Five Things You Need to Know before Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Five Things You Need to Know before Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Roo Giordano
long distance hiking, roulette

"If you can be stopped, you will be stopped."  ~Joshua Benavides

I've been reading everything I can get my hands on about thru-hiking the AT.

It's interesting, but, except for one universal fear, no one really talks about their struggle with fear.  It's almost like no one is afraid or has any reservations at all.

We know that can't be true, so I'm going first with my "What if?" list and five things you can do now, months before your hike, to deal with the fears that are sure to reveal themselves between now and your start date.

Friday Fave: Shining Creek

Friday Fave: Shining Creek

Roo Giordano
long distance hiking, roulette

Trail:  Shining Creek Trail to Shining Rock

Distance:  8 miles

Elevation:  2,500 feet (bad ass!)

Date Hiked:  8/16/16

These training hikes are testing my strength and endurance, but also testing my commitment and my ability to talk myself down off the ledges.  In other words, they're firing up my fears in a big way.

Reflections on Fear...Meet Dick.

Reflections on Fear...Meet Dick.

Roo Giordano
roulette

We challenged ourselves this week on an overnighter where I purposely chose a trail with a bit of a reputation, Section 1 of the Art Loeb Trail.

It was HARD, and it triggered all kinds of fear and doubt about my ability to finish a 2,000 mile thru-hike.  I had to talk myself down off the ledge and in this post I share four ways to appease that fearful voice inside that wants to keep us small.

Meet Dick...my inner fear-monger.

Friday Fave: Pisgah National Forest

Friday Fave: Pisgah National Forest

Roo Giordano
gear, roulette

I'm training for my upcoming Appalachian Trail thru-hike and I'm fortunate to live in a place that makes training easy and fun.

Even in the rain, this loop is one of my favorite training hikes in my lead-up to my thru-hike.

Which I'm certain will leave me begging for an umbrella, a rain coat, a poncho and dry undies before all is said and done.

What's in My Backpacking Kitchen

What's in My Backpacking Kitchen

Roo Giordano
gear, long distance hiking, roulette

My motto is "Hike Strong.  Hike Long.  Hike Happy."  

And to achieve it, you have to navigate the delicate balancing act of paring down what's in your pack but still saving room for little luxuries that will satisfy the happy part of this equation. 

On the one hand, lightening your load will help you hike long.

On the other hand, eating well on the trail is, for me, near the pinnacle of hiking happy. 

I've pared my trail kitchen down to a tiny, cozied package, so read on to see what's inside.

Friday Fave: Bearwallow Mountain

Friday Fave: Bearwallow Mountain

Roo Giordano
roulette

I'm training for my upcoming Appalachian Trail thru-hike and I'm fortunate to live in a place that makes training easy and fun.

Bearwallow Mountain is one of my favorite training hikes in my lead-up to my thru-hike, which scares the bejeezus out of me when I'm foolish enough to actually think about it.

I'm certain the whole thing will make me stronger (and more fearless).  Unless it kills me.

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