You Don't Know Until You Know

James "Hardy" from Iowa had never been camping or backpacking before, but had made a New Years resolution to do the PCT. He started the hike at the Southern Terminus with a seventy pound backpack and a bear-proof canister, not knowing how utterly unnecessary all that heavy kit was. He quickly pared down his pack to only the essentials and was easily covering 20 miles a day. Within a week he was indistinguishable from any other seasoned hiker on the trail.

It goes to show that no amount of training, experience, or knowledge can really prepare you for the trail. The trail is the only thing that teaches you what you need to know about the trail.

Here are some things the trail has taught us:

Pain Tolerance - Everyone will discover new injuries, pains, and rashes that only come up when hiking many miles a day for days on end. Something we quickly learned is that the pain and fatigue never really stop. Aches and pains rotate, sore spots come and go. Rest helps diminish the intensity, but only a few footsteps bring a fresh reminder of every previous mile walked. What changes is how much you notice it.

R&R - The constant ache is made up for by how extraordinarily restful resting is. Twice a day (at least) we unshoulder our packs, lay out the tarp, take off our boots and socks and lay down on our backs. More often than not we're napping within minutes. The relaxation that comes after enduring physical exertion while in the peace of nature is supreme.

Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness - Showers and clean socks go a long way to making everything right in the world.

Gear - Like any sport that involves some kind of gear, there are enthusiasts who revel in arguing the minutia of every piece of equipment. Manufacturer, model, year, you name it.  The one thing few people discuss is the most important piece of gear and the one most often abused and neglected - your own body. The beauty of this piece of gear is that it is largely self-repairing, if given enough raw materials and rest to enact the repairs. 

Minimalism - You need less than you think you do. It takes an astonishingly small amount of water to live, a few foods to survive and even thrive on, and a cool breeze on a hot day can make your spirit soar. Comfort and happiness are pretty easy to come by when you strip away how you're are used to defining them.

"There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear." - FALSE. Shitty weather makes for shitty hiking. We have already hiked through snow and 100 degree heat. They both completely suck. There is zero enjoyment when you're on a forced march through extreme weather. Think about it....at home, if you have an outing planned and you wake up to a day of rain, you bag it. Out here? Not so. No amount of gear makes it fun.

HYOH (Hike Your Own Hike) - This isn't just a cute phrase, it is trail truth #1. It goes for everything: attitude, gear, speed, motivation, tolerance. As in life, doing what you want, how you want, reaps the biggest rewards.