A bad day hiking beats a good day at the office.

always use a staff when crossing water. if you aren't carrying a staff, find a suitable branch. you can probe for pockets, and it gives you another point of balance.

@MrFmiller

4 жыл бұрын

5USgRWFH 100%! I always plant a pole downstream before taking a step in case I slip. Moving water exerts a lot of force. Having a brace to push back against is both a physical and psychological aid.

@kokopelau6954

3 жыл бұрын

Use 2, 1 upstream and 1 downstream. My Grandpa thought me that. 4 legs are always more stable than 2.

@redpillnibbler4423

3 жыл бұрын

There’s a proper method,check out Ray Mears.

In a very crowded genre, you are one of my favorite backpacking video producers

Thanks, Ernie! Great honest video! I had a challenging trip myself last October on Mt Charleston (Las Vegas, NV). I'm 63, going up Echo Canyon. Hike starts at ~7,000 feet and my destination was near Cave Spring at around 9,300. That trail will kick butt. There's no water on that trail (about 3 miles or so). I was carrying 65 lbs including 7 liters, hoping to stay 2 nights and resupply at Cave Spring which turned out to have dried up. I had to cancel the 2nd night for lack of water. I was expecting temps in the teens overnight and had to carry the really cold bag that weighs about 5 lbs. Way too heavy! I'm going to seriously go through my gear and figure out what I can take out. I have the same hammock you do. One thing will be to get a zero degree top quilt, and the other is to decide what I didn't use and not carry that anymore. We have fire restrictions here so no campfires. Way too dangerous. I'll be happy if I can get the base weight down around 30 lbs. Water weight is self-correcting! At my age, I'm just really pleased I was able to do that hike. It was really strenuous and the climb up was a bear. Going down the next day was a bear too. I had planned on having a rest day in camp with perhaps a short day hike that I didn't get. I was pretty well tuckered out when I got back to the truck! The thing is, unless you push yourself you don't know what you can do. That hike down the mountain was no fun at all, but now I've got the incentive to lighten the load for next time. Cheers!

Ernie your honesty is so refreshing, it is nice to hear a real report and not some perfectly edited presentation. I am a senior citizen and I truly appreciate your efforts. I know I should stick to the short trails and make the most of it.

Thanks for the honest and deep reflection on the good and bad of your trip. It's a refreshing contrast to many backpacking content makers who minimize or gloss over their mistakes. Your wife's advice is a reminder we all need to hear.

You will always learn more from your failures than your successes. It's good to evaluate what went wrong and what went well. Thanks for your honesty and candidness!

I had almost identical lessons-learned hiking with 6 older adults that invited me for a section of the AT in VA. We hiked all morning in 70-80 deg weather in pouring rain. It was like a sauna in our rain ponchos. Even though we were ahead of schedule for the overall 2 week hike, when we arrived at a dry sheltered campsite with water and a place to dry our soaked gear, the leader said we must push on despite differing opinions. Mid-afternoon the rain had stopped and we passed up a mile long side hike to a larger water source, because the leader said there were more convenient water stops ahead. There weren't (they were dry). Late afternoon we were all out of water and some were becoming somewhat delierious showing signs of dehydration and overheating. When we arrived at the campsite, the very small water source had to be dug out by hand to create a very small surface pool. It took hours to filter the water we needed for the group. I really think there is a need for multi-stage pre-filtering to remove the sediment that clogs the mechanical filter system. Even though my First Need filter had a prefilter, it clogged repeatedly. I really needed more pre-pre-filtering. In some situations it seems a 3 or 4-step filtration process is in order, larger sediments, sediments that would clog the final, and the final. Thanks for sharing.

@MsRotorwings

4 жыл бұрын

Rick Bartley That sounds brutal. I guess the “leader” wasn’t much of a leader after all.

Thanks for keeping it real. Great that you're willing to share the lessons. We've all had bad days. I had a bad day of too little food, too little sleep and dehydrated from BP meds and heat. 13 hours to hike 13 miles, dizzy and no strength. BP was 96/54 when I got home. Off those meds now. I love the Garmin mini and the weather. I get the about the same battery life. It saved me and a buddy from getting soaked when an unexpected storm was coming and we set up early to ride out the storm.

I can relate, big time! Years ago my wife and I planned our first backpacking trip in the High Sierras. We had attended various no trace backpacking classes directly related to backpacking in Yosemite. Off we went, within an hour on the trail, we started to realize our mistakes. We weren’t drinking enough water, the trail elevation was more aggressive than we understood, we were WAY overpacked with our heavy packs. We mustarded forward until we couldn’t go any further, still about two miles from our planned campground. Fortunately, as we were resting, another couple was returning from our destination. They were returning from their trip early because the campground was completely infested with bears. Although they tied their food up in a tree they awoke in the middle of the night to find the food sack was completely demolished by a black bear that climbed the tree and reached their food bag. That was our saving grace, we quickly changed direction and headed back down to the parking lot. We ended up camping in the "walk in" campground in the valley floor of the park. The park was crowded (with young noisy mountain climbers), who wanted to party all night. The best part of that experience was a guy who played a "mean" harmonica several tents away from us. The music lulled us off to sleep in spite of "camp chatter". We learned many lessons that trip. Future trips were better planned, with shorter hikes. As we got more skilled, we started expanding our distance. Yosemite is a magical place, we have very fond memories backpacking there. Several years later we were transferred to upstate New York near the Adirondacks mountains. Most of our camping experiences there was canoe camping, but that’s a completely different experience.

As always Ernie, a great video. I've only got a couple of things to add. 1. Hiking poles. I know they're another thing to carry, and ultralight eschews anything that adds weight, but if you're going up and down a lot of hills they earn every ounce. Also they add to the safety of river crossings (Also, Always face into the flow, so you can see anything coming downstream towards you, and so the flow can't "unlock" your knees) 2. Pre-filter your water with a bandana/buff/whatever. Gunk slows down the filter, and if you can get rid of it before it hits it, you'll filter faster and do more before having to maintain it. I've only had one trip go bad, and that was quite a few years ago. I was on Dartmoor (in the UK) with a group training for an event. I'd been in the area a few times and I knew it fairly well and had an annotated map (this will be important later) It's getting to mid-afternoon. the weather is horrible cold, windy, driving rain and all of a sudden one of the guys I'm with starts so show signs of hypothermia. We've still got a good few hours to get to the campsite where we are being met by the training team, and it became clear that it wasn't looking like we were going to get there. So. Decision time. We have no way to contact anyone. Someone isn't well and won't be able to go much farther. So I have a look at my map. I see there is a small hut that we used as a waypoint a few weeks before. We make for that. It's got a cast iron stove and a bunker of coal in it, so we get into the hut, light it up and get that thing glowing cherry red. We get the afflicted member of the group out of his wet clothes and into a dry sleeping bag, then start filling him with hot chocolate. After a couple of hours he's back to normal (or as normal as he ever got). We're all warm, dry, and have fed ourselves hot food. We make a plan for the morning and settle ourselves down to sleep. About 1 in the morning we get woken by a banging on the front door of the hut. It's the moor rescue team out looking for us. Against our vociferous protests (We're warm and dry, and it's still raining out) we pack up and get escorted back to town where the training team was waiting for us. Basicly sometimes the best thing to do is to just bin it and do it again another day. Also, something I learned from an Expedition Medic at a training event I went to a few years ago. Dehydration reduces cognitive function, and so does high air temperature. The hotter you are, and the thirstier you are, the more prone you are to making bad decisions. Another good reason to stay hydrated. Anyway, As I said, great video. I'm really enjoying your work.

RE: water filter When there is any kind of gunk (leaves, sand, small algae, etc) you have to pre-filter (use the shemag, one of the 10 c-s) . It doesn't matter what brand of filter you trust, it will gunk up and slow down to a trickle or worse if you don't treat it well! I own both a befree and a hydroblu. For me both have worked.

@longrider42

2 жыл бұрын

I agree, I prefilter with coffee filters. I can also use them for fire starters and TP.

Ernie- You did fine. Clearly and not surprisingly (you are an M.D. after all!), you're a perfectionist, and of course you want it to all go just right. However, it's honest videos like this that remind us all to be humble. I actually find the trips that don't go to plan where the subjects learn a lot to be the most interesting!! Remember, I may watch 4 videos of backpacking on that same trail, but it's those unique perspectives that keep me coming back and watching more. Great job. Looking forward to seeing how things go on your next overnighter!

Physically speaking, going from "couch to trail" for those infrequent backpacking trips is just something you'll have to accept. Not always practical to condition those legs properly for a 1 or 2 night trip. Especially with a lot of elevation gain.

Experience is a great teacher. Thanks for the Garmin review. Definitely my weak point now. 66 now and solo hike/fish backcountry. With enough Experience I've learned to address weaknesses before they become a Crisis. Never stops. I hope.

I love my hammock gear quilts and tarps. My incubator 0, 20 and 40 on my XLC has always been excellent. I use them on my chameleon with no problems at all. For this past two winters I’ve used my amok draumr hammock down to -19 degrees. I was toasty!! Great video reviews!!👍

Here are some filter care tips from Sawyer: Sawyer recommends pre-filtering water through a cloth. I recommend a millbank bag. You can make your own millbank bag that holds just a liter to save on weight. Dirty swamp: no problem. Sawyer says you can improve the back flush effectiveness by soaking the filter in hot (but not boiling) water for an hour then back flushing with hot water. When you back flush Sawyer says to "be forceful" and "do not be gentle". Their filters are rated to 40 psi and if you are gentle the water will just take the path of least resistance and fail to dislodge particles. If the filter still performs poorly it may be calcium build up in which case Sawyer says you can soak the filter in vinegar for a half hour then back flush with hot water, repeating as necessary. If there is a filter out there that never clogs I would be suspect of it's effectiveness. Using a pre-filter and back flushing often and "forcefully" should give you the best performance on any filter. When you store it, back flush with distilled water to help prevent calcium build up. I, too, have been dehydrated on a mountain. All I could think about was water. Hydrating seems intuitive but it is a learned habit. I now drink some water to quench my thirst, then take another swig and do this on a routine basis, before thirst gets to me. I've actually lost my thirst and hunger and had about 10 feet worth of energy at a time. Didn't summit that day. Once came across a guy laying on the trail. This guy was so cramped that his friend and I had to hold his legs straight to stay the pain. He had become sick from exertion or mountain sickness or both and vomited at the summit and he was on his way back down, completely dehydrated but having a hard time getting anything down. We had about 4 miles to go on a steep grade to get to the trail head. Not sure how long it took him. I had given him gatorade and left him with his friend. It's all I could do. I do carry hydration pills now, though.

Glad your feeling better! An old saying: "Hydrate or Die" Lessons Learned, thanks for sharing and keep up the great work!!

Grayl Geopress. I believe the Gray Bearded Green Beret also loves this. Look at the reviews, really good. I just wish it filtered more water before replacing the filter, but then again, carrying another cartridge filter isn't all that bad and it's very light. Again, we can all see the importance of water. Thanks Ernie for your genuineness and humility.

Outstanding Ernie! Wish more channels ran through a debrief. Good presentation of lessons learned. As far as weather, welcome to Arkansas. Our weatherman has a tough job. Thanks for sharing

Great video. I’m glad to see this trip didn’t get you down too long. Lessons are important. I had a similar hike a few years ago, when I was getting back into hiking again. I now bring enough capacity to carry 3 liters of water, trekking poles (useful on water crossings, uphills and down hills) and dedicated water footwear. I still make mistakes, they’re just different ones.

I'm glad you have the mindset to use obstacles as a learning experience, even if that perspective takes a little time to develop. It's easy to get frustrated or discouraged when things don't go to-plan. Learning to stop, take a deep breath, and let go of the plan a little isn't easy either. It's always good to see you get out, Ernie. Stay healthy.

Something you might consider. I've known some fishermen that wade out to do all their fishing. And one thing they all do is have or put wool felt on the soles of their waders. It gives them secure footing on the slippery rocks. You might try that with your water sandals. Also, always use a staff when hiking around water. It gives you a third point to stabilize you. 😁

@kokopelau6954

3 жыл бұрын

I carry wave runners outside my pack for water crossings, they have soles made for gripping and being mesh they dry fast.

I really appreciate your informative, entertaining & introspective video.

Thanks for the recap. Good to hear your thought process, gear analysis, and lessons learned.

Like David Canterbury always says: The best place to store water is in your stomach. Always top off your water bottles AND your stomach.

Great “open” video and you are so right, hindsight is a wonderful thing😂 I think also you have answered all your own questions so the next time you go will be much better! Regarding the dehydration thing the only bit of advice I can give is slightly from a military stand point in as much if you know you are a bit dehydrated drink your water........all of it! It’s doing you no good at all stuck in your water bottle and rationing it to a few sips or gulps here and there is doing nothing except freshen your mouth. This golden nugget was gleaned from the worlds finessed special forces (the SAS)! Once again thanks for taking the time to upload brilliant. Kind regards Clive from deepest Dorset 🇬🇧

@redpillnibbler4423

3 жыл бұрын

I think salt and sugar is good to carry to make an electrolyte drink.

It’s a good idea to carry some sugar and salt to mix with water as an electrolyte to recover from dehydration.Do some research on it 👍

One thing I have found I like about the BeFree filter is that it is easy to clean. I switched from the Sawyer Squeeze/CNOC Vecto 2L late last year to a BeFree/CNOC Vecto 2L combo and love it. I found that simply removing the filter and shaking the filter fibers back and forth in the stream/river/etc. before filtering actually improves the flow dramatically. It knocks the particles and such out and opens up the filter fibers more. I hike in the same areas as you (live in DFW). I spend a lot of time in the Oachitas and Ozarks, and that water does carry a lot of silt and stuff in it. I had the same problem with my Squeeze slowing down after a single water stop. The BeFree, however, is easier to clean (no backflushing necessary). Sorry to see the trip wasn't better, but every day on the trail is either a learning opportunity or a small personal victory. I would suggest that your 40F underquilt is probably plenty warm. I use my 40F HG Phoenix (3/4 UQ) most of the year. I don't normally trade out for my 20F Incubator until temps drop consistently below 30F. My 40F seems to carry me comfortably into the low 30s without an issue. I have a 30F Burrow that I pair with it, and that's my goto combo until temps get into the upper 20s. Then I pair my 20F Incubator with a 10F UGQ Bandit XL. And, I have to admit, I still take my alcohol stove setup. I have actually started taking my Solo Lite or Lixada tower stove (like the Toaks wood stove, but works better for me than the Toaks). I put my little alcohol stove in there and take 4 oz of fuel, but only for emergencies. Otherwise, I have really enjoyed the wood burning stoves on the trail. I never have trouble finding fuel, and if it is rainy I have my alky stove. We're planning on hitting the Eagle Rock Loop again next year (probably in the Fall, so the water levels are manageable), and the Talahina loop of the Oachita National Recreation Trail this coming Spring. I'm really looking forward to getting back on the trail again. It's been too long.

One more thing... use hiking poles! They take a ton of weight off your knees on the downhill, and on the uphill you can drive with your arms. As others pointed out, it's another safety factor in river crossings. It turns you into a four legged critter which I really appreciate in the mountains. I would have selected Gaters for the water crossings. Better protection for the feet trumps the extra weight and they're still pretty light and make great camp shoes.

Glad you made it back safely!

Great review of the Hike. Gear talk....I also have an Warbonnet XLC Hammock & HG 20* Burrow. Pick up a 2QZQ Underquilt Protector. I would also recommend Arrowhead Equipment UQ Triangle Thingies, they really help to keep a quilt in place. They fit a bit different with the shelf & side tie out but it works. I picked up a new hat last year a Tilley Hiker T4MO-1 what a great hat & I’m going to say the “ Cooling” feature on this hat actually works. My water filter is ...well old school, it’s a pump & never lets me down.

Thank you for sharing your experience with us! Also for your honesty and how you handled it all knowing your limits. Glad I’m able to catch your channel as it’s starting to grow to see your progress as you continue.

Also Im a big fan of Les Stroud..aka...Survivorman,this guy took a beating when he did the seasons of Survivorman and your video makes me think of his show.

The honesty is real. If you from LA definitely do a Yosemite or Sierra backpack but spend a nite or 2 at elevation before starting. I think the beautiful scenery > pain. But yes also plan to be near water - google earth is your friend. Great recap!

Prefiltering your water will extend the life your BFree. You can use a filter bag or bandana for that.

My daughter and i did the same trip July 4 two years ago. We started out at Center Point trailhead, did the Goat Trail (Big Bluff), continued down to Old River Trail and fallowed it all the way to Kyles Landing. We did make a wrong turn on to a “social trail” and I think you might have done the same thing, taking us to a point where it was really difficult getting down the the river and it was too deep to cross. We managed to backtrack and were able to get back on the ORT all the way to Kyles. Temperatures got up to 102😬

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for sharing & self-analyzing the ups & downs of this hike. First Off, you've come to the self-realization you need to do better at "Hydration" right from the beginning. For Myself, I drink a 24 oz bottle of water as I'm driving to the trailhead & make sure it's all gone B4 I shoulder my backpack. If I'm not waterlogged when I am ready to start hiking, I'll stand still & continue to drink more water until I am WATERLOGGED. Once I'm waterlogged at the beginning, then & only then do I begin my hike. 2nd off; I almost bought a BeFree & decided not to because of other people's experience with it filtering s-l-o-w. Yes, it's lightweight, & the big come-on is its high flow rate when NEW. I decided to stick with my MSR Trailshot which I carry in a pant pocket. I've found & extended the length of the outlet tube. I can drink directly from the Trailshot water output nozzle or attach it directly to the bite valve on the drink tube of my Hydrapak bladder. When I come to any water source it is easy to pull out my MSR Trailshot & drink from the water source till I'm satisfied; I prefer to error on the side of being waterlogged rather than having to deal with de-hydration. I'm 75 years old & have never lost sight of the fact that my primary objective of any hike is to return to the trailhead under my own power. All other objectives fall by the wayside. I carry an ACR ResQLink Personal Locator Beacon. I'll use it only as a last resort, if or when I'm unable to return to the trailhead under my own power.

@geraldinegregory.1803

4 жыл бұрын

Wow, you are an inspiration. I'm 63 and thought my wild hiking/camping days were nearly finished! Good advice to start waterlogged, I do that too, but then I forget to keep drinking.....Oh well, I'm still enjoying life and I really hope that I'll still be trailing in another 12 years!!

Ernie... Sorry I’m a bit late on this comment of your very honest review.. thank you for making it .... don’t beat yourself up too much, I think that bout of flu you had really knocked back your stamina making it so much harder. I know you have commented that you don’t take trekking poles and I know I wasn’t a big fan either. Then I watched Bigfoots channel on how he completed the AT in 100 days and a big part of it was ‘trekking poles’... then I decided to give them a try using his techniques. It was a real eye opener 😳 using them on uphills helps the big muscles and on downhills it really saves the knees. Balancing on sketchy sections of trail and through those water crossings it’s a breeze ... and if course they can be used for the tent poles as well ... frankly from a skeptic I’m a big fan of them now... pretty much take one or two even on a day hike ... they really help in so many ways and I’m convinced my body feels so much better at the end of a tough day. You might want to check them out for future hikes in dem hills .... thanks for the review of the Garmin wife wants me to get one for my trips .. think I will after this glowing referral... oh btw like your video format ... mind if I borrow a couple of your techniques ?? 😂😂... ATB Dave

Hydro Blu filters have an awesome flow rate. Might want to check it out.

Louisiana native here. Great video...enjoyed watching this one and the trip video. I hope to get up to the Buffalo River area sooner than later. I've done the ERL several times and always enjoy the challenge of it. My preference for water filtration has always been pump filters. Currently using the MSR Hyperflow and I filter into a smart water bottle. I bring a rolled up 2 liter platupus bag for extra water storage around camp. Also, never regret having to make a decision that cuts a trip short or alters plans in the name of safety.

Sometimes redundancy beats ultralight. The solution for muddy water is pre-filtering. Coffee filter or bandana rubber-banded to your filter may be enough. Serious water safety requires two methods, such as filter+ClO2. That also gives you a backup. In the end, though, you NEED more containers. I'd pack BOTH a bottle and something like a Gnoc bag. But, then, I'm a redundancy-fan, not an ultralighter.

You needed salt with your water, drinking just water once dehydrated only further lowers your sodium levels, always carry sachets of salt

Great video and I really like your channel. I learned to always carry an full 32 oz at all times. This has saved my water hog bacon for many years. My advice is always carry more water and have the capability to carry more water than your ultralight mindset would like. You get dehydrated, than all the advantages of “ultralight” fail because you slow down due to lost energy.

My advice to you is make sure your in good enough shape for the hike. Always use a staff. Boil your water. I always hiked with a friend. You never know what might happen.Minimalist hiking is not necessarily ultra light hiking. There is a lot to be said for a little comfort and good conversation. I wish you well in your future endeavors.

Thanks for sharing!

Ernie you survived and you are still smiling. No blood and no broken bones and no Rescue teams. Life is good.

Great video - thanks for sharing! I’ve had to bail on multi-night trips a couple times because water was scarcer than I expected and hotter temps meant I didn’t feel confident with the storage capacity I had to keep going farther from known water sources. I also tend to overestimate how much I can do in a day - not so much miles, I can keep truckin, but elevation gain AND descent can be hard to estimate how much it will poop me out. I do love my BeFree and love stomping through rivers in my trail runners without a care.

great video Doc.

My advice on your water problem is to always carry a good cotton bandana to pre-filter your nasty water before you put it in your filter. and instead of using the micro filter use the full size Sawyer. Water like a fire hose.

Maybe get a millbank bag to prefilter the sediment out of the water before purifying it.

Great Video Ernie! You were hiking in my favorite area of the Buffalo. I had the same experience with the BeFree. I took it on it’s first Yakpacking trip because I thought it would be perfect to just scoop and drink with. It was not. It clogged up and I’ve never taken it out again. Great concept, poor flowing filter. I’ve now opted for a gravity system and I’ll never go back. Hands free!

After some research, pre-filtering with a buff or something seems to be the go-to for lightweight - I'm more of a hike my own hike throw it in the bag kinda guy myself. Still new ot the backpack, so it may change later... I love your honesty and analysis of the hikes though. What you are doing is certainly helpful. My BeFree should be in today and I will run some hardcore tests around the state parks over the next few weeks to see if Sawyer or Katadyn captures my heart better. Keep rocking on Doc - you rule. (Great namedrop of Joe too... I miss some Scout)

Browns Group Water Filter Bag or millbank bag is somthing that works all the time. but still need to boil tho.....

i have cut my finger with saw in my first solo camp and i was in middle of nowhere and i dont have any med kit so i use my extra tshirt as a bandage and i walked 10 km to the hospital now i am doing everyting carefully and i am really prepared yes nature is beatiful but safety #1 :)

Things like that happens to me all the time. It’s a part of the adventure. Next time something else will happens. That’s what’s is great with hiking is that you can change your plans. It is really enjoying to have to do backtracking. I hate when that happened. But I think you did the right thing to try to find your filter.

Hello dear if you have large ziplocbags or trash bag you can use them as water container . water is really important // have a good day.

Hey Ernesto Jose G-R how are you Sir? Nobody ever uses them anymore, but my MSR waterworks Mini NEVER let me down EVER when I used to backpack a lot about 10 years ago. I loved how east it was to work / filter and clean / back flush, if you needed to. I never, not even once, had a problem with it. It weighs more than your Sawyer Squeeze or Sawyer Mini but there are always trade offs, you know, weight for functionality. check it out Ernie. You have some mighty fine gear too! I can't even look at a Z-Packs Pack right now. I want one but it is Waaaaay out of my budget. Good thing you are well paid as a Doc. I'm happy for you.

another great vid

Actually, it is a good idea to watch the weather for a week or two before you go. If the forecast keeps changing, then you know the forecast isn't that certain and can plan accordingly. If the forecast is stable, then you can trust it a little more (although I try not to trust them too much). Great set of videos from a part of the country I've never seen!

I have the bigger InReach and love it. I prefer having the ability to still be able to find my way by the map on the device instead of having to depend on a phone as well.

@larryfisher7056

4 жыл бұрын

I also have the explorer + and will not go on the trail without it. I'm 70 and usually hike alone. The ability to email and text is a great comfort. I was visiting St Helena Island in the South Atlantic last year and the Garmin was really the only way to keep in contact with my wife that was available to me. The Earthmate app works very well also.

I’ve hit that dehydration wall twice: once during a brutal 24-mile loop of the Linville Gorge (NC) in June, and once last summer on the second day of a 76.2-mile thruhike of The Foothills Trail. The first time was southern June heat and humidity combined with some of the hardest terrain I’ve hiked-the last 8 miles or so were also essentially dry. Dehydration carried over into the next day, when I foolishly bypassed streams in the morning cool, only to get pushed to the breaking point later. That was as close to a medical emergency as I’ve come in the backcountry. Body temp going haywire, getting chills, thoughts getting muddy...it was frightening. Here’s the good news: I got smarter. On the FT thruhike, I didn’t drink much on a short-mileage but hot first day. Second day I pushed the miles early, savoring views, but then the not drinking enough on Day 1 caught up to me. Take a few steps, counting them, then stop and rest. Drain the last of my water. Continue. Badly but not dangerously dehydrated. YT lesson learned. I did camel up at a stream, forcing myself to drink all I could, then filled up my 2 20-oz bottles and my 1.5L bottle. From that day on, I drank every 15 minutes, ate a snack once an hour, and stopped to replenish water every two hours, when I actually stopped to rest. I also added Propel to my morning water. Getting my trail legs literally included this water and calorie intake routine, and it worked like a charm. I was using the Sawyer Squeeze in a gravity feed system. I need lots of water, so I carry that heavier system to give my body what it needs. I’ve never regretted it. Thanks for keeping it real!

Man... I've been there. I know EXACTLY what you went through. The BRT is my normal stomping grounds and I've cramped up, both legs frozen straight 1.5 miles into a 12mil day on the BRT up and down all day. Hydrating and just walking it off honestly was all I could do. Regarding filters... It's heavy but checkout the Katedyn Hiker. I often take my wife and other people out who aren't as experienced or don't have all the gear they need and I can keep up with 4+ people pretty easily with it. Like I said it is a little heavy but it never lets me down. Also I have it rigged up so I can refill my water bladder on my pack and I don't even have to take my pack off if I didn't want to. I love the katedyn hiker even if it is a little heavier.

Ernie also maybe check out the MSR TrailShot pocket-sized water filter. Maybe this or the MSR Waterworx Miniworks will work better for you. There is also the Katadyn Hiker Pro that lots of people like. That's a great little filter too. Hope this helps you.

You should try the underquilt hangers from Dutch, they pull the suspension cords upward at a steeper angle. Much less slipping of the quilt

Yup I went hunting and got really dehydrated. Wasn't sure if I'd make it back. I was scared. All cramped up and out of breath

Take some 50/50 cardiac salt and mix it with a little water. Potassium stops the cramps quickly. Sometimes it is not water you need, just like people eat candy when they really need salt. This works amazing and is so cheap. just a pinch of salt as it can be toxic.

I was surprised to hear your opinion of the Be free water filter. I absolutely love mine. I was a little confused when you said that when the performance diminished, it was basically at the performance level of the Sawyer Squeeze, the previous choice of us multi day backpackers.

Danggg,wish I could sleep like a log.😴😄thanks for the video

Same thing happened to me same place!! Left for a 5 mile 1200ft el change hike.. Maybe a liter of water... not quite.. turned into 10 miles 2500ft el change.. last half mile straight up to the parking area.. Step machine from hell.. granite stairs!!!!!! Thighs cramped like a mother

I really want to learn if there is anything that can make this hot weather this is coming more comfortable. I know that doesn't relate to this video well but I know you live down south and wonder if you have any good tips for the heat. I am getting older and just want to be more comfortable out hiking and camping.

“I had a plan and it ended up shot to hell” - welcome to my world.

It always amazes me that the ultra lighters will travel with so little water to save weight. In addition to always topping off at a water source...remember that you can always carry one liter in your belly and two liters on your back. Take the time to rest and drink a liter whenever you fill your water bottles.

Sounds like a lot of your new gear did pretty well. Execpt the katadyn be free. I actually enjoyed the adventure and this AAR. if your looking for a good filter i cant give enough praise to the hydro blu versa flow. Doesnt work with smart water bottle though so grab a cnoc bag and your good to go.

It's best to do as many short hikes as possible before you do a long one to physically and mentally prepare yourself every year! Also don't cut yourself short! Bring what makes you comfortable and there's nothing wrong with a 20lb. backpack load! It makes you stronger and happier in the end.🙂

You might like Eagle Rock Loop in the Ouachita NF. A little closer to you. There are several videos online if you want to research it. 1/4 of it is tough, but worth it overall.

@aggyMI

4 жыл бұрын

Stay in shade, avoid being in the sun in peak times

Have you tried a Hydroblu Versa water filter? I’m really pleased with mine so far

It’s not documented as much, but the Arkansas and Missouri Ozarks are tougher trails than people think. The higher elevation western state’s trails get the most discussion but the Ozark area is no slouch with incline/decline elevation as well as scenic beauty. Compound that elevation with forest density, humidity and insect pressure (ticks) and a hiker has a lot to plan for. The daily mileage will not be what you think it ought to be if your new to this region.

You can do better in your choice of Freeze-Dried Meals. As an example, you eat Good to Go Classic Marinara Pasta & pay $13.50 for a pouch consisting of 22 grams of Protein & 850 calories. I choose Peak Refuel, Beef Marinara Pasta & pay $12.95 @REI for 49 grams of Protein & 990 calories. NO fillers, No TVP in Peak Refuel Freeze-Dried Meals. Both Good To Go and Peak Refuel are superior to Mountain House meals in terms of price, nutrition, & taste.

I found another filter you may like Dr. Ernie. Check out the Katadyn Hiker Water Microfilter.

Try Grayl water filter.. It is not what you would call light weight but I used it in India and never got sick....

Grayl Geopress

sawyer squeeze

I think there's something weird going on with your BeFree, because I've used mine a lot and it is a firehose compared to my Squeeze, which I've also used a lot. Don't write it off yet.

Interesting afterthoughts. How do you handle the loss of electrolytes when drinking that much? Long distance biking (+150 miles) and no electrolytes always makes me cramp like mad.

@longrider42

2 жыл бұрын

Gator Aid! I learned that in 2012 doing RAGBRAI end of July in Iowa. Kept me alive.

Any thoughts about maintaining your electrolytes?

So how did the Inreach Mini work out on the trail? Did you have issues connecting with the satellites at any point?

@PaleoHikerMD

4 жыл бұрын

Worked Flawlessly for me, never lost signal at all.

Hammocks are definitely worth the investment.

Did it pull hairs off the bottom of your feet ;)

Recovering from the flu probably influenced decisions and stamina