Hiking

Fashion Week on the AT

Fashion Week on the AT

(10 Essentials #5)

Lake Lanier Hike February 2008 008

Next on our list of the must-haves in any Dames backpack is extra clothes.  Now, you don’t need an entire wardrobe….I promise that no one cares if you match or not.  J But think about it for a second….what if you did get stuck in the woods for the night?  What would keep you fairly warm and dry?  For me, this is fairly uncomplicated. I always carry a rain jacket of sorts and I always carry a couple of big black trash bags.

(Hey, I never said that I was the height of fashion!!)

As for the rain jacket, it does double duty.  Of course, if it rains it keeps you dry.  But it also serves as a great wind breaker and a wonderful layer for keeping in the heat.  In the summer, these usually suffice for my day hikes.  However, in the winter, I also carry an extra long-sleeve fleece.  The fleece isn’t great for keeping you dry….in fact; it is downright lousy for that.  But combined with the rain jacket, it works like a charm!

As for the trash bags, I am guessing that you never considered a Hefty bag as a fashion accessory.  J  Well, a big, black trash bag is one of the best things you can carry in your pack. Poke holes in it for your head and arms and you have a make-shift rain cover.  Pull it over your legs and you have another layer to keep you warm and somewhat dry if you have to spend some time hunkered down.  Line your pack with one, and your stuff stands a great chance to stay dry in a downpour!  Can you see how flexible it can be?

If you notice, the emphasis is on staying dry and warm.  That is the ticket to staying healthy and, in extreme cases, alive on the trail.  Hypothermia is no joke.  And if you end up having to spend more time in the woods than you planned, having these few extra things can make a huge difference in your experience.

There are arguments for lots of other clothing choices for your backpack, but for a day hike, these will do the trick most of the time.  The only thing I would add would be a hat.  Again, it keeps in body warmth like crazy, and can also keep the rain and sun off your face.

As for the clothes that you actually wear when you hike, just say “no” to cotton.  Have you ever heard the saying, “Cotton kills”?  I know it sounds a bit melodramatic, but the truth is, when a cotton tee shirt gets wet, it loses all ability to keep you warm.  And wet doesn’t just happen in the rain.  A few hard hours of climbing some hills and you just might find yourself damp with sweat.  When that breeze kicks up, you will quickly notice that your favorite 80’s band’s tee shirt just isn’t getting the job done.

So what is a Dame supposed to wear?  Wicking fabrics, nylons, rayon’s, anything that is not cotton.  This used to mean expensive clothing at a specialty store, but these days, you can find this stuff everywhere!  Just look in the workout clothing and there will be lots of stuff to choose from.  For the curvy Dame, I really like Junonia.  They are a catalog of outdoor and workout clothing for curvy women and their selection is fantastic!  REI also has a line of ‘extended-sized’ clothing that is available through their website.

It is for these reasons that jeans are a really bad choice for hiking, also.  Not only are they cotton, but the chafing can be really unfortunate.  (We will cover that later!!)  Pick out a comfortable pair of light-weight pants or shorts and pair them with a cute wicking tee shirt and you will be ready to go!  If you find some that are matching, you might just be the most fashionable Dame on the trail that day!!  Just don’t forget those trash bags!!   J

What kind of extra clothing do you carry in your pack?  Click on the link below and share it with your fellow Dames….

Anna aka Mud Butt

Mud, Mud and More Mud….. AT 3.20.03

Mud, mud and more mud!
PA142730019148

(Excerpt from Mud Butts AT Journal-3.30.03)

Note: We will get back to the 10 Essentials soon…..I promise!

What a day! I don’t even know where to start. I got a late start this morning…mostly cause I slept too late. I am learning that the hardest part of thru hiking is not climbing mountains…it is getting out of your sleeping bag in the morning! And to make things worse, when I woke up this morning, everything in my tent was soaked! Of course, the clothes I wore yesterday were soaked, and it took me a good 15 minutesto get up the courage to put them back on again. Truly, nothing is worse than having to put on an icy, wet sports bra!  Oh well…..I am only carrying 2 sets of clothing,one for hiking and one for sleeping, so on they went!
I did spend some time talking to a nice couple that had passed me several times yesterday. Their names are Marty and Kara and they are very cool. Unfortuntely, everyone is moving so much faster than me, however, so I don’t expect I will see them again
Oh well, maybe we will reonnect later this Spring at Trail Days in Damascus!
Well, the day was long and hard and wet and muddy. Did I mention that this is hard!? At one point, I ran out of water about three miles from my next water source. And don’t think that the irony of the situaion escaped me! Rain and mud everywhere but nothing to drink! Well, as I came down into Coopers Gap I was miserable. EXTREMELY miserable! Up ahead through the fog,(did I mention that it was pea soup all day?) I caught a glimpse of something red and green. As I got closer, I realized that it was a pile of soda cans. My heart literally started racing….please, please let one of them be full! You see, trail angels will do that sometimes…leave a bunch of sodas in a creek or something…but what if they were all empty?!?! I was truly panicked at the thought.  When I walked up and saw that they were full, I literally burst into tears. I was so cold, so tired, in sooo much pain,and soooo thirsty. And someone I will never meet did one little thing that completely changed my day. Whoever you are, thank you,thank you thank you!  You will never know what you did!
Well, after that, I flew over the next two miles…well,ok, I trudged…:), but I finally made it to Justus Creek. I had beautiful little camp site next to a stream with a little waterfall. A couple across the stream from me came over later, introduced themselves and invited me to come share their pot of stew. Being exhausted, (an more than a bit intimidated) I regretfully declined, but the offer really warmed my heart. Life is looking up. Everythng I have is still soaked, but I am surviving! 🙂

Love, Anna aka Mud Butt

What Goes in a First Aid Kit?

What Goes in a First Aid Kit?  (10 Essentials #4)

DSC_1027

 

Taking care of yourself on the trail is paramount and often it is the little things that you carry that make the most difference. That is why another essential item in any Dames pack is a good first aid kit.  It doesn’t need to be huge, but there are a few things that it must have.

Think about it….when you go about your daily life exercising, going to the grocery store, or playing with your kids, what are your most basic first aid needs?  Hiking on a trail is not much different from regular life and most of your first aid needs will come in the form of scrapes, bruises, small cuts and bug bites.  For these, you will want to carry a nice little assortment of band-aids, some first aid ointment and a pain reliever of some type.  It won’t require a degree in medicine to throw together a few of these in a plastic baggie, and you will have taken care of the first part of putting together your first aid kit.

The biggest difference between everyday first aid kits and hiking first aid kits has to do with blister treatment and prevention.  Taking care of your feet on a hiking trail is the most important thing you can do, in my opinion.  Trust me,  you are going to need your feet to get you back home!  So for blister treatment, the first item you need is a big dollop of common sense.  Don’t go out for a five mile hike in brand new boots.  And when you feel a blister starting to form,  commonly known as a ‘hot spot’, stop and take care of it. Right away.  I will admit to several times when I knew a blister was coming on and figured that I would just gut it out until I got back to the car.  Those were pretty unpleasant hikes.

Most books will tell you to carry and use moleskin for blister-prone areas.  I personally haven’t had a great deal of luck with it, though.  I carry duct tape and am a huge believer in it!  Using duct tape on your heels and anywhere else that socks and shoes are rubbing creates a surface in which the friction is removed from your skin.  Trust me, it works like a charm.  This is a commonly used item in backpacking and hiking circles, and alas, was not my idea.  But to whoever came up with the notion, I am eternally grateful! Just wrap a five foot piece around a small golf pencil and throw it into your kit.  If you are prone to blisters, consider applying duct tape to the needed areas before you go out on a hike.

Note: If you have a blister that has broken open, cover it with a bandage before you apply duct tape to the area.  The glue in duct tape is not good for open wounds at all!

Some other helpful items in a first aid kit are Benadryl for allergic reactions, alarge triangular bandage for wrapping up sprains, and a small pamphlet on wilderness first aid.  There are lots of websites out there that can make suggestions for items to go in your first aid kit.  One of my favorites is http://www.ehow.com/how_9058_make-outdoor-first.html

The main thing is to create a kit that works for you.

Some final thoughts on first aid, make sure that if you take prescription medicine that you bring a little with you and if you have any special medical needs, communicate those to the friends that you have hiking with you.

The most important thing you can do is to take a wilderness first aid class, complete with CPR training.  This is the kind of thing that can go a long way towards making you not only a safe hiker, but a safe hiking partner.  Last but not least, remember to never dispense medicine to someone other than yourself.    I am not a doctor!  These things work for me but I encourage you to ask your doctor about their recommendation for your personal first aid kit.

What do you keep in your first aid kit? Click the comment link below and let us know…

Anna aka Mud Butt

 

 

Moss Grows On The North Side of Trees, Right?

Moss Grows On The North Side of Trees, Right? (10 Essentials #3)

Kennsaw Mountain March 2008 014

Number 3 on our list of Essential Dame Necessities is a map and compass.  Now, I will be the first person to tell you that a compass will be fairly useless if you don’t know how to use it. I have added compass to this list because any list of important items to take into the woods should include it.  However, most people don’t have the foggiest idea of how to use one.  And unless you have a topographical map and know how to use that, all of it is wasted weight in your pack.  So, the next time you notice a parks and recreation class on orienteering or map and compass use, I would highly suggest you take it.  I have taken several and they are a lot of fun!  You will meet other people that love the outdoors and you will feel so prepared and self-reliant the next time you hit the trail.

Before you take that class, though…..what should you carry?  Our assumption here at Trail Dames is that you are not doing cross-country hiking.  Or that you are not striking off trail through the underbrush.  For anything like that, you absolutely must have map and compass skills.  But for the well-marked trails we take, be it a simple loop at a local park or a four mile ‘in and out’ hike on the Appalachian Trail, I suggest that you head to the internet.  Every hike I have ever been on has had a description on-line somewhere. There are several websites that list hikes and include maps and details, and I highly recommend spending some time getting to know them.

My personal favorite here in Georgiais www.georgiatrails.com.  These are the same people that do that fantastic book 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Atlanta.  They have listed tons of trails and each has a complete description and directions how to get there.  For any of these hikes, you should print out all of the details and carry them in your backpack. Something as simple as a notation of a road crossing can help you keep your bearings when you are on a new trail.  In addition, I would print up every description of the trail that you can find on other sites as well and throw them all in a little plastic bag to keep in your pack.

Finally, before you go on a hike, write on the map and trail descriptions any emergency contact numbers you might need.  You should know what county you are in and the nearest towns as well as the phone numbers for emergency services in the area.

This brings up the question of personal safety.  We will explore these ideas in more detail later, but for now, ponder these questions…..

Should you carry a cell phone and should you hike alone?

As for the cell phone question, this has long been the point of a lot of contention in hiking circles.  No one wants to walk along a trail and hear someone else’s phone ring.  Or better yet, have to listen to your loud conversation!  However, I would strongly encourage you to carry your phone with you at all times.  There are lots of places that it will not work…..for instance, when you are down in gaps, or on the other side of the mountain.  However, if you get injured or lost, it would be stupid to not have the possibility of the help that a cell phone would provide.  Carry it and have the numbers that you could potentially need programmed in it.

As for hiking with someone, for the purposes of this blog and Trail Dames, I am going to say always take a friend.  Again, we will re-visit this topic later but for now, enjoy sharing the outdoors with someone that can laugh with you when you slip in the mud and revel with you in the beauty that you are walking through.

Do you know how to use a map and compass?  Click the comment link below and tell us your opinion……

Anna aka Mud Butt

What is that Growling?

What is that Growling? (10 Essentials #2)

PB150132  Have you ever been so hungry that you could eat a bear? An empty stomach is not only miserable but can really affect your performance on a hike.  That is why the next item on our list of  the Essential Dame Necessities is:

Food

It is simple……throw some Power Bars in your day pack.  Or some Luna Bars, CliffBars, or any other sports bars.  The name brand doesn’t matter as long as they provide an easy form of nutrition.  I am a big believer in sports bars because they last a long time in your pack and don’t melt in the heat.  In the cold, however, they could put your fillings in jeopardy!  J 

Again, though…..it doesn’t matter so much what you carry as long as you carry something.

Have you ever heard of ‘bonking’?  Wikipedia defines bonking as, “hitting the wall”, and adds that “the “bonk” describes the condition that takes place when an athlete suddenly loses energy and becomes fatigued”.   For years I heard the term bandied around in professional sports and in regards to running marathons.  In all honesty, I did not think that it was a term that would ever apply to me.  I never considered myself to be an athlete by any stretch of the imagination.  And I also thought that since I carry so much extra weight, I had plenty of inner fuel to get me from point A to point B.  Boy was I wrong.

On my very first backpacking trip, I was so nervous and intimidated by the other women that were there, that I did not take care of myself at all.  I knew that I had bitten off much more than I could chew, (10 miles of giant climbs on the AT with a heavy pack and no experience?!), and I was so exhausted that not only did I not take many breaks, but when I did take a rest, I did not eat any snacks.  On top of that, I was so exhausted at meal times that I barely choked anything down.

By the evening of the second day, I could barely pick up my feet.  Three of us were night hiking, (because I was too slow to get to the shelter before the sun went downJ) and I truly hit a wall.  My friend LiteShoe took one look at me and poured a packet of Emergen-C down my throat.  After a few minutes, I felt well enough to keep going, but I learned an important lesson.   It wasn’t until later that I realized that my body had truly run out of fuel.  It didn’t matter that I was overweight, or that I didn’t think of myself as an athlete.

What I was doing was hard.  And it takes fuel to keep your body going.

With that having been said, I have since bonked several more times, but now I know what is going on with my body.  It happens if I am just not paying attention, and it happens all the time to women on our longer Trail Dames hikes.  They are all like me…..taken by surprise at the idea that we should be treating our bodies like athletes.  J Through trial and error, this is what we are all learning…..

1. Everyone is different.  Some people need to munch constantly when they are hiking, while others need to eat something every three hours.

2. Some people respond well to fresh fruit while others need nuts.

3. If we do run out of fuel and energy, it comes back pretty quickly once we eat something.

So if you are hiking along and all the sudden just don’t have any energy, you have bonked.  Having trouble picking up your feet?  Bonk.  And my personal favorite, walk three steps…stop….walk three steps…stop?  Big bonk.  J

Carry extra snacks and food and you will be fine in no time.  And remember, what you are doing is a sport and you are an athlete.

Have you ever bonked? Click the comment link below and tell me what you do to avoid it happening again.

Anna aka Mud Butt