenting
      @jwenting Před 3 měsíci

      still to this day, I can't wear synthetics for long periods. I break out in rashes, sweat profusely, and overheat in any but extremely cold weather.
      Cotton or linen is what I can wear, and that's about it.
      Footwear? I much prefer being barefoot, if the terrain allows it at all. Good hiking sandals otherwise. Again, anything else leads to excessive sweating and inevitable blisters and sores. Having feet that don't fit almost any "standard size" shoes makes it even worse.

  • @sallys2423
    @sallys2423 Před 4 měsíci +2

    "Hike your own hike" can be used by some in the same way as "Bless your heart."

  • @user-ez8ju7wf2o
    @user-ez8ju7wf2o Před 4 měsíci +2

    Hi Dixie.....there is so much info on how to put one foot in front of the other, what to wear,how to wear it ....i have watched waaaaaay to many videos...i have reversed course and have abandoned hiking the AT....im gonna do the ADT instead....i saw enough videos to convince me to not hike the AT.....3-5 million people average that trail...that is waaaaaaay too many "cat holes" for me....millions of cat holes on top of the ridge means that all that is deposited into the top ridge is flowing unto the water system...no wonder they tell you to bring a filter. ...to me that is a SERIOUS environmental issues to say the least. .as they say...shit flows down right into natural water resourses....leave no trace appears to be magnanimously hypocritical if we are deficating by the "millions on the same mountain top ridges year after year

  • @FeatheredLegs
    @FeatheredLegs Před 4 měsíci +3

    I remember you explaining “hike your own hike” a while ago, and that has always stuck with me. 😃

  • @user-zs6to9sk9l
    @user-zs6to9sk9l Před 4 měsíci +16

    In the military we had a saying, "If you can't hack it don't pack it". Other soldiers are not going to carry your excess comfort items or gear when they aren't bring extra gear. Only carry what you need and leave room for extra equipment that may be given to you for the mission. Same goes for hiking, leave room for extra water or food for those extended periods you may have to walk before a resupply.

  • @jzoop1
    @jzoop1 Před 4 měsíci +6

    You are so honest and nice. It's always a pleasure to watch your posts
    Take care and be well. AT '86.

  • @Keegancamps
    @Keegancamps Před 3 měsíci +3

    Always appreciate your videos! Starting the AT soon! Also in bama! 🤘🏻 happy hiking!

  • @makinpawtrax3610
    @makinpawtrax3610 Před 4 měsíci +6

    Another exception I have found to "cotton kills" is underwear, specifically panties. I had 2 pair of sport undies for my through hike and they were synthetic except for the crotch liner, which was the only cotton part. It really helped, especially if you are a person that is prone to infections down there and it is such a small piece of cotton I never really had issues with it not drying out or anything. As an alternate, I have also seen an uptick in tencel fabric underwear and that also seems to be a nice medium, offering benefits of natural materials but having some of the properties of synthetics.

  • @kennogawa6638
    @kennogawa6638 Před 4 měsíci +6

    Health is a number one priority.

  • @sherrierifenberg2199
    @sherrierifenberg2199 Před 4 měsíci

    Great, honest video, Dixie! TY!

  • @tomsitzman3952
    @tomsitzman3952 Před 4 měsíci +6

    Good Talk. Cotton or linen are good fabrics for high heat and low humidity. or a cotton linen blend. The wrinkles create ventilation to aid in evaporation cooling. Concerning how to dress to start on a cold morning, If you have ever competed in a varsity sport. You put on your warmups and start easy and spend the First 15-20 minutes warming up the muscles and raspatory system. Warm muscles work better. The best way to get in shape is not having to get in shape. Instead lead an active daily life. Bike or walk to work, dig your garden with a spade instead of power tiller. I knew a doctor who carried his trail pack with the same load weight he used hiking every day to hospital where he worked.

  • @lanecountybigfooters5716
    @lanecountybigfooters5716 Před 4 měsíci

    Great video and awesome final shot! Wow!

  • @musingsatmidlife5278
    @musingsatmidlife5278 Před 4 měsíci +2

    Loved this! You always have such great wisdom!

  • @rodgerankarenhowell2952
    @rodgerankarenhowell2952 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Thank you for your wisdom!

  • @leosantana311
    @leosantana311 Před 3 měsíci

    Thanks for another great video!

  • @duanereyhl5200
    @duanereyhl5200 Před 4 měsíci

    You make the best videos. I always enjoy them. Thanks.

  • @lennynichols6809
    @lennynichols6809 Před 4 měsíci

    Good advice. I like the titles in the video. Well done!

  • @buffyvachon8026
    @buffyvachon8026 Před 4 měsíci +5

    Good to see you on here 😊 You look happy and healthy!

  • @oilfinder
    @oilfinder Před 3 měsíci

    Thank you Dixie, always good to watch your videos.

  • @andrewsmith8015
    @andrewsmith8015 Před 4 měsíci

    This was a great topic and I really enjoyed hearing your perspectives. I've been considering ditching the high top hiking boots for awhile and I think you've convinced me that it's OK.

  • @ItsAStephanieB
    @ItsAStephanieB Před 3 měsíci

    What a great video. Thank you Dixie, I really enjoy the videos where you hike and talk to us.
    You're the best.😊

  • @thruknobulaxii2020
    @thruknobulaxii2020 Před 4 měsíci +2

    Nice one! I always like to get a little Dixie fix when I can.
    ✌️😃

  • @francesprice618
    @francesprice618 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Glad to see you're getting out, Dixie! Our WV weather has really been getting in the way of winter day hikes here, so I sure do understand "stir crazy.". Still praying for a good definitive report for your heart. 😊

  • @salvadordiezcanseco7139
    @salvadordiezcanseco7139 Před 4 měsíci

    I'm from the country and I love this information.

  • @a.w.thompson4001
    @a.w.thompson4001 Před 3 měsíci

    Thanks, Dixie!

  • @KrizAkoni
    @KrizAkoni Před 4 měsíci +1

    Dooodoooo 😮😂 been there done that. Appreciate this video and your perspective. 🤓

  • @BravingTheOutDoors
    @BravingTheOutDoors Před 4 měsíci +1

    I'll be brutally honest... I genuinely consider myself to have more experience than 99% of people because I spent years of my life backpacking. I've often created my own trails and I did it for much longer than most. In 2009 I traveled for 11.5 months and spent 10 months straight in a tent. Took me three weeks to get used to a bed again.
    Now, that said, most of what I do, carry and eat, doesn't make sense to other allegedly "experienced" backpackers.
    It's all nonsense. Everything boils down to whatever works for you.

  • @IceBearHalfwayPoint
    @IceBearHalfwayPoint Před 4 měsíci +2

    That was a very graceful fall. 👊

    • @Galiuros
      @Galiuros Před 3 měsíci

      I like how she just lounged on the ground for a few moments like it was exactly what she wanted to do.

  • @johnhavel7685
    @johnhavel7685 Před 3 měsíci

    So glad to hear you say not to worry about boots I literally hate them every pair of boots I’ve ever owned has been so clunky and heavy and inflexible I just can’t stand them except in the harshest of winter conditions. Recently started walking in vivo barefoot la and love them haven’t fully gotten used to them especially on hard surfaces but hiking around the nearby trails and parks on soft forest ground they are fantastic

  • @jackpumkinhead9583
    @jackpumkinhead9583 Před 3 měsíci

    I agree with the pack your fears. I always pack an extra pair of sunglasses and eye glasses as if they break I’m gunna have a bad time. I also pack a lot of pills in my med kit for allergies , sickness, tums etc. I’d rather have them and not need them then need them and not have them. I will also say there really isn’t much “training” you can do prepare yourself for this kind of journey. I agree the trail will get you there. Plus you need to experience this kind of backpacking to understand what it’s like day in and day out.

  • @EliasVoorhees
    @EliasVoorhees Před 4 měsíci +11

    “Hike your own hike” is about as annoying as “it is what it is”

    • @patrickjones8255
      @patrickjones8255 Před 4 měsíci +3

      Sounds like you're not hiking you're own hike 😂

    • @rayretz362
      @rayretz362 Před 4 měsíci

      What do you have against it is what it is

    • @EliasVoorhees
      @EliasVoorhees Před 4 měsíci

      @@patrickjones8255nobody has ever told me that. At least, not yet. I’m just tired of hearing it.

    • @EliasVoorhees
      @EliasVoorhees Před 4 měsíci

      @@rayretz362it sounds really ignorant.

    • @sharonlivingstone5956
      @sharonlivingstone5956 Před 4 měsíci +2

      Or "just saying"

  • @jedgarren2901
    @jedgarren2901 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Hello from Blount County
    Tennessee, First time viewer and I want to say how much I enjoyed this content.

  • @davidcolinstillman5585
    @davidcolinstillman5585 Před 4 měsíci +1

    HI DIXIE 👋
    GLAD TO SEE YOU 👀 OUT & ABOUT ! THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO 📹 CAN'T MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY . GLAD YOU'RE OK FROM YOUR SLIP IN THE MUD / SOFT WET SOIL . BE SAFE 😊 🙏HAVE FUN 😊 🙏GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS ON YOUR ADVENTURES 😊 🙏 THANK YOU 😊 🙏 ❤

  • @hindsfeetonhighplaces
    @hindsfeetonhighplaces Před 4 měsíci +2

    Good video as always. I'm "guilty" of using "Be Bold, Start Cold" a lot, especially when working with less experienced hikers in the winter. So many people just think they need to bundle up when they are going to warm up quickly. The problem comes when hiking with a group folks don't want to stop the group to down layer. As a result they sweat. So I use then when teaching as folks are less likely to sweat if they start cold.

  • @BBQDad463
    @BBQDad463 Před 3 měsíci

    Thank you for this video. You make good sense.
    I have been a dedicated user of hiking boots, but I may have to switch to trail runners.

  • @bobgaines2399
    @bobgaines2399 Před 4 měsíci +1

    I swear when you slipped, I almost fell out of my chair! LOL!! Very glad you are ok..Ive slipped several times hiking close to the creek after a recent rain or flood and always felt a bit embarrassed even when I was hiking alone.

  • @noyopacific
    @noyopacific Před 4 měsíci

    Thanks for the video Dixie ! One of the things I like best about her is that she is willing to keep her own slips and falls in her videos instead of editing them out. Most of us slip and fall occasionally. It's amusing to watch so long as nobody gets hurt. It makes such excellent content I'm surprised that she doesn't do it on purpose once in a while . . . or maybe she does ? 😜

  • @davidhyde9310
    @davidhyde9310 Před 4 měsíci +1

    All sound reasoning, Dixie. I certainly concur with all of your points. To my mind, the true "bottom line" is : find what works for YOU and stick with it. Of course, that does NOT mean it is ever OK to engage in behaviors which are annoying or destructive. It is NOT. That is a given.
    Unfortunately, those who are not experienced with backpacking tend to follow whatever advice they are given, good or bad. That is where experience comes in. Backpacking has a learning curve. It's as simple as that. Until one gains enough experience to be able to handle all aspects with full confidence (and succeed)...one is still on the learning curve, period. That doesn't mean that experienced people have nothing left to learn - only that the normal issues are no longer a true challenge.
    Lastly, I think it is very important for all of us, experienced or not, to actively respect each other and our choices. Avoid getting into lecture mode at all costs. Remember, nobody appointed those of us with experience as teachers. Teach ONLY if requested to do so.

  • @jaymontgomery3330
    @jaymontgomery3330 Před 4 měsíci +1

    " Be bold, start cold". That's the only way I roll, warm after 5-10 minutes up the trail. Wear boots all the time here in the rugged Olympics.

  • @THE-RIVER-RAT
    @THE-RIVER-RAT Před 4 měsíci

    Don't have sad thoughts then you won't sink ... Great video full of interesting information.

  • @libertyvilleguy2903
    @libertyvilleguy2903 Před 4 měsíci +2

    We spend the winter hiking in central Arizona. The trails are incredibly stoney. Hiking boots are a much better choice here than trail runners. You need something with a stiff chassis to get you through these trails. At home in Wisconsin, where you hike on soft forest soil, trail runners are fine.

  • @aurtisanminer2827
    @aurtisanminer2827 Před 4 měsíci +1

    When I first started hiking I would occasionally roll my ankles when not paying attention on tricky terrain. After a while I quit rolling them. The muscles had strengthened and I also was more careful about watching my steps.

  • @timdavis6088
    @timdavis6088 Před 4 měsíci

    I did the exact same thing hiking in Sipsey only I was wearing a 50lb pack. I stepped down a slight hill and found soft patch of mud.
    I tend to agree on shoes. One of my longest hikes was with Merrell's on an out and back across Oak Mountain State Park. I stopped at the dam and had lunch while taking pictures of the dog.

  • @tommckinney1489
    @tommckinney1489 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Very cool intro, hiding behind the tree👍

  • @LarryDickman1
    @LarryDickman1 Před 3 měsíci

    The way I made sure my legs were ready to backpack The Long Trail in VT was to hike Mount Monadnock in NH. I'd try to hike it twice a week for a month. Each time adding weight to my mid-range back. Once I could do it with 40 lbs., the rest of my training was on done the trail.
    Edit... The LT still kicked my ass.

  • @JRoss707
    @JRoss707 Před 4 měsíci +1

    I’ve done plenty of section hikes, 150-200 miles. I can attest to the fact that taking training seriously and starting to prep a good 6-8 weeks prior to your hike makes a huge difference, hikes that I didn’t take seriously and did little to no training, I had a much more difficult time. Today’s ultralight hiking boots in my opinion, aren’t a whole lot different than trail runners, they’re generally quite comfortable and lightweight. I think the differences are so minor that I’ll grab whatever I can get that are cheapest and will last.

  • @Jimimac73
    @Jimimac73 Před 4 měsíci +3

    Love that your slip made the edit and that it contradicted your footwear choice 🎉hike your own hike❤

    • @HomemadeWanderlust
      @HomemadeWanderlust  Před 4 měsíci +3

      These weren’t trail runners lol. But still funny!

    • @Jimimac73
      @Jimimac73 Před 4 měsíci +1

      @@HomemadeWanderlust it’s great to see such reality and the ability to laugh at oneself is refreshing content… the good bad and ugly!
      The three things that we are supposed to invest in quality are footwear beds and sofas because we spend our lives in one of the three at any one time…
      Whilst the lighter load we carry the less calorific energy we consume, it’s certainly a fine art in getting the right balance…. You might say horses for courses…
      Like off road vehicles and tyre types snow chains and studs:::
      With hiking footwear as you say the lighter the less durable.

  • @julianlord5366
    @julianlord5366 Před 4 měsíci

    I have done a LOT of solo hiking, and whether it's in the form of other hikers being there or not, it is vital to do it in some kind of structure -- could be a trail infrastructure, could be an ad hoc support network, and what's worked best for me is doing it village to village in rural Europe. Solo wilderness hiking off the beaten path might not be the best choice (though it can always become necessary sometimes to get from A to B), if you're not a hardcore survivalist that is.
    As to cold & warm, personally I warm up really quickly, so I start out with what I know that I *will* need about 45-60 minutes later. So I start cold if I know I'll feel warm later ; or I start warm if it's a particularly cold or rainy day. I have a cape rather than a jacket, so I can use that over a t-shirt and bare arms and I don't get too sweaty, which really helps. I can sort of have it both ways.
    Overpacking is most reasonable if you're walking in a group of about 4 people or more, because the extra stuff can be shared out between 4+ packs ; so it's less what "I" need and more what "we" need.
    I had to train mostly before my 1994, and 2014 Ways of Saint James, though I'll nearly always do a few day hikes before starting something (don't always need to) -- but before my 1994 I really needed to get into proper shape, so I combined a radical dieting & weight loss programme with 100 to 200 kilometres / 60 to 120 miles a week over about 6 months ; and before my 2014, both my knees had more or less collapsed from arthrosis, and I needed a full year of walking pretty much every day just to get back to being capable of a longer hike again. -- Thing is though, if you're still mostly "in training", which is to say capable of getting out and hiking without any reral issues, then you may not need a specific pre-hike training regimen.
    I like leather army boots, but then again I NEED the ankle support. I would only really recommend boots like that to people who are walking longer ones (1,500 Km / 1,000 miles or longer) in wet weather conditions, including if a good portion of the hike is to be on tarmac rather than trail. I *do* think that rubber-soled traditional leather rambling *shoes* could be a way to combine the advantages of leather with those of wearing lighter footwear. Otherwise, the whole shoes vs. boots thing is nearly always best determined by personal needs and preferences rather than any dogma -- though I *do* like the fact that my own large boots do keep my socks and feet dry, even crossing a stream. I wear them every day anyway, so the weight of them is just normal for me.

  • @lauraelizabethbrown
    @lauraelizabethbrown Před 3 měsíci

    I especially agree with the cotton one. I usually have one cotton shirt somewhere in my pack.

  • @user-wz9kg8pf1d
    @user-wz9kg8pf1d Před 4 měsíci +1

    Dixie, how about an episode on the logistics of a through hike. Not just the packing but the process the permits, the post office drops, that sort of thing I think it would be interesting. Perhaps you’ve done this in the past, but not all have seen everything that you have done thus far just a suggestion thank you.

  • @amberbydreamsart5467
    @amberbydreamsart5467 Před 4 měsíci +2

    As a person working up short backpacking trips to figure out if I really want to do a thru-hike, I think workouts working up to my longer trips are essential. I only have a handful of days to hike, and I want to spend my time thinking about the woods, not about how much my feet hurt. I'm starting to do strength training and serious hiking miles pre-trip for a 5-8 day trip in late april (deciding between two trails, we'll see how in shape I get and how much time I have) and I can already feel the ways that it's going to help me enjoy my time better. I imagine it's more essential for section hiking/short sporadic backpacking trips because you're not out long enough for the trail to condition your body, but considering how many people injure themselves early on thru hikes I bet it helps your chances there

    • @ash.lou613
      @ash.lou613 Před 4 měsíci

      i took one summer to work up my endurance levels from 5 miles to 20 miles a day- in a 10 hour day that is. that was a semi relaxed hike pace. My own hike this year across canada will be the same, max 20 mile days, with at least 1 off day each week. I mapped (and im lucky cause our trail follows town very closely as its meant to be accessible to people on purpose) to be able to at least re supply every 2 days which takes away so much poundage on my back. If i could gave any advice, dont over over think it and make sure you got 9 out of 10 ducks in a row before you go - 9 because every scenario is planned and the 1 for the unseen. and i opted to carry more water instead because water is one of my 3 comforts/ fears. - the three things that both make and break your hike. i dont even have three if im honest. if i get lost oh well, i technically cant on THIS particular trail across canada. predators, we dont have them on the section im doing first (going the OTHER way to the west coast, yes ill have to plan for bears and cats). if i had to choose 3 - water, cold and mine and my dogs safety.

  • @airic499
    @airic499 Před 4 měsíci +2

    It isn't all or nothing for ankle support. Grew up hiking and still very comfortable with good hiking boots. But I tried the Lone Peak regulars first section hike of AT and my ankles took a beating. Ironically I think it was mostly that section is so heavily traveled a lot of the trail is concave and it was the perpetual leaning in of the ankles that did it. After that I got the Lone Peak ankle highs and I have just loved them. They don't have the ankle support of full boots but I found it to be plenty for me. So other than what you mentioned; bushwhacking or really broken terrain where I would still wear good boots, the ankle high trail runners are what I wear.
    Oh and what we always said was dress for the 2nd mile. Means the same though. I do usually try and follow that, but if you are actively and noticeably cold, layer up and then strip down BEFORE you start sweating. If it is really seriously cold, that last part needs to be gospel.

    • @julianlord5366
      @julianlord5366 Před 4 měsíci

      Despite needing boots myself, on the more-travelled trails to others I would always say lighter is better. Boots become more useful the more off the beaten path your walk will be, and the wetter the weather is going to be.

  • @TweetyPAK7
    @TweetyPAK7 Před 4 měsíci

    ...actually start walking"...uhh falling. 😂 Woops! No shade from me! I struggle to stay upright every day. Great job Aaron!! Love the creativity. ❤

  • @michellebrownphoto
    @michellebrownphoto Před 3 měsíci

    Thank you for leaving that little slip and fall in the video. I feel a little bit more normal now. 😂

  • @ridingfun3451
    @ridingfun3451 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Love your updates
    Would like to hear your thoughts on the great divide trail in Canada

  • @valeriefromoregon
    @valeriefromoregon Před 4 měsíci +2

    I like NorthFace trail running shoes .. Altras are too square and I tripped hiking and broke my ankle.

  • @toryevanss4512
    @toryevanss4512 Před 3 měsíci

    The problem with wearing wet cotton is CHAFING!
    I'm also a start warm person. I know I'm going to have to stop in 5 minutes to remove layers, but I'm too big of a wimp about being cold and forcing myself to start cold is just miserable. I even do this for winter walking in my neighborhood - I'm only walking 2-3 miles, and I bring a comfortable daypack to stuff my huge winter coat in when I warm up. I guess this is one way I 'hike my own hike'!
    I used to hike in boots thinking I needed the ankle support. It turns out using trekking poles is WAY more effective at keeping me from rolling my ankles! And when I use them, it doesn't really matter what's on my feet. I only wear boots right now in the winter, it's wet and muddy and COLD and I like having big warm boots. I have trail runners for wet conditions or excessively rocky terrain, but mostly hike/backpack in Keen sandals all summer.

  • @slighwentwalking2024
    @slighwentwalking2024 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Some of those are new to me.
    I used to live along the blue ridge parkway.
    Never attempted a thru hike. I've done a ton of
    short hikes...thats my jam 🤗
    I can do 12-15 a day for 3 or 4 days...
    then I want a break. Hats off to you folks that
    can and do thru hikes.👍

    • @slighwentwalking2024
      @slighwentwalking2024 Před 4 měsíci +1

      @@Navy1977 I have done a kayak challenge...2021 miles... I completed that in
      116 days. But I slept in my own bed every night.

    • @grnmtns1
      @grnmtns1 Před 3 měsíci

      Wow, that's pretty cool! I'm off to your channel to see what ya got.@@slighwentwalking2024

  • @Hiker_who_Sews
    @Hiker_who_Sews Před 3 měsíci

    In the 60s we pretty much all wore Levi 501 shrink-to-fit button fly jeans. We had thick cotton long johns for night because our cotton Sears sleeping bags were for maybe 50°. We section hiked the PCT, JMT, and other high Sierra trails. Can't recall any of us left for dead, but jeez were our packs heavy with redundant clothes. 🤣 A couple kids had pieces of that new invention, bubble wrap, for insulation/sleeping pads.

  • @bradwilson7514
    @bradwilson7514 Před 3 měsíci

    One thing about cotton is the same as you mentioned in footwear. If you are on an open maintained trail, you don't need as much durability. If you are hiking off trail in brush and briers, heavier cotton clothes come in handy

  • @MoosebearAdventures
    @MoosebearAdventures Před 3 měsíci

    Very nice video 😊

  • @BackcountryPilgrim
    @BackcountryPilgrim Před 4 měsíci

    Excellent!

  • @XxSpecOpsxX
    @XxSpecOpsxX Před 4 měsíci +1

    ive always taken "be bold start cold" to apply to day hikes, meaning dont take that extra layer since its likely just going to go for a ride in your pack after the first 10 minutes. if youre backpacking and have to carry the layer anyway, why not just put it on? lol
    im actually split on trail runners vs boots, i have and use both. trailrunners tend to be for summer days when i know its going to be warm and dry. if i suspect its going to be muddy (the ADKs of new york) then i always go boots, and the trail runners get hung up for the season around november when i want alittle more water proofness to keep my feet dry.

  • @theonlynikki27
    @theonlynikki27 Před 4 měsíci

    I met an AT hiker while on the Long Trail who said "I'm a thorough hiker, not a thru hiker" and I liked that. :) She stopped in every dang town along the way to explore.

  • @lindaferencik6791
    @lindaferencik6791 Před 4 měsíci +6

    Hi Jessica. Thank you for again another great and informative video. I remember you said when you wore all natural fiber material (like Grandma Gatewood) that you did not have any allergic reactions. I wonder if you might have some allergy to the plastic or coatings in materials made with plastic fiber (synthetic material). About the cotton thing. For my UPPER body - it has always worked for me, even in cold weather!! When cross country and downhill skiing, I wear only a long sleeve 100% cotton T shirt and ski pants, boots and gloves. I get so warm that I sweat and the sweat, even in the cold evaporates from the shirt, the shirt dries and I stay warm. It wicks just fine on me in cold and hot weather. All wool, even merino wool, makes me itch. Plastic fiber (synthetic material) on me is always extremely stinky and hot. Just my two cents. Again, thank you for your wonderful content. You are always a bright light on the internet spreading great info and positivity. Linda from Grass Valley CA.

    • @julianlord5366
      @julianlord5366 Před 4 měsíci +2

      Yeah, cotton here too. For some of us, it works just fine !!

    • @shadowcastre
      @shadowcastre Před 4 měsíci +2

      Lindaferencik6791...
      Cotton is awesome...

  • @sticksakimbo2186
    @sticksakimbo2186 Před 3 měsíci

    12 months to complete AT. : Oct - Dec. NC to Amicalola. May- Oct , NC to Maine. Done.

  • @The_Duck_Pond
    @The_Duck_Pond Před 4 měsíci

    Always told trail runners (Hashers … look it up) Cotton is Rotton. They learn quickly and convert the next run.

  • @mariojsworld
    @mariojsworld Před 3 měsíci

    Nicely presented hiking cliches.

  • @woodsman335
    @woodsman335 Před 4 měsíci

    I always sleep in cotton top & bottom. Feels good for sleeping. And i start warm and shed my puffy when i feel the first bead of sweat running down my back.

  • @richardmorris127
    @richardmorris127 Před 4 měsíci

    I've found cotton polyester blends to be a little warmer than 100% cotton. There's a place for both.

  • @m00nsplitter72
    @m00nsplitter72 Před 3 měsíci

    Just popping in to wish you both well and to thank you (Jessica) for the hours of pleasure you have brought me. Live well, little angel.

  • @vinniedayhikerb4977
    @vinniedayhikerb4977 Před 4 měsíci

    Wise words.

  • @Thecolonel795
    @Thecolonel795 Před 4 měsíci

    Two more favorites of mine, “Start out slow, and then taper down”, and “ If it ain’t rain’ it ain’t training’”

  • @NVIK5
    @NVIK5 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Expecting the trail to bring you in shape is a guarantee for injury. Maybe not right away, but you will see the impact later…

  • @DavidRexGlenn
    @DavidRexGlenn Před 4 měsíci

    60F is beach weather here in Northern Minnesota

  • @Jeff-jg7jh
    @Jeff-jg7jh Před 4 měsíci

    Very clever. I haven't watched one of these in a while. I think the last vid I watched was the movie review, which I liked a lot. I rented the movie because. How many of those old time guys(mostly in paintings) hike with those thirty lace boots?

  • @samsammmm470
    @samsammmm470 Před 4 měsíci +45

    when people skip hard parts of the trail with no good reason ruining their continuous footpath saying hike your own hike (completely fine) but then go on to state they thru hiked the whole trail and completed it. Completely undermining the challenge and effort put in to actually thru hike the trail and claim that status. little controversial but that one grinded my gears most.

    • @JadeAkelaONeal
      @JadeAkelaONeal Před 4 měsíci +3

      Like skipping permanently or flip flopping past something and then going back and doing it? If it's the latter I don't think there's anything wrong with it, it's much better for the environment

    • @samsammmm470
      @samsammmm470 Před 4 měsíci +17

      @@JadeAkelaONeal i mean, coming upto a road not feeling it for the day and hitching 30 miles ahead the town and then carrying on from there with no intention fo going back. Or people who did actually skip whole sections maybe because of weather with not intentions of going back. Again all are completely acceptable and valid behaviours hike your own hike, but then dont claim the glory of thruhiking the trail when other people did put the graft in and said person failed to achieve it. My belief is nobody is owed a thru hike or that achievement, you work for it. hike your own hike is an abused phrase for people to skip whilst still claiming to thruhike.

    • @HomemadeWanderlust
      @HomemadeWanderlust  Před 4 měsíci +15

      PREACH 🙌🏻

    • @julianlord5366
      @julianlord5366 Před 4 měsíci +1

      They're just cheating themselves. Medical needs or injuries can lead to it, including if you're hiking with a disability, but that's completely different and justified.
      There's a LOT of this on the Camino Francès, people busing to skip the "boring" bits, or getting a taxi to get up or down the few more "difficult" mountains. Not everyone has all the time they'd need which is another "reason" people have for skipping sections, but there is *nothing* wrong with starting from somewhere further along so as to be able to get to your destination after a continuous hike.

    • @sticktheeagle
      @sticktheeagle Před 4 měsíci +2

      @@samsammmm470I wholeheartedly agree with you on this!!!

  • @unknowuser1843
    @unknowuser1843 Před 4 měsíci

    Totally agree with how boots are not needed. Most jobs I have worked have required boots, one or two of them even required ones with over built ankle suport. Most ankle and feet injuries I have had happened atleast in part because of the fact I had boots on. For me, closer to barefoot the better

  • @robertcampbell1668
    @robertcampbell1668 Před 4 měsíci

    People are different. They have different goals and needs. These also change over time. A spill that a 40 year-old can shake off could leave an older person in trouble. Some of us wouldn't hike anywhere, anytime without long pants and shirts. Others don't. Some of us carry the 10 essentials, even on tame outings. Others don't. Still, it's not just about packing fears, it's also about packing past experiences. If you've ever gotten hurt or turned around while off trail, whether hunting or fishing or hiking, you'll be glad you packed for it.

  • @robertedwards7749
    @robertedwards7749 Před 4 měsíci +2

    You have hiked over 10,000 miles? YOU are my hero!

    • @nicksweeney5176
      @nicksweeney5176 Před 4 měsíci

      Oh, stop. Just ... stop. She isn't. She ain't. She can't be. She couldn't be. She wouldn't be, even if she wanted to be. Girls can't be heroes.

    • @nicksweeney5176
      @nicksweeney5176 Před 4 měsíci

      @Navy1977
      Heroines; am I right?

    • @robertedwards7749
      @robertedwards7749 Před 4 měsíci

      @@nicksweeney5176 never use the stuff!

    • @nicksweeney5176
      @nicksweeney5176 Před 4 měsíci

      @@Navy1977
      🧠😉👍🏻

  • @paulgallagher6544
    @paulgallagher6544 Před 4 měsíci

    Training is not needed for the Camino de Santiago though it can help.
    Training for very difficult terrain that's different. You might not have that terrain anywhere in your training area.
    Having fitness can help you adapt. If it's very steep then fitness on bare rock helps to gain power output.
    Training on just 10 m of steep rock that's similar is better than going without that experience.
    Upper arm strength can be required but specific types.
    This though is rare to be needed on the bulk of thru hikes.

  • @johneason6540
    @johneason6540 Před 4 měsíci

    Last time i wore boots was after decending the South Kaibab trail. Never again. Circa 2018😅😅😅

  • @timdowney6721
    @timdowney6721 Před 3 měsíci

    If you’re going to “train on the trail,” be sure to set quite modest goals, with zero days built in at the beginning….and GRADUALLY increase mileage.
    That means you’re going to be out longer than you think.

  • @LWilli5
    @LWilli5 Před 4 měsíci +3

    I have both boots and trail runners. I wear the boots when bushwhacking or in very cold weather. With some wool insoles, they are much warmer than my trail runners.
    I understand beginning a hike with warm muscles, but if I’m getting out of the car, stepping into the cold, then starting my hike, I’m probably going to start off slightly chilly because I’ll be warm in about 10 minutes. If I’m climbing out of my tent to start my hike, I’m going to get warmed up before removing layers. I think it is a difference between chilled to the bone and warm with chilly skin.
    Good job on the graphics, Aaron. The forehead tattoo was awesome 😂.

  • @alangauld6079
    @alangauld6079 Před 4 měsíci

    Shoulda worn the trail runners on that one Dixie, you might not have landed on your butt!
    But a heap of good advice. Training for the trail makes sense if you are only doing a short trail - we have a lot of 60-100 mile trails in the UK and a non-walker doing one of those will get benefit from some training. But on longer hikes, even only 10 days or so, I find I get my trail legs within the first week. And I really agree that on a groomed path you don't need boots but, once you start bushwhacking, especially in rough terrain where you can't see the ground, boots are better IMHO. And where I hike a lot of routes don't have any paths.

  • @SpaceCaptnFace
    @SpaceCaptnFace Před 4 měsíci

    Love my keen boots. They easily last 1200 miles and need no breaking in. Can't justify to the wife spending 600 on 4 pairs of running shoes that barely last 2 months. Hiking in Colorado, I'd rather not roll my ankles on scree fields...no idea how trail runners manage that because it seems everytime I head on trail with my Asics, my ankles end up perpendicular to my legs

  • @ckg5937
    @ckg5937 Před 4 měsíci

    Boots for portaging a canoe plus pack over boulders.