Thank you. I thru hiked the AT 40 years ago. Starting April I will be doing the CDT through New Mexico, but not as a through hiker. At age 68 I’ll be hiking it as a pilgrim, letting my aging body encounter the landscape on its own terms. I appreciated your comments. They were good reminders. Canyonelder

Concerning "the Trail Provides", I have so many stories, including one about a nurse and a surgical assistant dropping by the shelter I was in to get out of the rain on the day I needed two staples removed from my head. 😂

Thanks for your observations and your experiences. Currently planning a SOBO for 2025 so I will watching your videos to get a sense of what the future holds. I will be closer to 70 when I start my hike and found that many of your comments really resonated . . . particularity around mileage and the mental challenge. I really believe other then an injury the challenge of the trail will exist between the ears. Thanks for sharing.

My wife and I did a NOBO this year and I thought often about the phrase “the trail provides”… i would joking tell people that the trail provided me with a canvas upon which to paint my suffering (it was very hard for me) as a way to juxtapose my main observation which was that it was people who were doing the providing… not the trail. The trail isn’t magic, the people who show up with the magic are. The best part of the experience, for me, was the people we met on the journey.

@MarkSangamon

7 ай бұрын

Life in general.

@360Investigations

7 ай бұрын

3/4 of the trail is straight up work and boring. Your mind wanders because you have none of the everyday distractions that take away your basic focus. I have no problems doing 10-12 miles a day. Once in a while I do 16-20 just to break up the monotony. I also go to get the hell away from everyone and have no problems detaching myself from being around people.

I am middle aged and had never heard of type 2 fun until you described it just now.

This was very interesting! I like the way you emphasized that the KZread videos are like a "highlight" reel and not like the full experience! It seems that would be obvious, but I think we viewers tend to forget about that sometimes and think it is all excitement and fun.

Wonderful to see and hear from you again. Enjoy life sweetie, 😊

People don't often discuss how extremely boring things get sometimes. I would highly recommend having multiple options for entertainment. Podcasts, music, download KZread videos, Ebooks. But sometimes the best thing is to talk to your tramily and play trail games like Guess the word, I spy, or twenty questions.

I’ve been watching through your videos starting in Maine. I’ve gotten up to CT. I must say you have A LOT of grit, especially in Maine and NH. The trail is hard enough, but add that weather! Did you ever lose it? Did crying not make it on tape? I think I would have lost it a few times. You were smart to take as many zeros as you needed. Such a weird rainy summer. You are a very strong woman.

@Summit-Sam

7 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! I’m not much of a crier, but i am pretty sure the wildlife had to cover their ears 😂 needless to say my tough outbursts would probably get me banned on KZread!

Thank you so much for this type of content! I love listening to your videos while I'm biking/hiking.

Good rant!

Very helpful thanks. Happy New Year!😊❤

Wow, what a great video; and spot on.

This is a superb video. I learned a lot, and anytime you learn something, you’re ahead of the game!! Thanks.

Thanks for a good video! Enjoyed following your channel from the start.

I have the best channel! And have enjoyed your journey! Thank you for bring us along!

I enjoy your personality and presentation. Hoping to start a NOBO thru-hike in mid to late February at age 64. Getting a little nervous about it but it seems a fair amount of over-50 women are hiking the trail.

@Summit-Sam

7 ай бұрын

Lots of older hikers out there, totally doable!! I recommend some prep training to identify any problem issues and go for it!

"Thank You" So Much, for sharing Your Adventure; Especially Your Opinions & Experiences; Such as Your Observation about 'Fear- Mongering', inwhich a NOBO is very likely to have a much different View/Challenge/Degree of fear' than a SOBO, at The SAME Location of The Trail. A 'simple, but related' personal experience, which i hope will be helpful, is ~ As a Gem & Mineral collector (aka: RockHound), i have often found some very nice pieces of stone, while hunting along a roadway, which had already been covered; Except, i had turned around, and was Then Hunting/Hiking in the opposite direction, inwhich Time had lapsed, and the sun/clouds were casting light from a different angle, which enabled me to spot a stone right beside a previous footprint. After watching 2/3 years' of Utube 'Thru-Hiker' videos, and wishing i could be One of Y'all, but dealing with a tremendous number of physical hurdles, and almost 70 yrs old; My 'on trail' Fear is ~ Hiking almost 2,200 miles NOBO, and climbing Mt.Katahdin, only to slip off a boulder, and break something/or worse 'on my way Down. Ha! ... So i'm considering 2 matters: 1) Doing a 'flip-flop'/'section-hop' Hike, wherein i would start somewhere like Harper's Ferry or further North (my Home being in S.C.), and Hike Home (SOBO) from X, after Katahdin.; 2) To lessen the impact of Cold Weather/Pack Wt. ~ Finding a Calendar Schedule, which would suit me best. Best Wishes to You & Yours, Steve (Stv) ~ KnotHead

@chase-life

7 ай бұрын

Hey Steve, I am much younger than you at age 66 (joking) and attempting a thru hike this year. My thinking because of age and physical limitations, first goal was a super light pack. I am not sure I got Super or Ultra as the kids say... but my base weight with still being comfortable is about 14-15 pounds which helps a lot. Second, I am pacing myself and intend on not striving for long distances each day. If I can average 14 miles a day, I will be good. If I am slower, that is fine also. Which brings me to point 3.... doing a flip flop makes the most sense for not worrying about calendar pressures (like getting to Katahdin in time or hiking in the Smokies in the winter). My plan (which has been modifed a bit) was to start around April 1 in Harper's Ferry, hike NOBO to Katahdin, flop back and hike SOBO from Harper's Ferry to end at Amicalola. Best wishes on your section hike!

@stephanr.rosier655

7 ай бұрын

"Thank You", Chase Life, for your ideas & encouragement. I wish i could follow your journey. Will you be putting out any Utube videos. I like your Flip-Flop plan. I'm thinking of tackling The Trail in a similar way, with more (@ 6/7) Sections; Considering which Section would be best suited for what Season. I have purchased 2 packs; 01) The Osprey 'Exos 58', which is UL, but has no hipbelt, and 02) The Gregory 'Paragon 48', which has nice hipbelt pockets, and should be much more durable. ... Still got several pieces of gear to acquire, and logistical planning, before actually getting out, for some 'overnight' shakedown hikes. Best Wishes in '24! Stv

@chase-life

7 ай бұрын

@@stephanr.rosier655 I will be daily vlogging my thru hike on my channel. I went with the Durston Kawka 55 and I absolutely love it. I think a hip belt is important to have your hips carry the weight and not your shoulders. I felt the Durston was the best offered bang for the buck and I have 150+ miles on it now and it is working and looking great. I think I am 95% ready in regards to gear. I have been doing weekly hikes since July 2023 and I can now do 10+ miles and 2000 feet elevation (with the full pack) pretty easily, I am still worried about the 3500-4000 foot climbs

@stephanr.rosier655

7 ай бұрын

@@chase-life Sounds like You are Well on Your Way. Thanks for the 'Pack' nfo; Though i already have the afore mentioned packs, I will check-out the Durston, inwhich your point about 'the weight being on the hips' is vital to my concerns, having had multiple surgeries.

hey low gear good to see you

Long distant bike riding is also hard. Mostly due to having to keep track of traffic. But yes, hiking long distance you have to set a daily routine, and stick to it. Long distant any thing. Riding a bike, or hiking. is 80% mental, and 20% physical. So if you want to do it, you will. I've had problems like that.

There is no such thing as too much food. Because you should be eating it. Even if you do not feel like it. Your body will need it. I know this I've done several 500 mile multiple day tours. One was 7 days long one was 8, and I was always eating when I stopped. Even in hot weather, when I didn't want to eat. I did. Again, its a mental thing.

@360Investigations

7 ай бұрын

100% agreed. The base amount a person needs on the trail per day is 2lbs.

Dang Low geat im right here

What is a no bull? A so bull? Not clear on type 2 fun either. (I have not thru hiked.) Very interesting, by the way!

@Summit-Sam

7 ай бұрын

I think you are wondering about SOBO, it means a southbound thru hiker.

@hagakuru

7 ай бұрын

ROFL - that had me laughing hard

@danreich4320

7 ай бұрын

@@Summit-Sam yes, I understand now. SOBO and NOBO. They compete? Who knew.

98% of thruhikers yellow blazed? Interesting “stat”.

@Summit-Sam

5 ай бұрын

Its a guesstimation as I don’t think there are actual stats !

2nd fun I’m unclear????

@Summit-Sam

7 ай бұрын

Type 2 fun is rarely fun while while it’s happening but when the challenge is over you remember the good stuff! Hope this helps clarify.

@roberttrough6439

7 ай бұрын

@@Summit-Sam oh ok now I understand. Thank you again. Kind of like when I lay my keys down and can’t find them that day. Tomorrow I’ll walk right up to them remembering where I put them. Hahaha 🤣

Lowr gear

I don’t no why thru hikers who have completed that amazing trail with all its beauty, mountains as ancient as time it’s self, cannot acknowledge the creator, but instead say “The trail provides”. The meadows, the immense variety of trees, the stunning cloud formations, the endless views which leave one speechless, the forest floor covered in flowers, the heart cheering songs of birds. It defies logic to think that this all happened by accident and was not the unequaled transcendent hand of God. To have hiked the entire Appalachian Trail and being no closer to God than when you started breaks my heart.

@maxinemead8918

7 ай бұрын

"The trail provides" is a phrase that almost always refers specifically to the acts performed by the HUMAN BEINGS (who are mostly not current hikers) who go out of their way to help other human beings who are hiking the trail.

@Hikingin70sshorts

7 ай бұрын

Maxine, Then why are the HUMAN BEING’s called TRAIL ANGELS. Angels refers to the heavenly, which is as it should be. What ever goodness there is within people was deposited there by God, a divine spark, a glimmer of light.

@maxinemead8918

7 ай бұрын

@@Hikingin70sshorts *sigh* Because "angel" is a pretty common way for Americans -- of whatever particular religious persuasion, or of no particular religious persuasion at all -- to refer to people who do nice things. They also call it "trail magic," and we all know what "unholy" associations THAT word has, LOL! (Oh, and by the way, you should do some serious close-in reading of that Good Book of yours; angels were not sweet-faced little cherubs with delicate butterfly wings fluttering around in the hopes of making people feel good. They were terrifying, supernatural creatures who came to pronounce and enforce God's will. Why do you think that so many Biblical accounts of human-angel encounters start off with the angel saying some variation of "Be not afraid"?) I'm not going to reply to you any more. This isn't an appropriate forum for religious proselytizing, and I won't indirectly encourage any more of it.

@Hikingin70sshorts

7 ай бұрын

Maxine, You should read scripture for yourself instead of what someone else said about it. The Bible does not describe angels as terrifying. The reason people who encountered angels or a Theophany or Christophany is when confronted with the divine and holy mankind is made painfully aware of his unrighteousness and sinfulness and cannot bear God’s transcendent Glory. Also it is not proselytizing to talk about the A.T. In respect to theological thought, it is what it is a discussion. So Maxine because of your preconceived ideas and religious bias you have closed your mind and hardened your heart to the point that you can’t even civilly engage someone without anger, condescension, and liberal arrogance. So I pray that God would pave a way to your heart, and break up the stony ground, that the seeds of the word of God would grow and flourish, and that springs of living water would well up even unto eternal life.