The Tale of the Lone Traveler

As a man who isn't too phased by the notion that one could travel alone for an entire week on the Appalachian Trail, the notion struck me that others may not feel the same way as I do about solo travel.

So I decided to take it upon myself to venture out into the Athens population (and beyond) to find out the general concensus on the issue.

Before I did this, I wanted to make sure that I myself was in tune with the practice of solo travel, before I went asking others about it. I surfed the web to find out some information, and was inundated with facts and tips about the solo traveler.

Steve Gillman, an outdoorsman author, gives great tips and reasons why solo backpacking is such a great experience.

The main point of Gillman's article is the fact that being alone allows you the opportunity to not worry about the general hassle of other people. Finding people to go with, having to share food ,etc.

Though others go for a more specific reason, self discovery. As mentioned in one of my first blog posts, Vision Quests are a way in which Native American boys ventured out alone in the wilderness to become a man.

To some, this notion may be a bit on the 'nutty' side. Though after talking to several people on the street, I was able to find a distinct gender opinionated difference.

Chris Wagner, a junior classics major in the Honors Tutorial College said, "Doing that is just so...manly! I don't know how to put it any other way. Being alone, survival, I mean I love Bear Grylls to death man. It's just gutsy and cool."

John Petro, a sophomore accounting major said, "It's all about the adventure, having to rely on yourself and nobody there to help you. You are like a warrior."

While the men that I managed to interview were more impressed with the notion of solo backpacking the Appalachian Trail, the women had a more 'motherly instinct' type of response.

"You're kidding right?," Patricia Roberts, a junior biology major said. "You know you could die out there. Are you bringing a cell phone? (No reception) I cannot believe your parents are letting you go! (Mom isn't)."

Amanda Hawkins, a junior journalism major, shared the same opinion. "You really should bring a friend, wouldn't you get bored anyway? You have first-aid? (yes) Flashlight? (yes) Enough food? (yes) Cell-phone (again, no service) Well this just isn't a good idea it sounds like."

I called back up the backpacking tour guide, Ethan Wall, who I talked to in my last blog post, to see what he thought of this gender gap.

"Women can't handle it. I don't know why, but they can't. It's the motherly instinct I guess. Guys want to go out there, show their braun to mother nature and get out. Women, they want to share it with friends, so I really don't know, man," Wall said.

I brought a group of close friends over to sample some freeze dried spaghetti and meatballs that I am testing out before I go out backpacking, and to view the film, 'Into the Wild.' The video is about Christopher McCandless, a solo traveler who hiked out into the Alaskan wilderness because of a qualm with society, only to end up dead. Here is the preview of the movie and some reactions from viewers, a gender difference in opinion is evident here as well.



Jesse Neader, a junior studying public advocacy said, "The guy had real guts, you have to hand it to him. He had a problem, and he tried to go out there and find it. He ended up killing himself, but he went out with a purpose."

Beth Mohr, a junior studying political science disagreed. "A purpose? What did he prove other than he was an idiot? He went out, trapped himself and died, end of story."

Giffin White, a junior mechanical engineering major said, "I mean you are right, but the story he left behind is his 'man-ness'. How badass was it when he killed that moose by himself. I would have crapped my pants if I was in the woods alone by myself at night. This guy is legendary."

Overall, the view on solo travel definitely has a distinct differentiation depending on what sex you talk to. Males most likely will see the opportunity as a way for a guy to express his inner 'mojo', while females will see anyone wanting to do this as an idiotic buffoon.

I talked to Justin Kleckner, a outdoor employee at Dick's Sporting Goods in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to get a final word.

"I get tons of people a year coming out to the store saying they are going by themselves. Most of the time it doesn't happen, but to me it's fine. As long as you are well prepared there is no worry. Especially on the Appalachian Trail, hundreds of people walk that thing a day, you are bound to run into somebody if you need help."

Kleckner went on to talk about incidents happening to both people who backpack in groups, or solo, but added finally, "It's a different experience when you are alone. The wild is different, the air is different, the night is...and when you are out there you are too. Just get ready to meet a new side of yourself, man."

I'm ready.

Best Travels,
Matthew

Farewell Advice

I tried calling up various stores to get someone to tell me a few last tidbits of advice before I set out on my backpacking adventure in a week, but the only people I could manage to get ahold of really knew nothing about backpacking, just the products they sold.

So I decided to resort to the friend circle, asking around if anybody knew of an "expert backpacker" that I could talk to for an hour or so. Wouldn't you know, a friend from Penn State (Mt. Alto Campus) had a friend who is on the Outdoorsman Team at their school (you know the guys you see on ESPN chopping down huge trees in just a couple of minutes? Yeah that is him).

He gave me his phone number, and before I knew it Ethan Wall was telling me all about how he was going to be creating trails in the Allegheny Forest and leading backpacking trips all summer as an internship.

He talked for about an hour regarding himself before he paused finally, realizing that the whole point of the conversation was to help me out.

Here are the main points that Wall told me to keep in mind when backpacking. "Nothing else is really going to matter to you out there...," he started:

A.) You aren't even going to be thinking about girls. Something about the wild brings out the survival man in you, and sex is going to be the last thing on your mind. ("Thanks person I have known for an hour...")

B.) Breakfast should be nothing more than a cup of hot tea, coffee and some granola, you can't weigh yourself down. Lunch is on the go, no time for stopping if you want to get a lot done, so trail mix and nuts it is. Dinner is the only time you should be sitting down to eat. That's when you'll pull out your freeze dried feast and dig in. Don't let them fool you though, that shit doesn't feed two if your a man. ("I hope I'm 'man' enough to eat it all..."

C.)Clean your damn water. Two things will ruin your trip, well three, your feet, water and head. We'll talk about the other two later. You need a water purifier, or tablets. Pop those suckers in there and you are good to go. Drink a lot though.

D.) Now for the other two. Your feet need to be taken care of. Do you have hiking shoes? Good. Break those puppies in. Clothes too, clothes can be bad. DO NOT WEAR COTTON! That will hold all its weight in water. Wear that Under-Armour stuff. Feels nice. Keep the scabs off of your feet and change socks frequently. Keep your head in the game too. Don't get all wimpy half-way through. Nobody likes a wimp. ("Good thing I'm going alone..."

E.) Last, bring a notepad. Anything that you think of that you are going to need for next time, write down.

With that, Wall hung up the phone abruptly after saying that he needed to run to practice. His grizzly attitude really got me excited and nervous for this trip both at the same time.

My next post will be discussing the thoughts of others on solo travel, hope that some of the 'wise' words of Ethan Wall touched you guys as well.

Best Travels,
Matthew

Community

Photo Courtesy of virginiaplaces.org

One reason that the Appalachian Trail is so famous is the the way in which it forces its travelers to become close to one another.

Hikers are required to stay in the designated camping areas along the trail, which are spaced out anywhere from 5-9 miles apart.

One reason that I am excited to spend some time alone on the trail is the because I will be allowed to tag along with different groups, couples or single backpackers who are on their own excursion.

It is almost comparable to the new online phenomenon, ChatRoulette.com, where visitors are paired up with a total stranger to either 'next,' or chat a bit with.

While the chance that your 'stranger' in the shelter may be a serial killer, (two female hikers were killed in January, 2003 in Shenandoah National Park) most often hikers are friendly and willing to even lend you food or other supplies if need be.

Bill Bryson, author of the novel "A Walk in the Woods", talks about the friends that he met on the trail being the friendliest people that he has run into. One story that he tells circles around a solo hiker that followed him and his partner for nearly fifty miles of the trail.

While Bryson describes the girl as "thoroughly annoying", he tells the reader of how much of an asset she was with her advice and all of the food she lent out.

Overall, these shelters to me will be a way to discover a different aspect of American culture. Being able to see complete strangers interact (whether positively or negatively) will give me a really unique perspective on how the breed of 'backpackers' are in general.

I look forward to the experience, and hope that I don't run into any 'creepers' along the way. What do you guys think ,will mace suffice?

All of the Appalachian Trail shelters are cataloged online, where their coordinates are mapped out precisely for any hiker to pick and choose their hiking schedule for the day, I will definitely be taking advantage of this!

Best Travels,
Matthew

Altered State

I had a mild run-in with the health police over the last couple of days, so this blog post mildly circles around that time frame. Initially Hudson Health Center here in Athens, Ohio thought that I was a diabetic, after sending me to the Emergency Room at O'Blenness, it was quickly discovered that my appendix was the culprit, and I was immediately given morphine to help with the pain.

In my outrageous drug-induced state of weirdness, I sat and pondered my blog of all things. To begin with, I feel that delving into the background of the Appalachian Trail was due quite some time ago.

The Bricks to Bears blog will from henceforth take a new direction, one that is more informative and investigative in content. I feel that the topic of backpacking is one that can be much more analyzed, and you as readers deserve to know the ins and outs of the trail.

So for this post I will be giving you a background on the Appalachian Trail to start anew with the Bricks to Bears blog. I hope that you guys will take interest, for it is a topic that in many ways can define our history as a nation.

The trail, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, is 2,175 miles in length, stretching from Georgia all the way up to Maine. Benton McKaye brought up the idea of the trail in 1921 as a way for Americans to enjoy the outdoors of America from the top of our country to the bottom.

The trail is privately managed through the national parks of the United States, and crosses over six of our national parks. The trail touches fourteen states, houses more than 2,000 occurrences of rare, threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant and animal species at about 535 sites.

Nearly thirty trail clubs care for the Appalachian Trail, with the majority of the care coming from volunteers.

As of right now, approximately 10,000 people have reported finishing the trail, with the record of time being 48 days 20 hours and 11 minutes.

I hope that this can be just the start of many interesting blog posts. For more information regarding fun facts, or other information check out the conservancy!

Hope that all is well, but for now the medicine is kicking in and I need to get some rest!

Best Travels,
Matthew

Bricks to Bears Map: Finding Adventure in Athens and the Surrounding Area

Hey Guys,

Here's a map that I have created using Google Maps, it is a quick and easy way to point out destinations that you find interest in! These are stores, parks, trails and rec centers that are bound to bring our your inner wild! Hope you enjoy!


View Finding the Wild in Athens and the Surrounding Area! in a larger map

Food for Thought

Naturally, extensive physical activity of any sort requires you to replenish your body's nutrients. For example, it is recommended that marathon runners consume at least twenty fluid ounces of replenishing fluid (such as Gatorade or Powerade), along with a Gel Pack.

The same goes for backpackers. Even though you are not going nearly the speed of any type of runner, because of the extensive amount of weight that you are carrying, it is essential that you refuel your body. This can be done in a variety of fashions.

Keep in mind the bladder that I showed you both in the photo slideshow, and also my video exclusive. Keeping hydrated is number one priority. Dehydration is one of the nastiest things to deal with, especially if alone.

It is recommended that you consume 100 fluid ounces of water in a single day. Here are some more stats for you in regards to liquid consumption and how to pick your own bladder out!

Remember, there are no vending machines or water fountains in the forest, so using your natural resources is your only alternative. Invest in a water purification system or tablets. For both, I would recommend purchasing at a professional store such as REI.

Also, while liquid consumption is essential, so is food. As stated in my video blog post, trail mix and granola might get you through the night, but not more than a couple of days comfortably.

Freeze-dried food is the next best thing on the menu, and here is my piece of advice: DO NOT BUY FROM CAMPING STORES.

For the love of god, if you listen to any advice I give you let it be now. Wal-Mart, Target and even K-Mart sell the stuff for a third of the price that you would buy at a professional retailer. The stuff is easy to prepare. Most often it involves you boiling a cup or two of water and shaking it up in the bag provided.

Those were just a few easy tips on how to keep your body happy when on the trail, snacking on trail mix and granola while hiking is a good way to curb hunger as well. Hope you all are staying adventurous!

Best Travels,
Matthew

Bricks to Bears Video Exclusive!

Video Blog Exclusive!

Hello Fellow Travelers,

I had a perfect video exclusive for you guys to view this weekend, but the MPEG files went haywire when trying to import the footage. The document followed me prepping for a trip and hiking out to the Hocking to set up my campground. Hopefully later I will find the necessities to allow the file to load! Sorry for the inconvenience travelers, hope that all is well!

Best Travels,

Matthew

Battling Jack Frost

As of late, eastern America has been inundated with snow storms up and down the coast. Keeping this in mind, one must be reasonably prepared for foul weather if you plan on doing any outdoor activity, whether this be overnight or not.

The first step to keep warm overnight is to find your prey. Usually a grizzly bear or large moose will do the job. A single bullet to the spine or temple will usually take care of it, and once it is dead cut its stomach open, climb in and close yourself in to use as a sleeping bag.

How many people believed me?

On a more serious note, keeping warm in outdoor cold weather really is important when exploring the wilderness. Here are some helpful hints and products to consider when browsing merchandise.

Chiff is an extremely useful website that gives tips and strategies to keeping warm overnight. The most useful tip that I can offer is to not automatically resort to fire.

Most state parks do not allow self made fires, especially in un-designated areas. By simply making sure that your body is not exposed to wind, you can dramatically increase your body temperature.

Some campers will make the mistake of leaving their tents unzipped to get that 'fresh-air' experience. Bad idea.

One, bears will smell both your body odor, as well as your food. Second, by the time you fall asleep, the temperature outside will most likely drop far below what it was when you dozed off, allowing for sickness to creep in unnoticed.

I would also recommend Greatland's self-inflating floor mat, which adds an extra ten degrees fareinheit to your body when you sleep on it. Greatland is a great brand, and has awesome prices on all of its equipment.

One last piece of advice that I would recommend would be to invest in not only the obvious extra layers, but light ones. Micro-Fiber, such as Under-Armour apparel will be light as a feather, but will also keep you extremely warm. Something to consider when you run into unexpected weather. The clothes are extremely compactable, so they are easy to store if you feel you are too warm.

That's all for now fellow travelers, hope your travels are not only enjoyable and safe now, but also warm!

Best Travels,
Matthew

Lesson Learned

Here is a little bit of helpful advice for today. If you want to try and immitate those Discovery Channel 'survivor-men" like Bear Grylls and the "Survivor Man"...think again, because the idea is terrible.

I woke up bright and early at 8 a.m. to go for yet another training expedition for my backpacking trip this Spring Break on the Appalachian Trail. Today's exercise was twenty 'suicide' sprints up the moutain across the street from the Ohio University Golf Course.

The inclement weather makes it an especially good exercise, because the patches of snow and loose rubble that you have to avoid makes a great shock to your muscles, which is exactly what your body needs to develop and strengthen muscle.

Anyway, I set up my $400 Canon Powershot camera that I got for Christmas just last year on a tripod at the base of the hill. I got a short intro and started my exercises, but today, I was not the only one looking to do suicides.

As I was trotting down to start my fifth set, I notice out of the corner of my eye what I believe to be a small animal flipping down the snow. Was it a small animal? No, of course not. IT WAS MY CAMERA!

I chased after the equipment, only to find it cracked and wet at the very bottom of the hill.

I couldn't do anything much but stand their in disbelief. How could I have been so stupid? Not only had my teacher suggested that we take a partner with us to film, but my girlfriend had made that very offer before I left!

"Oh, no," I said. That would have been too safe!

Overall the workout turned out to be a failed attempt. I was too sick to my stomach after the incident and decided to call it quits for the day. I've been looking on ebay for a new camera to potentially hide the event from my parents, but we'll see how that turns out!

So to all of you bloggers out their that wish to use multimedia like I wanted to this week, here's a piece of advice.

Don't take an expensive camera out into the forest, set it up on a tripod...on an incline...that is wet...piled with unstable rubble...and icy, leave it there by itself and expect it to be okay. Give it a second or two of thought...unlike me.

Best Travels,
Matthew

Using Your Resources!

I've decided to use this blog to inform all of you in cyberland, particularly those who go to Ohio University, about how to use your area to immerse yourself in the world of the great outdoors.

Here at Ohio University, one of the greatest resources that we have as outdoor fanatics is Outdoor Pursuits.

Outdoor Pursuits hosts anything from lessons on how to climb a rock wall, to attaining your scuba diving certification. The main attribute that Outdoor Pursuits highlights in their department is their "Challenge Course."

The program allows you to bring yourself and a group of friends, team or organization to partake in a 'team building' exercice of sorts. I have personally taken part in this challenge course with a service fraternity, and I can say that the experience is definitely worth while.

As a group you have to get sweaty, dirty and plunge into the wild and complete this obstacle course as a team, and it definitely brings you together. The climbing segment of the course offers the following as part of its program:

Scouts Climbing Workshop Outline
-Climbing Basics
Ropes/knots/equipment
Climbing commands
Belaying
-Climbing techniques/skills
-Practice climbing skills
-Practice belay skills
-Rappel Basics
Knots/equipment
Safety equipment
Technique
-Practice rappel skills

Another way for Athens residents to get in touch with a more 'nature-filled' side of life, would be to visit any of the camping grounds in the area. Strouds Run State Park, Lake Snowden and Lake Hope State Park are three beautful areas for community members to take advantage of.
Old Man's Cave is also a relatively close drive away, and sports gorgeous camping trails and glimpes of nature.

I hope that all of this information comes to use for you, and be ready for an upcoming video post that will give you a glimpse deeper into the world of the outdoorsman.

Best Travels,

Matthew

Backpacking Supplies!

Being Polite for...the Birds?

When setting out to explore the unknown, one might think that it wouldn't necessarily be essential for you as a hiker to be polite.
Little do most people know, but trail etiquette is one of the most important criteria to pay attention to.

One website that provides readers with the majority of trail etiquette rules at clubtread website. Here are a few examples that the website provides just to highlight some of the main points.

•Try to create as little waste as possible.
•As a general rule, pack out ALL garbage.
•Try not to expand or create new trails around problems areas such as mud. This tends to create a wide area which is damaged.
•Where there are multiple options consider which one results in the least environmental impact.
•When off trail, try to minimize the damage to vegetation (including moss and lichens).
•Don't depend on a fire for cooking. Backpacking stoves are small, light and efficient - far better than fires for cooking.
•Never build fires in fragile areas, especially alpine areas.
•Never take food into your tent.
•Keep the campsite clean - avoid food spills & spreading food smells.

One of the main reasons that backpacking is such an incredible experience is the fact that you get to experience our world as it is naturally intended. It would be unfair to other hikers just because you are too lazy to pick up your food wrappers or other disposable supplies.

We have to remember that as a species, we were not the first to inhabit this land. I watched a documentary on the History Channel that simmered our planet's existence down to a mere 24 hours. Our attendance as humans on this planet...one minute.

To think of the time that we have actually been here, in relation to how much time it has taken for our planet to develop, only two words can describe the job that we have done taking care of earth: pretty crappy.

Hopefully everyone keeps this in mind when setting out on the trails of America, and respsects the land we tread while it still is treadable.

Best Travels,
Matthew

Your Body: The Main Tool

As stated in my last blog, there are many essential supplies to consider when wanting to tackle a feat such as the Appalachian Trail. Though one element that most do not consider until it may be too late may be more obvious than it is given credit for: your body.
You may have the best hiking shoes, best tent, best pack and best walking stick, but if your body cannot handle the rigourous highs and lows of the trail...the rest is rendered useless.
I heard a story once of a man who spent nearly two grand on supplies, planned on hiking the entire length of the trail, and only made it twenty miles before hitchhiking to the nearest motel and crying to his wife to come get him.
Bill Bryson, author of the novel "A Walk in the Woods," tells of his Appalachian adventure, and how he ran into a traveler who didn't make it ten miles because she had not broken in her hiking shoes before setting out on the trail.
Mistakes such as these can ruin a hiker's time in less than a day, sometimes within the hour. The point of the trail is to enjoy nature at its bare state, not worry about having to constantly re-bandage your feet because the blisters are unbearable to walk on.
The blisters dilemma is simple, just wear your shoes around. I've been wearing my Columbia shoes around campus to classes and the store. I even went for a jog with them on for around half an hour.
Also, back pains are a constant trouble for most amateur backpackers. Ping Center is a great place to get your body in fighting shape, or in this case, hiking shape.
Your pack will weigh you down anywhere from fifty to even seventy five pounds, depending on how smart you pack (we'll get to that on another date) so having a firm back is essential.
Doing crunches on a simple yoga mat, or the stationary machines at our recreation center here on campus will greatly help your lower back's endurance.
While upper body exercies may not be necessary, shoulder presses will help you to not get sore shoulders carrying the pack as well.
What is necessary is lower body exercises. Strengthening your quads, calves and thighs (all of which have a special machine at Ping Center that targets that area of the body) is vital.
You will hate yourself within one day if you don't prepare yourself. It would be a shame for you to be cursing at your bloody feet or sore knees instead of gazing off of a cliffside onto a gorgeous untouched backdrop of wilderness. That is, in the end, what will make it worth it.

Best Travels,
Matthew

Being Prepared: The Essentials

I received a High Sierra Standard backpacking backpack and a Dick's Sporting Goods store brand sleeping bag that is 40 degrees farenheit resistant for Christmas this year, along Columbia brand hiking shoes to use on my adventure.
As I laid out my three gifts, and while i'm very grateful for what I received, I stared hesitantly at the long list I had come up with for my trip that still needed checked off.
Hiking socks, tent, water purifier, backpack bladder, firestarters, compass, stove, food to make on the stove...the list is seemingly endless, and as I perused online stores, I quicky realized that the fifty dollar gift card to REI that my girlfriend's mom gave me for Christmas wouldn't put a dent into what I needed.
From this I offer a piece of advice. Borrow. Borrow anything you can. For me, this hiking trip isn't going to be something that I plan on doing every weekend, so I took it upon myself to ask around for supplies. I received a tent and water purifier from my friend back in Pennsylvania, dishes, a sleeping pad, bladder and compass from my girlfriend's brother, and poncho, along with other water protection gear from an interested professor.
That knocked literally four hundred dollars worth of supplies off of my list in just a couple of hours of phone calls.
I will still need a lot more thank I have attained, but the monetary value of what i've saved is very worth the effort.
In Athens I have visited Rocky Mountain Boots Outlet, which yielded no purchases. Unless you are looking for hunting, or shoeware, the backpacker will not be happy with the selection in Nelsonville.
On the other hand, The Pedaler and the Packer, on Richland Avenue is a great store to shop at for the backpacker's needs. Be warned, shoppers need to know their stuff before entering! The amateur shopper such as myself won't necessarily get the best treatment.
All in all, if you are in Athens, the most recommended stores (from my point of view), would either be Dunham's Sports on East State, or The Pedaler and the Packer on Richland Avenue. Good luck with your prepping folks!

Best Travels,
Matthew

The Decision: Venturing into the Appalachian Wilderness

My idea to hike the Appalachian Trail sparked from a conversation with my grandmother, who often takes it upon herself to educate me on my native american heritage. We argued for a while about the value of the youth today and how work ethic, manners and the idea of 'pride for one's own self' was passed on from tribe generation to tribe generation
Vision Quests are a Native American 'rite of passage' tradition similar to that of the Spartans. It goes like this. You send the child into the wilderness with nothing but their own instincts and talents with them to survive. The hope is that by fending for themselves, the child will be able to push his own maturity over the line of adolesence and into adulthood.
Not unlike these scenarios, and one emulated in the novel and film 'Into the Wild', I wish to be stripped of my essentials that are handed to me day to day by society and roam the wild by myself. I'm going to take on a portion of the Appalachian Trial, starting at the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, and spend a week discovering who I am without everything and everyone from my normal everyday life around.
Spring break is the deadline for the start of my quest, and so I will take it upon myself to train in Athens, Ohio for my adventure. The goal in mind is sixty miles of the trail (a mere fraction of the more than two thousand mile length), but with the time I have to work with, it will be an adventure.
Athens is a great area to develop wilderness survival skills, and with nearby facilities, shops and of course the internet, I will hopefully be well prepared for my voyage.

For information concerning vision quests, the movie Into the Wild or Shenandoah National Park visit the linked websites!

Vision Quests- http://www.themystica.org/mystica/articles/v/vision_quests.html
Into the Wild- http://www.intothewild.com/
Shenandoah National Park- http://www.nps.gov/SHEN/index.htm