February 10, 2008 – As The Crow Flies

Hiking poles

I carried hiking poles for 6000 miles. I rarely used them. I carried them across my back with my hands hanging over them like it was my aluminum/titanium cross to bear. It just seemed liked a lot of extra work to swing poles around.

I carried them because my tent was the Nomad Light and it required hiking poles. When I got my Lunar Solo, I ordered the carbon fiber pole with it so that I could leave the hiking poles at home.

What freedom to not have to carry poles. My arms are free to swing by my side. They can reach back and grab my water bottle. I can eat snacks on the go. I can get out my navigational data. I can mess with my MP3/radio. The minute I started hiking without poles, I knew it was an improvement.

Wearing my jacket backwards

I wore my jacket backwards a lot last summer–Ray Jardine style. In the mornings, I’m cold and then after 10 minutes of hiking I’m ready to take my jacket off. By wearing my jacket backwards, I could slip it off without stopping. I then would just hold it in my hands or loop it through my hip belt and carry it that way. If it got cold again I could slip it back on with out having to stop.

It’s a good idea Ray Jardine had, because your front stays warm and your back doesn’t get all sweaty.

Who makes it

An odd thing about long distance hiking is that you could line everyone up at the start of the trail and you wouldn’t be able to pick out who was going to make it with any more accuracy than if you guessed.

The young super fit hiker that you thought for sure would make it, drops out and the old fat guy makes it.

Here’s what I think: Everyone comes to the trail with a handicap. It’s how easily you except yours and work around it that makes the difference.