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