Every year around December or January, I start to get antsy for the trail. Days are dark and cold and I think about, with euphoric recollection, last summer’s hike and completely forget about how hot and miserable I was. I forget about the mosquitoes and the poison oak. Foot pain, blisters, chafe, and sunburn are a distant memory. All I want to do is hike!
I have come up with come coping mechanisms over the years (I’ll be honest, most of them actually make me want to hike more). But, here are a few ideas that I think are better than just lurking on hiker Facebook pages:
1. Read Trauma and Pepper’s Blogs
Trauma and Pepper are a couple of accomplished long distance hikers and ski-tourers who are thru-hiking the PCT right NOW! It is the first time that this has been attempted in the winter, and it seems miserable! This winter, whenever I miss hiking, I think about how cold, wet, and uncomfortable these guys are and I feel a little better about being home.
Trauma’s blog: http://www.justinlichter.com/
Pepper’s blog: http://shawnforry.com/
2. Create a Hikertrash Meet-Up Group in Your Town
Another way I get through the winter is by meeting up with other hikers. A few years ago, when I moved to Bend, OR, I put together a group on Facebook for long distance hikers in Bend. Since then, our group has grown to over 40! We meet up at least once a month for food, beer, and good conversation (once, we even went hiking). Through the various Facebook groups, you should be able to connect with people in your town who you don’t even know. It’s fun!
3. Watch Trail Movies
Watching hiking documentaries about the trail helps scratch that itch in the long winter months, too! Jester and Squatch (I like “Even More Walking”, since I am in it) make hilarious movies that highlight the various unique personalities on the trail. I really enjoyed Tell it on the Mountain, a well-done documentary about the PCT. Also, a little search on YouTube or Vimeo with the name of your favorite trail is bound to bring up something interesting.
Oh, and there is Wild and A Walk in the Woods in the movie theaters.
UPDATE: Enter to win a digital download of Tell it on the Mountain by commenting below before January 1st.
4. Catch Up on “The Trail Show” Podcasts
If you don’t know about The Trail Show podcasts, you should look them up. It’s a podcast about long distance hiking. Each free episode features a different long trail (and a beer) and they discuss hiker current events. It’s great to have on in the background while you…
5. Make Awesome Meals For Your Next Hike
This is also the time of year that I start doing projects at home. Because my world revolves around food and hiking, I often find myself putting together some yummy trail meals in the winter. I start by dehydrating cheese, meat, and sauces and ordering freeze-dried vegetables. Find some of my recipes on this blog by clicking on the “Food” category at the left.
Make them up, sample them, adjust the recipe, and package them for summer!
6. Read Trail Books
Last, but not least, get swept away in someone else’s adventures. I am reading Becoming Odyssa: Adventures on the Appalachian Trail and Hikertrash: Life on the Pacific Crest Trail. Both are well-written and fun, and happen to be written by women. Or, read Trailjournals, such as mine here about the PCT!
From today on, the days get longer til summer!
hummingbird said:
I love reading your blog… I learn something new and cool every time! Thanks for the mention too 🙂
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tarahowse said:
Sweet! Thanks for book, blog, and video suggestions!
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Tracks said:
Awesome blog. Makes me wish I was out hiking.
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TheHikingTree said:
Tracks, my dog picked your name:
Check your junk mail and respond to me, and I will get you the movie!
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ericwiz7923 said:
I’m guilty of all of these. No shame!
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ericwiz7923 said:
I’m guilty of all of these things. No shame!
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Jennifer Reisch said:
Really enjoying your blog and needing it to fight off these hiker blues. Mahalo!
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Will said:
Few years ago I went even further than any of these and went to new Zealand to hike the Te Araroa trail. Was a great way to beat the winter blues.
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TessGoneWild said:
Good stuff, Thank you!
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Jo Someday Swanson said:
The maps I got for Christmas are helping me get through this dark time. Thanks for the other ideas! 🙂
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TheHikingTree said:
Thanks everyone who liked and commented and got entered into the drawing for a free copy of Tell it on the Mountain! Tracks and John Z. got picked by random drawing (by my dog). https://thehikingtreeblog.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/winners-of-tell-it-on-the-mountain/
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Sometimes She Travels said:
Great suggestions! I just put “High Sierra: A Journey on the John Muir Trail” on my movie watchlist. I am fortunate to live in an area where I can do beautiful day-hiking all year round but long to get back to the Camino de Santiago, which I walked last year.
Looking forward to reading your posts from the trail!
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