This represents my (somewhat unconventional) daily hike routine.
Okay, perhaps this is the retired soldier in me, but I think routines are a wonderful thing. I’m not a slave to them, but if something works why not repeat it? With that in mind I’ve refined my hike routine over the years. Here are a few comments:
- Sleep falls just below water and just above food on my priority list. Unfortunately, it takes until the third night before I am able to fully recharge overnight. I also carry a few more ounces than necessary to ensure I have a thick and durable sleeping pad and I shoot for eight hours, every night.
- I’ve written about my preference for early starts before. I like getting up before the coldest part of the day (which, all things being equal, occurs AFTER sunrise) and I love being on the move as the wilderness wakes up. If there is little or no moonlight a headlamp is necessary, but I carry one anyway.
- If someone were to ask me what my favorite part of thru-hiking the JMT is, I would have to say: the breaks! I often plan them out with great care in order to pick the best spots. I do NOT hurry through them. In fact, lunch usually takes a couple of hours (or slightly more) and includes a nap. Sometimes I’ll take an additional break in the morning for thirty minutes or so.
- One of the benefits of starting early is that I don’t have to hike late. By around 5 pm I am looking for a campsite. Occasionally, if I’ve made better time that day than expected, it could be closer to 3:30 pm.
- Once my campsite is set up (I always do that first) I top off my water, wander around and take some photos, and talk to other hikers if I’ve camped near them. (About a third of the time I seek out places where other campers are unlikely to be spending the night.) My only hot meal of the day is usually dinner, and I always eat with a view.
- Once I’m snug in my tent (if I set up one) I finish entering notes into my hike journal for the day. Then I spend a few minutes familiarizing myself with the next day’s hike. Last, after an entire day in the wilderness, I escape back to civilization for a while by reading. Unlike many, I never select “outdoorsy” books. Give me a good mystery!
I understand that this will not be everyone’s cup of tea. What I do hope you take away is this: decide why you are out there on the trail and make sure your hike routine reflects those priorities.
Good hiking, Ray
What do you write in your journal? Why keep one? I used to keep journals, all through childhood and early in adulthood, then adult life got too busy. But many people keep them; I wonder what they write. I find I have nothing to say any more. You don’t read outdoorsy stuff, but do you write outdoorsy stuff in the journal?
Great question, Karen! What I write falls into two basic categories: lessons learned and stuff for future publications.
Under lessons learned might be something like, “Did the Golden Staircase at the END of the day, today. I thought I would barely make it up but it wasn’t all that bad. Nice to have it behind me.”
The second category would be ideas for blog posts of ideas for my upcoming second (expanded!) edition of the book.
Thanks for the comment!
I need to try hiking before breakfast and see how that goes. Once I get packed up and on the trail, I’m not one for stopping often. My lunch stop is usually 30 min unless it is a really nice spot.
I did keep a journal when I did the Tahoe Yosemite trail, but not on the JMT. I regret that. Perhaps I should write down what I remember from the trip while I still can. It has been 4 years now.
Thanks for the reminder to experiment with what has become routine for me.
With a Kindle PaperWhite or Journey, you can take a boat load of books to read.
I have your book and a couple of other JMT classics.
As a pastor, I also have several good devotional reads on the Kindle.
I may even read some esoteric theological works at night until I go to sleep.
My schedule is similar to yours but I eat a hot instant oat meal breakfast then hike.
I may take a little shorter break at lunch cause I like to end the day as early as possible.
Every has to find their sweet spot, so to speak. My daughter and her mother in law like to be lazy in the morning and hike later. Not what I prefer, but will do it without complaining due to the good company.
Love to go alone and love to take people with me. Try to enjoy the best of both worlds.
I write in my journal things like times I get up and on the trail and off the trail. key points of interest. special thoughts and experiences during the day.
Some times I write out prayers. Usually I find myself singing a song in my mind and heart and I write it out to remember it with the place and time.
The Golden Staircase is always good to have finished. Everything is hard while you are doing it and easy once you have done it.
I appreciate your posts.
Blessings,
Pastor Keith
Thanks for the great comment, Pastor Keith. I know what you mean about finishing early. I don’t want to do that every day, but when it happens it sure is a treat.
Nap….I like it!
A nap is a wonderful thing!