Here is my day in the life of an Appalachian Trail Hiker. (early 1970s, Part 1 of 6)
Apologies to Colin Fletcher’s typical day Backpacking.
Multiple similarities exist while differences are also numerous. Here is a summary of a “typical” day on the AT. No day is really typical, although once you get into the groove of long-distance backpacking there are things that take place frequently. Of course, the weather has a great impact on the day since waking up to rain means something different and that late afternoon thunderstorm means something else. Freezing temperatures change conditions too. So, let’s get on with the day.
Something stirs as you begin to wake. Most often, for me, it is the sound. Birds, peepers, rustling of the leaves are some of the first things for me to sense. As my brain tries to focus on the sound, I become more conscious.
After hearing, the sense of touch awakens, and I feel the temperature in the sleeping bag that is just perfect. I then pull out my arm from the sleeping bag to scratch my head, shoulder or whatever. I shift a bit in the sleeping bag and realize I am on the ground or maybe the wood floor of the lean-to.
Then often It is the light. Or perhaps the lack of it, depending on the time of sunrise. If you are facing east, the rising glow of the sun begins to lighten the surrounding campsite and if you open your eyes, the gradual awareness of the features around you will bring you to full consciousness.
I become aware of my mouth and after a night of open mouth sleeping and probably much to the displeasure of my campmates, snoring, I reach for my water bottle to get a swig of water to wash the morning mouth away.
Smell is basically ignored, since all hikers at this point smell the same, as the campfire smell on your clothes add to the BO. Ole Time Woodsman insect repellent was favored by my southern AT hiking companion Pete, and I would frequently comment on the strength of the dosage!
But it is also the time when your body is the most comfortable. Overnight, you have finally settled on the perfect position; your side, back or like me on my stomach with my right arm up and my cloth pillowcase stuffed with my extra clothes comforting my head. And I am the perfect temperature. My Slimline down sleeping bag is perfect for 20 to 50 degrees. Anything warmer I just sleep in my American Youth Hostel nylon bed liner; colder makes me sleep in more clothes and maybe a hat.
So, it was the perfect combination of temperature and position that keeps you in bed. Finally, my bladder says it is time to get up. If I am not truly ready to get up, I scamper away from the sleeping bag to pee, and hurry back to the protection of my mummy bag. But more likely, I get up and stay up since the shock of air on my bare skin wakes me up.
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