Mountain Project Logo

Any AT thru hikers?

Original Post
mustardtiger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 20

So I have been kicking around the idea of doing a thru hike and would like some advice that doesn't pop up on google.

BigFeet · · Texas · Joined May 2014 · Points: 385

What, is the question?

Over 2000 miles is a big undertaking. I've never done the AT, but I've done shorter.

Planning ahead will make the difference in finishing. Specifically planning out your provision cache spots.

Edit to add:
A good guide book will usually have information about towns along the trail that you can resupply or even have provisions sent. Maybe even get a taste of civilization, even for just a short time, to grab a burger and fries, take a shower, or whatnot.

Pack to where as much of your gear has multiple uses or is as small and light as possible. Cut tags off, cut toothbrush down, and on down the line. It adds up when the pack is on your back all day... for multiple days.

I keep Superglue, Moleskin, Duct Tape, and a razorblade in my first aid - comes in handy in more ways than one.

Have designated places to check in with someone.

Buy a good water filter, for it may be hard to find a clean source when you need it most. Check out MSR. I use the Sweetwater.

Main thing is planning the actual logistics of resupply unless you are short section hiking. Get this dialed in and the trip will be less stressful.

The Blueprint Part Dank · · FEMA Region VIII · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 460

What is this hiking of which you speak?

Haha, seriously though, get your shit together financially, it's not a cheap through hike. Aside from food costs, you'll probably go through a couple packs and two to three pairs of shoes*

  • Trail runners, not hiking boots, never hiking boots on the AT, get some heavy duty, gore-tex trail runners and some super lightweight gaiters and you'll be all happy feet up in this shizzle
mustardtiger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 20

The financial thing is going to be the toughest, besides Maine from what I hear. I'm not worried about spending money on the trail though. I have a car payment and student loans that need to be taken care of.

So far my plan is to sell the car a month before and use the money to pay it off. Then I'll put the rest into my bank account and it should be enough to keep the payments for school going for 7 months. I have a seperate bank account for traveling and it's really nagging at me to spend some of it.

Gear isn't such a big deal besides maybe a new sleeping bag and of course a fresh pair of shoes.

Also I'm planning on taking a week of vacation this fall to hike the pine mountain trail in kentucky . I would like to see how I handle a week alone in the woods. Plus it's a long trail that I will not be able to complete in a week but it's pretty challenging.

mustardtiger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 20

That's exactly why I want to test myself before I sell my car and quit my job lol. I always loved hiking and when you live in mountains with tons of rock and no guidebooks you do a lot of it.

Sudeste · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 0

I thru hiked in 2010 and I'd be glad to answer any questions.

2 quick comments on what's been discussed so far - finances and seeing if you can cut it a week in E KY -

Don't underestimate the cost of a thru hike - not all but most gear will fail in 2000 miles / 120+ consecutive nights/days of use.

Also, as far as being able to hack it mentally or physically - you probably won't know til you try. Is Maine hard? Yes if you are a weekend warrior. But when you have 1900 miles beneath you, it's not bad.

Feel free to ask whatever. My hike was only successful bc other people helped me. I am happy to give back.

mustardtiger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 20

I'm surprised you know where pine mountain trail is! I lives near the trail head for 4 years and spent countless weekends hiking around that area. I know how brutal it is hiking up endless hills so I'm prepared for that. I hiked a very small portion of the AT at clingmans dome and I was amazed at how clear and well kept the trail was.

Another concern of mine is loosing my upper body strength when hiking for six months. I love climbing and don't want to loose my strength. I was considering meeting up with people through this site while on the trail for some bouldering.

Also the big question is, if you could go back to 2010 would you have gone on the trail?

I am sure I'll think of more questions for you so I'll send you a pm when it comes along.

Sudeste · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 0

I grew up climbing in the Gorge, went to school in Lex, miss Kentucky everyday!

There are definitely resources out there re: bouldering along the AT. It's not great but it's there. You can always do push ups, pull ups, etc.

When I thru hiked I had just come from a lot of alpine climbing so I was more tuned into pushing long miles, endurance, etc. That made me refocus my journey and reconsider non essential activities that could jeopardize success.

But that said - you'll be a short drive from Seneca, the New River Gorge, Looking Glass - classic Southern climbs - so maybe your buddies will come meet up and take you climbing and watch you eat 4 hamburgers like it was nothing.

JaminT Rossetter · · Gloucester, MA · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 0

Financially, how much does it cost you to live normally for 4-6 months? Yes, you'll buy gear, but you wont be paying rent, you'l be eating and living on the cheap, you wont be driving, etc. Honestly, hiking the AT cost less than average life for me.

Also, how many chances in life are there to take 6 months and just walk? Go for it, don't pass it up!

mustardtiger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 20

Isn't really a chance. I have other plans for next year but at the moment this seems most important. I have the typical story of an escapist. I feel lost at this point in my life. I have a job doing service work for apartments but I have two bachelors degrees I'm not using. I lost a great friend back in the spring in the absolute worst way. I think that's what's making me really want to do this. My friend was my age and had a ton of dreams. Now he is gone and didn't get to do much living. I have been doing small things I always wanted to do since his passing. Now it's time to tackle the big dreams.

Sounds cheesey doesn't it.

Sudeste · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 0

To JaminT and MustardTiger - Forgive me for getting too philosophical and long winded here...

Everybody has a different story - and for me, perhaps the greatest take-away from my thru-hike, was hearing and learning to respect those stories. The AT lifestyle for 90% of people is a massive paradigm switch that lets/makes you look inside yourself and well, what happens after that is on you.

So what you're doing out there, what your goal is, what you want, what you bring, and on and on and the diversity in those things amongst the people on the trail is what makes it great. SO MUSTARDTIGER - nothing cheesy about that. Own it man. I've heard some serious stories out there - cheating wives, divorce, deceit, death, bankruptcy, lottery winners, love - it's all fair game - and old hat.

THAT SAID.... what you're doing out there also largely determines what you'll spend. Some people are on a mission to live as cheap as possible. Some people save money and spend it to enjoy themselves. Millionaire or pauper - there will be miserable moments that you cannot buy yourself out of. But whatever speaks to you, do it. My only advice is have more money that you think you'll need because SOMETHING will go wrong. Shoes blow out, tent poles and pack frames break, lyme disease, giardia, family members die.... use your imagination.

I had the good fortune of working in gear shops, so I had relationships with companies and other shops. That greatly helped with my gear expenses.

All told, I spent almost $6,000. But I also took a weekend to catch a flight to a wedding or graduation, I got a hotel room a few times, I enjoyed myself because realistically - I may never get to do this again. I was not going to cut corners on my one shot.

I also took 5 months. It can be done conservatively in 4.5 months and in a hustle 4 months. But once you get out of Mass/Conn you start to realize that when you finish, you have to go home. And it's a dismal thought. Because you learn to love living in the backcountry.

Hope this helps fellows - of course, feel free to PM me and I'll give you my email address if you want to ask more questions, etc.

Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945

I've never done the AT through, but used to be a mnt trips counselor in my youth in ME and NH. I think NH is the real challenge... Maybe take a week trip up and hike NH if you've never been. Then you'll have an idea about what the hard stuff is like.

mustardtiger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 20

I know it's going to be tough. I have been to NH. I have been to all states and hiked a little in each. I have most experience in tennesse nc virgina. I am trying to do it very cheap. My goal is to spend maybe 5 nights in hotels. Just for stuff like holidays or my birthday lol.

Honestly I was hoping this crazy idea would pass in a couple weeks like all my other extravagant plans but I have been thinking about this for over a year.

Budget at this time is $4000.

newrivermike · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 0

One piece of advice above that I disagree with... In my opinion, DO NOT plan food drops/send packages to yourself. You'll end up getting to the post office on Sunday morning and losing a day while you wait, plus your body starts craving all sorts of weird shit and odd amounts of it. When you show up, three months in, to that care package full of rationed oats and raisins, you'll wanna throw it in the trash.

The trail is buffed out from start to finish with resupply points. Get one of those books that tell you where they are and just go. You will want the flexibility. It's impossible to tell how fast or slow you'll be moving and the PO only holds packages for a few weeks. There are wilderness sections of the trail, of course, but most of it offers frequent places to dip into civilization and brown bag a 40 in front of a gas station.

To answer another question you asked: You will get unbelievably weak for climbing. It would be really hard to prevent it. You'll probably be pretty focused and have full days from sun up to sun down. Doing ab work and pull-ups after a 30-mile day isn't likely. When I finished, I weighed 112 pounds and could barely do a pull-up. If you're worried about staying fit for climbing, go on a climbing trip. It will be A LOT more fun.

mustardtiger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 20

I'm doing that this fall. A week backpacking in Colorado.

The Blueprint Part Dank · · FEMA Region VIII · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 460

You've probably already read it... However, on the off chance that you haven't, A Walk In The Woods by Bill Bryson is essential reading.

I certainly haven't done a throug hike of any substance, but when I worked at a gear shop in Chattanooga, TN, I met countless people at various stages of completion on the trail (it seemed like a lot of folks got picked up around the Nantahala by friends in Chattanooga for a weekend of civilization either going to or coming from springer mountain) so I got a lot of really honest feedback from folks about the gear they used an what not. For what it's worth, this is what it remember.

1. Maps- get some scissors, cut off every part of them without pertinent information.
2. Toothbrush- cut it in half, keep the business end
3. Water filter- throw it away, learn to use bleach in a dropper.
4. Stove- anything more than a "pocket rocket" size stove is overkill. In fact, most of the more successful hikers were using a homemade Alcohol burning stove made from beer cans
5. Trekking poles- the one thing you really don't want to skimp on weight for. Get the most bomber heavy duty poles you can afford. Like these
6. Backpack- make sure you get a pack with a removable frame-sheet, pull it out and replace it with your folded up sleeping pad. (Z-lite from Thermarest)
7. Sleeping bag- it's best to plan according to the weather. You most likely will want two different ones during the duration of your hike, start with the lightest one you can get by with, and as the weather grows colder, make arrangements to have a heavier one shipped to you.
8. Water bottles- don't bring them stick to collapsible models like a platypus or something similar
9. Rain shell- Outdoor Research Helium II nothing else will serve you as well.
10. Food- go with the highest caloric density food you can stomach, don't try to be all gourmet, eat for fuel on the trail and indulge yourself in yummy stuff when you stop in various towns
11.- Pack cover- A heavy duty garbage bag will do just as well as a specialty made pack cover
12. Energy- coffee is a luxury and will slow you down in the morning while you brew up. When I was at the gear shop, the
"Sheets" energy strips had just come out and they were super popular with through hikers
13-fanny pack- yeah, these are generally lame, but get a good one to wear on your front to put energy bars, chap stick and other stuff you're going to need quick access to.
14.- duct tape- bring a lot of it, there's no end to what you can improvise with a roll of duct tape

Hope this helps

mustardtiger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 20

That's good advice. I am slowly gathering the things I'll need. One thing I am split on is a tent. I am undecided on a conventional tent with normal rods and the type of tent that uses the trekking sticks. Also I will probably get a good cold weather sleeping bag and on hot nights I'll just leave it open to lay on and use a small sheet to cover up.

The Blueprint Part Dank · · FEMA Region VIII · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 460
mustardtiger wrote:That's good advice. I am slowly gathering the things I'll need. One thing I am split on is a tent. I am undecided on a conventional tent with normal rods and the type of tent that uses the trekking sticks. Also I will probably get a good cold weather sleeping bag and on hot nights I'll just leave it open to lay on and use a small sheet to cover up.
Use dual purpose items whenever possible. Those tent poles will be used for nothing else the whole trip except your tent. Trekking poles serve two purposes, so it's a no brainer
newrivermike · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 0
mustardtiger wrote: I am undecided on a conventional tent with normal rods and the type of tent that uses the trekking sticks. Also I will probably get a good cold weather sleeping bag and on hot nights I'll just leave it open to lay on and use a small sheet to cover up.
Everyone ditches the tent right away. Don't bother. I recommend a bivy sack or a floor-less tarp and hiking pole setup if you want flexibility. (myself and many others had no personal shelter at all for long stretches of the trail) You'll spend 75% of your nights in the luxury of the numerous shelters anyway, especially if it's raining, you'll gun for one. If it's not raining and you need to hunker down in the woods, the bivy or tarp is adequate.

I can't stress the importance of lightness enough. You have to be light or you'll hate life. +1 for the beer can stove also.

I'd also recommend a light sleeping bag. Taking a heavy one and a sheet weighs a lot. Take a light bag and a nano weight puff jacket, beanie hat, and lightweight thermal bottoms. Those items will keep you warm on the rare cool night but you can also wear them around camp to stay comfy. Don't set off in hot humid Georgia in April with the equipment to stay warm in Maine in October. Get those extras mailed to you when the weather shifts(or buy what you know you want after 1500 miles of experience)Everything in your pack should be dual purpose... Not trying to be preachy, just helpful. Take it or leave it.
Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945

I would also add... on the pack cover idea... ditch the cover idea all together.

If you're worried about your pack getting wet and thus heavier, then treat it with some nikwax type stuff before and at drops. If you're worried about your clothes sleeping bag etc then I would highly recommend two heavy duty garbage bags INSIDE your pack as a liner. This will keep your shit dry ALWAYS and even if you drop it in a river or something silly. Outside is prone to puncture, leaks etc and ultimately your sleeping bag and clothes will get soaked.

In the same tone, I have always wondered why people put tarps under their tents... mine always goes on the inside so even if my tent is in 3" of water the inside stays dry.

mustardtiger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 20

Keep it coming! So no tent just a tarp. Also these shelters are free right? How primitive are they. I understand it varies but in my head I'm picturing a concert pad with a roof over it.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Other Sports
Post a Reply to "Any AT thru hikers?"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.