Ray K. Anderson's Blog, page 10
September 22, 2015
Completion of an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike
Twelve years ago today, I finished my Appalachian Trail thru-hike. It seems like only yesterday when I stepped off Springer Mountain in Georgia and finished six months and eight days later at the summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine. It was a wonderful experience and the perfect way to begin a new life. I had […]
September 19, 2015
Stay Alert. Be smart.
One night in northern California, while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, I made the mistake of camping at a trailhead. I was tired and couldn’t pass up the tiny restroom and picnic table. I was awakened at midnight by the roar of what I figured was an ATV, and after the vehicle shut down, a raucous bunch of hooligans […]
September 15, 2015
“THE TRAIL” Not just another walk in the woods
This might be a good time to inform blog readers of my forthcoming debut novel, The Trail. The book, a thriller, will be released by Turner Publishing next month. The Trail has been a seven year writing project. The easiest part was my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2003. Three years later I began writing the novel and […]
September 12, 2015
Do You Really Need a Stove?
Do you plan to use your stove much on your hike, or do you take it because everyone else does? Will you use your stove three times a day, or just for breakfast and your late meal? Do you like messing around with a stove early in the morning, or have you decided to cook only in the evening? […]
September 8, 2015
Hiking Trails Near You
You may not realize it, but there are lots of hiking trails near you. The first place to look for them are in your state’s parks. I live in Massachusetts, and when I google Massachusetts State Parks, I’ll be directed to the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Here I can explore all parks by name, study trail maps, order guides, contact the DCR, […]
September 5, 2015
Hiking Tip: How to always sleep dry
Hiking in the rain happens all the time. You get used to it. Getting wet is one thing; sleeping in dampness is another. Anyone who’s slept in a damp sleeping bag will tell you of their misery on a cold night. You may know of hikers who quit their thru-hike because they got tired of dealing with rain. I saw it happen during the usual rainy spring on the A.T. […]
September 1, 2015
Hiking Safely #4 — Clothing
The first thing to remember is that “cotton kills.” This may sound dramatic, but that’s what you often hear from hikers and outdoor people. You need to wear synthetics such as nylon or Gore-Tex if you are going to work up a sweat in rainy weather and in cold temperatures. Soaked cotton doesn’t keep you warm and contributes to […]
August 29, 2015
Save on Gas–Hike on Foot
Here’s a way to save on expensive gas. Rather than drive your family through nice scenery, why not have them experience the pleasures firsthand on foot? To drive and try to experience scenery through a car window, is like looking over someone’s shoulder as he flips through an art book. Go to the gallery! I bet you won’t have […]
August 25, 2015
Hiking Safely #3
On my last post, I mentioned using a drop of bleach to treat sifted puddle water in an emergency. I feel guilty; I don’t carry bleach and have only met one or two hikers that do. Iodine tablets could be used, and I always pack a tiny bottle of them. The problem is that water purification systems […]
August 22, 2015
Hiking Tip–Acclimatize
I got altitude sickness once, and I hope I never get it again. I’d left the Sierras on the Pacific Crest Trail to come home (Boston) to a family wedding. I hadn’t gotten sick when I’d been hiking the Sierras, as my body had adapted to the climbs. The problem was when I returned. I got off the […]
