Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Thanks to the Governor of South Carolina the Appalachian Trail has gotten more free press and publicity than ever. People who did not even know that the trail existed before - know about it now. And in these times of tight budgets a camping trip may sound like a good idea. Camping is a wonderful recreational activity. It can provide great experiences for the whole family. The same can be said for sky diving. But you wouldn't go up in a plane and just jump out at 30,000 feet without getting some training and having the right equipment. So, before you take off to hike the Appalachian Trail, take some time to prepare for the trip.

Preparing for the trip
Hiking the trail is not a walk in the park. The trail goes on forever. It takes good hiking shoes to handle the rough terrain. Now is the time to buy your shoes and break them in. There is nothing worse than being in the middle of nowhere with blisters and welts on your feet and heels.
Get in shape. Work on building up some stamina. The trail goes up hill and down. You don't want to look like a wuss, panting like a steam engine at the top of the first hill. If you do not get in shape before the trip you will discover that you will ache in places you didn't even know you had!

There are no shopping centers along the trail. You have to carry in anything you plan to eat along the journey.
Food
Water is heavy. So, many trail foods are dehydrated. This reduces their weight and also helps keep them from rotting (remember, no refrigeration on the trail either). Rather than having real meat freeze dried, take along some synthetic meat. These are a great source of protein. This 'meat' is made from soy beans, so you know its good for you. It may taste like saw dust, but it is good for you!

Insect repellent
The woods and streams are filled with little biting insects. Without the proper insect repellent you can lose a quart of blood in one afternoon! You will know when to re-apply the repellent. The bugs around your head will go from being a cloud two feet from your face and a dull hum, to being right in your face and a high pitched whine. Then of course there are the bites. That's when you really know its time to re-apply!

Speaking of bites!
Bugs are not the only things in the woods that bite. Be sure to bring along a snake bite kit. This will come in handy if you meet up with a rattle snake, copper head, cotton mouth moccasin. Be sure to read the instructions found in the kit before you actually need to use it. Following a snake bite your vision may become blurry and there is a chance that you will pass out half way through the instructions.

Shelter
Tents have come a long way from the heavy canvass pup tents of WWII. Now they are light weight, easy to set up and come in a variety of bright colors. While the idea of 'sleeping 'under the stars' sounds romantic, I'd recommend against it. Remember those biting insects and snakes? They do not keep bankers' hours. They are wide awake while you are asleep, or trying to sleep. Then there is dew. Sounds nice. But waking up in a soaking sleeping bag is not the best way to start the day.
In a tent you keep out most of the bugs, keep out the dew and have shelter from the rain. Some tents have sown in floors. Others do not. If your tent does not have a floor, you'll need a ground cloth. A ground cloth is not cloth at all. It is usually a waterproof tarp you spread on the ground under your tent. Be sure that the ground cloth does not extend beyond the sides of your tent. If it does, when it rains, the rain will run down the sides of your tent, hit the ground cloth and flow directly into your tent. You will wake up in a body fitting sponge!

First Aid
As the saying goes in the computer world, RTFM, read the 'fine' manual! If possible, take a Red Cross safety class before you head out into the great outdoors. Remember, your cell phone will not work when you are way down in a valley 50 miles from the nearest tower. No one will hear your call. No one will hear your screams!

Predators
The woods are home to many animals that are capable of causing you harm. These include bears, bobcats, raccoons, and skunks. It is best to avoid these creatures if possible. All of these creatures love chocolate and sweets. Do not keep your stash of Hershey bars in your tent. This will attract unwelcomed guests. They want your stash. You are in the way. You are a possible competitor for the treasure. They do not like competitors. They have sharp teeth and claws, you do not.

Stress
You would think that camping is a great way to relieve stress. It can be. But it can also put you and your family in stressful situations. If your wife forgot to pack the insect repellent, for example. As much as you try to just laugh it off, sooner of later the plague of mosquitoes will cause you to go berserk and say some unkind words to her. Teenagers, detached from their electronic world will experience extreme withdrawal. You thought that they were moody before! Be sure you have a good working relationship with all of your family members before you hit the trail

In closing
Many people have been critical of the South Carolina. They say he showed 'poor judgment'. I think that they are wrong. Given the choice between:
On the one hand:
Blisters
Swarms of biting insects
Bears
Poisonous snakes
Synthetic meat and freeze dried veggies

And on the other hand:
A beautiful hot-blooded Latino woman between the sheets
In air conditioned comfort
Sipping fine wine
And enjoying a meal prepared by a professional chef

I think he made the right choice!