Some hikers thrive on a difficult trip while others wear down quickly.
To survive & thrive, most importantly, avoid getting sick.
Be sure that standards of hygiene are maintained. Faecal contamination of any kind is the easiest way to get sick. Be sure to put alcohol-based antibacterial gel on your hands throughout the day, particularly before you stick your hands into a bag of GORP.
Al Brawn in Soaring with the Eagles cites a statistic from Tilton (Gut Reactions)
Viral syndromes & diarrhoea account for 60% of the illnesses and 45% of the illness evacuations (from wilderness programs)!
Proper food and safe, sufficient water are essential.
Safe Water
Water is no problem on the Paine Circuit. There is no giardia as yet, for example.
Still, it cannot hurt to treat water:
- boiling
- chemical disinfection
- filters
- purifiers
Be Prepared
The Paine Circuit is long & demanding.
You must be prepared mentally & physically. You must haul the right gear <checklist>.
You must be informed. Do your homework. Take notes from — or print — sections of this website.
Despite our long list of warnings, the fact is that almost everyone survives the Paine Circuit.
Any fit person can do it — unless they have chronic knee, ankle, or back pain.
But the more prepared you are, the better.
First Aid Kit
Prepare for the worst! You need a far better First Aid kit than usual on the Circuit as you may find no one else to care for you.
Someone in your group should be qualified to administer First Aid. This is a serious responsibility.
Pre-hike Conditioning
You should be fit to attempt the Circuit.
To prepare for the hike, some load the pack and practice climbing up and down a ladder. Or climb stairs wearing your pack.
Take shorter practice hikes, too, with extra heavy packs (loaded with books and power tools).
Hiking Technique
- Avoid the strain of big lunge step-ups, and the impact of big drop step-downs, whenever possible.
- Step OVER a log or obstacle to a foot placement of similar height to your back foot when you can.
- Zigzag on steep sections. Many small steps are better than taking one big step up or down.
- To assist with a big step-ups (when unavoidable) push down on your knee with your hand as you extend that leg
- Take many short rests. Sit with your pack-on whenever you find a convenient stump or log.
- Take off your pack to stretch whenever possible
- Make frequent adjustments to your pack harness. Keep shifting weight off of pressure points.
