Steps to Prepare for a Thruhike

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Revision as of 22:49, 6 December 2021 by Numbers (talk | contribs) (updates)
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Common tasks to complete prior to beginning a thruhike.

Friends, Family, and Employment

  • Find a person or service to handle your mail
  • Notify your landlord and employer
  • Ensure a trusted person has access to important personal documents and passwords in the event of an emergency

Logistics & Life Organization

  • Arrange travel to your starting point.
  • Learn which phone carriers are most reliable for your trail, and consider switching, if necessary.
  • Setup your blog/social media/etc.
  • Put your belonging in storage.
  • Set your email vacation reminder.
  • If you have a vehicle that will be placed in storage or not driven, have someone routinely run the vehicle, or disconnect the battery and add a fuel stabilizer to the gas tank

Gear

  • Figure out section-specific gear. Will you need warmer layers? An ice axe? Extra water capacity?
  • Check the condition of your gear, and make any needed repairs.
  • If bringing an external battery pack, consider the longest possible stretch between charges, and determine your needed capacity.

Trail Planning & Resupply

  • Obtain all necessary permits for trail, campsites, and campfires.
  • Confirm that water sources will be available during your intended timeframe.
  • Learn about the resupply options on your trail. Determine if and where you would like to send resupply boxes.
  • Keep an eye on the snowpack, if applicable.

Bills & Finances

  • Cancel your car insurance and, if applicable, surrender plates/registration. Depending on location, local laws may require comprehensive-only/parked car insurance, even if a car is in storage.
  • Cancel or pause subscriptions.
  • Ensure all bills are set to autopay with email and text notifications turned on for payment status
  • Notify your credit card company you’ll be traveling. Make sure you know your debit PIN.
  • Check the expiration date on credit and debit cards, drivers license, passport, and so on. Renewing while on the trail can be difficult.
  • Lock credit reports
  • File taxes

Physical Training & Skill Building

  • Research and physically train according to the conditions expected on trail.
  • Practice snow traversal with microspikes/crampons and self-arrest using your ice axe.
  • Review the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace.
  • Go on some shakedown hikes to test your gear and comfort levels.
  • Practice throwing a bear hang, if necessary.
  • Learn to identify plants such as poison ivy, poison oak, and poodle-dog bush, and learn how to safely remove ticks.
  • Learn wilderness first aid skills.

Health

  • Visit your doctor for a check-up, and renew prescriptions for the duration you expect to be on trail.
  • Obtain vaccinations/boosters.
  • Make a dentist appointment.
  • Purchase health insurance that provides coverage for the entirety of the trail. Some healthcare plans now include optional coverage for wilderness rescue.

Navigation, Cell Phones, and Apps

  • If bringing a GPS device/beacon, set up the subscription, configure the device, and practice using it. Share GPS tracker access information with key family/friends.
  • Learn how to configure your devices, e.g. cell phone and GPS device, for optimal battery life. Common options include backlight timeout, airplane/low power mode, and disabling background apps and services. See the article, How to Conserve Phone Battery Life While Hiking.
  • Download books, movies, and music for offline entertainment when no cellphone connectivity exists
  • Download both navigation apps and offline mapping

References