Just Girly Things

Fashion, nail polish, makeup, gossip, and boys. Most girls and women show at least mild interest in these topics. A lot of people seem to think that becoming an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker means giving up all semblance of femininity. It’s as if there are only 2 options: you are a girl, or you are a thru-hiker. 

A rare dressy occasion.

Girly is definitely not a word that has even been used to describe me. For me makeup is a chore, comfort is more important than fashion, and conversations with other people are only enjoyable if I am obtaining useful information. I wouldn’t describe myself as a tomboy either. I’ve worn dresses on occasion and can indulge in makeup and accessories when necessary, but as a general rule I don’t spend much time dwelling on my appearance. Getting ready for work in the morning consists of showering and running a brush through my hair. If I have a few extra minutes I’ll dab on some mascara for good measure. 

Despite that fact that I am going to be living in the woods, showering once a week and wearing the same outfit for my entire hike, I do not plan on abandoning my identity as a female. Although I am not excessively girly, I have a few guilty pleasures that I refuse to give up:

• The color pink. Why does all gear have to be black, brown or green? Just because I am going to be living in the woods doesn’t mean I want to become the woods. Whenever possible, I’ve chosen gear that comes in obnoxiously bright colors. Obviously function comes before fashion, so I haven’t picked items based solely of aesthetic appeal, but if I had a choice of black vs. pink, pink always wins! 
• Accessories. I’m not a huge fan of jewelry or other accessories, but I’ve always had my ears pierced and I like having a little bit of bling in my ears. Likewise I always wear a simple silver chain with a heart-shaped pendant around my neck. They serve no purpose or sentimental value, merely a habit that I see no reason for breaking.  
•  Long hair. For the majority of my life I have had long hair, and I don’t plan on changing that just because I’m going to be living on the trail. I love my hair. It is thin and straight, and it changes colors with the seasons, and I can’t imagine chopping it off for convenience. 
• Shaved armpits. I can tolerate hairy legs, but hairy armpits make me squirm. They are itchy, smelly, and generally unappealing. I’m willing to bear the extra weight of a small razor so that I can keep my pits nice and smooth.

There are few companies that cater to female hikers, but I’ve been able to find some gear that is both practical and fun to wear. Two of my favorites are Dirty Girl Gaiters and Sweaty Bands. 

The Dirty Girl Gaiters are ultralight, well-made, and come in a huge selection of colors and patterns. They attach to your shoes with just a little bit of Velcro that you glue to the back of your shoes (or you can purchase Altra shoes that come with a dedicated “gaiter trap” on the back of the shoes). I love that I can show some personality with my gaiters rather than blending in to the camouflaged crowd of hikers. 

Pink Sweaty Band headband, small earrings + heart pendant = happy me :)

Sweaty Bands aren’t really hiking gear, but these fabric headbands are great for keeping my unruly hair out of my face on windy days. Although there are many brands that make athletic headbands, Sweaty Bands is the only company I’ve been able to find that makes high-quality child-sized athletic headbands. When I first started working out and began looking for athletic headbands, I learned that I apparently have a tiny head. All products made for women were always way too big and ended up falling off my head when I worked out. The Sweaty Bands Bandits are child-sized headbands that are made to the same standards as their traditional headbands. The selection of styles is limited compared to the regular women’s headbands, but I’ve always been able to find something I like.  

I wish there were more products that were both functional and colorful. I find it hard to believe that I’m the only woman who is hiking the trail that still wants to feel like a woman. Some might call it vain and impractical, but I don’t think a little color ever hurt anyone. 

Nature: not just for boys. 

Marathon Thoughts

I finished. Just about the only positive thing I can say about myself for this race.

26.2 Miles. 

Joy, pain, disappointment, embarrassment and finally acceptance. I started the race full of excitement and anticipation. This was my second marathon, and my first one at Disney went great. I had been running a lot before the Disney Marathon and the rush of running my first marathon at the happiest place on Earth carried me through the race. Unfortunately, I really didn’t train for the Kentucky Derby Marathon much at all. There really is no excuse for being a failure, and I brought it upon myself. I’ve been focusing more on backpacking and prepping for my Appalachian Trail thru-hike rather than taking time to complete long runs. I’ve never been a real athlete and I figured I’m in-shape so a second marathon should be no problem. Turns out the muscles used for hiking are definitely not the same as the muscles used for running. 

Although the marathon did not go as I planned, it definitely gave me a great opportunity to learn about myself. As I crossed the finish line I was in tears of disappointment and frustration. I was so mad and embarrassed and felt like a complete failure. Random strangers kept congratulating me and instead of thanking them I gave them evil glares and just hobbled past them. I didn’t feel like I had done anything worth congratulations. I failed to train for the marathon and barely completed it. I even contemplated giving up. I was a failure, not a hero and these people were idiots for not seeing that.

Fast forward 5 minutes and I immediately regretted my behavior. So many people around me were just completing their first marathon, and they were full of pride and joy. Everyone’s story is different, but everyone who crossed that finish line accomplished something remarkable and deserved all the praise and congratulations that were being given. I couldn’t belief how selfish and contrary I was being. Acting like my finishing time was a failure was insulting to all the people around me who were so happy and proud of what they had just accomplished. My prior embarrassment about my finishing time quickly dissipated and instead turned to shame at my behavior. 

Although I’m not proud of my finishing time, or my demeanor at the finish line, I am satisfied that I did at least finish the marathon. I know there are many people who are much more accomplished than me, and personally this wasn’t my best performance, but I am proud that despite my dreadful thoughts, I did end up pushing through and completing the marathon. While on the Appalachian Trail, I know I will be pushed to my limits, just like I was during this marathon. I am confident that despite my mind working against me, I will be able to push through the challenges and complete the daily trials I will face.

Here is a glimpse into my thoughts during yesterday’s Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon in Louisville. 

Start: Yay! I love running, so this is going to be awesome! I ran my first marathon in January and felt great afterward. Yeah I’ve been sick, and haven’t run at all in over a week, and only a handful of times in the past month, but I’ve got this. Look at all these amazing people all around me. I’m so happy I get to be part of this. 

Mile 6: Running is so awesome. I wish Roxy was here to do this with me. I’m going to do a marathon in every city I want to visit. What a great way to get a quick tour of all the major landmarks in one city. Nothing beats running. 

Mile 8: Wow Churchill Downs is magnificent! Look at all the pretty horses. I’m so glad I get to do this. Running is the best. 

Mile 10: About 1.5 hours in, the pace car and race leaders are sprinting down the road in the opposite direction at about mile 17. Whoa! People are amazing. Someday I’m going to be able to run like that.

Mile 12: Why are they doing this to us? It is pouring down rain, and we must be climbing the steepest hill in Louisville. Hills aren’t meant to be run up. This is cruel.

Mile 14: Where are the port-a-potties?! 

Mile 18: Stop complaining legs. You can do this. You’ve done it before and you’re going to do it again. Think about how strong you are. There are 70-year-olds running this race. If they can do it, so can you. 

Mile 20: Why do the half-marathoners get to do straight to the finish? I don’t want to turn right and run another 6 miles. Wait, what?! That’s a 10k. 10ks are easy, why is this so hard? Why am I failing? I should be able to do this. Why are my legs not agreeing? This is embarrassing. Everyone can see what a failure I am. (cue epic tears)

Mile 21: I’m not going to finish. I have to finish. I’m not going to make it. 

Mile 22: What have I gotten myself into? Is my whole life a failure? Why is this so hard? 

Mile 23: Everyone is passing me. I’m going to be last. How am I going to explain this to my family and friends. Failure. I’m going to get picked up by the slack car. Only a 5k left. 5ks are easy. I win 5ks. What is wrong with me? I’m not going to finish. 

My official Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon results.

Mile 24: I’m just going to sit down on the street. (cue more tears) Why is this happening to me? 2 miles to go. 2 miles should take less than 20 minutes. What is happening to my legs? Why can’t I do this? Ugh, why is the medic coming to me? There’s nothing wrong with me! 

Mile 25: Ok that last mile took about 18 minutes. One more mile to go. I can’t walk across the finish line. I know I can run a mile, but why aren’t my legs working? Everyone is going to be standing there watching me fail. 

End: I am a failure. I wish these people weren’t watching me. I am a complete embarrassment. Why did I think I could run? No I don’t want my picture taken. “Congratulations!” Are you kidding me? I haven’t accomplished anything. Don’t be nice to me, I didn’t do anything remarkable. 

5 minutes after finishing: Wow, I can’t believe how selfish I am. All these people are so kind and supportive and I’m being spiteful because I failed myself. None of these people did anything but be nice and I should be thanking them for everything they do. Look at all these other people who are finishing with pride and dignity. I’m a dreadful human being for detracting from their experience. I need to reevaluate my attitude and outlook on life. I’m going to be a better person. 

Doggy Drama

Most people think that having man’s best friend by their side is nothing but fun and games, but the reality of having a dog as a traveling companion is a little less rosy. I absolutely adore Roxy and I couldn’t imagine hiking the Appalachian Trail, or pursuing any adventure, without her. However, if anyone else is considering traveling with their dog, I would like to offer a bit of a reality check: caring for a dog in the wilderness is hard. 

Beautiful views from Gregory Bald with my pride and joy.

Although Roxy is a great dog, she is still a dog, and her natural instincts tend to kick in at times that are less than convenient. During our past few hiking trips, we have traveled with a group of people, and it has become apparent that Roxy is very much a shepherd. While on the trails she suffers from something I like to call “lost sheep syndrome.” In her little doggy mind, it is completely unacceptable for her herd to separate. She suffered quite a bit of distress to see that me and my hiking partners like to travel at different speeds and just meet up during breaks. When I allowed her to hike off leash, she would sprint back and forth along the trail from my brother (who was usually at least ¼ mile ahead), back to me, and then several hundred feet back to find my father. This continued for the entirety of our hike. 

Keeping an eye out on her sheep even when we stop to take a break.

When I placed her on the leash, Roxy would pull and tug and insist that we sprint to catch up with whoever was ahead. This was not only exhausting and stressful for me, but caused her to overexert herself as well. Luckily Roxy is a smart dog, so she learned the command “with me” within an hour of me trying to teach it to her, and now knows to stay right by my side while we are hiking. Despite staying with me, she makes her displeasure at being separated from her herd well known by constantly bumping me with her nose or testing the limits of how far ahead she can go. 

Still just a dog. After two 15 mile days, Roxy just wanted to play with a stick.

Other dog instinct that Roxy had a hard time suppressing while in the woods were her prey drive and territorial protection. Any critter that moved in the woods needed to get chased, and once we set up camp, nothing was allowed to venture into our space. This obviously makes me feel really safe as a woman alone in the wilderness, but I wish I could explain to Roxy that chipmunks don’t pose a substantial threat. Hearing a roaring chorus of angry barks and growls during dinner is a little unsettling, so it would be great if she could learn to differentiate between actual threats and unrealistic ones.

Always alert for intruders.

Lastly Roxy continues to struggle with her diet and weight. She is incredibly picky about eating on the trail, and I ended up having to spoon feed her most of her meals. The only thing she really wants to eat are her Zuke’s Power Bones, which are great treats but not a substitute for meals. Even when I try to share my meals with her, she turns her nose up at them (even Annie’s Mac and Cheese!). 

Normal dogs devour their dog food, Roxy gets spoon-fed. 

This week Roxy is staying with her grandma and trying to gain weight. After a week at Smoky Mountain National Park and a long weekend at the Daniel Boone National Forest, she weighed in at 53lbs. Her vet wanted her up to at least 75lbs before we started the AT. At her grandma’s Roxy is spoiled like an aristocrat. She will be eating a hearty diet of organic foods and spending her days lounging on leather sofas. Obviously she will still go on walks to get some exercise, but no running or hiking for one week.  Hopefully this will help her to gain back at least a few pounds. 

Roxy on her throne at my mom's house.

In all honesty, having Roxy with me on the past few hikes felt a lot like dragging along a willful toddler. She was picky at meal time, weary of strangers, and threw fits at inappropriate times. Despite all her quirks, I can’t imagine doing to Appalachian Trail without her. It will be challenging at times, but I think the experience will bring us even closer together. She is part of me, and together we will overcome all obstacles and continue to explore the world. 

Enjoying the simple things, like rolling in nice soft grass after a long day of hiking.

Food

Dinner with a view!

I love to eat. When I am at home I am fairly picky about only eating organic, healthy foods. If I’m not out hiking or running with Roxy, then I am usually at home cooking or baking. So I knew transitioning to a world where I have to carry all my ingredients/kitchen supplies and cook every meal in one pot was cooking to take some creativity. After my shakedown trip to the smokies, I am very optimistic about meal time on the Appalachian Trail. 

All my meals were prepared in a Primus LiTech Kettle. I love this pot/pan combo because it is large enough to prepare enough food for me and Roxy, and it has a non-stick coating that makes it really easy to clean. 

Cook system: Primus LiTech Kettle, MSR Pocket Rocket and Primus Gas (this pot contains breakfast)

Breakfast: Every morning started out with a cup of instant coffee. If anyone is feeling generous and wants to make my day while I’m on the AT, I would love to have Starbucks Via Instant Coffee every day. Since I only had one pot I had to wait to prepare breakfast until after I finished drinking my coffee. This was a pain, so I ordered a 16oz mug from REI so that I can have coffee and breakfast at the same time. Some people might consider this unnecessary weight, but my pack is so light that I’m happy to carry the extra weight for this little luxury.

After coffee, I made either oatmeal or granola each morning for breakfast. Bob’s RedMill dry milk powder was the staple of every breakfast. It made each dish creamy and delicious. I usually added a handful of dried blueberries or cherries (from Bob’s RedMill) or goji or mulberries (from Foods Alive)  to my breakfast dish. 

Lunch: Cheese and crackers were the standard lunch of choice. However even ultra-pasteurized cheese doesn’t last too long without refrigeration so after all my cheese was gone, lunch was just a combination of crackers and dried fruits.  Foods Alive Flaxseed Crackers were divine for lunch. They come in a variety of exotic flavors that really satisfied my cravings for different foods. The coconut curry flavored crackers were by far the winner of the flavor contest. 

Foods Alive Coconut Curry Flaxseed Crackers were to die for.

Dinner: My favorite part of the day :) Before our trip I prepared several single-serve portions of grains, dried veggies, beans, and spices. These dinners all revolved around Bob’s RedMill quick-cook grains like buckwheat and couscous. I was pleasantly surprised by how flavorful and satisfying all my meals ended up being. A lot of hikers live off Ramen Noodles and Knorr Pasta Sides, but my palate is a little more refined and I require more pizazz from my meals. Bob’s RedMill and Harmony House are by far my two favorite companies. Their products let me make home-style on pot meals while on the trail.   

Typical dinner: Buckwheat with peas, carrots, and curry powder.

Desert: After dinner I always need desert. Tru-Nut powdered peanut butter mixed with water and dry powdered milk made a delicious after dinner snack. Another favorite was Trader Joe’s dark chocolate covered power berries. 

All in all eating on the trail was very similar to what I eat at home. Thanks to amazing products from great companies, I didn’t feel like I was missing any sort of nutrition or flavor. Next weekend I am going to begin mass production and packaging of my single serve dinners for the Appalachian Trail. I’m sure my cravings and tastes will change while I am on the trail so I will be sure to keep everyone updated. Happy hiking! 

Finding the Perfect Fit

Happy. That is the one word that perfectly describes my Spring Break at Smoky Mountain National Park. This past week solidified my resolve that living on the trail is what I should be doing with my life. It is difficult to put into words how effortless and ideal this lifestyle feels for me. Roxy and I just fit into the landscape like we have always been part of it. 

While driving back to Indiana after the trip, one country song was incessantly played by every radio station and a  particular lyric struck me as the perfect summary of trail life: “I've got everything I need and nothing that I don't.” 

While on the trail I get to focus on living. I have no cell phone reception and am completely cut off from all the aspects of my former life. Despite having to carry everything I need to survive and walking about 15 miles per day up and down mountains, nothing about this lifestyle feels challenging. 

In the weeks leading up to my departure for the Appalachian Trail, I will post more detailed reviews of the gear, food, and other aspects of our shakedown trip to the Smoky Mountains. For today, all I can focus on is the extreme joy I feel knowing that I am finally going to be living the life I was always meant to be living.  

Ending the day at a perfect campsite. Nothing compares to feeling right at home.

Beautiful, lush forests were a welcome respite from the usually dry and sunny trail.

Barefoot hiking offers an intimate connection to the forest, and a chance to know just how Roxy feels :)

This is what life is all about.