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[at-l] re: tradition, sandals/camp shoes, flashlights, and more!

lots to cover...

the "tradition" of trail names is really a recent thing, i believe, gaining
popularity in the mid eighties or thereabouts.  some of the early hikers
don't think it's a tradition at all (ron, what're your thoughts?).  i took
a name before hiking to reflect my heritage, which was important to me.  i
did debate a little over whether i should name myself, but i didn't let it
worry me.  some people already have nicknames, and i think that's perfectly
appropriate for the AT, too.  i do think that names given on the trail are
often the most witty and descriptive, NEXMO being one of my favorites,
along with Blue Man Fiction and Meals-on-Heels.

sandals next...
i've hiked for short distances in tevas and the like, but my foot slips
around too much within the sandal for me to be confidant on rough ground.
using them for road walking sounds like a great idea, tho.
as for camp shoes... possibly the lightest would be wallymart type
"aquasocks" with a basic rubber sole and stretch mesh uppers.  no support
whatsoever, but a nice option to boots around camp.  because they cover the
toes, they are usually warmer than sandals (for those starting in march).
i spent a full day in damascus carrying around a pair of tevas and a pair
of aquasocks, debating which i should carry.  it was comfort vs. weight
(isn't it always?).  in the end the tevas won out because the arch support,
although minimal, was very soothing to my feet after long days.  nowadays
you can find decent, cheap, lightweight sandals in the mass merchants.  for
long distance hikes, they always go with me.

flashlights...
in the middle of summer (say, june-aug), i hardly used my flashlight
because of the long days.  i would recommend the smallest, lightest single
AAA you can find.  when the days are shorter, it sure is nice to have a
headlamp.  i didn't have one on my thru, and my jaws got awfully tired
holding that minimag while cooking etc. (not to mention the drool :)~  ).
i have a petzl micro now which i love; headbands for the maglites are good
too.

my mom would say "if all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you do it
too?", but i'm going to chime in about umbrellas anyway...
i read jardine's book in 92 right after my thruhike, and i scoffed mightily
at his umbrella idea.  you see, as much as i like a hiking stick for all
its benefits, i really prefer to have my hands completely free, and even
strapping an umbrella to the pack seems to have disadvantages for all the
blowdown-type reasons posted before.  i also wear a large-brimmed wool-felt
fedora while hiking which keeps rain off my face nicely.  and actually, i
don't mind getting wet.  so for wet weather, it appears that i don't want
an umbrella, tho, to be fair, i suppose i should try it sometime, because i
am only speculating on its inappropriateness.
for a sunshade, however, an umbrella is more and more appealing.  the
trails are more open in the sierra, more miles above tree-line, therefore
lots more exposure to the sun.  i'm gonna try it this summer, strapped to
my pack, i think.  who knows, i'll probably get caught in a thundershower,
and it'll convince my to carry one for rain protection too!

someone asked about IRC chatting... a number of AT-Lers visit #AT on EFNet
regularly.  wed nights used to be a regular gathering.  what say we try for
9pm EST (6PST) tonight?

86 days til Trail Days...

mike
ke kaahawe

 .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .
/ \  / \  / \  / \  / \  / \  / \  / \  / \  / \  / \
   \/   \/   \/   \/   \/   \/   \/   \/   \/   \/   \

Michael Henderson		mikeh@royalrobbins.com

Success is a state of mind that anyone can use to climb their own
mountains.  -- Royal Robbins
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