Comfort for everyone is different and comes in many forms, especially in the backcountry. Before embarking on a thru hike, it's one of the most important things to identify for your own personal well being. Whether that be a comfy pillow, two extra days of food, or confidence in gear, all of these things will help you make it through your next mile. While prepping for my thru hike of the Pacific Crest Trail I’ve found that comfort is the common denominator amongst all categories within preparation.
Here are a few things that have brought me comfort and confidence before stepping on trail:
1. Be prepared and do your research
Doing your due diligence in the research department of your thru hike is crucial. How can you be comfortable stepping onto the trail if you only know the bare minimum about what you're carrying and how you're approaching the hike itself? Simply put, you can't.
The good news is, there is so much information out there about gear, resupply strategies, budgeting, pack weight, etc. In today's world, we have so many useful outlets to pull from such as books, YouTube, personal blogs, and Facebook groups. At first, it can be overwhelming and hard to find a place to start. Try to pick one category and start there.
For example, not sure what tent to buy? Google is your best friend in this situation. Read as much as you can about each category of a thru hike and filter it based off of your personal wants in needs within that category. There are pieces of gear within your budget and preferences. Just be sure to filter out the bullshit and don’t consume too much.
Doing this with all categories brought me comfort in knowing that I have exactly what I need to cater to 'hiking my own hike.' This way, if you're caught in a rainstorm at the top of a mountain, you’ll know that your jacket will hold its own against the elements. That ten minute read can lead to stress free decisions down the road.
2. Develop a Positive Mentality
Many people say that thru hiking is ninety percent mental and although everyone's number may be different, a vast part of this commitment lies right in between your ears. This one is simple, there are two ways to view the world; positive and negative. The easy choice is the latter.
When you make the choice to embark on a journey of over a thousand miles you are going to experience some really crappy moments. There will be one hundred degree days in the desert, unexpected storms in the Sierras, and days where you can’t avoid the rain.
Remember that you made this decision to walk through the wilderness. When those moments arise, try to reinforce it with positivity. You are exactly where you should be in that moment.
There is no work, traffic, or bills to stress about. Close your eyes and breathe in the fresh, glorious mountain air. Your problems may be smaller than you are making them out to be. Sit back, smile, and enjoy the ride.
Developing this type of positive mentality before you get on trail will provide you comfort in the toughest situations you face out there.
3. Have a 'Why'
Getting on trail with concrete intentions is vital. If you genuinely do not know why you're there in the first place then you will certainly face some very tough moments of self doubt on trail. Before you go on your thru hike be sure to sit down and write down why you are doing this.
Think about the first time that the idea popped into your head to put yourself through the mental and physical test of a thru hike.
Leaving home for months and packing your life into a backpack all the whilst traversing rugged environments through a multitude of climatic environments is no small feat. It will be both mentally and physically taxing on a daily basis and in those hard moments it's useful to refer back to why you are out there in the first place.
There is no need to overthink your 'why' because each and every person that you meet out there is going to have a different one. Don't be afraid to really dig deep, think about what brings you out there, and to make it your purpose while doing so.
When that 'Oh Shit' moment arises, having your 'why' written down will make it that much easier for you to keep moving forward. This too, will comfort those inner thoughts when there is nothing but you, the mountains, and an open sky.
Summary
Implementing these tactics will help you to find bliss and comfort when out on your hike. Whenever you are feeling some self doubt or loneliness on trail, refer back to these points to help find some comfort from within. Be sure to subscribe to the blog for more tips and tricks on tackling the trail!
"Proper preparation prevents poor performance" - James Baker
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