Trail Wisdom

After a whole summer trekking through the Glacier Peak and Sawtooth Wildernesses, I covered about 317.5 miles of tread, and learned a few invaluable lessons in the journey.

Trail Wisdom

-The answers to most of life's questions tend to be: Up & Drink Water
-Rocks are slippery
-Logs are slippery too for that matter
-Jump in every lake and creek you can
-Camp shoes make life better
-One pot wonders can be miraculous
-Tapatio makes anything edible
-Desserts are a necessity
-Berries can make any day better
-Look at the stars when you can
-Soap is an unnecessary luxury
-It doesn't matter how much dirt you're covered in, as long as everyone around you is covered just as much as you
-Don't pee uphill
-Hike and work only during the cool parts of the day
-wear sunscreen
-Bring aloe vera just in case
-Rocks, moss or leaves are better than TP
-Watch your feet
- Always attempt the no cut method first (when dealing with logs on the trail)
-Duct tape works wonders
-Pause to enjoy the view
-Hike naked
-Never separate yourself from your lunch
-If you pack it, use it
-Sometimes it's okay to be geographically misplaced
-Use a stick when crossing creeks
-Hide in trees and tell ghost stories when thunder and lightning are overhead
-The flattest spot for a tent is usually in the middle of the trail
-Keep your camera in your pocket at all times
-Always bring a book
-Toss objects instead of passing them
-Don't sit too close to the fire
-Read alouds are awesome
-If you smile while working you get dirt in your teeth
-Any log is moveable with enough willpower
-Sunglasses are eyesavers (in snowy fields)
-Boat rides are for napping
-If you hear a noise at night, wiggle and that noise will frantically gallop away
-Hanging food is about rodents, not bears
-Both up and down are equally dreadful
-Meandering trails are best
-Making a loop is the way to go
-It is possible to trudge up
- any peak, just keep putting one foot in front of the other
-Safety naps promote productivity
-Eat icecream every chance you get
-Campfires make us feel like they keep the bugs away
-The day you don't have your raingear with you, you will get soaked
-Carry a deck of cards
-Unruly hair can live in braids for weeks quite nicely
-Don't leave camp with out shoes
-Relish the good moments
-The bad moments become good stories
-The good times become great dreams, and they are what continually call us back to the wild.