One of the more interesting  rituals of long distance hiking, and especially thru-hikes, is the use of Trail Names. There are many reasons this has become accepted practice from the basic idea of taking on a new identity to the concept of social leveling…plus it’s just fun! If I introduce myself as “Dean” to someone I meet on the trail the other person has really learned nothing about me…but if I introduce myself as Bug Juice there is an instant understanding, even if they don’t know the backstory of the name. Speaking of which…where exactly did the name Bug Juice come from?

What is that Red stuff in the tube?