How to’s

Cytomax first run

June 13, 2009

I’m trying out a product I recently found out about through Philip Werner, the author of the blog Section Hiker (which is great, by the way). He recommends using an electrolyte replacement mix called Cytomax to speed recovery during exercise. You start drinking before your activity begins and then more regularly throughout the day. I [...]

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Basic self-defense

May 28, 2009

I’d like to be clear here–the Appalachian Trail is a pretty safe place for women. Incidents are the extreme exception rather than the rule. Still, basic self-defense skills are useful. If nothing else, they will help you feel grounded and secure in your ability to protect yourself. I recently attended a great self-defense class with [...]

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Wilderness School MBA

May 22, 2009

Last Fall, I attended TrackersNW immersion program, where I learned how to build a fire without matches, how to identify edible plants, and how to create a business plan. It’s an interesting mix of skills, but the facilitators of the program feel passionately that there are ways for people to pursue their love of the outdoors while making enough money to quit their day jobs…

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Planning food

May 20, 2009

I’ve just finished reading The Appalachian Trail Food Planner. It’s a helpful little book with instructions on how to plan your food for the trail. Most people either have their friends send them food or they use a bounce box. A bounce box is a package filled with extra supplies, like food, batteries, undies, that a hiker sends to herself in one town, where she takes what she needs and then sends the remaining supplies to the next town. It’s a great way to avoid carrying too much weight.

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General Delivery: How to receive mail on the AT

May 20, 2009

I’ve been wondering about how to keep in touch and get mail from my friends on the trail, and I just found out one way. The post office offers a service called general delivery. This means that if someone writes me a letter addressed like this: Addy c/o General Delivery Small town near the AT, [...]

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