OmPi's Adventures

"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was van...

I've heard many things about this trip, mostly positive and affirming but some negative. In the time leading up to a long distance thr...

I've heard many things about this trip, mostly positive and affirming but some negative. In the time leading up to a long distance thru-hike, especially if you are sharing about your upcoming journey, someone you come across is bound to give negative feedback at some point.

"That's out of the ordinary" is one of many that I have heard and it was meant in both a positive and negative fashion. Others have reminded me in various ways of my joy in starting and yet not always finishing something. Some have asked "Are you still doing the Appalachian Trail thing?" and many people are curious with all the other commitments in life how I am going to be able to take 6 months away.

Today when I read this quote it spoke to my inner being, it reflected my desires back at me, and it encouraged me in this journey. I want to take a moment and share it with all of you and encourage each of you who are following this journey of mine to take a moment and reflect on this reality.

Our existence is not even a blip on the spectrum of time. If we continually focus on doing what others desire of us, what society tells us is necessary, and what we have grown up being programed to believe, we will have wasted what little time we have. I encourage you to reflect on this and don't focus on the past but what you can do NOW and in the FUTURE!

-OmPi (ॐ π)

So I have to tell you my greatest fear other than not completing the trail is that of bugs on the trail. No not an irrational fear like en...

So I have to tell you my greatest fear other than not completing the trail is that of bugs on the trail. No not an irrational fear like entomophobia but a fear of being bitten, eaten and worse infected especially with diseases that can cause severe illness like Lyme Disease. While I don't know that I've mentioned it or if it has come across in my past posts, I'm somewhat of a "crunchy granola" kinda guy and have a small case of chemophobia or at least I don't like using chemicals whenever possible. This fear as well I would not qualify as irrational as the toxic risk of excessive or regular chemical use has been demonstrated well enough for my belief.

So when you combine these two things, a bit of a sticky situation can be the result, namely how am I going to address one without caving on the other. Outside of Food and Gear how to prevent bugs from biting and thus infecting me has been one of the top items I have been researching and I feel I have found some solutions.

DEET - The chemical option! While the EPA continues to suggest that DEET does not present a health concern to the general public I know I don't like it, it makes me feel funny and knowing that the skin is highly absorbent the idea of lacing my body with it for months on end doesn't appeal to me. As well if you read through the EPA's "Using DEET products safely" you will see that on the AT it will be nearly impossible to use DEET safely according to their advice. This will be a last resort that I will pick up on the trail if all else fails me.

Foods & Diet - Whether science or old wives tales some suggest certain foods and vitamins (i.e. onions, garlic, various herbs and spices, Apple Cider Vinegar, Marmite, B12, bananas, beans, and citrus especially grapefruit) will repel bitting insects. For me seeing as most of these items are common in my daily diet I'm hopeful that it will be helpful on the trail. Some of these items may help you on your inward journey as other hikers may also be repelled.

Essential Oils - My secret weapon for the trail is a natural Essential Oil based bug repellant that is still being formulated and tested but I can and will share some of the possible essential oils going into the mix. Rose Geranium (This lady swears by it for her and her dogs in the fight against ticks. Dogs Naturally Magazine references it as well as an effective preventative.) Wellness Mama whom I love and adore has her own suggestions for a Homemade bug spray using Citronella, Clove, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Cajeput, Eucalyptus, Cedar, Catnip, Lavender, and/or Mint Essential Oils. I figure I have a good few months in the FL Mosquito season to test my concoction before giving it a real go on the trail.

Permethrin - Another Chemical Option! While I am hesitant still of using it regularly I think for the trail I will soak some of my gear in this as another preventative. The biggest reason I am compromising on this item is because it has been shown to be much more effective against ticks (LYME DISEASE INFECTING BASTARDS) than DEET with much less of the toxic side effects. Not to mention this is applied primarily to gear, clothes, etc through soaking then drying rather than directly onto my skin. I know I know if its on my clothes and my skin is touching my clothes it is bound to have some transference, but I am willing to accept the effects because the results appear to be top quality. I will probably leave the bottle in my bounce box and send it to myself along the way as applications usually last a few weeks it seems.

Bug Gear - There seems to be lots of different bug gear out there which I'm sure will be helpful for mosquitos and black flies as apparently they get pretty bad on the AT in certain states. Anyway still trying to figure out if the excess weight will be worth having more than what I have in my arsenal already. If anyone has insight on this as well as suggestions I'd love to hear it.

What about you all? What are your plans for dealing with bugs, chemicals or anything else along the trail. Share your insights in the comments below.

While it is not quite  hiking season  here in FL yet I have over the last month begun some preparations for the big 2016 AT Hike and my  to ...

"Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." Helen Keller I'd rather look back at my life and say "I can'...

"Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing."

Helen Keller

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I'd rather look back at my life and say "I can't believe I did that" instead of saying "I wish I did that".

Unknown

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Dead Last
is greater than
Did Not Finish
which trumps
Did Not Start

Unknown

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Don't Wait! The time will never be just right.

Napoleon Hill

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A Journey of a Thousand Miles begins with a single step.

Lao Tzu

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Practice and all is coming.

Shri K Pattabhi Jois

-OmPi (ॐ π)

Well I have continued to absorb info over weeks. The Good Badger's book ( Appalachian Trials ) can now be crossed off my list. If you...

Well I have continued to absorb info over weeks. The Good Badger's book (Appalachian Trials) can now be crossed off my list. If you are unfamiliar with Good Badger or his book, I strongly recommend it and for those who are serious about ensuring you complete the trail, it is the only book I have found that focuses on the mental and psychological preparation for the AT.

One of the suggestions of Badger to mentally prepare is to complete an exercise which requires you to ponder, meditate, reflect on, and complete 3 simple statements regarding your goal of a Thru-Hike. He suggests taking at least 10-15 minutes on each statement and then actually write your reflections down, make a list, and bring it with you on the trail. He recommends reviewing it regularly especially while you are on the trail and more importantly when you are facing challenges and your own Appalachian Trials.

1. I am Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail because... (This should focus on reasons for hiking the trail. I considered the question why do the trail now?)
• Life is short and later may never come!
• I need a break from excess connectivity and reevaluate what really matters.
• In spite of all the good in my life something is missing.
• I desire different experiences, people and challenges in my life.
• My life often feels boring and I desire an AWESOME adventure and more thrills.
• I want to Pursue the Unknown.
• The trap of Consumerism is building within me and I want to live "Less is More".
• I feel at home and "connected" when in nature.


2. When I successfully Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail, I will... (This should focus on personal benefits I will experience/acquire once completing the trail.)
• Have new friends with whom to share life's passions, joys and sorrows.
• Obtain new skills that will make me more successful in life.
• Better understand myself, nature, and the Divine.
• Have Life Long Memories that the effects of Dementia will never be able to erase.
• Be a More Positive Impact in the World.
• Know that I can do anything, even if it is unknown or difficult
• Have disciplined my body and mind which will help me be more successful in other areas of my life.
• Create new opportunities in my own life.
• Be a part of an Elite Community of men and women.


3. If I give up on the Appalachian Trail, I will...(These are the negative emotions and perceptions you will have of yourself if you quit. For this I question how will I feel about myself if I give up?)
• Feel Defeated and Weak.
• Lose confidence in myself and my abilities to accomplish future goals.
• Have proven those who doubted me right.
• Let down those who believed in me or lived vicariously through me.
• Be stuck in a cycle of meaningless nonsense.

This powerful exercise is sure to be effective not only for accomplishing your goal of completing the AT but can also be applied to any of your other life goals.

-OmPi (ॐ π)

The more I read accounts of other people on the trail I realize that everyone has their "Why" or is at least seeking a Why for...

The more I read accounts of other people on the trail I realize that everyone has their "Why" or is at least seeking a Why for their hike. As AWOL mentioned in the first pages of his book (AWOL on the Appalachian Trail) it is rare for someone to have a definitive concisely articulate why. So it goes with me. My why is one that I cannot explain. As I have mentioned before, my life is not in a bad place, actually quite the opposite is true. Unlike many I am not at a crossroads in my life having recently graduated, I've not been laid off from a job, I've never been in the military, I'm not recently separated or anything else. My why is not entirely answered but here are a few things that I do know about my why.

1. I recently had a brush with death and that challenged me to live more in the present and live more free.
2. The adventure and accomplishment of hiking the Trail has been in my mind for over 10 years.
3. Looking at today's world of perpetual connectivity with electronics and others, I crave to disconnect and commune with nature, myself and the divine.
4. I'm a bit of a starter and often not a finisher and I would like to prove to myself that I can and will finish this great task.
5. If not NOW, then WHEN?
6. Nature often feels more at home, though not always as comfortable, to me.
7. The Trail is calling out to me, in my thoughts, my dreams, my goals and aspirations.
8. While I cannot put my finger on it, I believe there is something to be learned, something specific to my life, something that will change everything about me and help me have a greater Positive Impact on this world and my life that can only come from this venture.

I want to hear from you:
What is/was your why? Do/Did you have one?
If on the trail or having completed the trail, how important is the why in sustaining?
If planning, how much of a role does your why have on your preparations?
If off the trail did you have a why? If so, what was it and how did you deal with your why when getting off the trail?
Also for everyone, does your why still drive you to want to get back on the trail or complete other dreams/goals?

-OmPi (ॐ π)

Ten years ago shortly after college I began looking into hiking the Appalachian Trail. At a crossroads in life I desired to do somethin...

Ten years ago shortly after college I began looking into hiking the Appalachian Trail. At a crossroads in life I desired to do something to help find myself and maybe figure out what I wanted from life. More so than anything I think I desired the trail because it was a time with nature, a prize to be had, a goal to be accomplished. As well, my A personality said, "Now is the time, before you have any additional obligation, things to hold you back, or prevent you from doing so. Now is the right time if ever there is one." My adventure never took off. My hiking partner decided not to join and I attempted a short weekend trip on the FL Trail only to discover less than a mile in that I was entirely uncomfortable with the silence I would be experiencing over 6 months and 2189 miles.

Fast forward 10 years and life has become a much more complicated. I've crossed into my 30's, have a relationship of 6 years, 4 little ones (dogs and cat), a job I love, and we have just bought a house. Nothing is wrong with my life, actually it is pretty amazing, even if it is somewhat mundane. The call of the trail has never left me over the last 10 years, but it has subsided slightly that is until last year when I had a brush with death and much of my life was called into question.

I questioned my friendships, my job, and my direction in life. I was broken down and in my weakness I found strength to begin to change the things that I found less than desirable. In the year to come I eliminated most of my toxic friendship, discovered how much I love my job, and began to change directions in my life. Here I am in the present still not entirely satisfied with life but in a better place than I was one year ago. My health and strength has returned, new friendships have started to be form, and a new path is beginning to be blazed ahead of me. Things are looking up but the soft quite call of the Trail is growing louder and louder and it is not going to be bypassed again.

During the end of May 2014 I was walking some small simple trails in the NC mountains with my partner and a friend. I expressed a thought of hiking the AT which was met with interest from my friend and discouragement from my partner. I can't say that I blame him with all that we have built together over the last 5 years, the obligations that we currently have, the time away and many other things, I can understand where this would seem like the most inopportune time to hike the AT. This is the warning that my A Personality told me 10 years ago that I should do the AT then before obligations piled up. But alas life takes its own path and lessons must be learned in the process. So I began researching, reading and dusting off my old information from years ago and found my inspiration stronger than ever.

So with this post I breath life into this journey much like the divine I manifest the first vibration of this adventure which burst forth from within. All posts until my last will be about the my perseverance and preservation of this adventure until I complete it and experience the transformation that it will no doubt have on me and the world around me.

-OmPi (ॐ π)