OmPi's Adventures: PreTrail

Showing posts with label PreTrail. Show all posts

One of the questions I most often receive when mentioning my upcoming AT Thru-Hike is "Are you hiking alone or with others?" and my answer is a confounding, "Yes!" I then share with them that I will be setting out alone but quickly share that the AT is a very active and social trail, with thousands of hikers on it, this in spite of the reality that very few complete their Thru-Hike. So yes I will be hiking alone and yes I will be hiking with others. Even if I were to find a specific hiking partner (which I really do not desire, for reasons past mentioned in my original post ), I would still not hike every step of the trail with this person by my side or even within ear shot. Hiking pace and style, nature's calling, minor injuries and setbacks would all create space.

This seems to be common place for friends and strangers who become friends on the trail, you fall into a Hiking Bubble. I've been reading and this topic of hiking bubbles and groups that form on the trail have been prominent lately and a theme seemed to require some reflection. I can hear my mother saying it now "You need to be careful who you surround yourself with." As a kid you looked at her and said "Ok, Mom whatever," but now as an adult this has really struck home. A man by the name of Jim Rohn has a similar saying, "You are the Average of the 5 people you spend the most time with." Take a moment and read that again and think about it. Think about the 5 people you keep closest and see if it speaks truth to you?

A little over a year ago when I was struggling with my health and my world was turned upside down I was confronted with this statement and it is one of the mantras that I continue repeating to myself as I decide on what and with whom to spend my time. It is something that I know will influence my hiking bubble/group. AWOL, The Good Badger, and various others in their hiking journals mention or have demonstrated that they were pulled up or down by their hiking bubble.

The Badger offers A word of Caution to Aspiring Hikers and speaks to this point directly suggesting you surround yourself with people who are "intoxicated on serotonin throughout their hike, regardless of the obstacles thrown their way... their energy is infectious." He also discusses "those who struggle from day one and continue to do so until the day they quit." The rest of us are the average of these people who will have good days and bad days, who will want to quite at times and other times be in sheer awe of the glories of trail life. As for me and my hike, I will surround myself with as many positive people who are thrilled to have the experiences they are having and can see the silver lining behind every rain cloud.

-OmPi (ॐ π)

Preparations continue for the AT. I continue to read, research, talk to past hikers, train mentally and physically. As I have mentioned in a past post, Yoga has become a source of training as I know it will help me mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually on this amazing journey. I completed a 30-day yoga challenge and continued on with a 60-day yoga challenge. This has been a huge step in the right direction for me and my habit of starting and losing interest. Speaking of habits, one of the reasons people recommend 30-day challenges and one of the reasons I chose to commit to a 30-day challenge was to "form a new habit" which some say it takes 21-days to create.

Forbes.com has a great article about creating habits and addresses the myth of the 21-day habit formation. In this article the author discusses how simply doing something for 21-days does not necessarily make it a habit and from where this idea came. He continues by offering 3 stages of habit formation and I found them really useful for the Appalachian Trail.

The first stage of habit formation is the "Honeymoon Period" where things seem perfect and nothing can go wrong. This is the period of joy, where you are riding high and overlooking all the problems because something is new, fresh and exciting. The truth is however no matter how great the honeymoon is that it will have to come to an end.

Stage 2 is the "Fight Thru" and this is the point that really struck me. A lot of the suggestions the author makes to create a successful habit (ie finishing the AT), happen here in this stage. What is interesting is that many of the preparations Zach Davis suggests in Appalachian Trials, are the same as those offered in this step.

The fight thru is exactly what it sounds, when the honeymoon wears off and old habits are ready to take back over (ie you are ready to get off the trail), you must fight thru 2-3 times to overcome and solidify your commitment to this new habit. You successfully complete a fight thru by recognizing you are entering into a battle period, next do it in spite of your urge to go back, and finally keep a humility about yourself. Unfortunately there is no easy way around the fight thru but there are some tools to help in your battle. The biggest tools are found in knowing your why's and answering the questions the author recommends and Zach Davis recommends in Appalachian Trials (my answers). Also reflect on them regularly and revisit them when you have the feeling of letting the old habits take hold, in our case when you are ready to give up on the AT.

Finally you will have a new habit, once you have 2-3 Fight Thru's under your belt. That being said it doesn't mean you are immune from backsliding or falling into old habits again but the process of staying committed will become much easier. When in this stage, beware of discouragement (days of rain), disruptions (illness), and bigheadedness (I'm too good for anything to stop me). If you run into any of these, know that you are probably going to need another 2-3 Fight Thru's to get back to a successful habit.

More than anything else we must remember this process is not going to be easy and success through great habits take daily work, they are never permanent and require constant commitment. As I continue in my preparations and the formations of new habits to help me be successful on the AT I commit to often reflecting on these points as well as revisiting and updating my own answers to the Appalachian Trial suggested questions.

-OmPi (ॐ π)

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 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 do's before the hike seems to get longer not shorter. The other day my Partner and I had a discussion on the AT venture and it went really well, so well that his position has become one of support towards this big venture. This is a huge item to have checked off my list!

One month ago to the day I also started some simple physical & mental training for the hike. This has taken the form of Yoga and personal meditation. One month ago I was a disaster with balance, posture, strength and form; today I am a little better off and discovered through this training that I really enjoy the yoga practice. To ensure I remain committed to training and moving forward on this journey I have signed up for a 30-day Yoga Challenge. The Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual benefits from Yoga are sure to help me all the more in preparing for this amazing adventure.

Finally I also managed to dust off some of my old gear and gather a few items that have collected around the house over the years to put together the beginnings of a test pack to run on the FL Trail with this hiking season. Lots still to do with gear but it was great to go through what I had and see the changes in the hiking gear world over the last 10 years.

-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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

I recently had a brush with death and that challenged me to live more in the present and live more free.
The adventure and accomplishment of hiking the Trail has been in my mind for over 10 years.
Looking at today's world of perpetual connectivity with electronics and others, I crave to disconnect and commune with nature, myself and the divine.
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.
If not NOW, then WHEN?
Nature often feels more at home, though not always as comfortable, to me.
The Trail is calling out to me, in my thoughts, my dreams, my goals and aspirations.
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 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)