backpacking skills

Sometimes, Go Alone

By |August 8th, 2016|2016 posts, Adventure school, solo adventure|Comments Off on Sometimes, Go Alone

“It’s good to walk with people
but sometimes
go alone.
That way you can always stop and listen at the right time.”
-Byrd Baylor, The Other Way To Listen

Alone.
What does this mean to you? When were you last alone? Why does being alone conjure fear for most of us humans?

I have somehow climbed over that hurdle of fear of being alone, and I’d like to share some thoughts on how I did that. I am not immune from being lonely or a little fearful when I’m flying solo, but I’ve grown to need time by myself in wild spaces. Being alone is one of the most important things I do in my life. A little fear & loneliness is good for the soul! Beyond fear and loneliness there is curiosity, happiness, and the magic of knowing I get along with myself.

Face & embrace your fear
So how did I get to a place where I actually WANT to be alone? I went outside on my own a lot. I was scared at first. I just felt the worry. My world did not crumble. My early solo backpacking trips were full of fear, anxiety, and hardly eating anything (my appetite vanishes when I’m feeling lonely and sad). I did not die of a broken heart or sadness. It hurts to feel lonely. It’s uncomfortable to be scared. Breath deeply, reason with yourself, and let yourself feel uncomfortable. It sucks, but there is no easy sneak around to the other side. For me, every solo trip starts with a bit of emotional pain, but it fades after a few days, and being lonely helps me re-focus on what I care about. If I’m missing something or someone, I can see what […]

Oboz Trail Tales: Water in the Desert

By |June 15th, 2016|2016 posts, Adventure school, Current|Comments Off on Oboz Trail Tales: Water in the Desert

Sage shares 6 factors for planning your water needs in the desert in her most recent Oboz Trail Tales blog post. Water planning for desert trips can be daunting, but the rewards of travel in dry places can be well worth the effort. Sage goes over 6 factors she juggles each trip in order to plan her water.

Oboz Trail Tale: Mentorship

By |March 1st, 2016|2016 posts, Adventure school|Comments Off on Oboz Trail Tale: Mentorship

Sage shares 5 tips for finding a hiking mentor in her latest Oboz Trail Tale. Discover how having a support network has helped her solo hiking career. Mentorship can help hikers have more success on the trail

Not so happy feet?

By |May 15th, 2015|2015 posts, Adventure school, Current, PCT|Comments Off on Not so happy feet?

Having foot issues? As many hikers set out on their thru-hiking season I keep hearing about tragic foot pain. In an effort to reduce some of the tears, I wanted to share a few things that have worked well for my persnickety feet.
Rinse The Grit Away
Try carrying two pairs of socks. Switch them mid-day, and rinse the morning pair out. If you have extra water, give your feet a mid-day wash too. During the dry desert sections just whack the heck out of your socks to get the dust out instead of washing them with your precious water. I still switch them anyway, and wash them near the next water source- remember- don’t wash them directly in the water sources!!! Yuck- toe funk in your water-Eeeeew!

I find that washing my socks regularly helps them last miles and miles longer (like 150-300miles longer!), and keeps my feet happier.

Take Your Shoes Off!

One of my other foot care secrets is to have at least two breaks a day when my shoes come off, my insoles are pulled out & shaken off, and my feet & shoes can have some time apart. I usually give myself a foot massage & elevate them on my pack. Chilling in that lounging reclining position for a bit seems to really help my body get a better rest & lets my feet deflate a bit.

Keep ’em clean with Dirty Girls

Using lightweight gaiters (like Dirty Girl Gaiters) can help keep grit & seeds out of your socks & shoes. Blisters can be caused by dirt creating friction between your skin and the shoe wall, sometimes called the “pearl of pain”. Gaiters can help keep those friction causing agents at bay, but thick gaiters can […]