When I made my Appalachian Trail hiking plan public in 2015, I immediately realized how unprepared I was to deal with all the questions, warnings, "suggestions" and materials I received about my hiking.
On January 1, 2022, I embarked on another longer hike on the American Discovery Road. After my announcement, memories of the impact flooded. In this article, I will explore the psychology behind these things, why they happen, and how to use my reaction as a powerful tool to educate and connect with others.
When I finish my hike, not only can I answer every question you ask me before you ask, but I can answer them in the order you ask, depending on whether you are male or female. I have hundreds of such encounters as the basis of my data. This shocked me, really. Some questions you can look forward to: How long will it take you? Did you bring a gun? How do you carry all the food? Where will you sleep? Are you doing this alone? What will you do when it rains? Can you keep a dog?
Many things are the same for everyone, because their problems and worries are more of protection or danger. No matter how many times I have been asked how heavy my backpack is or what kind of shoes I will wear, I know that everyone really just wants to know the dark, negative, and dangerous side, which reminds me of my all-time experience for me Do some research on your own improvement.
As early as the end of 2014, when I told people about my plan, the first thing that was usually asked was probably the only thing they had heard of about the Appalachian Trail. They would squint their eyes, look at me through bifocal glasses, and slowly and meaningfully lean in. As if they knew something bad would happen to me, this was their warning.
"Do you know that a woman disappeared there not long ago?"
I know very well that Geraldine Lagay, a hiker on the Appalachian Trail, wandered the trails of Maine in 2013, but was unable to find her way back. Unfortunately, she was in She died a few weeks later, just a few miles from the last white fire she saw. Although her body was finally found the year I hiked in 2015, she was still missing when I decided to start hiking. When you mention any kind of hiking in Maine, it will cause a sensation.
Why do people seem to be more interested in scary things? Why did they ask negative questions in the first place? An article on verywellmind.com gives some clarification on the subject:
"Because negative information can lead to a surge in activity in key information processing areas of the brain, our behaviors and attitudes are often more susceptible to bad news, experiences and information."
https://www.verywellmind.com/negative-bias-4589618#:~:text=Because%20negative%20information%20causes%20a%20surge%20in%20activity%20in%20a%20critical%20information%20processing%20area%20of %20the%20brain%2C%20our%20behaviors%20and%20attitudes%20tend%20to%20be%20shape%20more%20powerfully%20by%20bad%20news%2C%20experiences%2C%20and%20information.
People who had never hiked for a day in their lives immediately began to warn me of the dangers of being alone in the woods as a woman. Make sure you bring a gun for the bear. You need anti-bear spray. Carry a big knife with you. Protection, defense, security. The negative impact I received was shocking and a little frustrating because I couldn’t believe that people would jump into the dark side of things so quickly. I found myself getting irritable and always defending this clue. After a little reflection, I felt that I found it necessary to arm the sharpness of these corners with the creativity and power of disgust.
When I was asked about the disappearance of Geraldine Lagay, or telling horror stories about people being kidnapped, robbed, or worse, I would reply, “You know, you can draw a 2,200-mile line anywhere in the world and experience bad Circumstances. I may be hit by a truck when I cross the road. A flash flood or an earthquake may occur at any time, destroying us all. There are dangers in every aspect of life. Although it is important to understand how to prevent bad situations from happening, I will not just because Unfavorable things may happen to me and cancel the best six-month trip."
After reciting 3 to 4 times, I shortened my speech with a clever, less time-consuming phrase, "Don't be afraid; be prepared."
Since then, I have learned that another way to avoid negative influences is through writing. I recently published an article on the subject of free-riding, focusing on how to free-rider effectively and how I found success in proper etiquette. I did not mention the dangers of free-riding, but how to proceed and show yourself when you are on the side of the road. Readers can still form their own opinions, but at least I can stand on my soapbox for the duration of this article.
I spent the whole morning trying to find a completed study, or the specific meaning of giving someone a personal item before they set off on a trip. Give gifts in a certain way from the beginning. If you have a large group of people who know your plan, many of them will most likely want to give you something. If you have collected a lot of old souvenirs, don't panic. I am very surprised by what people choose to bring to me.
No one gave me brand new ultra-light climbing equipment. Someone gave me a drawing compass that was about 40 years old. Someone gave me a military compass. I ended up with 4 or 5 heavy compasses in different styles. Maglites and various other flashlights are another popular item. I got heirloom jewelry, lots of knives, binoculars, fire kits, first aid kits, viper bite kits, whistles, bells, MRE, solar flares (you can’t make up this), lunch boxes, thermos, and enough umbrella cords to wrap around Earth several times.
I want to see how much weight I need to carry if I carry all these items with me, so I put them in a box. Its weight is heavier than my own backpack full of backpacks. Why do people give away such personal items? Except that they are doing their best to take care of you (which is very sweet), my only guess is that they are giving you a part of it, hoping that they can become part of your journey in an alternative way.
We are human beings as well as beings of nature. As humans have survived for so long and technology has emerged, many things have changed. Although people live in houses, drive, fly, stay in hotels, and eat in restaurants, I believe that everyone still has an instinctive connection to nature. Many people hardly exercise as much as possible, which is why they will put you on a pedestal, congratulate you, and want to form an attachment to your efforts.
You might think of yourself as an ordinary outdoor enthusiast who chooses to hike long distances. However, many others respect you like a prolific pioneer on dangerous missions. A hero. Someone is doing something they haven't done, or they may not be doing it.
It is invaluable to help people by sharing your adventures, and you will not realize the positive impact it has on others. I am writing a blog about my AT thru-hike, which started a few months before I arrived in Georgia and started my hike. Some of my readers actually did tracking magic for me. I didn't know who they were until they said something. Some readers drove out and hid their sandwiches in the bathroom of the state park. Other people sent me packages. People want to be part of your journey. Treat it as a compliment and honor, let them.
I made sure to send a lot of postcards and letters during the trip. This is one of the simplest and cheapest things you can do, and it has a huge impact on others. Use this method of communication to educate people about its true face. Create a picture in their minds.
What I learned from this experience is that when you announce a hike, most of the reactions are the same. However, you are better able to deal with the audience and can provide you with a favorable perspective to show your own type of education.
Let people follow from home. Help them see what you see. Thank them for their gifts. Thank them for their "suggestion", you will not accept it. Don't let other people's negativity and worries make you frustrated. Seek answers from other hikers, not the general public. Most importantly, please don't forget that you will soon be isolated from the world and enjoy the freedom and beauty of hiking.
This website contains affiliate links, which means that Trek may receive a percentage of any products or services you purchase using links in articles or advertisements. Buyers pay the same price as in other situations, and your purchase helps support The Trek's ongoing goal of providing you with quality backpack advice and information. Thanks for your support!
To learn more, please visit the About this Site page.
My name is Briana DeSanctis, and I was shot into this world on November 6, 1983, full of hair and a spirit of adventure that is still wild by my side today. I grew up in Maine and spent most of my childhood playing outdoors. My parents took me camping, hiking, fishing, hunting and expeditions, which quickly became the foundation of my life. After graduating from college, I spent some time venturing in Colorado and California, and after returning to Maine a few years later, I started hiking more frequently. On my days off work, after completing more than 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Maine, I decided that I needed to make this trail a full hike. So the next day I returned to my work with a big smile and gave me "months" notice. Before I knew it, it was March 5, 2015, and I got off at Amicalola Falls in northern Georgia. , Began to return to Maine on foot. I completed the 2198.2 mile Appalachian Trail on September 17, and from there my desire for adventure grew. I am a changed person and I know that from then on, the rest of my life will flourish in a different way than many others. I traveled all over the country; from Vermont to Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, to New Mexico, to Colorado and all the states in between. I hitchhiked to Ellsworth, Maine, carrying part of the Downeast Sunrise Trail in the snowstorm, and continued my cold trek to Cutler’s Bold Coast Trail, overlooking the rocky coastline and the Canadian coast. I hiked through the remote and pristine territory of Olympic National Park, kayaked 60 miles on the Green River in Utah, backpacked through the Wasatch Mountains in knee-deep snow, hiked the northern edge of the Grand Canyon, and jumped into me first Fear of the Angels landed at the height of Zion National Park and spent many sub-zero winters in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. In January 2022, I began to try to be the first woman to hike alone on the official Southern Route of the American Discovery Route, which runs 5,057 miles from Cape Henloponne, Texas to the Cape Reyes National Seashore in San Francisco, California. The American Discovery Trail is the first non-motorized trail from coast to coast in the United States. I look forward to giving speeches and presentations in schools and communities during my walking tour to inspire, educate and empower others.