Section Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Catching up on previous trips, Jon explains what happens when he leaves the confines of Big Meadows state park and heads south to Swift Gap.  

Along the way there's some beautiful terrain, albeit not all that difficult.  Along the way we learn about the 53 cemeteries in the park and we talk about the history of the Lewis Mountain Campground.  

For more information about the formation of the Lewis Mountain Campground, you can look at the following sites: 

In this episode Jon describes what happened to him in 2021, gives an overview of the trips he was able to take, and some of the ways life got in the way of his broader hiking.  

He also talks about some of the new gear additions he had, including a Sea To Summit sleeping bag liner, a new Hammock Gear Wunderluxe set up, and he talks briefly about how Merrell hiking shoes failed him, although he doesn't go into how much he loves his Altra Timp2s.  

Finally, after reviewing those who listen to this podcast, he gives a shoutout to those listeners in countries like the Baltic States, Belarus, Hong Kong and other countries who are on the periphery of Russia and China in these times of challenges -- where those two countries are seeking to restore spheres of power over these smaller countries and hinder national autonomy and undermine the rule of law.  

Some links based on the discussion (note: we do not get sponsored by any of these companies and don't make any money off of you clicking these links.  We just like this stuff!)

In the which our erstwhile explorer begins a multi-way trip through the Shenandoah National Park as he heads southbound on the Appalachian Trail and has adventures along the way.  Plus, he may have come across a bear at night, which was not an experience he had hoped for along the way.  

Please subscribe, leave comments on the podcast, and join us on Instagram @section_hiking_the_AT and Twitter @EskelsenJon

Wherein our intrepid adventurers take a 15 mile overnight jaunt from the middle of now where to a beautiful state park and then tell you about it.  

Today we discuss the southern most section in Pennsylvania as we leave this fair state for Maryland.  It's a great long hike, that is heavily wooded.  

Also, we answer a question about how to get started backpacking! Give it a listen.  

In this episode, our intrepid host comments on a recent Supreme Court case involving the Appalachian Trail and whether the Forest Service (rather than the National Parks Service) is allowed to issue permits for a natural gas pipeline that crosses the trail.  

Also, in the absence of Major League Baseball, our host looks back at how awful color commentary is for major league sporting events!  

In the which your intrepid host and his friend Alex brave the elements and a disease they don't believe they have caught to hike a 14 mile portion of the Appalachian Trail.  There was literally no one out there... except for a couple of dummies that were us.  In today's episode we discuss the hike, review lessons learned, and discuss what the future holds regarding first section hike.  

In the which our intrepid host discusses the concerns raised by different groups about backpacking in the time of COVID-19.  In all seriousness, this is a big deal and we ought to treat it as such.  Does this mean that we shouldn't do any backpacking?  That's another question all together.  Next weekend the plan is to go hiking up on the AT in southern PA again.  So we'll see if it works out.  To help us sort out these issues we bring on the host's wife, who is the family all-time judge.  Our host presents his case, she asks questions and makes a ruling with appropriate provisio....  

In the which our intrepid host hikes along the Appalachian Trail up in Pennsylvania with his good friend and even better sport, Alex Bates, testing out his various plans and ideas.  Not all of them (the plans and ideas that is) make it through to the end.  Plus, we use some transitions in this episode as our erstwhile sophistication related to podcasting marginally increases! 

Really grateful Alex was able to join me on this hike, and even more grateful for his wife Amy who let him come out in play.  Let's hope the Coronavirus doesn't actually get us so we can do it again soon! 

I came down with a cold this weekend and am in no place to record a full podcast episode.  So what we're going to do is send you to our instagram account: Section_hiking_the_AT.  This week, I'll take pictures of the gear I'm planning to take, its weight and the alternatives to have a visual display of what I had planned to discuss.  So check us out on Instagram and we'll catch up next week! 

In the which our intrepid hiker discusses a variety of topics to include some meals that he plans to take with him on the trail, what he ended up putting into his first aid kit, how he thinks about keeping his throat from getting parched, and what he does to keep from paying full retail when shopping for backpacking gear,

In the which our would be section hiker works through answers for the following three questions:  how much food should one bring on a hike?  What are the characteristics of food one should bring? What kind of ways do we have to prepare food, once we have brought it with us?  Look forward to feedback and comments on the episode -- thanks for listening

Links:

In the which our host refreshes himself on the skills associated with navigation in the woods as he prepares for his initial section hike of the Appalachian Trail.  Lots to remember but really hopes he won't get lost and... as his daughter is won't to remind him -- potentially perish.  

Links:

Earl Shafffer, the First Thru-Hiker of the AT, Embodied the Trail’s Soul

In the which we enter into the highly contentious world of personal hygiene when backpacking. Turns out this matter is something many have strong opinions about. Some of those opinions have merit while others do not...

Outlining all the skills, but what's funny is that if you google search backpacking skills, you always end up with a list of gear to bring on a hike with you...  Here are some of the skills we hope to address in coming episodes:

• Wilderness focused First aid:  Common issues in the backcountry, the goals for treating them and what to carry.
• Personal hygiene – how to stay clean.
• Specific foot care – related issues.  Making sure feet don’t get neglected and other self-care on the trail.
• Navigation – different forms of navigation – digital to paper.
• Meal planning, identifying how much to food to carry and options for cooking.
• How to approach food storage and keep it away from critters large and small.
• Fire.
• Water.  Getting and treating it.
• The 10 essentials

In this episode we discuss the 3 different types of fun! type 1, type 2, and type 3... and then how physical and mental preparation for the hike assists in achieving that fun.  

Physical preparation links: 

Backpacking Light Podcast Notes for Episode 14: https://backpackinglight.com/podcast-014-training-for-backpacking/

Summit Strength: https://www.summitstrength.com.au

trailsidefitness.com: https://trailsidefitness.com

What is the plan?  Well, here it goes.  The idea is to leave Harpers Ferry the morning of April 24th, hiking to Waynesboro, VA at the bottom of the Shenandoah National Park by May 3rd.  There are 34 established camp sites and if I'm able to put my preparation into practice I will be able to make my mark and stay at some of them while camping in dispersed backpacking camping locations on other days.