Backpacking Questions You Might Be Too Embarrassed to Ask

00:00 Hey y’all
01:36 Does the Guthook app work without a cell signal?
02:31 Do people hook up on trail?
03:00 How do people who need daily medication get their prescriptions for a whole thru-hike?
03:47 Are you supposed to put the plastic cap back on the fuel canister for your stove?
05:53 What kind of footprint do I use under my tent?
07:31 Period panties
09:31 Where do you camp?
12:22 Do I need earplugs?
13:30 Are bears attracted to periods?
14:52 Are other people scared to sleep around strangers?
17:10 Is it worth the weight to carry extra underwear?
18:14 How do you keep from chaffing while staying warm?
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[@Flame44]

I hate that guy who always says " If you have to ask, you have no right to be hiking/camping there" .....We all gotta start somewhere & hopefully the groups are helpful . Don't be that guy /gal. People join to get educated. Thanks for doing this Dixie!!

[@glassgodofdoom]

have you ever talked to a through hiker for more then 10 minutes?

[@ronaldbrown9638]

@@glassgodofdoom not likely lol

[@Inertia888]

How would a person know how to thru hike if they never through hiked? it's like if you're not an expert, then don't bother! So discouraging. Best to talk folks who are supportive.

[@alvinperlas]

Those types of people are just "toxic"

[@johncasey1020]

There are those types. There are entire clubs like that. Many years ago, I bought a membership to the AMC (Appalachian Mountain Club), I remember it was $40.00 at the time. They had a list of scheduled club hikes and you have the call the hike leader to let him/her you were coming. I did this and was asked some questions and....I didn't "qualify" for any of the upcoming hikes. Unreal. Heh, snob hikers.

[@BeginnerBirder]

Thank you for being so welcoming! The outdoor community can be so closed off to beginners and there’s a lot of “gatekeeping”, like the secret to backpacking is only for the “elite”. We gotta grow as a community.

[@slowdancer5563]

Yup!

[@sebastian3004]

Why? It's not like Ferrari owners club? hm....

[@DerKatzeSonne]

The internet definitely helps with this! Otherwise it's just like the book of seven seals. You don't know what you need etc.

[@bradleyhenderson1198]

Nothing is more abominable than the human ego and the tendency to lord it over others.

[@bryonensminger7462]

As far as sleeping and being around strangers trust your instincts if you get a bad vibe from someone trust it and dont be alone with that person

[@Maine307]

retired 20 yrs from the Marine infantry and i have hiked a few miles.. old sayings " Ounces equals pounds, pounds equals pain , pack light- freeze at night".. This lady is a very strong and courageous lady, my hats off to you. no easy task.

[@JASHJustASectionHiker]

Semper Fi. 0300 Marines rock

[@alpinglow]

Is it true that a pound on your feet equals 5 on your back?

[@Daniel-Davies-Gonstead-Student]

​@@alpinglow Probably more or less yeah

[@unacamper9123]

Your openness is what attracts your viewers. Your intimacy is what keeps them.

[@robinbrown7953]

B Z That’s because she hasn’t gotten “too big for her britches “ and she remembers where she came from when she started the AT. Love Dixie 😊

[@420BLUNTLEY]

And she’s hot...

[@kristinradams7109]

This is one of the many reasons she just got me as a new subscriber :)

[@sailormoon1006]

@@robinbrown7953 Whats the AT?

[@keithklassen5320]

@@sailormoon1006 Appalachian Trail.

[@thomashughes_teh]

I carried earplugs on the AT as gifts because I am the culprit who snores sometimes so loud I wake myself up. Yes, that is a real thing. When the offer was declined I just said "Okay, well, I'll leave them available for free right here>>> (fresh pairs in individual wrappers) overnight in case you change your mind". I had some takers.

[@tamlawaverley1210]

That is so thoughtful!! 🥰

[@iamloved223]

My husband wakes himself up snoring, that was VERY thoughtful of you.

[@ricktimmons458]

they called me "bear" no bear was around except myself. i use cotton balls to keep bugs out of my ears. used ones are used to start campfire.

[@MiTmite9]

I hope you have found some way to mitigate or "cure" your snore volume, especially if you're around others who are trying to sleep. Many years ago, I traveled around New Zealand and stayed in Youth Hostels all along the way. Most travelers, I found, were very considerate of others. However . . . there was this one time . . . One evening, at a hostel, there was an overweight American (USA) lady who warned five of us (six to a room) that she "might snore a bit." And then she "advised" us to go ahead and give her "a little nudge" to get her to stop, if her snoring became a problem for any of us. Oh my GAWD. That woman shook the room with her snoring. It was absolute HELL. Earplugs, pillow over the head, nothing worked. Finally, in a half-zombie state for lack of sleep, I had to pick up my sleeping bag and (breaking the rules) remove myself to the common room and lay myself down, gratefully, on the sofa there. The next morning, I talked with one of the other women who had suffered through the snoring------she was in the bunk below the snorer. That poor young girl told me that, in the end, she was using both feet to kick the snorer's mattress from below and that NOTHING WORKED. As we all left the hostel that morning, the American woman was smiling, well-rested. It was all I could do to keep from punching her in the head. I thought and still think that she should have NEVER subjected any of us or any other poor travelers to her "ailment." You may think it's funny, but causing others a sleepless night with your snoring is NO JOKE.

[@IsaacDozier1]

​@@MiTmite9 That sounds like the worst. When I hiked the PCT, there was a guy who always slept solo, away from the group because he hated snoring. He took on the trail name Cougar Bait.

[@mtthielsen8342]

This video should be named "from tampons to crampons".

[@HomemadeWanderlust]

Mt Thielsen 😂

[@psyro8244]

In love with this comment

[@eraproductions9923]

if you hide them up a tree the bear the bears won't shag you

[@eraproductions9923]

especially if they is bloody

[@hhusf1]

LOL!!

[@cedadams39]

This is the perfect time to point out that there is no such thing as a dumb or stupid question. There are, however, both dumb and stupid answers. Thanks, Dixie, for your answers, which I have never found to be either dumb or stupid. You offer a wealth of helpful information. I no longer do much backpacking at 82 years of age, but it was great while I could. Never thru-hiked the AT but have hiked a bunch of it in Great Smoky Mountains. Sure wish I had had you as a source back in the fifties and sixties.

[@jimcudasnyder]

Dixie, you have such an immense grass roots appeal and a genuine way to educate others (women AND men) on their outdoor adventures. New subscriber here! Howdy from Houston, y'all!

[@frankieren8791]

Thank you. Was raised that the only dumb question was the one not asked.😊

[@brndumsvandrehistorier3486]

I was raised with a saying simmelar to yours: There are no dumb questions, only dumb answers :-)

[@benjamindavis5762]

I like how straight forward that you are with these questions. I'm sure conversations with you are really fun. Thank you for your videos.

[@Jump2218]

We are all hypocrites! "I can't carry that, it's adding weight!" "What do I have here? Just my necessities, playing cards, whiskey flask, and lucky cast iron skillet."

[@soonamisapphire2425]

Jump2218 You’ve got to have that skillet 🍳

[@RalphReagan]

Lucky cast iron skillet!

[@googiegress7459]

This is just my twin mattress and box spring

[@bikerfirefarter7280]

Really 'minimal' is a learning experience, but some things just make life more livable not just survivable. e.g. tarp/cordage/knife-machete/various fire-starters/billy-cans/bivvy-bag etc. and other things that are 'essential' and/or multi-purpose. But I don't think a 'cast-iron skillet' would be on my hiking gear 'extras'.

[@4potslite169]

Sleeping right next to a stranger does feel a little weird at first…but the hiker fellowship on trail happens very quickly and is very strong. You feel a real bond w fellow hikers even tho you may have just met. My hike was many yrs ago and I was one of very few solo female hikers. Personally after a week of my own adjustment to the oddness, it just felt like sleeping next to my brother. I never in 6 mos felt uncomfortable around other hikers at a campsite or shelter and had not one problem w disrespectful or aggressive men. In fact they were all very polite & helpful….the hiker community really really takes care of each other. You’re all cold/hot, tired, hungry, dirty, and perhaps wet at the end of the day. “Shenanigans” are the last thing most hikers are concerned with. It just didn’t even come up for me.

[@bluenetmarketing]

I like your story about sleeping next to strangers in some of the hostels. It's not that unusual in many decades past in overnight rooms all over the world, or even today. In my case, I left my house at 9pm during the night the blizzard of 1978 struck, and headed to my hospital laboratory job about 20 miles away. I got stuck in the snow at least half a dozen times and had to dig my way out. I finally found a place to park in a grocery store parking lot about 3/4 of a mile from the hospital. The wind and snow was incredible, air temperatures were zero and the wind chill was reported at -51F. (It snowed for three days and the National Guard was called out, as well.) I walked from the parking lot to the hospital, arriving there a little after midnight. All the exertion of digging out of the snow and walking in the very cold wind made me hypothermic. I was shivering uncontrollably. They directed me to the doctor's lunch room where many other hospital workers were sleeping side by side on the floor. I shivered under the blanket for almost an hour. I could hear dozens of people snoring, but it didn't matter. I was out like a light after warming up. When I awoke the next morning, the room was mostly empty, with maybe one or two other people remaining. I didn't get home for another four days. When I found my car, the tail pipe had snow impacted into it and it took several minutes for it to melt and the car to run normally. What I did, attempting the long drive and the long walk in those conditions, was foolish. But when you're in your twenties, you are up for the adventure and for the personal test. Luckily I survived. I could easily have been a human icicle cadaver stuck in some snow drift, undiscovered for days. The snow drifts were over 10 feet high in many places, and most roads did not open for over a week. The only way my car made it in those conditions that night was due to the studded tires it had. I made it strictly due to Providence.

[@dzedogranatovich7085]

Love your direct style of answering questions (all meat and not potatoes). Backpackers love to talk about their treks and gear. Keep em coming! You are doing a great service to folks just starting out. You are the majority of folks on the trail, pleasant, fun and helpful.

[@erictaylor5462]

If you want, I can answer some questions about hiking as an amputee. I've found some good hacks that would not apply unless you are wearing a prosthetic leg.

[@fletchdad8755]

I saw an article on TV years ago about a boy who lost his feet due to frostbite. The prosthetics he got were interchangeable the mountain climbing club said he had a pair that they called his goat feet and enabled him to climb areas the members couldn't get a foothold on. True story

[@erictaylor5462]

@@fletchdad8755 "The prosthetics he got were interchangeable" You must have misunderstood something, or the reporter did. There is no way this is even possible. Each prosthetic must be custom fit or it would be intolerably uncomfortable at best, or would be impossible even to put on. Earlier this year I had to have my socket rebuilt because of a slight change in my stump. Something to keep in mind. News agencies work under extremely tight deadlines. There simply isn't time to do a proper fact check to make sure a given report is accurate. My dad worked 30 years at an oil refinery. In that time there were several events/accidents that made it into the news. The number of times these events/accidents were reported accurately: 0. And my dad retired 20 years ago. Today it's even worse with the political spin we find with all the news agencies these days. Never take what you see on TV, or read about in the paper/internet without a huge helping of salt.

[@ricktimmons458]

GOD bless you.

[@googiegress7459]

@@erictaylor5462 I think Fletch meant that he could swap out different prosthetics for different purposes. Like, he had a standard pair of feet, and then a set that was specialized for climbing. Not that he could just slap any old thing on.

[@erictaylor5462]

@@googiegress7459 Then they would be different prosthetic, not "interchangeable" Like if you had dress shoes and running shoes and you said your shoes were interchangeable.

[@1xsol]

"The Only stupid Question; Is the One that Isn't Asked." Excellent video.

[@ssettev9361]

Less than a minute into this video and I already appreciate what you're doing and the "real people" attitude you have. I'm subscribing now. Thanks. 🤗

[@neanderthor66]

Hooking up on trail while everyone struggles with hygiene seems like a bad idea.

[@llevise1]

😁😁😁😁😁

[@carlosnajera65]

its totally gross!

[@serafinhikes]

People do pink blaze

[@timothyeubanks32100]

That's what town stops are for

[@ronaldbrown9638]

@@serafinhikes lol

[@BMWQC]

My buddies wife had a terrifying encounter with a mountain lion here in Utah. She was hunting alone and turned around and saw the car stalking her. She tried as best she could to scare it away but it would not back down. She said it looked at her tilted his head with a menacing look as if to say “you’re mine” she had to shoot fast from the hip but in the end the cat lost that battle to an ‘06. After the DWR was called and the cat was taken off by the DWR, she went home and discovered she had started her period. It is my belief that the cat smelled blood,thought she was vulnerable and that is why he wouldn’t back down. My buddy is also my taxidermist and ended up buying the cat pelt back from the DWR and making a mount. The mounted lion freaked his wife out so bad he had to cover it with a sheet just so she could come in his shop. It took years before they could remove the covering sheet. Ladies just be extra careful in the woods at that time......

[@lisad6721]

That's exactly what I was more concerned about. A mountain lions being attracted to the menstruation scent. A bear not so much but that cat 😱😱😱😱

[@Jermeister]

_"..in the end the cat lost that battle to an '06"_ is the most American thing I've read today. Lol! Love it!! 😂❤

[@livbrooks4194]

Honestly this is my favourite channel for this stuff. So inclusive and supportive and real. Love it!! Number 1 on my bucket list is a through hike on the Appalachian Trail. Who knows if I’ll ever have the guts to do it but man this videos motivate me!! So thank you!!!

[@montyollie]

So glad you made a video for this! I'm on the forum and participated in that thread! You have such a nice plainspoken way of explaining things, it's great. People shouldn't be embarrassed or afraid to ask, so glad you answered so thoughtfully and kindly

[@JohndaCantrell]

I love how you keep it real and down to earth! It’s intimidating to even try to start backpacking! These are such valid questions! We’ve followed your journeys, from start to finish. Every journey you’ve been on has been a white knuckles adventure! Bless your mom! She has to be a gem to have raised you to be what you are! Inspired by you, my niece and I have found backpacking, and a ton of adventures! Every trip we do,we can’t wait to get back home and reflect about it and try to capture in a video. You and Aaron killed capturing it! Can’t wait until you get back out on an adventure!

[@timmurphy2221]

Great job Dixie. I'm older now and do less backpacking and more day hiking, but years ago on the PCT in Yosemite I got a comeuppance courtesy of Mother Nature. I used to backpack uber light. No tent, no stove, no gas, just a cookpot, basic food, pitch stick, sleeping bag, and clothes. One night in July, a storm came in from the east, weird enough, and dropped a boatload of hail and puffballs of ice, frozen on the outside and liquid on the inside! Sleeping out, I got soaked to the bone and frozen beyond safe. I survived it, but it was miserable. The real illogic of all was that I worked in a sporting goods store and got great discounts. When I got back, I bought a North Face expedition tent and used it for the next 20 years until it was beyond the pale. Recommendation, be considerate about weight but not stupid. Tents or shelter is really important!

[@ivanal.c6424]

My friends baby was conceived on the AT 😂

[@KaeleyStormcrow]

The very best of beginnings! That child is luck.

[@1houndgal]

What is the name they gave this baby?

[@kmlgraph]

My baby's friend was conceived on the PCT.

[@Bojanglz2.0]

Some people are born to hike some people are born from a hike 😂

[@rickborrettjr6810]

@@Bojanglz2.0 ha!

[@mattcolver1]

Yep, you're from Alabama. You said "might would" and "might could". Best backpacking channel on youtube. You're great!

[@skobird2732]

Yeah Im a New Yorker and that threw me off lol. Thanks for explaining, love the different lingo regions of the US have

[@mattcolver1]

@@skobird2732 I'm from Colorado, but spent a lot of time at a factory my company has in Alabama. The people there are so friendly. The lingo is great too. You don't order sweet tea, you order swate tae.

[@ngkasp]

Huge language nerd here: this is called multiple modals! goo.gl/nVWHH6

[@NinerK]

Family in South Carolina, one phrase that I always remembered was the old folks talking about how “I used to could do that”. Peace and positivity.

[@markmoore5380]

@@mattcolver1 ULA?

[@Emisea23]

So helpful and made me feel really glad to know that I’m not the only one who has had a lot of these same questions! Thanks Dixie :)

[@mab0852]

Dixie, I love these videos as much for entertainment as because they help me with a woman's perspective to help guide/understand my wife on trail. Trail life, by necessity, is just more rugged and in a lot of cases much more communal than town life or even married life. I guess I grew up in the woods so I never really had a lot of those deep seated hang ups. It was funny how quick they faded for my wife once she was on trail, especially in bear country. I laughed at how fast she cut weight (all the luxury items). After a week on trail, her huge toiletries bag was reduced to a ziplock baggie just like mine. Mine and yours was quickly reduced to just ours everywhere possible. The underwear and chaffing ones go hand in hand for me. I have to have boxer briefs as a preventative for chaffing. I've since learned they need to be wool for stink and longevity between washes. Two pairs is plenty for me. I've tested up to a week per pair in daily tasks with no stink or discomfort and in the heat of New Mexico, they were good for 3 days of hiking before washing became mandatory. My wife, on the other hand, has decided commando is the best option for her. Folks should swallow their pride and try some things out at home before the commit on trail even if those thing sound gross or unpleasant. The trail has a funny way of just making you get real and deal with or ignore stuff.

[@autumnsimms3402]

This was by far one of my favorite videos and you're right these are things I thought about but often felt too stupid to ask or thought about them and then forgot about them just as quickly I hope you do more videos like this very informative

[@babadeedee214]

Love your shirt Dixie! Where’d u get it? Been following u for years. You’re the true definition of humility: the right estimation of oneself, not to proud & not too timid. You’re the real deal! 👍🏻💪🏻🌅

[@davidserafin2692]

You are the best Dixie. Haven't hiked the thru hikes, but have watched and supported a friend complete his triple crown a year before you. Great info and energy.

[@pennyrutter2782]

Thank you youngin! 😁 Back in the 70s and 80s, I did a lot of hitching and hiking, and got to see most of this great land. Good to see, some things dont change.😉 Well done!💚💚💚

[@paulwilliams819]

Guy going up to construction crew asking for Tyvek...…..told to beat it !!! Pretty girl doing the same thing.....entire crew stops working, half the guys get the Tyvek, the other half scramble to look for a knife, the foreman says take the rest of the roll, they fold it, put it in her vehicle, brag about who she liked the most after she leaves.

[@jshepard152]

Lol. So true.

[@billboyd2009]

Female privilege!

[@laur-unstagenameactuallyca1587]

@@billboyd2009 not if you're an ugly female lol shush

[@roaddogrichard]

So very true!

[@lestatangel]

😎

[@musingsatmidlife5278]

I love your videos! I will be almost 60 when I go in a couple of years, and am getting a lot of useful information from your various videos. Thanks!

[@kgsz]

The fact you added direct links to the particular questions...

[@neilson.equine6301]

I love how honest you are 😂 I’ve dreamt of hiking the AT since reading a book about it in middle school... I’m now 26 and still hoping to fulfill that dream sooner rather than later 💙

[@JellybeanPinkninja]

I'm in the same boat! About the same age, too! The trail I want to hike the most though is the PCT, since reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed lol. I've been saving, researching, gathering gear, etc. so that I can do it after I graduate in 2022. Good luck to you, I hope you get to do it! :D

[@OldPackMule]

LOL “there’s going to be so much butt sweat it’s really not going to matter.” LOL. Very few people can say that and be serious.

[@matthewg.garcia9415]

honestly with all the butt sweat might not even make a difference to turn inside out. Just wear them normal two days in a row, then field wash asap so you have a system of fresh under-roos! Maybe invest in merino under-roos also!!!

[@JoJo-fm4tk]

Good idea to have a spray on diaper rash cream in case of rashes.

[@johnyoungblood2771]

Lol😂😂😭😭🤣🤣🤣💯💯💯👍🏿😌🌹🌹🌹🌹🤭🤭🤭🤭!,,

[@JamesChessman]

barf!!!!!

[@themaclife1499]

I'm a certified diver and they do sell all kinds of stuff to keep your lenses from fogging up but!!! Spit works the best!!

[@joeshmoe7967]

Spit works very well, but I was taught to use a tiny about of tooth paste. Always keeps travel size tube in my snorkle bag, but if fogging started to happen out in the water, spit does the trick.

[@Evo3m21]

"Cat crap" if still available is excellent, used on visor on bike for years and keep a small spray bottle on long distance hikes and use my buff to clean

[@peter_smyth]

On the bathroom mirror at home, I use a tiny smear of soap from a bar, and rub it all over.

[@2friendstoking]

I use a drop of baby shampoo in my dive mask

[@andersnrregren9087]

TheMacLife 1 snot is better tho but spit Sounds/look better in chat

[@kimbasciano_]

I always look forward to your videos Dixie! These questions were great!

[@wofnitg]

When I hiked the AT in 1976, when dinosaurs still roamed the earth, I boiled my mid-70's vintage soft contact lenses every morning with my oatmeal water. There was a special Bausch & Lomb plug-in contraption for use at home but there wasn't a version that ran on white gas, and an extension cord would have been really heavy. I made a wire harness that suspended the little cylindrical case used for sterilizing mid-height in the cook pot so it wouldn't melt from contact with the bottom. I do remember people being curious as to what I was up to in the morning, and seeing their eyes go wide when I poured the water into a cup of instant oatmeal, then opened the little case and popped the lenses into my eyes.

[@ppumpkin3282]

Wouldn't it be easier just to wear glasses?

[@googiegress7459]

@J G Avoid laser eye surgery. I was on the fence about it, but what made my decision never to do it is four things: (1) any eye surgery you get causes a higher chance of cataracts later and you'll need another surgery to fix it. (2) Laser eye correction is not permanent! You'll have to go back in for another zap session every decade or maybe even more often, partly because as you age your vision changes, but partly because there's a chance the surgery didn't work 100% at first and you need an "enhancement" followup surgery. (3) Because the surgery takes away some of your cornea thickness every time, there's a point where you can't keep getting them, so you're just screwed. And maybe your cornea has that thickness for a reason, and thinning it surgically could have unforeseen consequences. (4) It doesn't actually give you perfect vision. You'll still have vision problems. See: www.lasikcomplications.com/TopTenReasons.htm It's hard to cut through the BS when looking for info on this. Normally the sources I would trust would be the doctors administering the procedure. But I honestly don't think the average LASIK doc is as trustworthy as the average Internal Medicine doc. There's too much of sales and hucksterism around them, much like other kinds of plastic surgery. It feels like chiropractic, where the professional association and practitioners work really hard to claim legitimacy and don't seem to have the patient's interest foremost in their mind; instead, they'd really just like to get more customers. So, as much as the site I linked looks sketchy and unprofessional, they do cite their sources, and their complaints don't seem unreasonable or improbable.

[@googiegress7459]

@J G Yep I've had glasses forever, and I'm just so used to them now, plus they hide the bags under my eyes ;)

[@Anon282828]

that's one of those great stories that has a whiff of bull and horse at the same time (I mean this as a positive) :-)

[@johneason6540]

Yay! Dixie is on! Thank you, for your time and information. Still waiting for more trail stories. It is totally amazing to others have shared experiences in the wild.

[@christyj24]

Thank you for having this answer video. It's nice to think of all the possibilities BEFORE you go out and not be surprised on trail.

[@tddurrin8902]

Dixie, thank you for sharing all your vast knowledge that you have learned over the past few years with us. I plan on starting a thru hike of the AT in the spring of 2021. This will help as I've watched all your videos of your thru hikes of AT, PCT and the CDT so far. Thanks again!

[@hellnah4262]

I Joined your group and I love it!!! Also I just generally appreciate you so much Dixie. Thank you for helping get my son and I into nature and not afraid

[@newmanifest]

“Suicidal Gnat” would also be a great name for a band.

[@MiTmite9]

I'm going to Reddit to add that to the Great Name for a Band subReddit.

[@ronaldmcdonald9147]

Hygeine tip that helped me while on the PCT in the chilly/cold Fall: Warning - this might not seem sanitary, but on the trail will put this in a different light. #1 water is not always plentiful. #2 when already cold, hand washing aint fun - seriously. Here's a trick - take a mouthful of water, hold it. Squeeze a dab of soap into one hand and add a little "warm" water, scrub scrub scrub. Rinse and repeat. Filthy hands will be way cleaner without frigid cold water 🙌

[@rgpfighter]

"Rinse and repeat." xD not sure if that was purposeful hahaha

[@geritisdale-brock7247]

Makes sense to me!

[@fredlaroche6969]

That's exactly word for word what I do while Ice fishing in Quebec, Canada. That is an AMAZING tip!

[@mortsdans]

It's all about the baby wipes

[@serafinhikes]

Even in the Summer, spring water is frigid

[@aborne]

I love this. I learn so much. Thanks for making these videos.

[@megancooper6130]

This video quality is amazing! ❤️ loving these post-hike topics

[@johnafagerquist8235]

I almost forgot how much I enjoy your off-trail videos. About the only difference between on-trail and off-trail is the trail. Otherwise, it's a Dixie fix. Great video as always. Your ability to actually tackle tough topics without getting all red-faced is a talent few master. By staying comfortable in your own skin, you prevent our red faces. Thank you!

[@tictachikes6156]

This is such a good idea - I was always told in the Air Cadets (and I tell cadets now) “No questuon is silly if you don’t know the answer!”

[@grumpyoldwizard]

Your are a brave woman to bring up the subject. Bravo. It’s a natural thing and nothing to be embarrassed about but I imagine some people are reluctant to discuss the topic.

[@bctravels8512]

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We appreciate the information and your raw honesty.

[@kevincoulter2239]

Great subject and perfect questions answers. Thanks for all your great work!

[@azdesertrunner56]

Your great Dixie, so open and helpful. Thats why I love your videos. Keep up the great videos.

[@jeffr2855]

Just stumbled upon this vid. Thought it was great and had a lot of valuable knowledge for hikers in general. Most people never discuss this stuff. Cudos to you Lass.

[@TheGoatMumbler]

Tyvek can be bought by the foot on Ebay & Amazon. Home centers only carry huge pieces and it's expensive. Cut a piece 2"-3" larger than your tent footprint, place in a 5 gal bucket with water and wring the crap out of it. Repeat every time you walk by the bucket and let it sit in there for a day or two. The more you wring it the softer it gets. This softens it better than using a washing machine because machines these days use minimal water. Tyvek doesn't actually "shrink", but all the added wrinkles will shorten your original measurement. Hang it out to dry and THEN make your final footprint size cut. Then you will have a soft, quiet and waterproof foot print that will last forever.

[@harmony331000]

You’re such an inspiration to me and I’m so very proud of you for completing the Triple Crown 👸👍♥️& for sharing your adventures with me...Thanks Dixie

[@hanselking6615]

Thanks for answering these kind of questions!

[@MelissaMellyMelRoberge]

Thanks for your basic & beginner practical q&a. I really appreciate it. You’ve added info I never even contemplated needing to know. 🦄😎✅🥾

[@backdoor5993]

Good post, thanks for your frankness! We're too often put off by the basic questions. It's good for a guy to understand/learn what women on the trail are concerned about, helps with planning. I like the way you treat it all as a human adventure. Thanks for your input, well done. SemperFi!!

[@dyerarch]

Dixie, Your videos are most informative. Always interesting. Thanks

[@rickchollett]

After many years in the military I have no problem sleeping around strangers. I don't need earplugs because I'm half deaf. I snore so my apologies in advance. I walked 500 miles last year across Spain. I'm setting my goal to do the AT in 2020!

[@Acolis]

did you make your goal?

[@rickchollett]

@@Acolis sadly no.

[@Acolis]

Rick Chollett sorry to hear. I’ll be on the Shenandoah section this year.

[@RickStoneTravels]

Yayy I was so excited to get off work and see that notification, great vid!

[@livinglike_lisa7954]

I enjoyed this video and very much appreciate your welcoming attitude.

[@chrisheiser9207]

I wore earplugs every night on the AT. The snoring (even at campsites) is terrible and it would keep me up. I wore them tenting alone too. The wind and animals would keep me up if i didn't wear plugs.

[@serafinhikes]

The whipperworls calling out would drive me crazy

[@tedsell1455]

can't hear bear or bad guys coming ,what about storm coming ,no ear plugs for me !!

[@ethanlehman9052]

@@tedsell1455 I think the smell will keep your average "badguy" away. I still remeber my first time smelling an AT hiker at the begining of a section hike 😂

[@desertweasel6965]

I wear earplugs to sleep every night. I also wear them at work. There are different ear plugs for every occasion. I would say if you get a 33 to 50 decibel plug, you still can hear very well, but it takes away the sharpness of sounds. In other words, when I'm at work they drown out machinery noises, but strangely I can still hear people talking to me even at long distances.

[@bikerfirefarter7280]

Dude you need to change your mind-set, the AT is an adventure, not a chore. Accept the sounds not block them out. Voluntarily deaf!? WTF? That's why you can't consciously turn off your sense of hearing, it's there for a good reason. Sense of smell, wind on skin etc; ON. I also go sailing, sleep aboard at sea or moored, but hearing is ON 24/7. The idea of it is you are IN the wild, in tune with it; not 'out of it' while in it. It's akin to 'meditating', calm and still and relaxed but hearing and 'aware' of everything. If you want to be safe/deaf while asleep stay home.

[@Acolis]

your comment about "who am i sleeping next to these straingers?!" was really funny to me because my first rainbow gathering i went to i had take a shit so i squated down over the trench and then some other dude comes and squats down next to me and also starts shitting. we made eye contact. at that moment i thought "what in the world am i doing with myself right now?"

[@colinrasmussen9365]

Lol! I remember my first community shit at rainbow! Dude was trying to have a conversation with me too.

[@freddymarcel-marcum6831]

Join the Navy, shit next to other guys, no prob ⚡😀🇺🇲

[@justbrint]

Very informative happy to have found your channel! Keep them coming Dixie...

[@dallascollins42]

Yo! I was so curious about the chaffing question. New sub. Thank you so much for all the information.

[@JohnEsse]

"Gnat hackin" = night hiking

[@blizzcold7230]

Happy PCT Sign-Up Day... wahoooo... 😆 Thanks for the video Dixie...

[@just-becool8822]

You need to put this in a book. I love how unashamed you are about sharing. You are awesome!

[@UncaDave]

Great helpful video Dixie, thanks. For chaffing I have found a great solution. When you get to your camp for the night wash the area off and pad it dry. If no water source use wipes. Then I apply J&J First Aide cream. This stuff is a white cream and honestly hard to find in most pharmacies but if you do grab a couple while you can. In the morning you are healed! As a guy who used to raise cattle in WV, my favorite stuff is Bag Balm but I don’t think they’ve ever made it in a tube. Just put some in some kind of a little crush proof plastic container. Happy hiking!

[@subaruforester5062]

A good foot print for a tent and lighter is is a cheap shower curtain. Water proof and super light

[@brokenpencil57]

Get Polycryo, it's industrial grade cross-linked polyolefin...tough and actually lightweight, like less than 2 oz which I'm certain is lighter than saying 'super light' -with no scale.

[@PatrickWagz]

"going commando" haha, love it haven't heard that term in years!!

[@fenghuanglin7429]

Period comment!!! Menstrual cups with period panty back ups are my go-to. Diva makes a collapsible travel cleaner cup (luxury item, but saves water). Period panties are breathable for hiking, but only good for light days. Combined with sweat, I find them uncomfortable even on medium days alone.

[@frankwinn2320]

To address the chaffing issue for both men and women, 2 solutions. #1 mole skin found at your local drugstore in the foot care isle. #2 pantyhose, 🚨pantyhose retains heat🚨however it’s also a friction reducer. When I was in the army we would do almost dead runs with 35/50 pounds or more for 12 miles. Saved tons of blisters and other rashes and raw areas. And we kept warm on those less than ideal early morning cool days.

[@mfalfa]

pleaseeeee make a "Hey Yall Dixie here" tshirt, because I would totally buy one hahah

[@claycarpenter8625]

Tammy fan huh? Lol

[@MrsStevenBrown]

Just a “Hey Y’all” T-shirt would sell out! V neck please! Lol

[@jimbosepicadventuresinc.8384]

Dixie had a T-shirt design contest last fall 2018. I Designed three T-shirts. Two were Hey Y'all Dixie Here and See Y'all next Time. My Designs Finnished in the bottom five. 😂

[@Davido50]

How bout a "true blue Yankee shirt?"

[@kcain64]

This is the first I am hearing of it. Where can I get a shirt?

[@robertforester7938]

Dixie do you feel like Hiking the trails have helped you grow as a person meaning maturing, becoming more worldly, Getting in touch with the word around you, ect. I only ask because while I haven't seen every video yet I've seen a lot of them and when I started watching this one I noticed those things I think.

[@Seamus3051]

Thanks for a candid and informative forum ... Cheers.

[@taradisetravel]

This is amazing! Thank you for answering all the questions I didn’t know I even needed to ask. 🤣

[@howdyhikes]

We just got our PCT permits today, so I have all things thru-hike on the mind. Excited to hit the trail next April! Also, watched the whole video, but just noticed the timestamps in the desc, very helpful :)

[@HomemadeWanderlust]

Tandem Ride CONGRATS! 😀

[@outdoorcorn9915]

Cool stories! Great tips! Thanks Dixie :)

[@seansnowdon2046]

You make your videos so entertaining. I laughed a few times out loud, not only from your but crack joke, but mostly your expressions. Can't wait for the next video.

[@charlescoomes8951]

One of the too 3 AT thru hike videos thanks bunches

[@WillN2Go1]

Thanks Dixie, great information. You're sort of like a one-woman-NASA-program for trail hiking. I feel a bit clueless. I've only just learned about GutHook. I live in Los Angeles, so I just purchased for about $7 the local section of the PCT. As soon as the smoke clears, I'm going hiking. The Guthook maps, with the notes, tips, water sources-- there's no reason not to go. I know the local San Gabriels really well, Guthook seems to know them even better. For earplugs, I just use my earbuds on my iPhone. If a sound is annoying there is no way to completely remove a noise with earplugs. I've got a few audiobooks I've listened to several times that I put on a timer. You can't be interested in what happens next cause it'll keep you up. I'll set the timer to 30 minutes to an hour, and if the next day I go back to where I started I find out that I've fallen asleep within 5-10 minutes. Set it for 15 minutes? I'll wake up when it stops.

[@filmic1]

For guys chafing, (dhoby's (sp?) itch, aka ringworm etc.) carry a small tube of Tinactin or antifungal cream. Get that stuff on as soon as you detect an abrasion surfacing, or put it on before hand if you at least suspect an abrasion might occur.. (that's what I do, anyway.)

[@Romin.777]

I talc (babypowder) and nivea at night.

[@DANGELOOR]

This video is a proof that clickbait and good focus on camera can make you 500k views. Every answer on every question is "well, it depends". Yeah, very helpful.

[@JAaronMattox]

This comment is proof that people don’t have any idea what clickbait is. The questions in the thumbnail are also repeated in the description with time stamps and then answered in the video. ‘Do people hook up on trail?” Yes. “Do periods attract bears?’ No. The weirdest thing about this comment is it’s completely untrue. Literally the first question is explained and answered: yes Guthook works without a cell signal. I will say the ‘period panties’ answer is ‘it depends’ on how heavy your flow is. So I guess if you’re not sure yet whether your flow is considered heavy I can see why you feel like she wasn’t helpful to you.

[@jboatb]

Great video--thanks for being so straight forward:

[@LaHayeSaint]

To maintain clean knickers, use a panty liner. It means you can go for several days without washing your knickers.

[@elazarpimentel5340]

Don't then the liners need to be washed? :/ I'm thinking of the liner of my sleeping bag, for sure not the same, but still.

[@aquamarine9568]

For chafing on legs, especially inner thighs, put antperspirant in area that will chafe. It works.

[@danielleb8952]

Your lighting was so dreamy! ♥️

[@llevise1]

Love the idea of taking odd questions. Thinking you might be able to do a few more videos with these type of questions. I'm super excited to see how your Mom and you do on the trail together. Are you planning on doing any videos of what preparations she will be taking?

[@lagatitabruja]

I use those period underwear and they are SO GOOD! Ive switched over completely, but I guess I have a moderate flow. I would imagine you would have to change them a few times in a day though!

[@sailormoon1006]

What brand did you use and where did you get it from?

[@backpacker3421]

Re: chafing. Fist a disclaimer that I am a man, so if anything I say is not applicable to women, please forgive my ignorance (I do understand that going without underwear is not an option for women during menstruation, but you might still be able to apply this some of the time). The primary message here is that anything skin tight is your enemy when it comes to chafing. Personally, I have always gone commando on trail and my preferred hiking shorts are running shorts designed for marathon runners. I leave the liner in but don't wear underwear. The liner is very very light and has minimal skin contact. I rarely experience any chafing at all. Occasionally on extreme mile days, I may get a little, and if so I apply body glide to the chafed area for the next couple days to prevent it from getting any worse and let it heal. When it's below freezing or glissading will be involved, I wear hiking pants made from 4-way stretch material with Exofficio boxer briefs underneath. Chafing is a little bit more common in that case - but still pretty rare. If the chafing persists, I'd recommend a couple of low-milage days, or maybe even a zero followed by a low milage day. Letting the chafing heal completely is important - chafed skin swells making it more prone to chafing worse.

[@jamesking4308]

Fantastic information from Dixie! Congratulations again on your Triple Crown :) Until your KZbin video appeared in my feed, I had no idea such a fun activity existed. After watching your three through hikes I feel confident I could do it also.

[@corinaalmaguer2454]

I agree there are no stupid questions. When I started backpacking 3 years ago I had so many questions. Watched so many different KZbin . About hiking clothes, food, everything! All the videos helped. Thank you!!!

[@monkandgoose890]

As a woman with thicker thighs, I will tell you three lifesavers to prevent chaffing. The best is putting deodorant on your thighs where they rub each other. The second best is coconut oil (or any oil really, but coconut is my favorite so far). The third is chapstick, but really try to save that for when you're in a pinch. It's a short-lived relief and needs frequent reapplying.

[@carryhansen2764]

Butt butter for cyclists works wonders, so does body glide and they make mini sizes! Works for preventing foot blisters too!

[@____________838]

There’s a few different companies that sell “anti-chafe” sticks.

[@nimitz9280]

Try babypowder! Works wonders (regards swe army)

[@Romin.777]

Talc

[@alexbaird2670]

Roll-on deo or spray?

[@morganamazing2011]

Yes!! Thank you!

[@viewsandreviews180]

Good video. Thanks for posting this video and I liked the responses I saw you got to this one.

[@alandean6884]

Love you’re videos, keep them coming.