Hygiene on the Appalachian Trail
Sure the trail is not for everyone, but those who plan to hike the 2160 mile path need to adjust their lifestyle in the hygiene department.
Off with the underwear, it's just extra weight and besides the breeze helps keep you cooler, and helps for those quick, trailside pit stops. I carried toilet paper with me for the first 250 miles and then gave that up also, substituting bark, leaves, moss, or smooth sticks.
The adult equivalent of
diaper rash was dealt with using a baby ointment, in my case Desitin. (the rash is caused by salty sweat pouring down your back, saturating your shorts. If shorts aren't rinsed daily the salt crystals chew up your skin, sometimes disabling hikers from continuing their trip until healed).
Hand washing went out
the window since I carried no soap with me after the first few weeks. I'd always get cleaned up in town, wherever I stopped to resupply with food. In short I lived like a bum for 7 months, and loved it. I learned what are the real concerns for back country traveling - food poisoning, giardia, staying dry in wet weather to avoid hypothermia, and also learned what simply arethe comforts of our civilization, the luxuries - unlimited hot water, clean clothes, daily showers.
Love your show. Mention Chiltern Mountain Club sometime, please?
-Arthur
{ Previous Letter
| This Week's Index |
Next Letter }
{ Main Letters Page }
