Advice I Can’t Yet Give

I haven’t started hiking yet. So what can I offer the AT blogging world at this point?

I certainly don’t have my own complete list of AT Thru-Hiking Tips yet.  I don’t quite know What you should know for the First Few Days, let alone 5 Things to Expect in Your First 5 Days on the AT . I can imagine the Losses and Gains of Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail but I haven’t experienced them. I don’t yet know how to act, or interact rather, with my fellow hikers or what the proper Shelter and Campsite Etiquette is. I am a solo woman hiker, but I couldn’t tell you yet what it’s like Hiking as a Woman, and especially Hiking Solo as a Woman.  What if I don’t know How to Avoid Creepy Men While Hiking ? There’s still time to enlist a donkey to hike with me. After all, there are at least 10 Reasons Why A Donkey is the Ideal Hiking Partner.

I’ve only just purchased most of my gear, with 0 miles under my belt I can’t tell you the Top 5 Lightweight Backpacks for Thru-Hiking and Multi-Day Hikes . After packing my new pack all of once, I’m not sure How to Fill a Backpack in 5 Easy Steps. I want to take care of my feet, but I’m not sure the Best Hiking Shoes for Long Distance Backpackers . Getting these components right and trying to Go Ultralite could help avoid blisters and other morale busters, along with these  5 Steps towards Avoiding Injury . And speaking of potential injury, what about bears! I’ve only seen some once from afar, so I don’t know The Do’s and Don’ts of Hiking in Bear Country. Ah, apologies for the negative tangent, there (hopefully) won’t be too much Danger (And The Fear Of It) On The Appalachian Trail!

In Vermont this has been one of the coldest winters on record. If this is the case at Springer too I’ll need at least 10 Tips on How to Stay Warm While Winter Backpacking. Of course if it’s warmth I want, fire building skills are a must. Girl Scouts taught me to use birch bark, but I don’t know other creative flammables like Fritos to Dryer Lint- 5 Emergency Fire Starters .

Of course there’s the psychological aspect as well. When I’m out on the trail will I keep asking Why am I Doing This? Can I embrace  The Simplicity of Happiness out there? Only time will tell.

And of course, no matter how prepared one is, there will always be  All the Little Things You Might Have Forgot.

Well, there’s certainly a lot I don’t know yet about the trail firsthand. Luckily, there are many people who do.