Statistics from My First Month on the Trail

Statistics from my first month on the trail.

Logistics

Days since departure: 30
Days hiked: 28
Zeros: two*
Neros: three (9, 11, and five miles)
Miles: 630ish
Average mileage: 22.5

Biggest calendar day: 29 miles (twice)
Biggest 24-hour period: 45 (near Big Meadows to Front Royal)
Shortest day: Six (into Waynesboro)

Starting base weight: 13 pounds
Current base weight: 11 pounds
Gear abandoned: Cotton T-shirt, Sawyer bags, rain pants

Showers: Five
Longest showerless stretch: Seven days

Sustenance

Resupplies: Five full, two snack stops
Jars of peanut butter: Six (five crunchy, one creamy PURCHASED BY MISTAKE)
Most PB consumed in one sitting: one-third jar
Pop-Tarts: 27 (16 Brown Sugar Cinnamon, eight Blueberry, three Strawberry)
Tortillas: 58 (42 burrito sized, 16 fajita sized)
M&Ms: Six sharing size bags** (Mint Crisp, White Chocolate Peanut, Peanut Butter, Pretzel, Strawberry Nut, English Toffee Nut, Peanut) + one weathered blue morsel that must have been dropped by someone far less calorie deprived, or someone with much higher hygiene standards.
Average caloric intake: 4,300ish

Wildlife

Times I thought I saw a bear: 500ish
Times I “DEFINITELY” saw a bear: 20ish
Confirmed bear sightings: 1/2
Bear attacks: 0

Confirmed raccoon sightings: One
Raccoon attacks: One

Snake sightings: Two

Communication

Instagram posts: 15
Blog posts: 13
Phone calls home: Two
Texts from Mom: 38
Texts to Mom: 22 (sorry Mom)

*Effectively, that is. I hitched a ride 34 miles north on the trail and hiked southward for two days with a friend. Then I hiked those miles northward. In other words, I took a 16-mile “Zero” and an 18 mile “Zero”.

**Not shared, duh.

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