For the person who was tired on the 2nd day of hiking because nerves kept him up before he started, I would suggest that a planned day of rest be added to the hike. If you know, you're going to be tired, just accept it and plan for it. Sleep in and get caught up. I love your videos, Dixie! There's good reason you are so popular.
That's what I do too. A few half days at first and take it really slow. Just listen to my body. I'm not there to punish myself, I'm there to enjoy it. And if that means bringing an extra 400g of food, then that's what I have to do. No big deal.
I saw a brilliant improvised toilet on Girl In The Woods video once. Mosquitos were terrible, and her friend wanted to have privacy and have it bug free. They had a small light free standing tent, so she pulled the stakes, then opened the zip of the tent and pulled it over herself, so the tent is now on itis side with the door for a floor. The other sides were mesh, but not the floor. She put the floor side to the public to have a blocked view, yet she could see out the other mesh sides, and she then did her business through the door. Only took a minute to set up, they were taking the tent down anyway so it was just unzip the door, flip, and squat.
You are such a lovely human being, Jessica. I adore how you took every question seriously and answered it fully, without judgment. Thank you so much for your ongoing kindness and wisdom.
We were sitting around the campfire when we heard Bigfoot sneaking up on us in the dark: Turned out to be a bullfrog. In case you are lost, pooping near the trail is a sure way to attract people.
An Odd Comment... I just got StarLink and now have massive speed and bandwith and I am going to watch (re-watch) your entire series. All three massive trails: The Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail... Finally... and better than anything Netflix has to offer.
I went on an 11 day hike in bear country (Sunshine Coast Trail) with my brother who wears hearing aids. One day I heard a noise of breaking branches in the woods but my brother didn't, he eventually heard one of the loud cracks of branches and it turned out to be a small black bear. His hearing aid batteries lasted for several days and he brought extras. I would not recommend a solo hearing impaired person to go hiking in bear country.
This was great! For the greeting of fellow hikers, I always acknowledge another hiker with a hello, hi, good morning/afternoon/evening or enjoy your hike. I do this on purpose for safety reasons. We never know what happens out there on the trails, so it'd be the least of us to be aware of who was around us. Happy trails to all!
Don't wash/rinse your drawers (or any clothes) in the water source. This is what little opsaks (or ziplocks) are for. Merino is remarkable at resisting odors. Carrying a WAG bag for poop emergencies has been worth the weight in the past, but if things are solid digging a hole after the fact works OK too. I think TOOB sells a little toothbrush kit with a tiny, refillable toothpaste tube. I swear by a trail umbrella these days. Instant shade, weather protection, and privacy. Thanks for this series Dixie.
Talking to hikers going the opposite direction is a great way to find out what the conditions are ahead (water crossings, water sources, bugs, campsites, snow on passes, etc.)
I used to worry about forgetting something on a backpacking or other trips. Probably because I often DID forget things! I’ve been keeping my own personal electronic packing lists for many years now, and they definitely reduce the stress (but they don’t eliminate it - still have to actually pack everything!) I have lists for different types of trips (day hike, backpacking, car camping, ski tour, etc), and even for different seasons. Best thing is, you can curate them: if you keep taking something but never use it, delete it from the list (unless it’s safety related). Wish you had something on a trip, or find a piece of gear you love? Make a note while in your trip then add it to the list when you get home. Making the initial list is the hardest part. But then it’s not as time consuming as you might think after that. I usually have things pop into my head in the days leading up to a trip, and make sure I add them to my list (or write it in a print-out). Anyway, confidence in your lists reduces the worry of forgetting something, and the burden of carrying stuff you never use.
I love this! For my dog I use a liner inside the tent and I have used the nail caps. My dog is a diva and loves the attention he gets while placing the nail caps on (I do this when going on boat rides) and they last a few weeks. I recommend teaching your dog not to run out as soon as the door (at home) or tent when camping is key. My dogs are only to follow me through the door and in a calm manner and this was after one of my dogs popped my sleeping pad rushing out of the tent one morning.
Another thing you can do about toothpaste is you can refill a travel size tube with your preferred brand. Just hold the 2 tubes tip-to-tip, keeping constant pressure and then squeeze from the big tube to the smaller tube.
I tried this but it didn't work out so well. I wonder if you can just cut the end open and re crip it or hot seal it with an old iron or heated up pliers on the stove burner.
@@ThanatosWings It might help to have someone help; one person focuses on holding the tips together, another squeezing. The travel tube should also be flattened as much as possible to get out as much air as possible. Or yeah recrimping might work; clearly that's how they fill them at the factory.
I made my own travel sized toothpaste tubes by buying empty lipgoss tubes on Amazon that came with a liquid syringe to fill them. This lets me use my preferref toothpaste and all parts are washable for me to reuse. :-)
Hi Dixie, thank you so much for answering my dog related question. Hearing you read it out was definitely my best moment so far this year 😁 I’m definitely going to try putting a footprint on the inside of my tent when I take my lurcher backpacking with me as he does have quite long claws, just as all sighthounds do. I loved watching this video as much as I always enjoy watching your videos. They are always informative and entertaining. Please keep making them. Wishing you all the best from Northumberland UK 🇬🇧
I wear hearing aids and carry a small soft plastic "jar" where I put my hearing aids at night. I keep a small desiccant pad in there also. Don't forget to remove the batteries to allow the moisture to evaporate from the battery holder. As far as wearing them at night, why? In spite of all the bear attack videos on TH-cam, nothing out there wants to eat you. Unless you're in Africa.
As a frequent traveler, I always have that short adrenaline rush of panic that I forgot something. A well established habit of packing helps me quell those fears.
I only hiked half of the Appalachian Trail last year before getting hurt and having to get off the trail. That makes me only half a snob who looks down on others 😁. Truth be told, among the older hikers (me, being one), we were just happy as could be to see that the next generation was out there enjoying the AT as much as our "Old Hippie" selves. Most people are happy to meet other hikers, unless they were loud and obnoxious. Tinker, Halfway '23
Re/ the dog nails question (if that person or anyone else interested happens to be reading the comments): I use a 1/8" foam pad on the bottom of my tent. Mountain Laurel Designs has a variety of sizes and I found one that *almost* covers the entire floor of the Durston X-Mid Pro 2. It's relatively lightweight, adds a little bit of extra warmth, and mitigates potential damage from dog nails. That said, I didn't start using anything until I bought the Durston and became hyperaware of anything that could cause damage to my new super expensive tent. 😂I backpacked for many years in multiple different Big Agnes tents with no floor protection and had zero issues. 👍
I just got a durston as well and have a dog. We've had no issues in MSR sil-nylon tents. I trim his nails once a week and also file the edges so they're not sharp. I check his nails nightly at camp and file as needed since splits and tears can lead to more issues. For my durston pct hike I plan to do as I did with my msr spread my clothes, gear on the ground of the tent for protection. In warm weather I use my dogs rain cape which is a peice of tyvec for him to lay on. It helps keep mud off the tent and dry. I also use my rainpants and jacket on the floor. But mostly my dog comes onto my sleeping pad and sleeps beside my under the quilt. I have a thermarest neoair xlite. We have no nail puncturing issues with this pad and have been using it for years. This all said maybe your dog is very small? I have a medium size dog and his nails are broad distributing pressure. When cliped they are about 5mm across. But I used to have a cat and the nails of small animals are very slim and pointy. I'd make sure they stay off the sleeping pad or have a barrier, and train them not to scratch the ground in the tent or "make a bed". My dog knows how not to do this with minimal positive reinforcement training. He usually too tired to scratch around in the tent anyway. And oh, if there not tired then go for a little run or play fetch for a bit before bed. Sometimes we do this after tents set up or after dinner just to be sure. I have a high energy dog. And it's also nice to do some different kinds of movements after hiking all day.
Always amazing. Thanks. The bathroom embarrassing happens. Just live with it. Again last week, it happened to me. It is awkward, but it just happens😅😅😅
I keep an excel spreadsheet of my equipment with notes by season, and tick marking off the items as I pack has really helped my nerves and OCD. Instead of reviewing my pack and instead of worrying and robbing sleep, I can look at my checked list and know what if have in my pack.
Oh -- and per the toothpaste, you can also fill a syringe with toothpaste and keep it in a toothbrush case. Pretty lightweight and it's also refillable. Been doing it for years.
I once left my pack on the trail to step off- unfortunately a couple passing by had zero clue what that could mean, they proceeded to yell „is somebody out there / are you okay?!?“ while they started off into the woods towards me ducked behind a downed tree… 🙄 so awkward
I've had a similar situation, and I was then terrified that they would take my pack because they weren't carrying one of their own. 😬 Scary, and I haven't done it since.
I used to struggle with sleeping before hikes and holidays. My main remedies were starting an list with sub-divisions and putting a pen and paper next to my bed. I I started thinking of anything I might have forgotten, I wrote it down, which cleared and calmed my mind.
Don’t make tea with your 15:09 funky shorts or panties in a water source. Some living critter has to drink that somewhere down the line. Instead, when you have the luxury of water at camp, gather enough water to do wash, get it hot, clean your clothes, then disperse the remaining water some distance away from any water source. Until you have those conditions available, just wear your funky shorts for an extra day, or go commando.
Bless your heart...I understand your concern, however considering that: 1) urine is sterile, 2) animals, both domesticated and wild, eat their own and other animals' feces and lick their private areas causing them to have built up an immunity to the millions of bacteria contained within animal waste, 3) humans are the cleanest animals on Earth, both internally and externally, as we don't carry nearly as many germs as other animals within our bodies, and we clean our skin with disinfecing and nuetralizing body washes, and 4) that the trace amounts of bacteria which could potentially enter into a running body of water (probably around 20-30 ppm) are so insignificant that spitting into the said body of water would be more contaminating than rinsing and ringing out a pair of underbritches. Again, I understand the concern, but you may as well be worrying about the next alien invasion.
Yeah, I was so shocked when she said she washes her clothes in the water?! That’s just poor hygiene for everyone! Just pull a bit of water out of the source and wash your garments further from the source!
Yeah, like no animals take a dump or pee in the water, and they always shower before hopping in the water. I agree to use eco friendly soap and never put any type of trash or peeing and pooping should be away from water. But to clean your feet or clothes with eco friendly soap in a stream is not going to harm the ecosystem.
Hi, I’m a head nod and smile person but reply pleasantly if spoken to. I’m a bit reticent to start a conversation with a complete stranger but happy to engage with someone who starts a conversation.
I like your expression, “embrace the suck.” I have done about everything in every condition, and a lot of it sucks. But remember, you have to get through the bad times to get to the good times. Ten years in the infantry will do that. Even in the worst of times, they are normally short and better times are coming soon.
Like many here, I have a digital list of hiking/camping items I want to keep track off. Simple format based on whether I'm driving to the tail or flying. Since flying is more restrictive those items are at the top as they are ALWAYS taken to the trail, with items like bear spray, fuel, etc being in the lower section with its own unique heading. Some items have additional indications for rain, snow, or summer. It has worked quite well and each item has a check box next to it so I can quickly run through and trust what I've set aside.
Some lady hiked the AT the same year I did with a goat (2022). I never saw it, but just heard of it. No idea if it was approved. However any time you hike with a pet, know that you may be limiting trail assets like hostel stays, hitches, restaurants, hotels ect. Also don't claim "service animal" to try get around being told no. Stayed at a hotel that was pissed because they allowed her to stay, and the goat pooped all over the beds. The trail is also definitely a community. Not just hikers, but all the shuttle drivers and hostel owners also talk to each other. So if a person thinks that they can start a physical fight or dip out on an unpaid bill and simply get into the next town down the trail, they are sadly mistaken.
Toothpaste. Get a travel size of any brand and squeeze it out. I use the back of a comb to squeeze the tube out flat. Then take a tube of your brand and press the opening up against the opening of the empty tube. Keep up the pressure and squeeze toothpaste out of the big tube into the travel tube. Works for me.
I hike with rechargeable hearing aids. I don’t wear them at night so that’s when I charge them. If it’s raining I’ll sometimes take them out and put them in a ziplock bag. I do the same for big water crossings too. While hearing loss is not desirable I have found some advantages of not wearing my hearing aids when sleeping in shelters and near snorers in general.
I was wondering (and its none of my business) if now that you are married if you and your husband are planning any long hikes together or if you are still going solo on your expeiditions? Oh and, CONGRATULATIONS on your wedding!!!!!!
Underwear and socks: I bring 2 pair, of each (not including sleeping clothes) no matter how long the trip. I alternate days, and the previous days pair of both gets turned inside out and hung from the back of my backpack where it can get as much airing out and UV light for sanitizing as much as possible. I also wear wool for both as it is naturally antimicrobial. Doing this, I can usually get through a week before any of them start to stink. They won't smell clean, but they won't smell like funk either until about the 4th day they get worn (day 7 and 8) - and usually by then I'm either done or have been able to do laundry.
As for the 100 feet / 30.5 meter question. If you're in the US, go to an American football field and walk from the end of the field to the 35 yard line a couple times and you'll get a feeling for it and/or you can count your paces.
Hearing Impaired here! Wore hearing aids my whole life. I did the AT with the two hearing aids I had that were not water resistant and needed batteries. Just carried extra batteries like I always do. Sweat wasn't a big deal. When it rained I just took them off. For storage (during rain or at night), I put them in a tiny Ziploc bag with bubble wrap and a bunch of those silica gels you find in new products (to help keep them dry). Now I have new hearing aids that are rechargeable. I have a portable charger and just carry that (and accept the extra weight). That serves as a charger and I believe it dries them out if there's any moisture.
While this may sound extreme, my rule of thumb for underwear is: 1 pair per week, on trail. 2 pair total for anything multi-week. For ladies, perhaps 2-3 pair per week (they tend to be tiny anyway). It's easy to wash/dry your spare pair(s) when not in use. Many people do not even wear underwear and take advantage of shorts with a built-in liner. As I venture into Fastpacking, I'm going to wear my multisport triathlon shorts to trail run/hike all day and some UL running shorts or boxer briefs to sleep in. HYOH!
For marking distance, the next step would be to carry a pace counter. It's a small loop of paracord with beads on it. You move the beads each time you reach a distance, then a separate group of beads marks out 10s and you move the 9 in the first group back and start again. This can help you keep track of very large distances. The one I have has enough to keep 50 lengths (whatever your length is). So for a 100' length, it could keep 5,000 feet or about one mile. Personally, I use a 1000 foot pace count for a single length, so it runs out at close to 10 miles. But, TBH, since I'm not worried about precision, I usually don't count every pace. I've learned about what 100 paces feels and I know 1000 feet is just short of 500 paces on level ground, so I just tend to slide a bead around the right spot out of habit. It only weighs about a quarter of an ounce and hangs from my should strap. It can be very handy in pacing the day (no pun intended). If I know I want to make 20 miles and put my long break right around the middle then I know to start looking for a good spot as I get close to the end of filling the counter the first time. Then I know to start looking for camp after I fill it the second time. I've been doing this since LONG before we all carried GPS devices, but I still do this to help reduce battery drain.
For toothpaste, I buy tooth powder. My grandpa used that until he could no longer get it in my hometown. I was able to find some Colgate from India (Super Rakshak!) or some of the other brands available from the homesteading crowd. I actually use tooth powder whenever I'm away from home because I travel 100 days per year for work and probably another 80 days for family/friend visits and hunting/hiking. For the bear spray, definitely watch the wind...and if you get over spray, definitely remember to wash it away with something fatty. Whole milk, baby shampoo/wash, 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner. This is not a time to use just Doctor B's only. Message for recipes for your expired bear spray 🤣 /s
super rainy day in Norway, had not seen a single person in 3 days .... and at just the 'perfect' moment someone comes by 😅 I survived, he survived ... in the end there are worse things that could happen
re: goats, many areas don't allow them because they can spread disease to bighorn sheep or mountain goats. locally at least there are areas that ban llamas/alpacas too. horses/mules are less likely to be restricted.
For carrying toothpaste on 2 to 3 day ultra light trips, I've often used a small contact lens case that I cut in half, dip the toothbrush in it. I have also wrapped it in tiny individual saran wraps tied up with dental floss, or filled a drinking straw with it, again tying the ends shut with dental floss. I'm gravitating more towards motorcycle camping these days, so probably most likely just to cary a partial tube now. I did once hear about some guy who hiked across Antartica who removed all the labels from his clothes and didn't even bring a toothbrush to save weight... I've never gone to that extreme.
The other half of the case can be used for something else. (If you have something else you want or need to carry. Sunscreen, Antichafe, Baby Powder, Dr. B's, Hand Creme...)
I always practice in the backyard with my expired bear spray. 🐻 it's good to have an idea how far it goes and how it can blow back and how long it lasts.
It's not difficult to refill travel size toothpaste tubes. Squeeze them down the drain, then hold it nose to nose with your regular brand and squeeze. You'll get about a 90% fill, and it can be done several times before the travel tube gives up the ghost. My brand "suds" up well, so a travel tube serves me for about a month. Option 2 is salt and Baking Soda.
One could also act like an adult, suck it up, and use a different brand for a short time. If you're looking for methods to prepare at home for this absurd issue, clearly they aren't doing it for a thru hike. So that means a section hike. A few days of a different tooth paste. Oh no!
The reply above to proehm's advice isn't very nice. I'm a person who has on going dental issues. There's fractures in my teeth (all my teeth) and parts break off and fall out. It's important I use sensitive teeth toothpaste. I'd rather not be in dental pain and getting headaches from it for 6 months of a thru hike where trying to enjoy myself. Sound to me the person replying above has never had any dental issues. Good for you! I don't care. But don't comment on other people's needs when you've never had teeth randomly break and fall out. Or on other people's disabilities when you've never experienced any disability your whole life. It's not cool to be rude and inconsiderate.
@@ThanatosWings FFS, you people are such pansies. Yes, there are select situations where people NEED specific paste. It's also very clear that some people are just picky for the sake of being picky, because of taste/flavor, etc. Get the sand out of your vag and realize not everyone is talking about you specifically.
OMG!!!!! Thanks for this video! I love your channel and love watching you and hope to meet you someday! This video was great! I'm a 51 yr old female with a lot of health issues and bathroom issues. This video was super great! Thanks Dixie!! - Shybee
I wear hearing aids. I don't bring them hiking and I bring my service dog to notify me of sounds and people coming. I use Oticon More miniRITE which are water and sweat proof, rechargeable, and can bluetooth to your phone. So instead of bringing headphones to listen to music or podcasts you can bring the one devise, the hearing aids. I can vouch for their water proofness as I work as a bicycle courier in Canada. For instance I worked yesterday in a wet snow snowstorm with white out conditions. All my clothes including winter cycling shoes and water resistant parka were soaked though. The hearing aids worked fine for the duration of the storm and stood up to my sweating inside my snow clothes. There were 70km/h gusts of wind with driving snow. My previous Oticon miniRITE aids actually got dunked into a bathtub as I forgot I was wearing them when I went to take a bath. They continued to work for years afterwards after letting them dry out for a day. I have the desktop models of charger and drying machines for my aids but now Oticon has a portable USB plugin mini charger, plus dryer, plus battery bank all in one container much like other earpods chargers that I'm looking into purchasing as it's more portable for hiking. It's called the Oticon SmartCharger. I think a portable battery bank / dryer / charger is the best option for hikers. Or you can do like me if your hearing loss is not extreme and just not bring anything. I'm usually listening to a mini radio on earbuds at near full volume while walking anyway. For that I use cheap earbuds and a Sandisk Clip Jam radio. It's 20 grams, rechargeable, works for 8 - 10 hours, takes mini SD cards and can link to local radio. I listen to NPR.
I appreciate the before trip excitement advice. I wonder if I'm forgetting any prep stuff going into my pct hike. I just started reading all the pcta web pages. But maybe there's something else I'm not reading about? Like that I'm just not aware of yet. And I also wonder things like can I being a blister popper knife and bsr on the plane? Or should I not even bother cause they're think they're a weapon, get confiscated and I'll have to buy them again and spend another 60$ after boarder patrol throws my gear in the garbage
I would not rinse out, or wash clothes in a stream. I would get a container of water and rinse items out of trail and far from a stream, so water would not run into the stream. You might only see the hikers upstream from you, but not the ones downstream from you.
Years ago when I was backing almost every weekend, my pack stayed packed. Just add a little food and water and go. I usually left right after work on Friday night because I wasn't going to get any sleep anyway.
I have debated leaving my glasses at home as I am planning my first over night hike. I have ordered all kinds of glasses stuff, to turn them into sun glasses, make sure I can't lose them, making them anti-slip because they fall down a lot when I sweat. I know contacts exist but I don't want to mess with that, in the woods or at all. What I end up doing we'll see but if you are a person that needs "accessories" like glasses or hearing aids it's always time for some creative thinking (and possibly sacrifices).
At face value, this seems like a good idea: Get rid of bear spray by going through the airport security. They'll confiscate it and deal with it on everyone else's tax dollars. (Evil laugh).
Toothpaste: toothpowder or baking soda travel well in small squeeze bottles such as eye drop bottles. Just trickle a little on a damp brush. Baking soda also takes care of the spit issue.
For wearing underwear multiple days, I use wool which doesn't hold smell and naturally antibacterial. I also use a topical probiotic spray, Livia One. It introduces good bacteria that eats your sweat and also creates a microbiome that doesn't smell or has a more earthy smell or reduces the odor causing bacteria. The company Mother Dirt started this with their spray and has good info on this topic. I now shower at best once per week on even a regular basis at home, only rinse and use soap only around the groin area. Then I spray sweaty areas in the morning and at night with the probiotic spray. No more need for deodorant, my skin has less moisture issues, and it has resolved some of my other skin issues. Highly recommend. As mother dirt says, rethink clean, not sterol, create a natural microbiome which protects the largest organ on our body, our skin.
I second using merino wool, 86% wool underwear by smartwool are my choice. I wash them often at water sources. And wash my body when ever possible. Between showers I use wet wipes 1-2x daily, wiping down my whole body aspecially my bottom. I use wet wipes after the bathroom. I don't recommend washing only once a week if you're involved in high intensity sports daily. That can lead to a lot of skin infections and issues. For example backed up oil glands in the skin at the groin leading to infected puss filled cysts on loose skin in that area. I had one recently (despite bathing) and could not work for over a week. It filled up with puss and burst twice already. It's been a month and it's not completely gone yet. I'd been taking salt water sits baths 3 times a day to clear it and it's still lingering. Imao no special spray or body product is going to clean you like a good old proven shower with some soap and scrubbing in all the areas. Just look at the safe practices of doctors and surgeons. Before scrubbing in to surgery people were dying left and right from infection.
Where are the most deadly bacteria on earth? Predominantly in hospitals the most "sterile" environment. Those same bacteria exist in nature, even in our backyards. However, with a multitude of bacteria for competition, one deadly bacteria doesn't have a chance to become dominant, a multitude of good & bad bacteria creates balance & a healthy environment. The same goes for this method of "clean" on our skin. Similar to our gut bacteria. When do people have the most stomach issues, after antibiotics which kills all the bad bacteria but also all the good bacteria which normally creates balance in our gut. So, probiotics have become more prominent to improve gut bacteria. I've learned that I'm actually cleanest after a good sweat from working out. The sweat opens my pores and cleans them. Soap makes my skin sterile, killing off the balance that I've built up of good & bad bacteria. I've had zero issues now over 3 years. The founder of Mother Dirt, went 15 years no shower before starting his company as a self test subject. So I think you might find that the issues you had were related to one bacteria not having competition from good bacteria. Now, it makes sense for surgeon's to be sterile, to not introduce some of the deadly bacteria common in hospitals into the patient and change the balance of that persons biome. We are not surgeon's. Just my observations & research. @@ThanatosWings
I don’t really carry bear spray (I normally don’t hike in areas where I would need it) but I do carry pepper spray for human threats and it’s always a good idea to practice with maybe an expired can so you know exactly how the spray mechanism works, how much pressure it takes to activate the spray, etc. I think some of the companies that make bear spray also make practice canisters too.
Bear spray is effective against humans too lol very painful! I’ve practiced with one before and accidentally touched where it was dripping and burned my fingertip lol bear spray might be a good alternative for you since it can serve 2 purposes. I know there’s likely a huge size/weight difference though. Anyway - happy hikes!
When I'm solo hiking, I like to chat people up who go by in the trail. If I'm backpacking and have been on the trail a couple days, usually I ask if they've seen a weather forecast. Other times, I just like to ask where they began from, and how far it is.
Goats, saw pack goats, llamas and pack horses all on various trips in the wind rivers. the goats might have been the neatest. Followed along just like dogs. We stopped them to talk to the outfitter and after about four minutes they started to lay down. He said it was time to leave before they decided they needed a long break.
I dehydrated my toothpaste in the oven at my lowest setting (270* F) for 3 hrs, checked & then another 2 hrs. What I should have done though is the 3hrs, then flipped & another 3 hrs. Maybe even flattened after flipping. Add additional time as necessary. Also, I noticed that my “dots” were bigger than necessary (small pea-sized) & I ended up using half tab. Keep that in mind either when you make them or pack accordingly.
For the toothpaste question: I’m not sure who makes it but REI carries an item that’s a toothbrush with a refillable toothpaste tube that stores in the handle.
all good tips again Dixie. funny about the Bigfoot question. it made me laugh. I don't believe in that stuff anymore at one time I did. after all these years of people claiming that along with Flying Saucers also the loch ness monster there really is no solid evidence. and I believe now it is all just a money-making racket. but funny question anyhow. thanks again and stay safe.
When children's literature and hiking knowledge combine - Winnie the Pooh, 100 Acre Woods - AT Thru hike - 100 Mile Wilderness = Dixie talking about 100 Mile Woods :)
Toothpaste tabs are great. Garage Grown Gear sells some and they are GREAT to carry on a long hiking trip. Never carry too much, take exactly what you need.
I find the toothpaste tabs get all mushy and messed up in the baggy when near any dampness. You night as well just get a small zip lock baggy and sqirt some toothpaste into it. That's just a messy. I carry half a travel size tube. A full one lasts over a month. So only carry a week or two's worth.
One of those Bigfoot reports was from Lovelend Pass in CO. I know that area well from skiing, The idea of a Bigfoot there is hilarious as it's barely an hour from Denver I'm certain it was just me or one of my hippy friends partying off in the woods in a fuzzy coat. ✌
Hey Dixie love your videos. My wife loves your jumper and would like to know what brand is it. I would like to ask you whether you prefer an inflatable or a foam mattress and why.
With toothpaste, I get a travel size and use it up and then wash out the tube and then I just mate it up with my preferred tube and manually fill it up by squeezing waht I want back into the empty tube. Works fine...
I tried this but couldn't get the toothpaste from the large tube into the small tube. Any tips? I was thinking of using a syringe like you use for baby noses etc
Can't believe "refilling a travel tube of toothpaste" has not been mentioned. If you carefully smash the two ends together, squeezing out any extra air in the travel one first, you can transfer between tubes.
I’ve been in that position. Diarrhoea in the super busy Mt. Whitney area. You just don’t care. You can not care. You’re busy not pooping your pants. Anyone who doesn’t want to see it can chose to look away. I couldn’t have cared less who sees it. Now I’m proud that I managed not pooing myself and even did it in the poop bags. Not pleasant but we all laugh about it now.
A friend of mine has a pair of hearing aids that are completely waterproof, rechargeable, and blue tooth. They double as earbuds and he can select to use both or just one for listening to music etc. He swims with them in so the water proofness has been proven. The downside is they are quite spendy.
Goats are NOT allowed in Yosemite or Sequoia Kings Canyon, because they might infect the bighorn sheep and the bighorns are challenged enough. Park Rangers have escorted goats straight out of the Park when discovered.
I'm hearing impaired. I take mine out if there's any chance of moisture (which is most times due to sweat). I can hear without them, just not as well. As far as the pooping issue, after 27 years in the military I can most likely poop anywhere.
Regarding bear spray. I would say it’s important to train with it. This video shows someone training with both bear spray and firearms. He also interviews someone that survived being mauled by a bear. Both tools are effective, but if you aren’t trained to use them they’ll be utterly useless. Being aware and trying to not unintentionally sneak up on a bear do a lot more good than just having defense tools. th-cam.com/video/FDGM7QgxuWw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=qKQrTeJ3LMbsi50y
I've had an awkward moment while on the AT. Surprised a group of women doing their business right next to the trail, all exposed. Had to pretend to see some interesting wildlife for a while then passed by when they were decent and gave an award smile and wave.
On my AT thruhikery I got to a point where I would wake up in a spot without a privy and I'd say to myself "I could poop" then Id check distance to the next privy and say "7 miles? I can wait". 😂 I hated to do the stripper pole crap so I would wait till I couldn't any longer.
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For the person who was tired on the 2nd day of hiking because nerves kept him up before he started, I would suggest that a planned day of rest be added to the hike. If you know, you're going to be tired, just accept it and plan for it. Sleep in and get caught up.
I love your videos, Dixie! There's good reason you are so popular.
That's what I do too. A few half days at first and take it really slow. Just listen to my body. I'm not there to punish myself, I'm there to enjoy it. And if that means bringing an extra 400g of food, then that's what I have to do. No big deal.
Would also consider just having your first day’s hike be shorter so you can get to camp early and rest.
I saw a brilliant improvised toilet on Girl In The Woods video once. Mosquitos were terrible, and her friend wanted to have privacy and have it bug free. They had a small light free standing tent, so she pulled the stakes, then opened the zip of the tent and pulled it over herself, so the tent is now on itis side with the door for a floor. The other sides were mesh, but not the floor. She put the floor side to the public to have a blocked view, yet she could see out the other mesh sides, and she then did her business through the door. Only took a minute to set up, they were taking the tent down anyway so it was just unzip the door, flip, and squat.
You are such a lovely human being, Jessica. I adore how you took every question seriously and answered it fully, without judgment. Thank you so much for your ongoing kindness and wisdom.
We were sitting around the campfire when we heard Bigfoot sneaking up on us in the dark: Turned out to be a bullfrog. In case you are lost, pooping near the trail is a sure way to attract people.
My dad is Bigfoot. He's 6'7"
An Odd Comment... I just got StarLink and now have massive speed and bandwith and I am going to watch (re-watch) your entire series. All three massive trails: The Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail... Finally... and better than anything Netflix has to offer.
I went on an 11 day hike in bear country (Sunshine Coast Trail) with my brother who wears hearing aids. One day I heard a noise of breaking branches in the woods but my brother didn't, he eventually heard one of the loud cracks of branches and it turned out to be a small black bear. His hearing aid batteries lasted for several days and he brought extras. I would not recommend a solo hearing impaired person to go hiking in bear country.
I remember your quote from an older video . " If you've haven't crapped yourself on trail , you haven't hiked enough yet " 😂 True, and no comment..
This was great! For the greeting of fellow hikers, I always acknowledge another hiker with a hello, hi, good morning/afternoon/evening or enjoy your hike. I do this on purpose for safety reasons. We never know what happens out there on the trails, so it'd be the least of us to be aware of who was around us. Happy trails to all!
My experience as a long distance hiker was that day hikers are often regarded as a potential food source.
@user-xy5kk2ep8r
Whadda you mean by “Potential food source”?
You mean you steal their dark chocolate and almond protein bars?
@@mustanghildago4540 Yogi-ing, not stealing!
@@Henning_Rech
That’s good!😊
Took me a second to realize you mean they might have snacks, and not as a prey.
Don't wash/rinse your drawers (or any clothes) in the water source. This is what little opsaks (or ziplocks) are for. Merino is remarkable at resisting odors. Carrying a WAG bag for poop emergencies has been worth the weight in the past, but if things are solid digging a hole after the fact works OK too. I think TOOB sells a little toothbrush kit with a tiny, refillable toothpaste tube. I swear by a trail umbrella these days. Instant shade, weather protection, and privacy. Thanks for this series Dixie.
Talking to hikers going the opposite direction is a great way to find out what the conditions are ahead (water crossings, water sources, bugs, campsites, snow on passes, etc.)
One of the best tips 👍 found out the trail was washed out, and was able to recalculate my route 🙌
I used to worry about forgetting something on a backpacking or other trips. Probably because I often DID forget things! I’ve been keeping my own personal electronic packing lists for many years now, and they definitely reduce the stress (but they don’t eliminate it - still have to actually pack everything!) I have lists for different types of trips (day hike, backpacking, car camping, ski tour, etc), and even for different seasons. Best thing is, you can curate them: if you keep taking something but never use it, delete it from the list (unless it’s safety related). Wish you had something on a trip, or find a piece of gear you love? Make a note while in your trip then add it to the list when you get home. Making the initial list is the hardest part. But then it’s not as time consuming as you might think after that. I usually have things pop into my head in the days leading up to a trip, and make sure I add them to my list (or write it in a print-out).
Anyway, confidence in your lists reduces the worry of forgetting something, and the burden of carrying stuff you never use.
I love this! For my dog I use a liner inside the tent and I have used the nail caps. My dog is a diva and loves the attention he gets while placing the nail caps on (I do this when going on boat rides) and they last a few weeks. I recommend teaching your dog not to run out as soon as the door (at home) or tent when camping is key. My dogs are only to follow me through the door and in a calm manner and this was after one of my dogs popped my sleeping pad rushing out of the tent one morning.
Another thing you can do about toothpaste is you can refill a travel size tube with your preferred brand. Just hold the 2 tubes tip-to-tip, keeping constant pressure and then squeeze from the big tube to the smaller tube.
I tried this but it didn't work out so well. I wonder if you can just cut the end open and re crip it or hot seal it with an old iron or heated up pliers on the stove burner.
@@ThanatosWings It might help to have someone help; one person focuses on holding the tips together, another squeezing. The travel tube should also be flattened as much as possible to get out as much air as possible.
Or yeah recrimping might work; clearly that's how they fill them at the factory.
REI sells refillable squeeze tube of various sizes. One end is resealable and opens wide.
Matador as well, they make refillable squeeze tube@@robertclark8044
I made my own travel sized toothpaste tubes by buying empty lipgoss tubes on Amazon that came with a liquid syringe to fill them. This lets me use my preferref toothpaste and all parts are washable for me to reuse. :-)
Your comment on the rain reminded the saying 'if you're already wet, you don't care it's raining'.
Keep up the great work!
The other thing is that humans are waterproof.
Skin is a great water repellant. 😂
Hi Dixie, thank you so much for answering my dog related question. Hearing you read it out was definitely my best moment so far this year 😁
I’m definitely going to try putting a footprint on the inside of my tent when I take my lurcher backpacking with me as he does have quite long claws, just as all sighthounds do.
I loved watching this video as much as I always enjoy watching your videos. They are always informative and entertaining. Please keep making them. Wishing you all the best from Northumberland UK 🇬🇧
I wear hearing aids and carry a small soft plastic "jar" where I put my hearing aids at night. I keep a small desiccant pad in there also. Don't forget to remove the batteries to allow the moisture to evaporate from the battery holder.
As far as wearing them at night, why? In spite of all the bear attack videos on TH-cam, nothing out there wants to eat you. Unless you're in Africa.
As a frequent traveler, I always have that short adrenaline rush of panic that I forgot something. A well established habit of packing helps me quell those fears.
As a retired land surveyor it is cool to know that Dixie knows her pace.
I only hiked half of the Appalachian Trail last year before getting hurt and having to get off the trail.
That makes me only half a snob who looks down on others 😁.
Truth be told, among the older hikers (me, being one), we were just happy as could be to see that the next generation was out there enjoying the AT as much as our "Old Hippie" selves.
Most people are happy to meet other hikers, unless they were loud and obnoxious.
Tinker, Halfway '23
Re/ the dog nails question (if that person or anyone else interested happens to be reading the comments): I use a 1/8" foam pad on the bottom of my tent. Mountain Laurel Designs has a variety of sizes and I found one that *almost* covers the entire floor of the Durston X-Mid Pro 2. It's relatively lightweight, adds a little bit of extra warmth, and mitigates potential damage from dog nails. That said, I didn't start using anything until I bought the Durston and became hyperaware of anything that could cause damage to my new super expensive tent. 😂I backpacked for many years in multiple different Big Agnes tents with no floor protection and had zero issues. 👍
I just got a durston as well and have a dog. We've had no issues in MSR sil-nylon tents. I trim his nails once a week and also file the edges so they're not sharp. I check his nails nightly at camp and file as needed since splits and tears can lead to more issues. For my durston pct hike I plan to do as I did with my msr spread my clothes, gear on the ground of the tent for protection. In warm weather I use my dogs rain cape which is a peice of tyvec for him to lay on. It helps keep mud off the tent and dry. I also use my rainpants and jacket on the floor. But mostly my dog comes onto my sleeping pad and sleeps beside my under the quilt. I have a thermarest neoair xlite. We have no nail puncturing issues with this pad and have been using it for years.
This all said maybe your dog is very small? I have a medium size dog and his nails are broad distributing pressure. When cliped they are about 5mm across. But I used to have a cat and the nails of small animals are very slim and pointy. I'd make sure they stay off the sleeping pad or have a barrier, and train them not to scratch the ground in the tent or "make a bed". My dog knows how not to do this with minimal positive reinforcement training. He usually too tired to scratch around in the tent anyway.
And oh, if there not tired then go for a little run or play fetch for a bit before bed. Sometimes we do this after tents set up or after dinner just to be sure. I have a high energy dog. And it's also nice to do some different kinds of movements after hiking all day.
Always amazing. Thanks. The bathroom embarrassing happens. Just live with it. Again last week, it happened to me. It is awkward, but it just happens😅😅😅
I keep an excel spreadsheet of my equipment with notes by season, and tick marking off the items as I pack has really helped my nerves and OCD. Instead of reviewing my pack and instead of worrying and robbing sleep, I can look at my checked list and know what if have in my pack.
Oh -- and per the toothpaste, you can also fill a syringe with toothpaste and keep it in a toothbrush case. Pretty lightweight and it's also refillable. Been doing it for years.
I once left my pack on the trail to step off- unfortunately a couple passing by had zero clue what that could mean, they proceeded to yell „is somebody out there / are you okay?!?“ while they started off into the woods towards me ducked behind a downed tree… 🙄 so awkward
I've had a similar situation, and I was then terrified that they would take my pack because they weren't carrying one of their own. 😬 Scary, and I haven't done it since.
Was that you?
So sorry!!!😊
Lol
"I'M GOOD. I'M JUST TAKING A SHIT. THEM TACO BELLS LAST NIGHT WASN'T WORTH IT."
I used to struggle with sleeping before hikes and holidays.
My main remedies were starting an list with sub-divisions and putting a pen and paper next to my bed. I I started thinking of anything I might have forgotten, I wrote it down, which cleared and calmed my mind.
Don’t make tea with your 15:09 funky shorts or panties in a water source. Some living critter has to drink that somewhere down the line. Instead, when you have the luxury of water at camp, gather enough water to do wash, get it hot, clean your clothes, then disperse the remaining water some distance away from any water source. Until you have those conditions available, just wear your funky shorts for an extra day, or go commando.
Bless your heart...I understand your concern, however considering that: 1) urine is sterile, 2) animals, both domesticated and wild, eat their own and other animals' feces and lick their private areas causing them to have built up an immunity to the millions of bacteria contained within animal waste, 3) humans are the cleanest animals on Earth, both internally and externally, as we don't carry nearly as many germs as other animals within our bodies, and we clean our skin with disinfecing and nuetralizing body washes, and 4) that the trace amounts of bacteria which could potentially enter into a running body of water (probably around 20-30 ppm) are so insignificant that spitting into the said body of water would be more contaminating than rinsing and ringing out a pair of underbritches.
Again, I understand the concern, but you may as well be worrying about the next alien invasion.
Yeah, I was so shocked when she said she washes her clothes in the water?! That’s just poor hygiene for everyone! Just pull a bit of water out of the source and wash your garments further from the source!
Yeah, like no animals take a dump or pee in the water, and they always shower before hopping in the water. I agree to use eco friendly soap and never put any type of trash or peeing and pooping should be away from water. But to clean your feet or clothes with eco friendly soap in a stream is not going to harm the ecosystem.
Hi, I’m a head nod and smile person but reply pleasantly if spoken to. I’m a bit reticent to start a conversation with a complete stranger but happy to engage with someone who starts a conversation.
👋😁👍
I like your expression, “embrace the suck.” I have done about everything in every condition, and a lot of it sucks. But remember, you have to get through the bad times to get to the good times. Ten years in the infantry will do that. Even in the worst of times, they are normally short and better times are coming soon.
Dixie testing out bear spray: “Hey, Montana! Come here for a second!”
😂😂😂
Like many here, I have a digital list of hiking/camping items I want to keep track off. Simple format based on whether I'm driving to the tail or flying. Since flying is more restrictive those items are at the top as they are ALWAYS taken to the trail, with items like bear spray, fuel, etc being in the lower section with its own unique heading. Some items have additional indications for rain, snow, or summer. It has worked quite well and each item has a check box next to it so I can quickly run through and trust what I've set aside.
Love these Q&A style videos! Great info! Please keep them coming!
Some lady hiked the AT the same year I did with a goat (2022). I never saw it, but just heard of it. No idea if it was approved. However any time you hike with a pet, know that you may be limiting trail assets like hostel stays, hitches, restaurants, hotels ect. Also don't claim "service animal" to try get around being told no. Stayed at a hotel that was pissed because they allowed her to stay, and the goat pooped all over the beds. The trail is also definitely a community. Not just hikers, but all the shuttle drivers and hostel owners also talk to each other. So if a person thinks that they can start a physical fight or dip out on an unpaid bill and simply get into the next town down the trail, they are sadly mistaken.
I’m not an avid hiker but I have done day hikes, and if I ever do a bigger hike this is all valuable advice, right on video.
Toothpaste. Get a travel size of any brand and squeeze it out. I use the back of a comb to squeeze the tube out flat. Then take a tube of your brand and press the opening up against the opening of the empty tube. Keep up the pressure and squeeze toothpaste out of the big tube into the travel tube. Works for me.
I hike with rechargeable hearing aids. I don’t wear them at night so that’s when I charge them. If it’s raining I’ll sometimes take them out and put them in a ziplock bag. I do the same for big water crossings too. While hearing loss is not desirable I have found some advantages of not wearing my hearing aids when sleeping in shelters and near snorers in general.
There's an old mantra. First heard it with military but have heard it in other outdoor groups. But it very much applies... "Embrace the suck."
I was wondering (and its none of my business) if now that you are married if you and your husband are planning any long hikes together or if you are still going solo on your expeiditions? Oh and, CONGRATULATIONS on your wedding!!!!!!
I made a spreadsheet for my gear list, and it's worked wonders for easing my "what if?" anxiety.
Underwear and socks: I bring 2 pair, of each (not including sleeping clothes) no matter how long the trip. I alternate days, and the previous days pair of both gets turned inside out and hung from the back of my backpack where it can get as much airing out and UV light for sanitizing as much as possible. I also wear wool for both as it is naturally antimicrobial. Doing this, I can usually get through a week before any of them start to stink. They won't smell clean, but they won't smell like funk either until about the 4th day they get worn (day 7 and 8) - and usually by then I'm either done or have been able to do laundry.
As for the 100 feet / 30.5 meter question. If you're in the US, go to an American football field and walk from the end of the field to the 35 yard line a couple times and you'll get a feeling for it and/or you can count your paces.
Hearing Impaired here! Wore hearing aids my whole life. I did the AT with the two hearing aids I had that were not water resistant and needed batteries. Just carried extra batteries like I always do. Sweat wasn't a big deal. When it rained I just took them off. For storage (during rain or at night), I put them in a tiny Ziploc bag with bubble wrap and a bunch of those silica gels you find in new products (to help keep them dry).
Now I have new hearing aids that are rechargeable. I have a portable charger and just carry that (and accept the extra weight). That serves as a charger and I believe it dries them out if there's any moisture.
While this may sound extreme, my rule of thumb for underwear is: 1 pair per week, on trail. 2 pair total for anything multi-week. For ladies, perhaps 2-3 pair per week (they tend to be tiny anyway). It's easy to wash/dry your spare pair(s) when not in use. Many people do not even wear underwear and take advantage of shorts with a built-in liner. As I venture into Fastpacking, I'm going to wear my multisport triathlon shorts to trail run/hike all day and some UL running shorts or boxer briefs to sleep in. HYOH!
For marking distance, the next step would be to carry a pace counter. It's a small loop of paracord with beads on it. You move the beads each time you reach a distance, then a separate group of beads marks out 10s and you move the 9 in the first group back and start again. This can help you keep track of very large distances. The one I have has enough to keep 50 lengths (whatever your length is). So for a 100' length, it could keep 5,000 feet or about one mile. Personally, I use a 1000 foot pace count for a single length, so it runs out at close to 10 miles. But, TBH, since I'm not worried about precision, I usually don't count every pace. I've learned about what 100 paces feels and I know 1000 feet is just short of 500 paces on level ground, so I just tend to slide a bead around the right spot out of habit.
It only weighs about a quarter of an ounce and hangs from my should strap.
It can be very handy in pacing the day (no pun intended). If I know I want to make 20 miles and put my long break right around the middle then I know to start looking for a good spot as I get close to the end of filling the counter the first time. Then I know to start looking for camp after I fill it the second time.
I've been doing this since LONG before we all carried GPS devices, but I still do this to help reduce battery drain.
For toothpaste, I buy tooth powder. My grandpa used that until he could no longer get it in my hometown. I was able to find some Colgate from India (Super Rakshak!) or some of the other brands available from the homesteading crowd.
I actually use tooth powder whenever I'm away from home because I travel 100 days per year for work and probably another 80 days for family/friend visits and hunting/hiking.
For the bear spray, definitely watch the wind...and if you get over spray, definitely remember to wash it away with something fatty. Whole milk, baby shampoo/wash, 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner. This is not a time to use just Doctor B's only.
Message for recipes for your expired bear spray 🤣 /s
super rainy day in Norway, had not seen a single person in 3 days .... and at just the 'perfect' moment someone comes by 😅 I survived, he survived ... in the end there are worse things that could happen
re: goats, many areas don't allow them because they can spread disease to bighorn sheep or mountain goats. locally at least there are areas that ban llamas/alpacas too. horses/mules are less likely to be restricted.
For carrying toothpaste on 2 to 3 day ultra light trips, I've often used a small contact lens case that I cut in half, dip the toothbrush in it. I have also wrapped it in tiny individual saran wraps tied up with dental floss, or filled a drinking straw with it, again tying the ends shut with dental floss. I'm gravitating more towards motorcycle camping these days, so probably most likely just to cary a partial tube now.
I did once hear about some guy who hiked across Antartica who removed all the labels from his clothes and didn't even bring a toothbrush to save weight... I've never gone to that extreme.
The other half of the case can be used for something else. (If you have something else you want or need to carry. Sunscreen, Antichafe, Baby Powder, Dr. B's, Hand Creme...)
I always practice in the backyard with my expired bear spray. 🐻 it's good to have an idea how far it goes and how it can blow back and how long it lasts.
that camera drop intro was super cool. and great way to use a blooper and turn it to a cool shot.
Taking a #2 in the rain is better than taking one in a swarm of mosquitoes.
It's not difficult to refill travel size toothpaste tubes. Squeeze them down the drain, then hold it nose to nose with your regular brand and squeeze. You'll get about a 90% fill, and it can be done several times before the travel tube gives up the ghost. My brand "suds" up well, so a travel tube serves me for about a month. Option 2 is salt and Baking Soda.
One could also act like an adult, suck it up, and use a different brand for a short time. If you're looking for methods to prepare at home for this absurd issue, clearly they aren't doing it for a thru hike. So that means a section hike. A few days of a different tooth paste. Oh no!
The reply above to proehm's advice isn't very nice. I'm a person who has on going dental issues. There's fractures in my teeth (all my teeth) and parts break off and fall out. It's important I use sensitive teeth toothpaste. I'd rather not be in dental pain and getting headaches from it for 6 months of a thru hike where trying to enjoy myself. Sound to me the person replying above has never had any dental issues. Good for you! I don't care. But don't comment on other people's needs when you've never had teeth randomly break and fall out. Or on other people's disabilities when you've never experienced any disability your whole life. It's not cool to be rude and inconsiderate.
@@ThanatosWings FFS, you people are such pansies. Yes, there are select situations where people NEED specific paste. It's also very clear that some people are just picky for the sake of being picky, because of taste/flavor, etc. Get the sand out of your vag and realize not everyone is talking about you specifically.
OMG!!!!! Thanks for this video! I love your channel and love watching you and hope to meet you someday! This video was great! I'm a 51 yr old female with a lot of health issues and bathroom issues. This video was super great! Thanks Dixie!!
- Shybee
Great video as always! Thank you
I like the tip for measuring distance. I never knew
I wear hearing aids. I don't bring them hiking and I bring my service dog to notify me of sounds and people coming. I use Oticon More miniRITE which are water and sweat proof, rechargeable, and can bluetooth to your phone. So instead of bringing headphones to listen to music or podcasts you can bring the one devise, the hearing aids. I can vouch for their water proofness as I work as a bicycle courier in Canada. For instance I worked yesterday in a wet snow snowstorm with white out conditions. All my clothes including winter cycling shoes and water resistant parka were soaked though. The hearing aids worked fine for the duration of the storm and stood up to my sweating inside my snow clothes. There were 70km/h gusts of wind with driving snow. My previous Oticon miniRITE aids actually got dunked into a bathtub as I forgot I was wearing them when I went to take a bath. They continued to work for years afterwards after letting them dry out for a day. I have the desktop models of charger and drying machines for my aids but now Oticon has a portable USB plugin mini charger, plus dryer, plus battery bank all in one container much like other earpods chargers that I'm looking into purchasing as it's more portable for hiking. It's called the Oticon SmartCharger. I think a portable battery bank / dryer / charger is the best option for hikers. Or you can do like me if your hearing loss is not extreme and just not bring anything. I'm usually listening to a mini radio on earbuds at near full volume while walking anyway. For that I use cheap earbuds and a Sandisk Clip Jam radio. It's 20 grams, rechargeable, works for 8 - 10 hours, takes mini SD cards and can link to local radio. I listen to NPR.
I appreciate the before trip excitement advice.
I wonder if I'm forgetting any prep stuff going into my pct hike. I just started reading all the pcta web pages. But maybe there's something else I'm not reading about? Like that I'm just not aware of yet.
And I also wonder things like can I being a blister popper knife and bsr on the plane? Or should I not even bother cause they're think they're a weapon, get confiscated and I'll have to buy them again and spend another 60$ after boarder patrol throws my gear in the garbage
I would not rinse out, or wash clothes in a stream. I would get a container of water and rinse items out of trail and far from a stream, so water would not run into the stream.
You might only see the hikers upstream from you, but not the ones downstream from you.
a little stream sure but everyone should be filtering water anyway and plenty of people bathe/swim in rivers
Years ago when I was backing almost every weekend, my pack stayed packed. Just add a little food and water and go. I usually left right after work on Friday night because I wasn't going to get any sleep anyway.
I have debated leaving my glasses at home as I am planning my first over night hike. I have ordered all kinds of glasses stuff, to turn them into sun glasses, make sure I can't lose them, making them anti-slip because they fall down a lot when I sweat. I know contacts exist but I don't want to mess with that, in the woods or at all.
What I end up doing we'll see but if you are a person that needs "accessories" like glasses or hearing aids it's always time for some creative thinking (and possibly sacrifices).
At face value, this seems like a good idea: Get rid of bear spray by going through the airport security. They'll confiscate it and deal with it on everyone else's tax dollars. (Evil laugh).
Toothpaste: toothpowder or baking soda travel well in small squeeze bottles such as eye drop bottles. Just trickle a little on a damp brush. Baking soda also takes care of the spit issue.
Seen lots of pack goats on Az trail. Theres a specific breed that are bred for packing packs. Njoy!
Toothpaste - You can buy empty tubes to fill at an art supply store. Super easy to fill and you can pick sizes.
Re the question about toothpaste, Matador make a small refillable toothpaste tube. Great video!
For wearing underwear multiple days, I use wool which doesn't hold smell and naturally antibacterial. I also use a topical probiotic spray, Livia One. It introduces good bacteria that eats your sweat and also creates a microbiome that doesn't smell or has a more earthy smell or reduces the odor causing bacteria. The company Mother Dirt started this with their spray and has good info on this topic. I now shower at best once per week on even a regular basis at home, only rinse and use soap only around the groin area. Then I spray sweaty areas in the morning and at night with the probiotic spray. No more need for deodorant, my skin has less moisture issues, and it has resolved some of my other skin issues. Highly recommend. As mother dirt says, rethink clean, not sterol, create a natural microbiome which protects the largest organ on our body, our skin.
I second using merino wool, 86% wool underwear by smartwool are my choice. I wash them often at water sources.
And wash my body when ever possible. Between showers I use wet wipes 1-2x daily, wiping down my whole body aspecially my bottom. I use wet wipes after the bathroom.
I don't recommend washing only once a week if you're involved in high intensity sports daily. That can lead to a lot of skin infections and issues. For example backed up oil glands in the skin at the groin leading to infected puss filled cysts on loose skin in that area. I had one recently (despite bathing) and could not work for over a week. It filled up with puss and burst twice already. It's been a month and it's not completely gone yet. I'd been taking salt water sits baths 3 times a day to clear it and it's still lingering.
Imao no special spray or body product is going to clean you like a good old proven shower with some soap and scrubbing in all the areas. Just look at the safe practices of doctors and surgeons. Before scrubbing in to surgery people were dying left and right from infection.
Where are the most deadly bacteria on earth? Predominantly in hospitals the most "sterile" environment. Those same bacteria exist in nature, even in our backyards. However, with a multitude of bacteria for competition, one deadly bacteria doesn't have a chance to become dominant, a multitude of good & bad bacteria creates balance & a healthy environment. The same goes for this method of "clean" on our skin. Similar to our gut bacteria. When do people have the most stomach issues, after antibiotics which kills all the bad bacteria but also all the good bacteria which normally creates balance in our gut. So, probiotics have become more prominent to improve gut bacteria. I've learned that I'm actually cleanest after a good sweat from working out. The sweat opens my pores and cleans them. Soap makes my skin sterile, killing off the balance that I've built up of good & bad bacteria. I've had zero issues now over 3 years. The founder of Mother Dirt, went 15 years no shower before starting his company as a self test subject. So I think you might find that the issues you had were related to one bacteria not having competition from good bacteria. Now, it makes sense for surgeon's to be sterile, to not introduce some of the deadly bacteria common in hospitals into the patient and change the balance of that persons biome. We are not surgeon's. Just my observations & research. @@ThanatosWings
I don’t really carry bear spray (I normally don’t hike in areas where I would need it) but I do carry pepper spray for human threats and it’s always a good idea to practice with maybe an expired can so you know exactly how the spray mechanism works, how much pressure it takes to activate the spray, etc. I think some of the companies that make bear spray also make practice canisters too.
Bear spray is effective against humans too lol very painful! I’ve practiced with one before and accidentally touched where it was dripping and burned my fingertip lol bear spray might be a good alternative for you since it can serve 2 purposes. I know there’s likely a huge size/weight difference though. Anyway - happy hikes!
Some national forests and parks don't allow pack goats because they can spread disease to mountain goats and bighorn sheep. So definitely ask first.
When I'm solo hiking, I like to chat people up who go by in the trail. If I'm backpacking and have been on the trail a couple days, usually I ask if they've seen a weather forecast. Other times, I just like to ask where they began from, and how far it is.
Goats, saw pack goats, llamas and pack horses all on various trips in the wind rivers. the goats might have been the neatest. Followed along just like dogs. We stopped them to talk to the outfitter and after about four minutes they started to lay down. He said it was time to leave before they decided they needed a long break.
I dehydrated my toothpaste in the oven at my lowest setting (270* F) for 3 hrs, checked & then another 2 hrs. What I should have done though is the 3hrs, then flipped & another 3 hrs. Maybe even flattened after flipping. Add additional time as necessary. Also, I noticed that my “dots” were bigger than necessary (small pea-sized) & I ended up using half tab. Keep that in mind either when you make them or pack accordingly.
The best way to greet someone on the trail is to ask them if they watch America's Most Wanted.
Thank you. I needed this today.
For the toothpaste question: I’m not sure who makes it but REI carries an item that’s a toothbrush with a refillable toothpaste tube that stores in the handle.
Wow thanks for sharing that info.
Dude I've never thought about pooping and getting rained on at the same time
all good tips again Dixie. funny about the Bigfoot question. it made me laugh. I don't believe in that stuff anymore at one time I did. after all these years of people claiming that along with Flying Saucers also the loch ness monster there really is no solid evidence. and I believe now it is all just a money-making racket. but funny question anyhow. thanks again and stay safe.
Great video, Dixie!
Some areas do not allow pack goats, I think usually where there are mountain goats. So check it out before using goats.
Thanks for the video
When children's literature and hiking knowledge combine - Winnie the Pooh, 100 Acre Woods - AT Thru hike - 100 Mile Wilderness = Dixie talking about 100 Mile Woods :)
Toothpaste tabs are great. Garage Grown Gear sells some and they are GREAT to carry on a long hiking trip. Never carry too much, take exactly what you need.
I find the toothpaste tabs get all mushy and messed up in the baggy when near any dampness. You night as well just get a small zip lock baggy and sqirt some toothpaste into it. That's just a messy.
I carry half a travel size tube. A full one lasts over a month. So only carry a week or two's worth.
@@ThanatosWings Huh, I haven't had that experience...yet. Hopefully it doesn't happen, but good to know!
02:38 LOL ! What to do when in a pinch!
Dixie…. Could you do a video on the equipment you use to do you videos ? Thanks
One of those Bigfoot reports was from Lovelend Pass in CO. I know that area well from skiing, The idea of a Bigfoot there is hilarious as it's barely an hour from Denver I'm certain it was just me or one of my hippy friends partying off in the woods in a fuzzy coat. ✌
@Navy1977 🏈
When you were talking about sports bras I actually had my shefit on and said to myself I would take it lol
Hey Dixie love your videos. My wife loves your jumper and would like to know what brand is it. I would like to ask you whether you prefer an inflatable or a foam mattress and why.
With toothpaste, I get a travel size and use it up and then wash out the tube and then I just mate it up with my preferred tube and manually fill it up by squeezing waht I want back into the empty tube. Works fine...
I tried this but couldn't get the toothpaste from the large tube into the small tube. Any tips? I was thinking of using a syringe like you use for baby noses etc
Can't believe "refilling a travel tube of toothpaste" has not been mentioned. If you carefully smash the two ends together, squeezing out any extra air in the travel one first, you can transfer between tubes.
well clearly I didn't scroll enough!
Video idea-test bear spray
Regarding brushing your teeth, do you brush in the morning to avoid scents in your tent in bear county at night?
I’ve been in that position. Diarrhoea in the super busy Mt. Whitney area.
You just don’t care. You can not care. You’re busy not pooping your pants. Anyone who doesn’t want to see it can chose to look away. I couldn’t have cared less who sees it. Now I’m proud that I managed not pooing myself and even did it in the poop bags. Not pleasant but we all laugh about it now.
Good job
Distance between fire hydrants in neighborhoods is 300 feet. Count the steps and divide by 3. 1:37
A friend of mine has a pair of hearing aids that are completely waterproof, rechargeable, and blue tooth. They double as earbuds and he can select to use both or just one for listening to music etc. He swims with them in so the water proofness has been proven. The downside is they are quite spendy.
Goats are NOT allowed in Yosemite or Sequoia Kings Canyon, because they might infect the bighorn sheep and the bighorns are challenged enough. Park Rangers have escorted goats straight out of the Park when discovered.
Use your old cans of bear spray for PRACTICE!
I'm hearing impaired. I take mine out if there's any chance of moisture (which is most times due to sweat). I can hear without them, just not as well. As far as the pooping issue, after 27 years in the military I can most likely poop anywhere.
I cant ever say I have seen a trail that has a "no goats" sign. Thats the argument I would make.
Regarding bear spray. I would say it’s important to train with it. This video shows someone training with both bear spray and firearms. He also interviews someone that survived being mauled by a bear. Both tools are effective, but if you aren’t trained to use them they’ll be utterly useless. Being aware and trying to not unintentionally sneak up on a bear do a lot more good than just having defense tools.
th-cam.com/video/FDGM7QgxuWw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=qKQrTeJ3LMbsi50y
I've had an awkward moment while on the AT. Surprised a group of women doing their business right next to the trail, all exposed. Had to pretend to see some interesting wildlife for a while then passed by when they were decent and gave an award smile and wave.
On my AT thruhikery I got to a point where I would wake up in a spot without a privy and I'd say to myself "I could poop" then Id check distance to the next privy and say "7 miles? I can wait". 😂 I hated to do the stripper pole crap so I would wait till I couldn't any longer.