I hope you are all recovering from the aches and pains associated with diving in to backpacking on the AT. I also hope that you have had some time to think about your experience and share it with someone else, as this sometimes helps to process.
For this blog entry, please simply write about your experience on the AT. Although I have a few various thoughts and questions that I would like you to consider and write about, please try to write your responses in a narrative format rather than using numbered and fragmented partial sentences. As you write, consider the following:
- What were your expectations before the trip?
- How did your actual experience compare?
- What can you learn from this difference or similarity between expectation and experience?
- Re-read your entry on EB, as well as the thoughts on the web pages used as resources.
- What are the actions you took to model good EB? What did you do that did not contribute to good EB? Comment on how incorporating these behaviors into your every-day routine could impact your life.
- How do you feel you performed physically?
- What factors contributed to your performance?
- What could you do to allow you to perform better next time?
- Describe how well you thought did with food planning. What were challenges you faced? Did you bring enough food? Too much food? The right kinds of food? What would you do different next time? What did you learn?
- Comment on how you thought you did with packing and loading your packs. Did you discover an efficient system? Did your packing become more efficient each time you packed? What did you learn?
- Comment on how comfortable you were during this experience. What were some strategies you learned and used to keep warm - both during the day and at night?
- Was there a moment (or moments) when you felt like you weren't having "fun"? Describe them and how you got through them.
- Finally, comment on how incorporating what you learned from this experience into your every-day routine could impact your life - both professionally and personally.
Please post your entry by 9:00 am on Friday, Nov. 21.
6 comments:
Before the trip and I was pretty sure I knew what we were getting into. I just thought it would be alittle warmer. I think that it turned out just how I expected I knew it was going to rain and sure enough it poured. I learned that next time I will bring either a better sleeping bag or warmer clothes. I think that we all did good EB. We all helped eachother and waited for eachother. We helped each other out with filling up our water bottles or even packing up in the morning which we were alittle slow for but the last day we got it down. I think that I performed it really well. Going up the hill was one of my favorite parts of the trip but it was also nice going through the moss forest. I think that it did help me out backpacking for a few weeks before and I found that it also helped breaking in my shoes because I didn’t get any blisters. I think I would do just as well next time but I just wish I didn’t get sick. I was happy with all the food I brought and I think I brought just enough. I did have alittle bit left over but I ate it on the ride home. The only thing I would do is bring a few more poptarts because eating granola bars all the time does get alittle old. I was soaked for the first two days and wearing my rain jacket made it hard for my skin to be able to breath. I got really quick cold when we stopped but that’s because I am always cold. I don’t deal well with the cold actually. At night I would use hand warmers and I found that helped me out a lot. Plus I curled up to Rachel and Sam. There was a few times that I just wanted to the rain to stop because it was making everything so cold and I wasn’t really having much fun. I think this was a good experience but if I ever did it again I would want to do it when it is warmer outside and not raining.
Samantha Sutton
Well I expected this trip to be cold and wet, which it was. However I really didn’t think I would make it because I am so out of shape, but it wasn’t that bad. Well except for when I didn’t eat that one day and I got all shaky and thought I was about to die on the really long steep hill, then Dana making me eat a bunch of salt… I don’t really thing that helped too much, but it’s the thought that counts. Well I learned that I’m not as out of shape as I thought, but I still am…I actually need to do something about that soon. But other than that I know I really can’t handle the cold, and I’m really scared about the Katahdin trip. Well Scott I actually don’t think I helped any one out too much at all. I was more worried about myself, I was way too cold, wet, I was sick, I’m not in the best shape, and I kept falling everywhere. I know that sounds shellfish but I was useless to everyone, I could barely help myself, let alone other people. However I did try to keep a good attitude, it was just so cold… I can’t take it. Again I think I did slightly better than I thought I would physically, however I wasn’t all that in shape. But that’s my fault because I don’t really work out anymore or anything. I went away to college last year and got a lot fatter and out of shape. And I would really like to start getting into shape because you just feel better overall when you’re in shape, and I think this trip was a good jumpstart into doing that, however I also will be starting work soon so time will be an issue. You know I brought a bunch of food I really just didn’t want to eat, and when I came back I still had a lot of food left over from the trip. Next time I will bring food I like to eat. I think I packed fine from the beginning, everything I needed while hiking was usually right handy. I actually think my pack was packed depending on how cold I was that morning. If I was really cold I just threw everything in and left, and if I were somewhat warm then it was packed nice. I was uncomfortable the whole trip, and I didn’t have any strategies…that’s why I was uncomfortable. I defiantly wasn’t having fun on the steep hill and I got through it one step at a time, then fell on a big rock and laid there for awhile. This experience just showed me I need to get into shape, especially if I want to be a personal trainer. Nobody will hire a fat personal trainer.
Dana Marble:
Well now that it's all over I can lie and say what a wonderful time I had, how I loved two days of rain and what terrific shape was in physically.
The truth is I could have been in much better shape physically especially the second day. It rained all day
and it was a steady uphill climb, my right knee and leg gave me a lot of problems and at the end of the day I was exhausted.
The third day was the best. Brad, myself, and Rachel took a wrong turn and realized our mistake and started back. Rachel noticed a mistake at the sign marker but Brad and I didn't pick up on it. We met Ben at the fork in the trail. After that things smoothed out the rest of the day. Reducing the weight of my pack made a great deal of difference. To me that was the best EB of the entire trip, I wish I could in some way return the favor.
Certain members of the group stood out. In my mind it was Casey and Ben. They were always out ahead with a certain bounce to their step while I was just trying to keep up. Sam and Robin were also always out ahead even when it was evident that they were both sick. Rachel and Brad did well too, they were never far behind. I know Rachel had blisters after the first day but never complained.
As for food planning and loading my pack, there was room for improvement but overall I am satisfied. I am glad that my sleeping bag was warm, it allowed a good night sleep. It's difficult to get the rest you need if you are cold at night.
The clothing I took was just right. I was able to layer up and stay warm when we stopped and was able to strip down to keep from sweating on the trail.
Overall it was a good experience. I had fun even when I definately wasen't having fun.
I had this idea that the hundred mile wilderness didn’t have many big peaks. But it seemed like there were going to be some pretty significant ones on our leg. I was a little surprised we only went as far as we did, but still enjoyed seeing what that part of the trail had in store. Also, the comparison between what was on the topographic map and how steep our actual ascents or descents gave me a better idea of what those contour lines actually represent on map. Hiking the whole 100 mile wilderness is something I would like to do some day, and I think this hike gave me a better idea of what I was up against. And having a group of people I was able to see a little EB in action. I got to take some extra weight off of Dana’s pack to save his knees a little. I offered cider or hot water to people, and was offered food as well. And although the weather was bad I don’t think I was particularly dismal or negative. I wouldn’t say I had an amazing time, but I didn’t mind the experience and was not bothered by it. I suppose this is something I could just do in everyday life when the opportunity arises. And in general I try to stay positive in most circumstances. I think I was fine physically for the trip, I had been hitchhiking to or from school or to Fredericton, and biking around town to get groceries, or mail. The only thing I did not do was practice hiking with a 40 pound pack. I think next time Im going to hop on a stairmaster with 40lbs. on for some more serious training. I thought the food planning I did was done well, I did not eat everything I brought with me though. Also the actual schedule of meals was not followed precisely, I kind of just thought about it day to day on the trip, I really just ate what I felt like. Packing was some what of a pain, the sleeping bag barely fits into the bottom compartment, and I couldn’t seem to keep the stuff I was packing from moving around, it just sort of ended up where it wanted to. And some of the stuff fit but awkwardly. I time I felt like I wasn’t having much fun was when I woke up cold the last morning in my sleeping bag, I didn’t like being cold, I had to layer up some more. Every other night I slept plenty and got plenty of food. Walking back wasn’t that much fun either, but at least the skies were somewhat clear, the woods had a different look to them.
I think the experience in general got me to realizing how easy we have it in our homes. The common everyday things are actually quite luxurious compared to what we had going on out there. It will help me to appreciate the simple things even more. And I have become more proficient in living with less, which has a good carryover value.
well..i really cant comment on anything that you have asked to discuss but i can say that when i packed my pack the first time i rolled up all my clothes and them put them in the bottom of my pack standing up. it seemed to have enough room yet my sleeping bag wasnt in it. the way i packaged the food was pretty good to i think i took all the food out of the packages and put them all in their own individual bags and sealed them up with a little bit of oil. my bagels i took and put in the vaccum sealer so the got compacted down to nothing.
Casey Ryder
i had a good Idea of what was to come on this trip. I had been prepparing myself physicaly and mentaly and it sure payed off. the way the wheather was made the trip the way it was and it turned out no different then what i thought. my equipment all proved itself worthy and that made me very happy. especially the sleeping bag wich kept me warm the entire time. I was pretty happy with the eb that was going on during the trip and I think our group works very well together. everyone was whillin to offer a helping hand. I feel like i out did myself hiking I didnt think id have it in me to keep on going an going. My pack wasnt to heavy and I feel like I packed well wouldnt change much except maybe less food next time as I didnt finish it all. but all in all it was an awesome trip andd I cant wait for katahdin.
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