Lessons Beginner Hikers Learn The Hard Way

[@diannapedersen9065]

Absolutely a sleeping bag learning curve. Did not realize the temperature rating was for survival, froze my ass off the first night in 2 week night. I tested the bag before the trip, but not in the temperature I was about to hike in. Ended up using emergency blankets to help insulate the heat so I could finish my hike, but immediately bought a warmer sleeping bag and am sooo comfortable even though it’s a pound heavier.

[@Reversion4]

Good to see you making content again. Hope your family is doing well.

[@janefreeman995]

I hiked with a lovely man from France on the te araroa. He was wearing shorts and his skin was reacting to grasses. I suggested we stop so he could put on his wind pants. Imagine a French accent. " No it is boring to stop" Forevermore, for some reason stopping along the trail, I remember this.

[@stpetie7686]

This is not on topic at all, but holy moly, am I ever anxious for Dixie's AZT videos to start popping up!

[@sarahdunstan2061]

So happy to see you back! I hope Bratcher is feeling better and that you are getting enough sleep!

[@francesprice618]

Thank you for taking time to connect with and educate us from your own extensive experience, dear Dixie! My daughter and I learned so much from your earlier videos, and we are waiting for the opportunity to progress from day hikes to overnight camping. I hope wee Bratcher's digestive issues are resolving so you all can get some much-needed rest! Keeping you three in my prayers. 💙👣❤

[@sirdrakeben]

Thank you for all your content, I watched you a lot in the past and now coming back to you in prep for a thru hike.

[@amberbydreamsart5467]

I think it's honestly good to overpack in some areas your first trip; I have absolutely no problem with the fact that I overpacked 2-4 pounds of weighty warm clothes the first time I backpacked when looking at cold nights. Better that than go cold. I packed probably 3 days worth of extra food my first multi-night trip... better that than go hungry. The key for overpacking, I think, is to try and be as realistic as you can be while acknowledging things that you simply won't know until you get out there. I simply didn't know how much I would eat while hiking all day for several days, I also didn't know how many layers it would take to keep me warm at camp since I'd never hung around in camp or slept outside at those temperatures. The way I kept myself from killing my back with the overpacking was taking it all slow. I never camped growing up so I knew I had a lot to learn. My first backpacking night was at a campsite a 2.5 mile hike from the parking lot, in a state park where I'd already hiked every inch of trail, on a summer night where it wouldn't get below 70 degrees at any point in time. The point of that trip was to prove to myself that I could set up a tent, cook my dinner, hang my food bag, and sleep in the woods all myself and to see how much the gear I'd gathered weight. After that, I was willing to go on a trip on a new trail, in colder weather, to slightly challenge my navigation and test how I slept in the cold. Then a three night trip to see how things went over a longer period. Don't underestimate the value of just taking a single night saturday-sunday trip out to test and learn, not every trip needs to be a weekslong dive into deep wilderness. A state park hike-in site a mile from the parking lot can still be beautiful and valuable.

[@paulrevere2379]

The campsites 50 yards from the parking lot and those a quarter mile in share a lot of common problems. With some exceptions you will find that this all changes within less than a mile. Of course the day hikers will still make the area well-traveled but that first mile is enough to weed out the overwhelming majority of car campers with the coolers, chairs, pre-cut firewood and fast food. Then, if you push out more than 200 yards directly away from the trail to find your campsite it gets surprisingly remote for the purpose of privacy. When you find evidence like 50 year old pop-tops in some places, then you realize how few people actually stop and explore beyond the trail, even when it's still pretty close by.

[@airic499]

A couple of extra things to always hike with. A fire source; particularly if there is any chance of colder weather. A couple of weatherproof matches or a small lighter weigh nothing and could easily save your life. Probably not under the absolute must, but a small knife and a bit of cord. Paracord has kind of become a thing, but to be honest unwaxed dental floss has way more uses. If you are a gram weenie, just break open the dental floss case and grab the spool. You can use dental floss for everything from a bit of quick mending to impromptu bushcraft.

[@paulrevere2379]

These are pocket items that I don't even leave the house without. Most times I will have them even if I'm only walking one minute away out the back door. Habits tend to become permanent.

[@Lightning77AThiker]

I don't even go on a day hike without a shelter anymore. Got hurt once and had to stay there for the night.

[@paulrevere2379]

Primary shelter for humans when outdoors should be your clothing. A wool inner layer and an outer shell are most important. These can be packed, but I don't mind wearing light wool 24/7. Spare socks that are clean and dry along with bags (water barrier for feet) are also essential. Last but not least is a thermal layer to cover your head. None of these items are enough to cause a weight issue. Hikers should beware the trends that encourage them to go out unprepared. Cold kills, Nature is Neutral, and Mountains Don't Care.

[@dtaylor10chuckufarle]

Same. I'm always prepared to spend one (uncomfortable) night.

[@rockytopwrangler2069]

.. Even day hikes can bring a change to need a shelter ,, pack a lightweight weight tarp always ,, a 10ft x10 ft. can handle many circumstances ,, can be protection from a downpour or snowfall and a quick set up and hot drink or cup-a-soup might save the mood ... or a decision to stay over night because the fish are biting too well and you just don't want to go ... Take the time to practice setting up a tarp shelter ,, there are dozens of video's on set ups and some are better than others for season and terrain conditions .. practice a few at home to know how and have the needed gear ,i.e. ,, cordage ,, poles and enough stakes , etc ... .. Couple years back bought a poncho called a "Gatewood Cape" ,, a rain poncho that sets up as a tarp tent (as they all can) along with a full contained bug encloser that sets up under it ... sets up quick and pretty cool ,, with or without the bug net .... Have not used it yet ,, but fun to set up in the yard ... with trekking poles or separate designed poles ..

[@a.w.thompson4001]

Or a bivy.

[@rockytopwrangler2069]

.. Dixie ,, It's good to see you again .... certainly hope that family life is filling your heart ... Stay Safe and God Bless ...

[@user-og3nw6bz9k]

great advice dixie

[@OriginalSpacewhale]

Thank you for everything, Dixie! I'm planning to hike the AT this year and have learned so much from your videos. Can't wait to learn more out on the trail!

[@papajeff5486]

1. Carry a light source, other than your phone. 2. Not all trail miles are equal. Terrain differences dictate difficulty. 3. Check the weather forecast. 4. Keep healthcare gear handy, easy to access. 5. Temperature ratings are for survival, not comfort. Prepare for comfort. 6. Don’t carry too much gear. Don’t pack for fears. Needs are not the same as wants 7. Eat before you’re hungry. Drink before you’re thirsty. 8. ALWAYS take the time to insure your shelter is properly pitched, the site is properly chosen and PREpared. 9. Scope out water sources before you hike. 10. Check for ticks, one consistent time of everyday. Carry a mirror.

[@roadmapofjupiter]

So true - I had to learn nearly every one of these topics the hard way on the Appalachian Trail! Excellent information, Dixie!

[@kiera_kayaks7521]

I just love you Dixie! My brother recently asked me what changed in mine and my niece's relationship.( I adopted her when she was nine. She's now 27) Simple backpacking. We have been backpacking at least twice a year for 4 years and I appreciate her for the human/adult she is. And she's just the best. Backpacking/ road tripping partner.

[@TheFinFitLifeLady]

Glad to see a new video out, I know it probably feels nice to do some work again and step away from being “mom” for a minute. ❤

[@kerrypennings4294]

And around the ticks, I just found one in December in a northern climate. Hadn't been checking because it didn't seem that they'd be a concern, given the time of the year where I live. The darn thing had obviously been attached for a while, given it was really swollen up. A course of Doxy later and fingers crossed, all is well...Plus, thanks for all the other reminders. I have a shorter winter trip in the mountains coming up and it's def not the place to let down the ole guard!

[@paulrevere2379]

Lessons that hikers seem to take forever to learn: - There is almost no such thung as a universal tip because things like location, weather, fitness level and divergent goals always matter. - The wilderness does not care about your technology. Reliance on technology puts you in far greater danger than learning to live without it.

[@AuburnAlum1977]

I almost ended up past dark on the Pinhoti without my headlamp. Never again!!

[@janefreeman995]

I'm hiking in Chile...no Lyme carrying ticks. It's amazing how freeing that is. For the last few months I've been in Pucon, Chile walking in the gorgeous and unusual nacional parques. In a week to La Junta, the Yosemite of Chile, and on down to the torres del paine and then over to the Fitz Roy mountain area in Argentina. It's lovely to be in the S. hemisphere with long summer days.

[@NewsViewsAndTruth]

there are many worse parasites to worry about in south america.

[@ChrisSunHwa]

It's so great to see you again, Dixie! You're looking well. Is baby Bratcher feeling any better?

[@matthewpittman2481]

Your tip about keeping your personal care supplies handy, reminded me of BoyScouts and one of my treks across Philmont. I carried my SAK one one side of my hiking shorts in the "patch pocket", and lip balm and sunscreen stick in the patch pocket on the other side. The latter made it much easier to apply during any quick breaks while on the trail, if i forgot before we started moving. I carried my personal first aid kit in one of the outside pockets on my pack, apart from my toiletries, which were buried inside. Great to see another vid from you!

[@Mountian-Zen]

I still consider your most epic video, the swim across hi deep hi-water Stubblefield creek on the PCT. Snow on both sides as you entered and exited!

[@christopherch7307]

1.7 / 2mph is my goto calculation for reaching next stops on trail.

[@rockytopwrangler2069]

.. My spd as well 2.0 mph .... every 1 hr then a 5-10 min. break ,,,,,,,,,, then near the end of the day ,, every 5-10 min. a 1 hr break ... 'ol body isn't what it used to be ...

[@lyfandeth]

Fully agreed. I've never heard of anyone making more than 3mph on level street walking. With a 40# pack and a woodland trail? 2mph is still optimistic in mountain terrain.

[@frstesiste7670]

Many thruhikers do 3 mph or more on the PCT when the trail is reasonably well maintained and it usually is except for areas with snow or blowdowns. The AT is slower on average than the PCT, but still 3 mph is not that difficult in many areas. Of course, this is without breaks which vary wildly form hiker to hiker. In snow, on difficult terrain, bushwacking etc it's very hard to estimate speed and even 1 mph might be difficult.

[@WaldregTheGreat]

1. I never do any walking without first applying beeswax to my inner thighs to ensure i don't chafe, and i always carry a tub of it wherever i walk 2. carry superglue and needle and thread to repair potential cuts 3. carry spare shoes for difficult terrain like Inov8 mudclaw for muddy trails

[@dawnslight98]

I have learned everything in my entire life the hard way 😂 Nice video though!

[@CougarMutt]

Entering a Shakedown after a hike I discovered my fears were water cleanliness and Fire. Not just fire fire but heat source for cooking

[@RegEdmunds]

Hope your baby is well. It was fun watching you on the West Highland Way!

[@ThatOneDudeNick]

Testing new gear for the first time on a long hike. I brought a brand new pair of untested shoes for my Ruby Crest Trail hike (long for me, only being used to like 10 miles). Besides not being broken in yet, they were the worst shoes I've ever worn. I was so uncomfortable for what was otherwise one of my favorite hikes.

[@angelusdemorte3]

"I'm tough... 40lbs aren't that much." Looking back, Oh my sweet summer child...

[@powerlifting1012]

I got my pack down to 20lbs! Very little extra food and water though I plan to stay near enough to civilization to refill/ restock

[@chaddventures]

Great! and yes... fat blisters while walking across countries definitely adds to the difficulty ha

[@mafp22w]

One thing I will never do again on a backpack trip is to skip out on candy. I will always bring candy in case I find myself running out of calories. I found out the hard way on the PCT between Mammoth and Yosemite. Half of my food was bad. M&A Indio

[@paulrevere2379]

My experience is only anecdotal, but I found that hard candy at the right time pretty much kept altitude sickness at bay for me when hikers who were younger and way more fit than me were suffering from it. This is not medical advice, but health food nuts plz try to be open-minded here as it might just save you or someone with you.

[@CougarMutt]

Mmmmmmmmm Snickers......... Milky Way......... Payday........

[@washingtonfarmer2431]

Good stuff. Tent stake. Been there. Done that. Learned the hard way. It rained with wind.

[@bberenson001]

Found your channel a few months ago and I appreciate your advice and thank you for sharing your knowledge. Video idea for total newbies - could you do a video on any tips or tricks when using the Far Out or All Trails apps? I bought the PCT guide on the Far Out app and there’s a lot of information! Maybe too much info? Thanks again!!

[@daphne8406]

Turn back in time. Whether it is because you took a wrong turn or the trail is much harder or in a worse condition than you thought, turn back and retrace your steps to the last familiar or safer route. No use pushing for that summit or end of the trail or getting lost if that means risking your safety. I learned that in a very minor way when I took a wrong turn and ended up on a very muddy trail. I only turned back when I had lost my boot to the mud, fell on my butt and had to dig out the boot from the mud with my bare hands 😂 I looked like swamp-thing when I decided to retrace my steps for the last 30min and go back to where I last was on the proper (and much less muddy 😝) trail. Had to wash up in the nearby ice cold lake 🥶 Fun times. Lesson: I should have turned back sooner when I realized I was not on the right trail and that the conditions I found myself in were simply not hikeable 🤷‍♀️

[@patrickjones8255]

I still carry too much 😂 but I'm usually only doing 3-5 day trips so I'm packing a whole chalet. I'm a cast iron pan short of being a Hobbit

[@MariekaJackson]

Adding to hydration: If you're drinking and still thirst it's probably because you don't have enough electrolytes. Make sure to eat salty snacks or add electrolyte powder to your water. Adding to over packing: The other side is also true. People who under pack. Especially when it comes to warm layers, rain gear, food, water, bear/critter food protection. Make sure you know what all is needed not only for you safety, but for the safety of the animals and wilderness. Lots of times I've been in a store and seen newbies buying gear and I spike up conversation and they had nooooo idea they needed to protect their food from animals. One thing I learned the hard way is to check local rules/laws about things...specifically packing out poo. The very first time I mountain pottyed #2 was in a place where you're required to pack out feces. As a day hiker I didn't know that. I was so proud of myself for digging my cathole and going poo in the wilderness. Then some time later I learned that you're supposed to pack out in that park and I was mortified. I felt so bad. This happened again above tree line because I simply didn't know at the time. Other examples of laws are about where to sleep/not sleep. Eric Hansen has a good video about that where he was fined for setting up camp just off the line of where one can/can't sleep. You already covered it, but terrain makes such a difference in how long it will take you and how much energy you'll use. Make sure to pay attention to elevation gain in addition to mileage and add extra time for that. Things that also add to how long a mile will take is snow/ice, water (like in Florida), rocky trails (like most here in New England), unmaintained or less popular trails that may be harder to navigate, and even tricky intersections of trails. There's one junction in my local backpacking spot where 5 or 6 trails cross one another at a very rocky point that once used as a hide out for criminals, and even though Ive been there over a dozen times I still get confused abut which way to go for some trails (hence why those criminals hid there!). Lastly, just for Dixie, Congratulations on your baby! This is the first video of yours Ive watched in a long time so I imagine you've had it and are doing well. I'll have to catch up.

[@jman1121]

Great advice! Especially for new people!

[@moegardner1]

I might have made this comment on an earlier video. I sell boots of different brands in a retail store. Some of the boots have a cold rating of good to -30 to -40 celcius (-20 to -40 f.) . I know I wouldn't wear them much below freezing at best. People still put so much faith in the rating on the boot that they will not listen to me explain what is really best. I frequently pull the rating tags off before I put them on display. Unfortunately for many brands it is just a gimmick, and the manufacturer is not the one to get blamed when someone makes the wrong choice, we in the shop are.

[@julianlord5366]

If you have a bit too much body fat than you should, you can actually wait a little bit if you're hungry before eating. If you're skinny, then nope !! Not relevant to wilderness trails anywhere -- but one lesson I had to learn while hiking in rural areas in Europe is : be very careful about sleeping on comfy looking grass in or near villages or towns. They nearly always have hidden sprinkler devices that will shower you in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning. Better to sleep on a patch that looks bare or dry, as that will be outside of the sprinkler zone.

[@NewsViewsAndTruth]

Yep, two miles an hour is about the average for Appalachian Trail hikers. I don't really know what mine is, because hiking with two elderly pups takes longer. The two miles an hour isn't bad, because that is counting stops for bathroom, water, and to take a rest. For most people, doing more miles is just about putting in more hours. The earlier you start or later you stop, generally the more distance that you cover. It's two miles an hour for ten hours making twenty miles of distance hiked versus two miles an hour for five hours making ten miles of distance. For many people, hiking for ten hours is completely doable, starting at 6am and ending at 4pm........ but this is for the slow pace of 2 miles per hour. If you find ways to push a faster pace, then you can either hike further in a day or hike less during the day. It is a fun bit of efficiency that I enjoy playing with. my choice to gravity feed my water is in part because I don't drink enough water on trail, but I also think that it can help me be a little faster. I am only heating up water in my cookpot, so that I don't have to clean dirty dishes. My eating food is from a dutchware bowl bag which I put into an insulated pouch to fully rehydrate. My plan is to not boil water, since it's already filtered, thus saving on fuel used as well as a time savings. The idea for 2025 is efficiency, as I have finally gotten the majority of my kit to be nice and lightweight, I am able to focus on having my methods and processes be as efficient as possible.

[@kristymoore7052]

Overthinking and over preparing food shipped to myself before I got out there. What a waste. I could have fed min 4 additional hikers entirely and prob did with what I dumped in the hiker boxes. Also though, I had a hard time eating well. Still working on that.

[@kristymoore7052]

I’ve learned the hard way…burying a headlamp and/or rain gear, and then oops, needing immediately.

[@AveryGoesOutside]

When I attempted the AT a few years ago my pack was 28 lbs, now as I look to attempted it again I'm at around 20. Progress.

[@lizard2425]

Excellent! Thank you.

[@rangerinthewoods]

I think I've done all of those. A couple more than once.

[@christopherch7307]

👍🐿👍 yeeeeyeeee bring the love

[@dtaylor10chuckufarle]

"We pack our fears" - I never thought of that before, but you're 💯 right! Me: Being hungry or thirsty.

[@orion_13]

Ticks, I had to get one removed from my waistband area as a teen. I had 2 bellybuttons for a while. The Dr's cut above and below then remove the area the tick is dug in. Not fun, do not recommend.

[@edmolash3401]

Managing food weight was the hardest for me.

[@cnerup]

The 'Bog Slog' on the North Coast Trail in BC is 1km per hour (think hard on how slow that really is)........and that is only if it is not raining!!!!

[@a.w.thompson4001]

Good to know before you go. Bogs really slow you way down!

[@sdc4405]

Make sure your sawyer squeeze hasn't "set up" before you leave home and NOT when you get 10 miles down trail. Not that I had that happen. Lol

[@a.w.thompson4001]

I had that happen and was so tired that night that I forgot I had water purification tabs with me. No harm, but I was very thirsty. Oops! Testing your filter before leaving will also wet the fibers, which makes that kind of filter work better when you first use it.

[@brib9716]

Starting out too fast was my lesson

[@rogerwilco1777]

Yeah I did 20miles (solo) on the PCT my 1st day.. I've done 20miles before with day hikes/packs, but not with all that weight.. I was fine till i woke up the next morning and my hip was on fire and could barely walk.. I didn't have poles either, just one hiking stick, which by the end of returning to my car, I was double fisting, inching over rocks and everything in extreme pain.., ditching almost all my food and some gear along the way.. so yeah, know your limits, dont push it.. carry poles and make sure your pack is packed properly were my lessons.

[@Simple_But_Expensive]

Carry multiple Bic type lighters in different pockets. They are small and light, and waterproof matches aren’t waterproof. Fire and a stick are the most basic tools of mankind, along with a knife. I can find a stick. I can get along without a knife. I can’t without a fire, even if it is a campstove.

[@hermanogrande3758]

Oh man... nothing like a snickers paste.

[@L8BLUUMR]

Subtitles have you talking about "hackers". 🙃

[@nealrehm6900]

Good to see you again Dixie, How's Married life? I think we all miss you!

[@rockytopwrangler2069]

..Family life ..

[@GoneFeralWithSquidly]

I’ve been backpacking for 30 years and just a week ago, I took some shortcuts on my tent setup because I was exhausted and I KNEW significant rain was coming. Yeah, I had some water issues. Newbie mistake made by a veteran. I’m the worst. 🦑

[@eliot1970]

You're not alone in the vet-noob category!

[@a.w.thompson4001]

You have company. My Sawyer filter got too cold and didn't work and I was tired and forgot I always carry water purification tabs in case that happens.

[@albertocutcha5238]

Hoo-Yah

[@XX-cj9nu]

LATSORZ!! 🤣

[@Dorothy-u5g]

I really appreciate your efforts! I need some advice: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (mistake turkey blossom warfare blade until bachelor fall squeeze today flee guitar). How can I transfer them to Binance?

[@Greywulff58]

Ma’am, this is a Walmart.

[@marcmartens4831]

People only walk 3 to 4km an hour on a road so?

[@user-og3nw6bz9k]

3-5.5 km/h is normal for paved

[@lookoutpath6520]

Cool 👍👍👍 Advice!!! FYI - I had a similar injury (to your toenails injuries) to my thumb-nail recently (accidentally "hammered 🔨 it")... but; as I was able to "rest" it (unlike on your "driven" PCT Hike) for a month; it literally re-grew (almost) perfectly 😮 - within 1 month??!!! I hope your toenails can also similarly "regenerate" - after a "rest" (???). Best of LUCK for that Healing- Lovely Lady!!! 👍👍👍👍👍