The Most Common Mistakes Thru-Hikers Make

00:43 Overplanning
03:23 Starting Too Fast
04:31 Not Stretching
04:57 Not Listening to Your Body
05:40 Not Taking Care of Feet
06:30 Overpacking
07:16 Hiker Hunger Timing
07:50 Packing The Wrong Food
08:29 Not Guarding Food
09:28 Not Taking Care of Water Filter
11:01 Not Looking Ahead for Water Sources
11:43 Budget
13:17 LNT
13:39 HYOH
14:47 Off-Trail Obligations
16:16 Underestimating The Misery Involved
17:34 Mismanagement of Town Time
19:04 Treating a Backpacking Trip Like A Job
19:35 No Plan For Re-entry Into Old Life

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[tamarmolerick]

Last summer in the Alps I learnt that carrying Camembert in your pack in warm weather is a big mistake.

[DeciviousDan]

"It's a package deal, you have to know the really bad days to truly appreciate the good ones" -
Dixie

Wise words! Applicable not only for thru-hiking, but for life itself.

[bogan]

Dixie, you are a blessing and an encouragement. Due to physical disabilities, life is my thru hike. Your adventures and advice are such a help to me.

[soaringeagleoutdoors]

Another mistake is to forget looking behind you as you climb. Sometimes the best views are behind you.

[semperintrepidus]

#1 biggest mistake imo is making miles the top priority. The happiest hikers tend to make miles a Non-priority. There's a lot more to experience than an 18" wide strip of dirt, rock, gravel, snow, etc.

[evolvingtattooedwanderer]

Not technically a “mistake” in our case, but I attempted a thruhike with my boyfriend last year and we were on trail for a month and a half before discovering I was pregnant! Our daughter was born on December 28th 2019.

[youztuber]

STRETCHING IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. After getting serious aches and pains in my hips, I now won't hike unless I've stretched first. It feels so boring but I need it.

Loved this video, btw. One of my favorites.

[frank-tolu]

Homemade Wanderlust videos get me outside. It is most important that more mature folks, (like me), get outside virtually every day. I live in an urban setting but am surrounded by parks and try to get there often in addition to walking a route each day. When I get into a slothish slump, I revisit one of Dixie's Hikes, (the hour documentary version, AT my favorite), gets me going again. "Have a list of things to look forward to." Good advice for us all. Thanks Dixie.

[utahsteveoutdoors]

"Embrace the Suck". Great advice at any point in life. I need this hanging on my wall.

[Plastikdoom]

Hah, hiker hunger, when I was going to a school in Vancouver, WA, me and my step brother and others from our school went back packing all the time on the PCT, we always brought way more food than we needed, at least 10 days good for our core group of 3-4 and then with what the others brought for most/all the time we were gone, up to about 3-4 days, us 3-4 made sure to bring enough extra to feed all these city goers for at least 5 days of high calorie days, plus all the knowledge and gear needed to be comfortable and very easily survive. Anyways we had a ton of through hikers from all over the world going by as we cooked breakfast and what not, made coffee, they’d comment about the smell, and we’d say come eat, they’d have eggs and bacon, hash browns, sausage, toast with butter, cheese, coffee, or sandwiches or dinner, like meat and potatoes, veggies, a beer or some whiskey or what not if they wanted. They definitely liked it, and most were European, like 90% honestly that we seen. They loved the food and company and drink. Hell some camped with us over night.

[susannewhitney]

Appalachian trail 2020!!!! I leave in 3 weeks- woohoo!

[PrincessofErised]

May not be common, but don't make the mistake of not watching all of Dixie's videos. Would not leave home without them :)

[Fernwanderer]

I like to add something:
Be aware that you are experiencing your own hike and not reliving the adventures of others.
Especially with all the experience reports, blogs, books and films, many try to relive the experiences of the authors. Have expectations of the path that it cannot fulfill. This applies in particular to the Way of St. James, for example. Every hike is different.

[richardanderson]

The increasing trend of doing a flip/flop hike with Harpers Ferry as the mid point really makes a lot of sense. Go north in the spring from Georgia and then at the mid point flip to go south from Maine most likely gives you the best on-trail weather is a major factor for those that view hiking as a enjoyable time and not a marathon to be run in the least time possible regardless of mother nature. As the saying goes, you don't have to practice being miserable, life will give you lots of chances.

[mauiboy]

Another one overflowing with wisdom.
My blister trick:
When you feel a blister starting, switch from your thick hiking sock to two thin ones. Between the two slip a bread bag ( bag loaves of bread come in ) over the 1st sock, , second sock over bred bag.. This pretty much eliminate all friction to the skin. You can slit the bread bag for some ventilation where appropriate,

[mikelozeau]

Another great video Dixie! I live in British Columbia Canada. Ive been to Nepal twice, and have done various hikes there, including a trek to Mount Everest Base camp. A few months ago I started thinking about my next adventure and happened to stumble across your channel. Ive watched almost every video you've ever posted, and have officially entered the addicted planning phase for through hiking the PCT next year in 2021. Thank you for being an inspiration, and for being you. You come across as knowledgeable, but humble, and make it comfortable to learn from you. Have a good day from Canada :)

[elisaunter]

Hey Dixie!

7 minutes in and just a thought.... rain gear! You may not use it every day but in cold seasons it can be useful to bring along. It may not be used "every day" but it can be important for warmth.

[lauriemeade]

Perhaps your best off-trail video. As a long distance hiker myself, I found your points to be spot on. Well done!

[gregl]

thank you for including the pika vid. I love those little creatures! regarding safeguarding your food during a nap: use your foodbag as a pillow!

[TheBahamabob]

I’m 72, been in and out of wilderness since I hiked barefoot preschool. All of your points are important wisdom. It’s easy to not think deeply but all of this applies to all of life’s journeys. My biggest mistakes in life have been over planning and an unsustainable pace. I see this all the time in every sphere. Thinking through scenarios ahead is good but forcing a plan can be deadly. Thanks for reminding us all.
Btw I planned a section hike in Maine. I took your advice and listened to the trail. I got off very early and my two buddies nearly died on Moody Mountain the next day. It was a spiritual intuition I followed. Glad I never picked up three mail drops ahead and lived!!