Things I have learned, found interesting, love or hate on the trail

 1. Trekking poles - I had never used these magnificent devices before a test hike I did right before I left. They were at first a very awkward extension of my arm that I had trouble getting used to and had originally planned to leave them. To think I ever got on without them is what amazes me now. The company for which I have trek poles "Leki" also has a lifetime guarantee. If any break or bend, I can call them and they will either send me replacement parts or allow me to exchange them at the next outfitter for free. You are doing good Leki keep it up. 

2. Candy bars - may as well be currency on the trail. 

3. Switchbacks - I can't decide what I truly think about these. Only one occasion have they actually served to benefit me whole on every other I felt as though I was gonna smack someone if I had to encounter another one. They're is nothing Ike rounding a corner on an uphill climb thinking you are there only to have the rug pulled out from beneath your dreams by a switchback. 

4. Snoring - for some reason there seem to be a lot of fog horn impersonators on the trail. Nothing sucks more than having a whole room of them going back in forth in a hostel as if it is mating season for some nasally animal. As soon as it is warm enough I will be camping as far away from shenanigans like this as possible. 

5. Word of mouth - the most useful tool on the trail. I have learned where to go and what to do from all different walks of life. It doesn't matter who it is, all thru hikers stick together and share the best things so if someone offers you an opinion of somewhere to eat or stay, at to least check it out before you write it off. This especially applies to hostels. If it is a shitty hostel. You will know. It will be written in hiker log books and everywhere in between. Pay attention to what people around you have to say. 

6. Food - you are gonna eat so much more than think you can. Plan to start carrying more after the first month. Once a body adjusts to the wait and miles are increased you are burning through more calories than you know. Feed the factory and be kind to it, it will respond in kind. Also when you go into town don't just eat crap. Drink a V8 and eat some fruit before you pack in a half dozen doughnuts. You can treat your body like a dumpster on the trail, in of own at least pretend you eat healthy for a minute. 

7. Personal hygiene - if you are staying at a hostel, as soon as on as you walk in take a shower. For the rest of the people who have already been to here washed and clean we smelled you down the street. If we are all sharing a shelter and we all smell like the ass crack of a backcountry hillbilly then by all means pull up a seat next to me by the fire and let's pretend we once had standards and dignity... Shower when you can and wash your clothes when you can. Farther north it may be more difficult with a lack of hostels but that's what streams and warm days are for. 

Please god brush your teeth. If nothing else brush your teeth. 

8. Communing with nature - I tried to put this as subtly as I could. In the woods you have 2 options (depending on location/availability).

1. Digging a hole - there is nothing quite like a brisk half naked morning doing you business in the woods. Like ah da bears do.. This may seem kinda strange at first but considering most people on the trail shower weekly you will get used to it. This also has the added advantage of not having to use a privy. At first I was all for the privy but now not so much and moving on we can see why 

2. Privies - it is essentially a human waste compost pile in he he woods. Cool, you got a toilet seat and 3 sometimes even 4 walls and a roof, what more could you ask for? Here is my problem with this. That whole everyone not showering for a week thing, means everyone's nasty un-showered smelly donk has to share the same space. 

I will enjoy my hole in the ground thank you. 

These are all just random thoughts and how I see them. There may be more later, I just wanted to put these up for now.