Process in general terms is defined as “a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end”.  We found that by following a “process” while on trail that our days were efficient and habit forming thus making our overall journey more pleasant.  We instinctively executed a number of routines, many of which were learned along the way, a few of which are highlighted below:

• What foods we purchased (resupply) & how we organized
• Our morning routine
• How we organized (in order) our backpacks
• How and when we gathered (scooped) and filtered drinking water
• How we determined where to stay for the night(s)
• How we prepared each evening at shelter/tent sites
• Charging our electronics
• What our nights were like

What foods we purchased (resupply) & how we organized

On-Trail meals: we separated all of our foods into “categorized” Ziplock bags, then subsequently placed them in a nylon bag.  The most popular items we consumed on-trail are listed below.

• Breakfast:  Carnation Instant Breakfast (chocolate & vanilla), Quaker Oats Protein-Enriched oatmeal, instant coffee packs
• Lunch: Various STARKIST Tuna & Chicken Creation packets, BBQ pork & Buffalo Chicken packets, tortilla wraps, Peanut Butter, Smucker’s Un-Crustables
• Dinner: Chicken & Beef flavored Ramen Noodles, added tuna & chicken, instant potatoes, spices, and prepared dinner packs (Pad Thai, Cuban Rice, Mac & Cheese, Lasagna) 
• Snacks: Pop Tarts, Little Debbie’s snacks, Granola Bars, Trail Mix, M&M’s, Sour Patches, Twinkies, Skittles
• Desserts:  Bear Claws, Honey Buns, Chips Ahoy Cookies, Quest Cookies, mini donuts
• Energy drinks (mix and liquid): Powerade, Gatorade
• Protein Bars:  Various flavored CLIF Bars, Gatorade Bars, BUILDERS Bars, LUNA Bars
• Trash: wrappers, etc.

Off Trail meals – Cooked meals (at available restaurants and hostels) and Fast-Food meals (McDonalds, Subway, Chipotle).

Our morning routine

If hiking separately (during stays in either a shelter or tent), Rich’s morning started around 4:00 am (NLT 4:30 am), and Stevie’s day started around 7:00am (NLT 7:30am). We exercised this approach to maximize efficiency. In the long run, it helped to shave at least 3 or 4 days off of our overall hike. For hotel and most hostel nights, we had a special deal to sleep in until 8:00am to grab breakfast.

Rich and Stevie’s morning routine were essentially identical with regards to packing up:  Stuff puffy quilt into sack, dress, deflate & fold mattress, break down equipment (tent, rain cover & support poles). Place items in backpack (see how we organize items in order).  

Stevie usually went for a morning bathroom break and drank a liter of water before packing up.  Rich would eat an energy bar, grab trekking poles, conduct a final look-around, then tap Stevie’s quilt (to provide him with ~ 2-hour warning) before leaving.  By 7:00 am, Rich would stop on trail to eat his breakfast, and video call Teresa.  Stevie would eat breakfast and plan which snacks would go in his quick access pockets. Lastly, Stevie would always fill up & filter water (if available) before leaving camp.

How we organized items (in order) in our backpacks

Stevie placed his quilt at the bottom of his backpack in a waterproof bag to assure no leaking occurred when his pack was laying on the ground.  Then came the tent, THERMAREST mattress, electronics, and clothes.  An lastly, the food/cooking bag on top for easy snacking throughout the day. Electronics were also placed in a waterproof bag, and secured in the middle of the pack to ensure they stayed dry.  Polls stayed in the left side outer pouch, extra water bottle and Katadyne filter in the right-side pouch, snacks in the front right pouch, TP/sanitizer/knife in front left pouch, JustinUL water bottle holder, and wet gear, sandals or extra food in the back pouch.

Rich packed his gear in the following order: tent & rain cover, THERMAREST mattress, quilt, polls, clothes, food, cooking, and electronics inside his backpack.  JustinUL water bottle holder attached to upper left strap, Katadyne water filter and extra water/drinks in outer side pouches, snacks (front left pocket), wallet, paperwork and knife (front right pocket).  Light jacket, extra pair of glasses, sunglasses and toiletries in right side zipped pocket, and puffy jacket in left side zipped pocket.  Then finally backpack rain cover, rain jacket and flip-flops in back pouch.     

How & when we gathered (scooped) & filtered drinking water

We would consistently check the FAROUT app for upcoming water source locations (streams, brooks, waterfalls, spigots).  We usually filtered water at every stream (especially strong flowing ones), and we conserved on water when there were stretches of miles between sources.  We would scoop into a flexible pouch, attach filter cover, squeeze into 1 liter bottle.  Then re-scoop and pack away for later.

How we determined where to stay for the night(s)

We would consistently check the FAROUT app for upcoming shelters and campsites, and which ones had water supplies and privies.  We even would check for road junctures that would lead to resupply options, pending our food status.  Sometimes we heard about amazing hostels on the trail from other hikers, or online, and would plan our next few days to hit those milestones (Mountain Harbour Inn, Stanimals, Mountain Meadows Lodge VT, etc.)

How we prepared each evening at shelter/tent sites

We would hang up our wet clothes to dry out, place our shoes at the end of the shelter, and either place our food in a bear box (if available) or keep it with us in the tent or shelter.  We rarely hung our food (maybe a dozen times overall). On evenings that we would tent, Rich would set up his tent and mattress first, and relax for 15 minutes before prepping dinner.

We would snack on candy while water boiled and talk about what we were going to eat for dinner (ramen bomb or add tuna or both)

Nighttime rituals: No pillows so we’d use a stuff sack of clothes, or fold over our puffy jacket if not using it. Sometimes used a baby wipe if really dirty. 

Charging our electronics

EVERY NIGHT! This included our phones, headlamps, watch or FitBit, and power banks (reserve power pack). Power banks were used to charge other items for when we had no access to charging ports.

What our nights were like

Our nights were mostly quiet and peaceful UNLESS you get a loud snorer (chainsaw guy) or loud wildlife (whip-poor-wills or coyote/bears). There is term called “Hiker’s Midnight” which is any time after sunset, but usually around 7-8pm, where everyone is so tired, they pass out for the night. That said, we are not staying up late unless we are physically hiking. Bedtime was usually between 8-10 pm.

Stevie usually slept through the night until morning, but Rich got up either 3 or 4 times per night consistently to go to the bathroom. Because of that rhythm, Rich would sleep with his headlamp on (would turn it on “red” lamp mode for night vision and to not disturb other hikers). He also would place his flip-flops beside his bed placing his glasses on one of them, and his phone on the other.

For Stevie, before he got used to sleeping on a pad, he had to constantly readjust his sleeping position to avoid pressure on each side of his body. 

On very cold nights you just bundle up with your buff over your face and go to sleep immediately.