Just hit 100 nights on the trail and the number really got me thinking

I was updating my gear log last week and realized I've spent 100 nights in a tent over the last eight years. It's not some huge round number, but it felt big to me. I remember my first overnight on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, being so nervous about bears I barely slept. Now, I can set up my shelter in the dark without a headlamp, and the sound of wind in the trees is just background noise. The weird part is, I don't feel like some expert, I just feel like I've finally stopped fighting the basics and started to actually be out there, you know? It's less about the gear and more about knowing what a 15 mile day actually feels like in your legs. Has anyone else hit a personal trail milestone that snuck up on them?

2 comments

2 Comments

noah_sullivan6d ago

Damn, 100 nights is solid. That line about knowing what 15 miles feels like in your legs is so real. What's one piece of gear you used to swear by that you've totally changed your mind about after all that time?

lopez.holly6d ago

My old leather hiking boots were my pride and joy for years. I thought they made me a real backpacker. After about 500 trail miles, I finally admitted they were just too heavy and stiff for my feet. I switched to a lighter pair of trail runners and never looked back.