1. How hard is it to sleep on the trail? Obviously this is different for everyone, but does the cold or wet or noise keep a lot of people from sleeping well? Does anyone use earplugs at night? Obviously this would present a SAFETY issue... one might want to HEAR what is going on around you at night, BUT a few nights of poor sleep leading to exhaustion ALSO present a safety issue! What is your experience?
For me, easy in a hammock. Although I'm not too bad on an insulated BA mat either. I'm not cold
if I'm prepared. I usually sleep better on the trail than at home.
I don't tend to take earplugs, bug have friends who do - if you're bothered by others noise you
may want them for in a campsite.
2. After eliminating bodily wastes, how do you get clean? I mean, if one is not showering daily, things could get really UNCOMFORTABLE down there... dare I use the word "itchy." Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about; toilet paper does not get one as clean as soap and water if you know what I mean. And your hands... what is the best way to really clean them after the business end is done?
For me, I take a few baby wipes.
Take TP and wipes to privy - Go. wipe with tp. Take baby wipe, wash hands a bit if you want, then clean backside with baby wipe. deal with the TP and baby wipe appropriately. then once leaving
privy, a dab of alcohol gel (if carried) or a little touch of alcohol stove fuel.
3. What happens when your gear gets wet? Say one is on a longer hike, walking for a couple of days in heavy rain, setting up camp, packing up, unfortunate little leaks in the tent or bag... I can imagine everything getting pretty much SOAKED. What do you do besides start to lose your mind or walk off the trail?
If stuff gets wet, I get wet. I don't melt <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Seriously, if you're getting your sleeping bag wet, you're not in practice. Sure, occasionally
you can get a little wet, and if so, you dry it out. probably not SOAKED.- The only time
I've gotten my sleeping bag wet was a full on spill in a river crossing where my whole pack
went in with me.. But yes, in such a situation you might have to walk off the trail if
you couldn't dry off.
As for wet clothing, I just wear it till it dries, or hang it up at night, or both..
4. I met a throughhiker on the AT (in MA - Beartown State Park area) in August while I was on a dayhike. He was clean shaven! I know beards aren't mandatory, but I wondered if he shaved regularly and if so, what water he used. I didnt think to ask him... we chatted about the usual things.
Not hard to shave with minimal water, I don't.
5. Do you "bathe" in streams, ponds, or lakes? Obviously, traditional soap is frowned upon because of its environmental aspect. What do you use? Do you worry about being interrupted while trying to get clean?
Sometimes. depending on the location and the water. I usually don't use any sort of soap, You'd
be surprised how pleasantly clean you can scrub out a pair of polypro underwear and socks off
on a rock and scrub yourself down with them. If I'm truly filthy I may pre-wash my underwear
and myself in my pot with a little campsuds and discard the water appropriately.
More often than "taking a bath" in lakes and ponds, I just do a little "underwear and sock" laundry
in my pot, and scrub myself down at the same time.
No, I don't worry about being interrupted, but others might not like the scenery if they do <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
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