hiking

Mega-List of North America’s Best Hiking Trails

May 29, 2018 By Amanda Blankenship Leave a Comment

Record numbers of people are expected to hit some of America’s best trails this summer — as the number of hikers and backpackers in the U.S. has been steadily rising over the past few years. Here’s an overview of some of the best hiking trails in North America, including costs, where relevant.

Appalachian Trail (Georgia to Maine)

- Fees: Although it’s free to hike the trail, certain parks along the way charge a fee. For instance, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park charges $20 per person for a hiker permit (even if you’re just passing through). Baxter State Park, also along the trail, charges hikers $15, plus an additional $21 if you stay overnight.
- Accessibility: The Southern entrance of the trail is two hours northeast of Atlanta and it remains within an easy driving distance of major east coast cities throughout the trail. If you’re planning on hiking a section of the trail, be sure to arrange your pickup ahead of time. Many parts of the trail don’t receive good cell service.
- Accommodations: Campsites along the Appalachian Trail cost between $5 and $30 per night. If you are looking to rent a campsite in one of the national parks along the trail, it can cost up to $50 per night (or $100 for a private hut rental).

Arches National Park (Moab, Utah)

Fees: Because Arches is a national park, there are entrance fees. If you’re driving into the national park, you’ll pay $25 for seven days. Otherwise, the entrance fee for a single person is $10.
Accessibility: Most people get o the park via car. If you are flying in, it’s 236 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Accommodations: Campgrounds are available in Arches National Park. For a standard campsite, you’ll pay $25 per night. If you’d prefer to camp out, you’ll have to pay for a backpacking permit, which is $7 and is good for up to seven days.

Colorado Trail (Colorado)

Fees: Hikers aren’t required to pay a fee to hike the Colorado Trail. However, those traveling through wilderness areas will be required to sign in at a registration station.
Accessibility: You can get pretty easy access to the Colorado Trail at Waterton Canyon, near Denver. The trailhead is easily reached using CO-470, Denver’s outer loop freeway.
Accommodations: Dispersed camping is free along the trail. Be sure you pitch your tent no closer than 100 feet to the marked trail, as required by Colorado law.

Columbia River Gorge (Washington and Oregon)

Fees: Buy a day pass to hike the Columbia River Gorge for $5. You can buy it online or on-site. Depending on your activities, you may be required to purchase other permits and passes along the trail as well.
Accessibility: It is easy to navigate the Columbia River Gorge. Many people drive to the gorge to hike and perform other outdoor activities from nearby cities, such as Portland and Dallesport.
Accommodations: Campgrounds along the Columbia River Gorge cost between $15 and $20 per night. However, dispersed camping is allowed and is free-of-charge.

Glacier National Park (Montana)

Fees: Single entry into the national park is $15. Cars being parked on the premises will cost an additional $20.
Accessibility: Most people visiting Glacier National Park will be driving. If you’re flying into Montana to hike the park’s trails, Kalispell is the closest airport, with Great Falls being the next closest, and Spokane airport about 4.5 hours from the park.
Accommodations: Campsites cost between $10 and $23 per night; however, you can get a back-country permit for $7 per night per person. This will allow you to camp wherever you’re able to pitch a tent in the park.

Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)

Fees: Yes, there is a charge to visit the Grand Canyon National Park. Single vehicles cost $30 for a seven-day pass and you will pay $15 per person to enter the park via the Grand Canyon Railway. You’ll also be required to purchase a back-country permit, which is $10, plus $8 per person below the rim and $8 per group above the rim.
Accessibility: Depending on whether you are visiting the north or south rim of the Grand Canyon, it is fairly accessible via public transportation. If you’re traveling from farther away, it isn’t far from a major airport in Phoneix.
Accommodations: There is free dispersed camping allowed throughout the park. Inquire within the park about any specific restrictions. Whether you’re planning a visit to the north or south rim, you’ll have plenty of accommodations to choose from. On the north rim, many campground sites charge $18 to $25 for the first vehicle and $8 for the second. Sites allow for up to two cars, six people and three tents per party.

Iztaccihuatl (Mexico City)

Fees: There are no overt fees for hiking in this area but not many people are hiking the volcano without a guided tour — those cost around $50 per person.
Accessibility: You will need to hire a private driver or take a bus to one of the trailheads near the volcano. Outside of getting to Mexico, the Ixtaccihuatl trails are fairly accessible.
Accommodations: Because this has become a destination for hikers and tourists, there are plenty of hotels nearby. However, camping is also an option for visitors. You will want to check with locals to get rules and regulations for camping.

John Muir Trail (Yosemite National Park, California)

Fees: You will need to apply for a wilderness permit if you intend on staying overnight along the John Muir Trail in Yosemite National Park. There are only a certain number of permits provided each day, so you will want to plan accordingly. You’ll also pay $15 per person (on foot) or $30 per car to enter the park.
Accessibility: There is no public transportation to Yosemite National Park. However, Eastern Sierra Transit provides bus service from Lone Pine to Mammoth Lakes and the YARTS Highway 120 East bus provides service from Mammoth Lakes to Yosemite Valley. Those flying in can fly into Mammoth Lakes, Oakland, or Los Angeles.
Accommodations: The wilderness permit mentioned above ($5 per reservation, plus $5 per person) is all you need to pay for to camp in Yosemite National Park. If you’d like to stay on a campground, prices range from $12 to $26 per night.

Killarney Park (Ontario, Canada)

Fees: Visitors to Killarney Park will pay up to $20 per day for a parking permit while they are hiking. There is also a walk-in fee of up to $2.
Accessibility: Killarney Park is easily accessible and works with Park Bus, a service that brings people to hiking trails, canoe access points, lodges, and campsites. You can take a taxi to Park Bus, which will help you find the best way to get where you’d like to start your hike.
Accommodations: Primitive campsites cost $34.47 per night and more advanced campsites, with electricity and showers, cost up to $52 per night.

Long Trail (Vermont)

Fees: There are no fees associated with hiking the Long Trail.
Accessibility: Driving is the best possible way to reach the Long Trail in Vermont. If you have to fly to get close, it is advised to fly into Burlington or Albany.
Accommodations: Dispersed camping is free of charge along The Long Trail, as long as it’s 100 feet from a marked trail and 200 feet from water sources (in compliance with Vermont law). Campgrounds in the area typically cost between $5 and $20 per night, although some might be free during the offseason.

Mountains-to-Sea Trail (North Carolina)

Fees: There is no fee to access the trail, but the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (which the trail passes through) does require a $4-per-person nightly back-country permit while you are traveling there.
Accessibility: You can get to the trail easily from Raleigh and Greensboro airports. The best trailheads in the Raleigh area can be accessed via Creedmoor Road (NC-50) and Baptist Road (off NC-98).
Accommodations: As with many of the trails on this list, dispersed camping is available free of charge. If you’d prefer a campground, Falls Lake Recreation Area has sites available between $20 and $50 a night.

New River Gorge (West Virginia)

Fees: There is no fee to enjoy the New River Gorge or its trails. However, there may be sections of the trail that pass through areas of the national park, where you may be required to pay a fee.
Accessibility: New River Gorge is extremely accessible and there are a number of businesses and other access points along the river where you’ll find trailheads and canoe access points.
Accommodations: Lodging is available relatively close to New River Gorge if you aren’t interested in camping. Dispersed camping is free of charge at New River Gorge. You’ll also be able to access eight campsites nearby that cost up to $50 per night.

North Country Trail (New York to North Dakota)

Fees: There are no fees required to hike the North Country Trail. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota charge $15 and $16 for back-country permits, respectively.
Accessibility: Individuals residing in the northeast or midwest might be within driving distance of this trail. It’s also easy to access via car (or taxi) from the nearest major airport. Superior Trail, a segment of the North Country Trail, would require a flight into Duluth International Airport.
Accommodations: Dispersed camping is offered along the North Country Trail at no charge. There is also free camping at Hemlock Glen and Spruce Pond (which are primitive campgrounds along the trail).

Oregon Coast Trail (Oregon)

Fees: Some areas of the Oregon Coast Trail may charge fees. For example, a $5 entrance fee is charged at Humbug Mountain State Park.
Accessibility: The best way to access the trail is by driving. Those flying to get closer to the trail can fly into Seattle and then continue the voyage by car.
Accommodations: As long as you are no within sight of a resident, you can camp on the beach. Tent sites cost $7 per night each. During peak season, it is wise to call ahead and reserve a tent site.

Ouachita Trail (Arkansas and Oklahoma)

Fees: Hikers do not have to pay any fees, but are encouraged to register at points throughout the trail.
Accessibility: The western terminus of the trail is at Talimena State Park (two to three hours from Tulsa and Oklahoma City). The eastern entrance to Ouachita Trail (Pinnacle State Park) is driveable from Little Rock, Arkansas.
Accommodations: Friends of the Ouachita Trail offers free shelters along the entire trail. Many of the campgrounds in the national parks are free as well. However, more popular campsites along the trail may cost anywhere between $8 and $30 per night.

Pacific Crest Trail (California to Washington)

Fees: People planning to hike more than 500 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) will need to obtain a long distance permit (free of charge ) from the National Forest Service. Although much of the trail is available to hikers without a permit, some areas may require it. Sections of the trail that pass through Yosemite National Park, for instance, cost $5 per reservation, plus $5 per person. You’ll also need to pay $5 for your car if you’re planning on driving it into the park.
Accessibility: Many folks living on the west coast can easily drive to the trail within four hours or less. Those flying in can choose where they’d like to land, based on where they’d like to hike. You can easily access segments of the trail by flying into Portland International Airport.
Accommodations: As with many other trails, dispersed camping is permitted at no cost. Campsites range in price from free to $21 per night.

Pacific Northwest Trail (Montana to Washington)

Fees: There is no set fee for the trail, but certain areas do require fees and permits. The trail passes through Okanagan-Wenatchee National Forest, which requires hikers to purchase a $5 permit each day they are in the park. Backcountry permits in Olympic National Park, also on the trail cost $8 per night.
Accessibility: The easiest way to get to the trail is by driving. Those flying will find Spokane International Airport to be the easiest airport to access the trail.
Accommodations: Dispersed camping is free of charge along the trail. Overnight camping at organized campgrounds cost between $10 and $23 per site, per night.

Tahoe Rim Trail (California and Nevada)

Fees: You are required to have an overnight permit when hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail. It’s $5 per person for one night. For two or more nights, you’ll pay $10. It is rewarded on a quota system. In order to build a campfire, you need to obtain a California campfire permit.
Accessibility: Lake Tahoe is fairly accessible. People living in northern California or Nevada can easily drive. It’s an hour from Reno and about three-and-a-half hours from San Francisco. Lake Tahoe is about three-and-a-half hours’ drive from San Francisco and an hour from Reno, so plan to fly into Reno-Tahoe International Airport if you’re flying.
Accommodations: Dispersed camping is allowed throughout Eldorado National Forest (except in Desolation Wilderness) free of charge as long as your campsite is at least 100 feet away from marked trails. Campgrounds start at $10 per night.

Hiking remains one of the most affordable ways to experience the outdoors and get a bit of exercise. If your summer plans include checking out any of the trails mentioned above, have a great time.

Readers, have you hiked any of the paths mentioned here, and if so, which one(s)? In the comments section beneath this post, please tell us about your experiences with hiking — including any future plans to check out the destinations in this article.

Free Entrance to All US National Forest for National Get Outdoors Day (GO Day)

June 11, 2015 By Jeffrey Strain 2 Comments

Saturday, June 13, 2015, has been designated as a national day for you to get outside. National Get Outdoors Day (referred to as “GO Day”) will be celebrated for the 8th time since being started in 2008. The day hopes to encourage families to participate in healthy and active outdoor activities, and especially to inspire first-time visitors to visit public lands.

One of the best ways to encourage people to participate in Go Day is to make it as easy as possible for all to enjoy the great outdoors. One barrier to enjoying public lands can be the cost of entrance fees to get into them. With this in mind, the US National Forest Service has announced they will be waiving all entrance fees to US national forests on Saturday, June 13, in honor of GO Day. That means you can visit any of the over 150 areas which fall under the National Forest Department’s jurisdiction, and they will not have an entrance fee on Saturday. If you’re not sure what national forests are near you or located in your state, you can see the National Forest’s state list.

As part of the GO Day celebration, most of the national forest sites will provide recreational and educational activities at no cost. There will be a wide range of activities depending on the location, but many have been created in an effort to engage youth from urban areas and multi-cultural backgrounds. In some areas, you may even have the chance to meet Smokey the Bear.

It’s important to note that while entrance fees for day-use areas such as hiking trails, picnic grounds, and destination visitor centers will all be free to enter, not everything will necessarily be gratis inside the national forests. While the National Forest Service encourages concession-operated sites to participate, they may still have a fee. Also, campground fees will still be applicable for those who want to stay the night inside the national forests. If uncertain, it’s best to contact the national forest or grassland you plan to visit to find out exactly what fees have been waived during GO Day.

While national forests sometimes get overlooked when compared to national parks, they do provide a tremendous opportunity for everyone to enjoy the outdoors. US national forests have over 158,000 miles of recreation hiking trails, hundreds of wild rivers and streams, as well as thousands of lakes, campgrounds, and day-use sites. Many of the national forests also have visitor centers which give those visiting the opportunity to educate themselves about the nature and plant-life in the area.

Take These Simple Precautions to Avoid Lyme Disease During Tick Season

June 1, 2014 By Jeffrey Strain 2 Comments

Tick season is here, and the little bloodsuckers have the potential to be a lot more than a nuisance, since they can carry potentially deadly diseases such as Lyme disease and Babesiosis. Even when these diseases aren’t fatal, they can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms that can require long-term treatment, and ultimately affect one’s quality of life. As the case with many diseases, an ounce the prevention it is worth much more than a pound of cure. Any costs that comes with helping to prevent getting Lyme disease or Babesiosis is well worth it, since the cost of contracting either of these diseases will far exceed the preventative costs.

Below are a number of steps that you can take to prevent yourself from being exposed to the disease, as put forward by theNational Institute of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Avoid Tick Habitats

Tick like to live in certain places, and avoiding the places where they’re likely to be living in high concentrations will dramatically lessen your chance of having one find you. If possible, you want to avoid heavily wooded areas, and areas which have a lot of bushes and high grass.

Stay on Trails

When you’re out hiking, stay on marked trails as much as possible. Because trails are a defined area where much of the natural foliage has been trampled away, there is less likelihood of your clothes or skin coming into contact with ticks. You’re much more likely to have them attach themselves to you if you wander into areas where you’re blazing your own path, and your clothes come into much more direct contact with native plants in the area.

Use Insect Repellent

Anytime you decide to go outdoors in areas where there may be a high tick population, take the time to put on insect repellent. Insect repellent with the chemicals DEET, permethrin or picaridin work best to prevent them from attaching to you. You should spray the insect repellent on your skin, but also spray it on your clothes for extra protection.

Cover Up

Make sure to cover up this much is possible when you go outside. Wear both long sleeved shirts and long pants. While it isn’t fashionable, tuck your pants into your socks or boots to give them less access to finding their way to your skin. Be sure to wear a hat of some type (this will also help with sun protection) since they can drop onto you from branches above as well.

Wear Light Colors

Opt to wear light colored clothing rather than dark color clothing when outside. The light-colored clothing won’t prevent ticks from finding you any less than dark-colored clothing, but it’ll make it much easier to spot them if they do happen to cling to your clothing when you’re out and about. This will give you a much better chance of finding them before they find a place to attach to your skin.

Check Yourself

Always take the time to check yourself after you have spent some time outdoors. Take special precautions to check your shoes and lower legs, as this is where they will typically first find you. After checking your shoes and pants, also check the skin on the lower portion of your legs. You can’t get Lyme disease or Babesiosis until the tick attaches itself into your skin, so if any were able to find you while you are outside, you want to make sure you get them off of you before they have the chance to attach.

Have Someone Else Check You

If you were out hiking with somebody else, take the time to check each other after you have done a self-check. An extra pair of eyes is always better than a single pair, and a partner can look at areas that may be harder for you to see yourself.

Know Where to Look

While ticks can attach to your body anywhere, there are some common places where they’re more likely to be found. Once you’re home, take off your clothes and check in the following places:

Under your arms
In and around your ears
Inside and around your belly button
Behind your knees
Between your legs
Around your waist
Anyplace where you have hair

These are the places where they will usually gravitate to attach themselves.

Shower Immediately

Try to take a shower or bath as soon as you can after you have been outdoors. Doing so will help to wash off any ticks that you may have missed which haven’t attached fully or are still crawling in an attempt to find a good place to attach.

Remove Ticks Immediately

If you do find the tick which has attached itself to your body, remove it as quickly as possible. It’s important to remove the entire insect including the head. You can do this yourself by getting a pair of fine tip tweezers. You want to grab the tick with the tweezers as close to its head as possible, which is the part they use to attach themselves to your skin. Pull the tick straight upward with a steady strength (you don’t want to try to jerk it out) without any twisting motions. A twisting motion will likely detach the body from the head, and it’s important to remove the entire parasite. Once the tick has been removed, thoroughly clean the area where it attached with rubbing alcohol and soap and water.

It’s important to remove ticks as quickly as possible because most will not spread Lyme disease until they have been attached to your skin for 36 hours or more. The sooner you can remove it, the better chance you have of avoiding the disease, even if the parasite happens to be a carrier.

Keep the Tick

After removing the tick, you may want to keep it. If you live in an area where Lyme disease is prevalent, your local county health department may have a system in place where you can take it into them, and they will be able to tell you whether it carries Lyme disease are not.

Watch the Spot

Once it has been removed and the area had been thoroughly washed, you want to watch the area for the next couple of weeks. If you see a rash develop where you remove the parasite, you should immediately contact your doctor as this would be a sign that you may have been infected with Lyme disease.

(Photo courtesy of Fairfax County)

Free Breakfast Tipping: Day 141

June 2, 2013 By Jeffrey Strain 5 Comments

I decided as part of my vacation guide responsibilities that instead of heading to the well known national parks in the area like Zion and Bryce Canyon on the first day, I would instead take them on a slot canyon hike. Neither have ever done slot canyon hiking before and it’s pretty unforgettable the first time you do it. There are a lot of great slot canyons to hike in the area. One of my favorites is the Wire Pass trail which leads into Buckskin Gulch which is located in Vermilion Cliffs national monument. It’s a wonderful slot canyon hike because of the beautiful colors of the canyon walls and there are no need for ropes to do the hike (although there are some sections where you have to scramble up and down boulders). Here are a few photos from the hike:

Here is a short video of what it’s like hiking through the slot canyon:

It was definitely a wonderful day to hike the canyon since it was rather hot outside and the shade of the canyons kept us cool even during the hottest part of the day.

As for the financial aspects of the day, I had another tipping quandary to address today. The hotel we stayed at in Las Vegas didn’t come with a free breakfast, so we stopped and ate a meal while we were driving. The hotel we’re staying at in Kanab comes with a free breakfast each morning. I usually leave $2 for the breakfast workers who stock the food and keep the self-serve food area clean. Being on the minimum wage challenge, the question is should I be spending this money when it’s not necessary that I leave a tip?

Part of me says that being on a tight budget, I should be watching every penny and not spending any money where I don’t have to, but another part wants me to continue to do the things I have been doing in the past no matter what my financial situation. I find it much easier to deny myself than to take away small amounts that I usually budget for others knowing that even though they may be small amounts, they can have a large impact on the person who receives those tips. For much the same reasons that I decided to leave the $5 tip for the maids, I have decided to continue this tipping that I have done in the past to the free breakfast servers.

I also think that it’s currently easier for me to default in giving these tips since I’m not paying for the hotel rooms. If I was spending $65 a night for the hotel room and that was coming out of my budget each day, I think it would be more difficult to part with another $7 on top of that. It should be interesting to see what I decide to do when I take a trip and I’m paying for the hotel rooms as well for an extended period of time. What is your opinion on tipping the breakfast servers when you stay at a hotel which offers free breakfast as part of the hotel room price?

Today’s Spending

Food: $2.00
Car: $0.00
Lodging: $5.00
Travel: $0.00
Health: $0.00
Misc: $0.00

Total: $7.00

Total Spending

Food: $307.93
Car: $597.00
Lodging: $156.31
Travel: $408.26
Health: $2042.65
Misc: $72.59

Total: $3584.94

12 Ways to Save Money on National Trails Day

May 27, 2013 By Danielle Warchol 2 Comments

National Trails Day (sponsored each year by the American Hiking Society) occurs on the first Saturday each June. This day was set up to honor the many trails that have been created across the United States. While there are many events happening specifically to celebrate this day, some of them can cost bit of money. It doesn’t have to be that way. Here are a few ways to save money if you’re planning on participating in National Trails Day (or just looking for an excuse to go on a hiking trip).

Hike Free Trails

There are dozens of free hiking trails in most areas, probably a lot that are near you that you didn’t even realize were there. Take some time to do a little research on hiking trails in your area and you’ll likely be surprised at the opportunities you have to get out that you haven’t taken advantage of yet. Even if you don’t have any money, you should be able to find plenty of wonderful hikes in your area that you’ll be able to utilize time and again at no cost.

Utilize Already Paid for Passes

If you already hold a pass that allows you free entrance to national parks or state parks, this is a perfect time to take full advantage of it. Since these passes are good for a year, if you are planning any hiking or camping trips to national or state parks this summer, it could make sense to get a pass to take advantage of National Trails Day, and then use them again latter this summer as well. While not free, the more you use the passes once purchased, the lower the cost and if you are planning to buy one anyway, now may be the time.

Bring Your Own Food

If you’re intending to visit one of the many events that are part of National Trails Day, make sure you take your own food. While there might be food carts at any of the hosted events or food in one of the lodges by the nearby trailhead, that food can be overpriced. You’re better off saving money by bringing your own food with you to any event you attend.

Check Out Free Events

There are many clubs and organizations that host events on National Trail Day, but many of these events come with a fee. There might be an all-day entrance fee to the park hosting the event or there might be fees per activity, such as a fee for a guided hiking trip. This isn’t always the case, so it’s worthwhile seeing what, if any, events in your area are free.

Join an Organization

A lot of outdoors clubs or official organizations allow you to become a member. While some may have large membership fees, others have smaller annual fees or are free to join. One of the perks of such memberships is that sometimes you no longer have to pay fees for events or activities. Check out what clubs or organizations might be available in your area to see what perks you may get by joining. You never know – it could mean free maps and guides or even free/discounted admission to parks, trails, or other landmarks!

Avoid Guided Group Events

A lot of guided group events tend to cost money, whether it’s a small fee or a larger ticket price. Events such as National Trail Day sometimes mean that the normal ticket price is even higher than normal. If you’re looking to save money, try to avoid the guided group. It might be fun to grab a map and follow the trail yourself. Then you can go at your own pace and don’t have to worry about being stuck in a large group.

Make Sure You Know About Activity Fees

National Trail Day not only honors the country’s gorgeous landscapes, but also encourages people to participate in the activities that are associated with national trails such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, or kayaking. Before you plan on engaging in those activities, make sure you know whether or not you have to pay any additional fees to partake in them.

Volunteer

Sometimes volunteering comes with an added great benefit. For instance, volunteering at your local national park or national trail – or one of their organizations – might garner you free admission to some of the events or activities. Or volunteering on National Trail Day may mean that your activities or admittance fees are waived for the day.

Rent or Buy Used Equipment

If you’re planning on taking advantage of the day by hiking or camping, considering seeing whether or not it’s less expensive to buy used equipment or rent it. New equipment can be pretty pricey, especially the higher quality equipment. If you don’t hike or camp all that often, it might be a good idea to rent or buy used equipment instead of buying new equipment.

Don’t Overdo It With the Equipment

Sometimes it’s easy to go crazy when it comes to buying or renting equipment for an upcoming trip. If you’ve been looking forward to attending National Trail Day or going on your annual hiking or camping trip, make sure you don’t go overboard with packing and buying equipment. You might believe you really need those new binoculars or a solar powered backpack, but it’s important to assess what you currently own before you go out and buy something new. Don’t let your excitement and eagerness blind you.

Coupons

Because of the popularity of such sites as Groupon or LivingSocial, there are always coupons or discounts popping up. Keep your eye on one of the many discount and coupon sites out there to see if any coupons appear for National Trail Day or any hiking or camping sites around you.

Camp Out Instead Of Paying For a Room

One of the reasons why a lot of outdoors clubs and enthusiasts love National Trail Day is because it encourages people to spend even more time outside enjoying our beautiful natural landscape. Instead of booking a room at a hotel or a lodge, considering saving your money and camping out instead.

Gaining Weight: Day 40 & 41

February 15, 2013 By Jeffrey Strain 10 Comments

As I expected, I woke up quite sore from a the day of digging in the sand. I definitely used more than a few muscles that I don’t normally use, and my body decided to remind me of that the entire day. Even when sitting in front of the computer most of the day where one would assume I would be immune to the soreness, it seemed to still find me with every little move. This made me realize some of the consequences of the vitamin D deficiency that I had started to noticed, but hadn’t really been paying attention to.

Although I have been getting outside as much as I usually do during this minimum wage challenge (which was one of the main goals), I’ve gained 10 – 15 ponds over the last few months. I now know the reason why — I was constantly eating trying to get rid of the fuzzy head I had. I actually feel bad about this because now I realize I probably ate more food than I should have during the house sitting jobs (even with my attempts to make sure I didn’t eat much of the non perishable foods). It’s much like when I’m up late at night and I’m tired — I eat snacks to try to get the energy to finish what needs to get done before I go to bed. I have been basically doing that all day.

I’ve never been one that has needed to diet. I usually get enough exercise doing the things that I like to do that I can eat anything I want without it being an issue. So the issue isn’t that I need to go on a diet, it’s that I need to stop eating extra excessively in an attempt to clear my head. Since the fuzzy head feeling is still with me and will likely remain for at a minimum of a few weeks as the vitamin D gets into my system, I’m going to have to make a conscious decision to stop myself from snacking to try to clear my head. It’s not a challenge I’m looking forward to.

While this all makes perfect sense to me now, it’s something that didn’t all click together until I was diagnosed with the vitamin D deficiency. I’m quite concerned how my productivity is going to be from now until my head does clear up, because that extra food was the only thing that seemed to keep me going, even if it didn’t clear my head up much. Now that I’m aware of this excessive eating and know I need to cut back, there is a big question mark on how much work I’m going to be able to do on a daily basis. While I’m confident that I’ll get back to my normal weight once my head clears up, I’d rather not gain any more until that time comes.

I say this because my first day of not snacking constantly was torture. Although I sat in front of my computer the entire day, I wasn’t able to accomplish much. I usually like to write 3 + articles along with a whole list of other daily activities, and I didn’t come close to getting that done. I can tell these next few weeks are going to be challenging to say the least. Any suggestions on how I might be able to deal with the fuzzy head feeling while still being productive, but without consuming extra food until my head begins to clear up?

Day 41

It was time to go to begin another house sitting gig. Since the weather said it was going to be a beautiful day, I decided that I would get up early do some hiking in the Marin Headlands in the morning and afternoon. It’s really an interesting place because it has beautiful California coast:

and at the same time, the area is littered with old, rusting, metal military bunkers:

and even larger cement military bunkers:

The gun turrets in these large bunkers no longer hold guns, but instead have become ponds 20 feet deep:

Then as you walk along the hills, you may come across one of those cannons that used to be in the turrets — all sixty plus feet of it:

And it’s important not to forget all the beautiful views:

It’s certainly an interesting and beautiful place to explore and I was never quite sure what I was going to see around every bend as I hiked up into the hills. Getting out hiking seems to help my head clear up a bit, but it seems to last only for the time I’m outside, so it doesn’t help me much when I need to get in front of the computer and write.

While I certainly will have productivity challenges over the next few weeks, the last two days didn’t add any money to my spending. The drive up the coast was paid for as compensation for house sitting job I was driving to do, and there were no costs to visit the Marin Headlands.

Yesterday’s & Today’s Spending

Food: $0.00
Car: $0.00
Housing: $0.00
Travel: $0.00
Health: $00.00
Misc: $0.00

Total: $00.00