If you followed the adventure last year, you probably read posts I wrote about my pre-Camino hiking and a discussion (published thoughts from my internal dialogue) about gear.
Overall, my gear was spot on. I didn't carry too much and was rarely too cold or unprepared.
Things that other pilgrims ooh'd and aahhhh'd over included:
1. Safety pins - used for hanging washing on a line, pinning to outside of pack, emergency fasteners. Lighter, smaller and more effective than the clothes pins most folks carried.
2. Soap in the scratchy nylon bag. It's a great loofah and lends itself to my "hang to dry" under a bunk, trick.
3. Merino wool sleeves. Turns a t-shirt into a long sleeved top in seconds. Can be removed from under sweatshirt or rain jacket without any undressing. In fact, I yanked them out while still walking and put them in side pocket of pack. Barely adds any weight too.
What I wish I had with me, but didn't:
1. A Buff. Handy neck scarf or hat or head band that is easy to carry and wash.... and lose! I lost mine before the start of the hike.
2. Pedometer. What does it feel like to see a million steps racking up in the course of a month? I'd like to find out.
3. Bigger notebook. It turns out I had way more thoughts about practically everything, than I predicted I would. Writing them down when you are not Internet connected is useful.
Update:
I bought a Buff and have been breaking it in. By the time I leave in 2 months it will have been stretched over my little head multiple times and endured countless washings to remove the trail sweat - as it should.
I splurged on a Misfit pedometer ($30). Why buy the cheapest, most basic thing out there? Because it serves the purpose for which I intend to use it. Counting steps. Nothing fancy. I also wanted my pedometer to be waterproof, not need charging, and have the potential to be a fixed to a leg or pack, rather than limited to the wristband option we all know and love. The Misfit can be worn as a clip on button and at $30, I will not be heart broken if it reaches an untimely demise. Added bonus, I can use it as a selfie button to take pics with my phone!
A month later: I woke one morning to the joyful exclamation by Misfit that I had exceeded expectations, met my goal and hiked 20,000 steps, before 6:30am. Since my alarm went off at 5:30 am and I had no recollection of running sprints for an hour between then and now, I had to admit that the accuracy of Misfit was in question and it was time to look for an alternative. My hiking buddy, Teresa, showed me the S-Health app on my phone and since then I have been tracking steps via my Samsung S7. Unless I update this again, I will be using this for the Camino.
Last year I took a tiny Moleskin notebook. This year I purchased the next size up. Enough said.
The training...
Right now I'm hiking 2-3 times per week and running once. In between, I try to wander 2-4 miles around the neighborhood. I will work up to hiking 6x/week, before I depart. Sometimes I hike alone, sometimes with friends.
Update: A month later (8/22/16) I'm hiking 4 times per week and trying to run 2 mornings. My bag is packed and I'm mentally a step closer to leaving.
Update again: (9/12/16) This week I found the original Buff, circa 2015! Hidden in the Camelback pocket of my backpack, it had indeed traveled to Spain, walked the Camino and returned, unused. Huh!
I also opted to buy, last minute, short gaiters. They are intended to keep gravel and such out of the boots, but if they arrive in time I may try to waterproof them and have them as an alternative to the long waterproof pants. Why? Because Camino rumor has it that in high humidity and hiking conditions, the plastic pants will not breathe well and actually trap moisture inside, rendering the legs just as wet ... And perhaps ickier, than not wearing them at all. However, without gaiters, the pants are the only option to keep water from running down the legs into the boots.
On the pedometer front: The S-Health app is doing a nice job of tracking mileage, elevation gain and steps. I think it's a little generous in the "calories burned" department, but overall, we have a winner!
Overall, my gear was spot on. I didn't carry too much and was rarely too cold or unprepared.
Things that other pilgrims ooh'd and aahhhh'd over included:
1. Safety pins - used for hanging washing on a line, pinning to outside of pack, emergency fasteners. Lighter, smaller and more effective than the clothes pins most folks carried.
2. Soap in the scratchy nylon bag. It's a great loofah and lends itself to my "hang to dry" under a bunk, trick.
3. Merino wool sleeves. Turns a t-shirt into a long sleeved top in seconds. Can be removed from under sweatshirt or rain jacket without any undressing. In fact, I yanked them out while still walking and put them in side pocket of pack. Barely adds any weight too.
What I wish I had with me, but didn't:
1. A Buff. Handy neck scarf or hat or head band that is easy to carry and wash.... and lose! I lost mine before the start of the hike.
2. Pedometer. What does it feel like to see a million steps racking up in the course of a month? I'd like to find out.
3. Bigger notebook. It turns out I had way more thoughts about practically everything, than I predicted I would. Writing them down when you are not Internet connected is useful.
Update:
I bought a Buff and have been breaking it in. By the time I leave in 2 months it will have been stretched over my little head multiple times and endured countless washings to remove the trail sweat - as it should.
I splurged on a Misfit pedometer ($30). Why buy the cheapest, most basic thing out there? Because it serves the purpose for which I intend to use it. Counting steps. Nothing fancy. I also wanted my pedometer to be waterproof, not need charging, and have the potential to be a fixed to a leg or pack, rather than limited to the wristband option we all know and love. The Misfit can be worn as a clip on button and at $30, I will not be heart broken if it reaches an untimely demise. Added bonus, I can use it as a selfie button to take pics with my phone!
A month later: I woke one morning to the joyful exclamation by Misfit that I had exceeded expectations, met my goal and hiked 20,000 steps, before 6:30am. Since my alarm went off at 5:30 am and I had no recollection of running sprints for an hour between then and now, I had to admit that the accuracy of Misfit was in question and it was time to look for an alternative. My hiking buddy, Teresa, showed me the S-Health app on my phone and since then I have been tracking steps via my Samsung S7. Unless I update this again, I will be using this for the Camino.
Last year I took a tiny Moleskin notebook. This year I purchased the next size up. Enough said.
The training...
Right now I'm hiking 2-3 times per week and running once. In between, I try to wander 2-4 miles around the neighborhood. I will work up to hiking 6x/week, before I depart. Sometimes I hike alone, sometimes with friends.
Update: A month later (8/22/16) I'm hiking 4 times per week and trying to run 2 mornings. My bag is packed and I'm mentally a step closer to leaving.
Update again: (9/12/16) This week I found the original Buff, circa 2015! Hidden in the Camelback pocket of my backpack, it had indeed traveled to Spain, walked the Camino and returned, unused. Huh!
I also opted to buy, last minute, short gaiters. They are intended to keep gravel and such out of the boots, but if they arrive in time I may try to waterproof them and have them as an alternative to the long waterproof pants. Why? Because Camino rumor has it that in high humidity and hiking conditions, the plastic pants will not breathe well and actually trap moisture inside, rendering the legs just as wet ... And perhaps ickier, than not wearing them at all. However, without gaiters, the pants are the only option to keep water from running down the legs into the boots.
On the pedometer front: The S-Health app is doing a nice job of tracking mileage, elevation gain and steps. I think it's a little generous in the "calories burned" department, but overall, we have a winner!
