303 Day Giveaway!

*Giveaway Alert*

It’s 303 Day! And to celebrate being outside in our great state of Colorado, we want you to win some hand-sewn, handmade, hand-captured swag! Prizes are courtesy of Gone Hiking Photos in cahoots with Fox Street Studio and Early Riser Trading Co.!!

Up for grabs :

  • Gone Hiking Photos 11”x14” landscape photo print (matted to 16”x20”)

  • Gone Hiking Photos sticker

  • Fox Street Studio Colorado ceramic mugs (two)

  • Early Riser Trading Co. camo trucker hat

    (total value of $142)

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HOW TO ENTER:

-Follow @gonehikingphotos, @earlyrisertradingco, @fox.street.studio on Instagram

-Like and comment on the Giveaway Instagram post explaining your favorite Colorado outdoor adventure

-Sign Up for Gone Hiking Photos’ Newsletter

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*Giveaway starts 3/3/21 and ends 3/10/21 at 11:59pm MST

*The winner will be contacted 3/11/21 by the email provided when signing up for the Newsletter.

*The prizes will be delivered/mailed to the winner at no cost to the winner.

*Must live in the US and be 18 years or older to win.

*This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Instagram.




Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me

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Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me

My JMT Thru-Hike

Map. Check.

Sunscreen. Check.

Bug spray and bug net. Check. 

Packing everything I will need to survive for three weeks on the John Muir Trail. Check?


Preparing for my first long backpacking trip was exciting and daunting all at the same time. I made spreadsheets of our food and when we were supposed to eat each item. I made lists of our gear and clothes. We packed our resupply buckets full of goodies and relinquished them to the postal service, our very survival on the trail in their hands. I read multiple books about thru-hiking and replenished my first aid kit. I joined multiple Facebook groups and asked veterans of the trail my many questions. We went on several training hikes and tested our gear on the trail. I packed and repacked my pack. 

I was as prepared as I could be. 

But I really wish someone had told me a few things…

1. You will feel utterly miserable and defeated at times. 

There were a few moments on the trail that I felt like a mere husk of a human being. I remember very clearly standing with a scrape on my knee shaking with every sob as I blubbered out the phrase, “I just want to wash my legs.” I was inconsolable. I had been on the trail for only 6 days and had hiked 60 miles. In my head, we had finally made it back to “civilization” and I let my mental toughness slip a bit. I was tired and so, so dirty and we couldn’t find the backpacker's camp because they had moved it. So that meant more walking. We found it, set up camp, and went to find a stream so I could scrub some dirt off my legs. I slipped and fell on a tree, scraped my knee, and opened the floodgates to all my insecurities. 

Why did I think I could do something like this? Why am I putting myself through this? Can I really walk 150 more miles???? What had I been thinking when I hadn’t put 5 more snickers bars in our bear cans? 

I shook and sobbed. And then I scrubbed the dirt off my legs. And then ate a snickers bar. And then I felt better. 

2. You will feel the strongest you have ever felt in your whole life.

Standing on top of Mt. Whitney, I had morphed into Super Woman. After everything I had endured, I was still standing, still walking, and, oh yeah, happy. The long miles had made my muscles strong, my feet tough, skin tan, and lungs large and full of fresh, mountain air. In that moment, I felt invincible and so darn grateful. Grateful for what the 211-mile trail had shown me and taught me. Because of my trail family, Scott, and good fortune, I was lucky enough to have finished something I hadn’t believed possible. The trail taught me to keep putting one foot in front of the other. You are stronger than you think. And, my goodness, sometimes you just need to say a big ol’ prayer to get some of that extra strength you feel you are lacking. Because of all those hard and difficult moments on the trail, I felt strong.

3. Some of the things that no one really likes to talk about or write about, but, darn it, someone should have told me: 


You get used to smelling bad. Don’t forget your pee rag, ladies. Don’t forget to put sunscreen on your neck too. Completely grow out the hair “down there” before you leave on your trek. When nature calls...well, you will get used to using the facilities nature provides (unless you are in the Whitney Wilderness Area, then you definitely need to have a wag bag.) Bring lots of antidiarrheal medicine, just in case. Bring more blister first aid and moleskin than you think you will need. 

4. Hike your own hike.


OKAY. Plenty of people actually did say this to me before I left. But, I don’t think I really understood what that meant. To me, hiking my own hike meant learning to be okay with the fact that mornings were hard for me. And that is okay. I can’t run up the 11 passes like some of the hikers. And that is okay. I can’t force eat a highly inedible dehydrated-meal. And that is okay. But because I learned to hike my own hike, I always relished a cup of coffee mixed with a vanilla breakfast drink in the morning. I noticed all the little pretty flowers clinging to the rocks as I made my way up to the top of a pass. I ate delicious Knorr pasta sides and summer sausage. I didn’t rush, I enjoyed my hike and I felt at peace. 

5. Treat yourself well. 


I know managing your pack weight is super important and I am very impressed and applaud ultralight hikers. Way to go! But I knew my journey wasn’t going to be about how many miles I could do in a day or how fast I could finish the hike. So, because of that, I gave myself some luxuries. I am so glad I did. I gave myself yummy treats to look forward to when dinner came around. I made sure my food had LOTS of variety. Don’t forget to pack salty, crunchy things as well as sweet goodies. Take care of your feet. Dunk your head in the cold, crisp water. Get to know your hiking buddies. Find time to sit and breathe and enjoy the beauty around you. 


Through the defeats and the victories, through the uncomfortable and painful times, hiking teaches you many wonderful things. There were a few things I wish I had known before my hike. But, hey, it wouldn't be much of an adventure if you knew what to expect every step of the way.

-Holly


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