[pct-l] Sleepless on the trail

[shutterbugg313 at yahoo.com (Shutterbug steiner)]

I too have the problem of not sleeping and have not figured out a solution.  I too figured hiking 25+ a day would force sound sleeping paterns.  I am a night person 2:00Am to late morning often at home.  I forced myself to try to go to bed at dark and wake up really early ---- tossing and turning is all it did.  I was hiking/camping solo and it was more wet than dry 15 days in the cascades.  I found that my Big Agnis bag was either too hot and I felt like I was in a zip lock bag .... and the big angnes matt (1in +) just never seemed to be right.  Towards the end I know this was hurting me more that the miliage per day ...... sorry no soluntions but I can comiserate.  This might be my biggest hurdle in my evolution into a Long Distance hiker.  More advice is welcome!
 
Duane Shutterbug

Monty Tam <metam01@earthlink.net> wrote:

I had the same problem off and on the trail.

I found a few things that helped me:

1) My doctor recommended an.........................antihistamine?
Cheap, over-the-counter, Walmart "Equate Allergy Medication"
Diphenhydramine HCI. One usually does it. She said one or two.
It's lighter than a dose of Tylenol. Works!

2) Before attempting sleep, put on your headlamp and read your maps, data
books, etc. for the next day. Write.


3) I just heard this one and it worked for me. If I toss and turn for more
than 15 minutes, GET UP?
Do something. I put on my headlamp and read maps, supply strategies,
trail data, and my town book.
Works! 

4)Preventative
a) Hike- After 20 to 30 miles you'll sleep well. Hopefully on a
Thermarest rather than on a hospital bed.
b) Hike- Hike late into the evening so all you have time for is a
quick camp set up and a quick dinner.
c) Hike- Start hiking early. Start hiking before it's light.


> [Original Message]
> From: Cathy 
> To: Steve Peterson 
> Cc: 

> Date: 10/1/04 6:34:56 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Sleepless on the trail
>
> Hi I have a three quarter thermarest, inflates to 1 and a half inches. Its
> great, what I have found is when I have the proper pillow, height wise, it
> makes all the difference in the world--or are you thinking about what's
out
> there that is scary?
> Ground Pounder Bill
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve Peterson" 
> To: 

> Sent: Friday, October 01, 2004 4:22 PM
> Subject: [pct-l] Sleepless on the trail
>
>
> > Does anyone else have trouble sleeping on the trail, even after a couple
> of
> > weeks? If so, what do you do about it?
> >
> > After my 11-day trip I figured I just wasn't out there long enough, but
> after my
> > 16-day JMT trip I'm doubting that's the answer. Someone on the trail
> suggested 2
> > Tylenol PM per night (which is lighter than a thicker Thermarest), but
I'd
> be
> > interested in other solutions, too. I'm not drinking caffeine at all,
but
> I am
> > eating chocolate; hate to have to make a choice between chocolate and
> sleep,
> > though.
> >
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