Who is Cleanshave?
My name is Chris Miller, I’m a long distance hiker with no permanent address, and Cleanshave is my trail name.
What’s a Trail Name?
A trail name is somewhat of a tradition when thru hiking long distance trails as an alternative to a persons “real” name. Hiking has been a large part of reshaping my life, and since there are a lot of other Chris Miller’s, it has become a sort of distinguishing trademark that’s sets me apart from the others.
Why Cleanshave?
Cleanshave has been my trail name since thru hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2011. In part it was because I shaved regularly, unlike many hikers who used the opportunity of spending months in the woods to grow a beard.
For me, Cleanshave was also an indication of my ability to narrowly escape potentially disastrous circumstances, often at the last minute.
What kind of disastrous circumstances are we talking about?
I’m a dreamer more than anything else, and like Thales, the first philosopher from Plato’s dialogue Theætetus, I’m more likely to fall into the mire while gazing at the stars. Luckily I often seem to pull myself out just in the nick of time.
Unfortunately, being a dreamer does not lend itself towards achievement, and the day to day concerns that most people would consider requirements simply fall to wayside. Which is probably why a simple life, living out of my backpack, appeals to me so much.
So you spend your time hiking?
As much as possible. Long distance hiking was a much needed catharsis, and my 2011 Appalachian Trail thru hike cleared a large chunk of repressed psychological baggage. Every hike after that has dug even deeper into those dark corners, solidifying a personal foundation which has given me a deep sense of joy, contentment and balance.
There is also a sense of both freedom and fulfilment being away from the cluttered, hectic pace of modern culture.
How do you pay for hiking?
I write hiking books which aren’t really about hiking. I’ve done work for stay, as well as house, trailer and even van sitting, simply to have a roof over my head during the winter months. For the most part though, my lifestyle does not require many resources, and unlike the majority of people I am not saddled with debt in the form of school loans, house payments, rent, utility bills or dependants. Nor do I have aspirations to acquire those things, contrary to the prevailing ideas of the majority of the population.
What is it that you hope to achieve with this website?
First, to offer my first hand experience, not only other long distance hikers, but also to other dreamers like myself who might feel stifled or constricted by modern society.
Second, it is a creative outlet with a very functional foundation in that it allows me to structure ideas using very limited equipment, i.e. the cheap cell phone with which I build this website.
What’s the best way to contact you?
Please don’t. Lol.
I have spent the majority of my life falling through societies cracks, so much so that being invisible is where I feel comfortable.
Oddly enough, if you absolutely had to contact me, the best way would be to comment on a recent Instagram post.