Best day on the Appalachian Trail was a rainy Tuesday in Virginia, worst day was a sunny Saturday in the same stretch

What makes a day great or terrible out there is less about weather or scenery and more about things like how your gear holds up and what kind of shape your feet are in, so which matters more to you, having good equipment or having the right mental attitude?

2 comments

2 Comments

benwilliams1mo ago

You ever have a buddy who's the most prepared guy on the trail but totally loses it when things go south? My friend Dave has a top-of-the-line tent and all the fancy gear but he fell in a stream crossing, soaked his boots, and just sat down on the trail for an hour. Wouldn't move, wouldn't talk, just stared at his wet socks like it was the end of the world. Meanwhile I'm in my cheap worn-in boots with duct tape patches, feeling fine because I just accepted it was gonna be a wet day. Gear helps but it's nothing if your head's not in the game.

sandra6931mo ago

You ever notice how @benwilliams nailed it with his buddy Dave though? Gear's important but your head has to be in the right place first. I've seen guys with thousand dollar packs bail after a single bad blister, while some kid with a secondhand tent just keeps walking through the rain smiling. Feels like equipment is more about comfort, but attitude is what actually gets you down the trail...