Outlining all the skills, but what's funny is that if you google search backpacking skills, you always end up with a list of gear to bring on a hike with you...  Here are some of the skills we hope to address in coming episodes:

Baseball cheating scandal as illustrated by mean girls

CDC Lyme disease page

Permethrin spray for clothing 

Tick removal tweezers

Poison oak serum.  I usually just wipe down using rubbing alcohol. 

Shenandoah Nat Park's Bear Safety Page 

In this episode we discuss the 3 different types of fun! type 1, type 2, and type 3... and then how physical and mental preparation for the hike assists in achieving that fun.  

Physical preparation links: 

Backpacking Light Podcast Notes for Episode 14: https://backpackinglight.com/podcast-014-training-for-backpacking/

Summit Strength: https://www.summitstrength.com.au

trailsidefitness.com: https://trailsidefitness.com

Article on preparing for the a hike: https://trailsidefitness.com/2018/10/30/training-tips-for-a-thru-hike/

Mental preparation: 

Before/during the hike: 

https://www.peaksports.com/sports-psychology-blog/6-steps-pregame-mental-preparation/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/amymorin/2014/08/14/how-to-mentally-prepare-yourself-to-give-the-performance-of-your-life/#3f3e1ff8240c

http://www.sportpsychologytoday.com/youth-sports-psychology/five-components-of-mental-preparation/

After the hike: 

https://davecornthwaite.com/blog/postexpeditiondepression

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/blog/2018/06/07/wonderings-how-to-beat-the-post-trip-blues

https://www.heartmybackpack.com/confessions/post-travel-depression/

https://www.calmajor.com/blog/2019/5/16/the-post-adventure-blues-post-expedition-depress

Adventure Sport Podcast on post hiking depression:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-sports-podcast/id972403908?i=1000460525619

Adventure Sport Podcast on hiking through very difficult circumstances: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-sports-podcast/id972403908?i=1000458090415

What is the plan?  Well, here it goes.  The idea is to leave Harpers Ferry the morning of April 24th, hiking to Waynesboro, VA at the bottom of the Shenandoah National Park by May 3rd.  There are 34 established camp sites and if I'm able to put my preparation into practice I will be able to make my mark and stay at some of them while camping in dispersed backpacking camping locations on other days.  

we are sponsored today by the Committee to Restore America's National Parks.  An advocacy group dedicated to eliminating the $12B maintenance backlog of our Nations National Parks.  Check them out at http://www.restoreamericasnationalparks.org.

Check out The Trek's 2019 AT hiker survey -- https://thetrek.co/appalachian-trail/2019-hiker-survey-general-information/?ref=slider

We also talked about some of the ways to make sure you are able to find a good campsite.  Andrew Skurka, backcountry hiker extraordinaire, has definite opinions about this topic.  Find them at: https://andrewskurka.com/five-star-campsites-part-1-introduction/ (part 1 of a 4 part series)

Thanks very much and we'll see you next time!

In this episode, I discuss my history with hiking and backpacking, discuss my philosophy surrounding section hiking, and get into some of the things that we will discuss in later episodes.  There are some mistakes here but we'll get better as we move forward on future episodes!

Hey, I'm a guy who can't get away for 6 months to a year to do a thru hike on a long trail.  But I do have time to take a week here or there to do a section hike.  So I'm going to section hike the Appalachian Trail.  Let's talk about what it takes to plan a great hike, then go out and hit the trail.  We are sponsored by the Committee to Restore America's National Parks, a advocacy group aimed at fixing the $11.9Billion backlog under our National Park System.  Learn more and donate at http://www.restoreamericasnationalparks.org.