Realistic Mileage Per Day

[jgeise01]

Hey guys,

A quick question for you all. I'm planning a 9 day hike on the trail from Northern Virginia to Central Pennsylvania. I'm trying to figure out what a realistic daily mileage is for myself and my friend. We're both 21 year olds, in NROTC and we're both in pretty good shape. We want time to read, journal and enjoy the trail but some things I've read have suggested that 1 mile per hour is realistic for beginners. I feel as though that's a really slow pace for us. What do you all think? If we want to hike around 6-7 hours per day, what is a realistic daily mileage? Any suggestions for starting points in Virginia, ending in Duncannon PA? I appreciate it greatly!

Happy hiking,

Julien

[ShakeyLeggs]

Hi you say your in pretty good shape but my question is it hiking shape? I would say you can reasonably expect to average about 2 mph but don't get excited about your speed as it will fluctuate all day long. You say you want to hike from Virginia to Duncannon that is a great hike. Will this be your first backpacking trip? I would suggest starting in Harpers Ferry and heading north from there. I see you are in Harrisburg. You can catch a train there and take it to Harpers as there is a train station there. The total distance from Harpers to Duncannon is 124.4 miles which you will have to cover 14 miles per day to do. Which if you are in decent shape is doable. But if this is your first backpacking trip may be a bit much right out of the gate. The terrain from Harpers to Duncannon is pretty mild compared to other parts of the trail. I envy you as I just recently got off the trail due to an injury I was trying to go from Harpers to Boiling Springs which is about 94 miles which is more doable for a first timer in 9 days as it would require you do about 10 miles a day. Good luck and enjoy the hike.

[Moon Monster]

Your rate would indeed vary throughout the day and day by day. I find hot, humid days to take at least 0.5 mph off my normal pace, and we'll have those days soon. Also, if you get blisters, that can take a big toll on what you could do w/o them. All said, you may find yourselves on some stretches doing 3.5 mph and others only 1.5 mph. I think a good average for hiking/water stops/brief breaks judging on your description of yourselves is 2.5 mph+/- a quarter on that section. If you rise at dawn and camp at dusk, you will have oodles of time for long breaks and still get in 6-7 hours a day (and you'll also have time after 9pm to read and journal by headlamp).

[Grinder]

I'm just back from my first A/T hike.

I'm lots older than you guys, but I thought I was in shape too.

I busted my ass 8 to 10 hours per day to get 7 1/2 miles in. The end of the second day, I was too tired to cook. two instant breakfasts and a bagel were dinner.

I sure wouldn't plan on 10 miles per day if I wanted to smell any flowers.

Tom

[terrapin_too]

"Miles per day" depends on lots of factors. Your age and condition. The weather. The specific nature of the trail you're hiking. On most parts of the AT, excluding "zero days" I can hike about 15 miles a day without too much trouble -- I average about 1.5 mph over the course of a typical 10-hour day of hiking. In the Whites, that number goes way down, to 1 mph.

I'm not familiar with the specific part of the trail you're intending to do. I hear Shenandoah National Park is easy. From what I know so far of eastern Pennsylvania it's not at all hard (as far as verticals go) but it is kinda rocky.

[Footslogger]

At your age, presuming you are in good shape, a plan of 16 miles per day in that are is VERY realistic. In fact, you might be able to do more ...but you asked for a "realistic" estimate.

'Slogger

[Peaks]

OK, a couple of things. First, "book" time is 2 miles per hour, plus 1/2 hour for each 1000 feet of elevation gain (climb). There isn't much elevation change in the Northern Virginia and Central PA sections, so it shouldn't be a problem to average close to 2 miles per hour.

Second, in addition to terrain, your pace varies during the day. The morning miles always seem a lot shorter than the afternoon miles.

Third, if it's only a 9 day hike, you aren't going to be in good hiking shape for much of the trip.

So, what's a good number to use for planning? Given the area, and youth, I'd suggest 12 to 14 miles per day.

[Appalachian Tater]

Plan on 10-12 miles a day. That way you can take time to relax, go swimming, goof around. Plan a couple of endpoints and if you find yourself going faster, you can go a little farther. It's more fun and safer if you're not trying to pack the miles in. The time you spend on the trail is what is enjoyable, not the number of miles.

[Marta]

At your age and assuming you do some running and similar activity (surely NROTC doesn't just involve classroom work :-))) I'm guessing you could do 12-15 miles per day. Two miles an hour is quite an average pace. Three miles an hour through the Shenandoahs is very doable for active youths. If your packs and bodies are light and you're both in good shape (you're Ultimate Frisbee or soccer players, for instance), 20 miles per day would be reasonable for at least a couple of the days you're out.

I'm also assuming you're going this summer, when you've got lots of daylight to work with.

Things that can drag your speed down--packs in excess of 45 pounds, body weight more than 25 pounds above ideal, boot/shoe/blister problems, sprains or strains or other pains, not eating enough food or drinking enough water.

The other big factor is just a decision about how many hours a day you want to walk. Do you want to sleep until noon and knock off at 5? Six hours of hiking times two mph equals a twelve-mile day. Or do you want to hike for a solid ten hours a day? That'll get you a 20-mile day.

Have a good hike!

Marta/Five-Leaf

[Programbo]

Well if you are in decent shape Harpers Ferry-Duncannon is a good 9 day trip..The trail along MD-PA isn`t that up and down climb wise..I think I did that stretch like 6 times or so back in the day..Of course then there was that insane 21 mile road walk across the Great Valley...But if you are flat out "beginners" then even the smaller climbs thru this area might seem like mountains to you...The first solo trip I ever took in my life I did 12 miles the first day and that was with a $19.95 frame pack that had no waist belt when I was 16 so I have faith in you guys to do as well or better ;)

[DawnTreader]

At your age and assuming you do some running and similar activity (surely NROTC doesn't just involve classroom work :-))) I'm guessing you could do 12-15 miles per day. Two miles an hour is quite an average pace. Three miles an hour through the Shenandoahs is very doable for active youths. If your packs and bodies are light and you're both in good shape (you're Ultimate Frisbee or soccer players, for instance), 20 miles per day would be reasonable for at least a couple of the days you're out.

I'm also assuming you're going this summer, when you've got lots of daylight to work with.

Things that can drag your speed down--packs in excess of 45 pounds, body weight more than 25 pounds above ideal, boot/shoe/blister problems, sprains or strains or other pains, not eating enough food or drinking enough water.

The other big factor is just a decision about how many hours a day you want to walk. Do you want to sleep until noon and knock off at 5? Six hours of hiking times two mph equals a twelve-mile day. Or do you want to hike for a solid ten hours a day? That'll get you a 20-mile day.

Have a good hike!

Marta/Five-Leaf


Good advice/observations.. However, never underestimate the enjoyment had from sleeping till noon and knocking off at 5.. I've had many great times in beautiful places on this schedule...

[Kerosene]

No one has mentioned pack weight yet. If you're lugging 50 pounds each, then you may be physically able to crank out a 16-20 mile day, but you won't want to do that for 9 days straight. If you can get your packs under 30 pounds then I wouldn't be surprised if you were averaging 14-16 mpd, assuming that it doesn't get excessively humid. Remember that you're going to have to re-supply somewhere along the way, and that could easily take a half-day chunk (or more) out of your mileage.

My 110-pound future wife, who was a rank beginner and certainly not in any hiking shape when we started south from Duncannon in June 1979, averaged 12 mpd (including an 18-miler where I had to coerce her with the promise of a backrub when we got to the pool at Caledonia State Park). I could have managed at least 15 mpd, even with the 50+ pound pack I was carrying to allow her to carry a 20-pound pack.

[Kerosene]

Good advice/observations.. However, never underestimate the enjoyment had from sleeping till noon and knocking off at 5.. I've had many great times in beautiful places on this schedule...It's funny, but I'm always ready to get up and get going when I'm on the trail; I have no interest to sleep until noon. However, I've run across a lot of college-age hikers who are just breaking camp when I stroll in around noon with 12 miles under my belt. To each his own. HYOH!

[weary]

Hey guys,

A quick question for you all. I'm planning a 9 day hike on the trail from Northern Virginia to Central Pennsylvania. I'm trying to figure out what a realistic daily mileage is for myself and my friend. We're both 21 year olds, in NROTC and we're both in pretty good shape. We want time to read, journal and enjoy the trail but some things I've read have suggested that 1 mile per hour is realistic for beginners. I feel as though that's a really slow pace for us. What do you all think? If we want to hike around 6-7 hours per day, what is a realistic daily mileage? Any suggestions for starting points in Virginia, ending in Duncannon PA? I appreciate it greatly! Happy hiking,
Julien
The question is not how many miles you can do, but how many miles per day will maximize your enjoyment of a nine day walk by first time backpackers.

I would aim for a maximum of 10. And I would start out at 8 or so, especially if you want time for reading, chatting, figuring out gear, what not.

There's a lot to see and do on the AT. And a lot of interesting people to talk with and press for knowledge. Plan on eight to 10 mpd, and if you find you are running ahead of schedule, take a few extra hours off for a dip in a stream or lake, or to explore a few extra side trails to scenic overlooks, historic sites and such.

Remember, it is not miles per day that are important at age 21, but enjoyment per day. You've got a lifetime to do the miles. Only a few years of freedom for real exploration of a magnificent trail, that too many people in a hurry often miss.

Weary

[Marta]

Good advice/observations.. However, never underestimate the enjoyment had from sleeping till noon and knocking off at 5.. I've had many great times in beautiful places on this schedule...


I absolutely agree. I didn't mean to imply that there was anything wrong with that schedule; I was suggesting that the guys assess themselves honestly and agree on what would most likely be enjoyable for them. I'm a morning person, myself, but I realize that many other people are not.

If I were planning the trip for myself, I'd plan a couple of 20s, a couple of 10s, and the rest around 15. And an on-trail nero or a pass through town for a restaurant meal and resupply. (A shower and visit to the laundromat would be on my schedule, too. And ice cream. :banana ) Ideally the low-mileage days would be done when it's raining, so I could walk either between cloudbursts, or spend half the day waiting one out. The nero would happen in either a very nice place, or hanging out in a shelter or in town during very bad weather. The days at either end of the trip should probably be shortish, too, because it takes a while to get to the trailhead on day one, and to get home on the last day.

I'd probably also make arrangements to contact my pickup people about halfway through the trip to see if a change of endpoint is likely to be necessary. I'd study the maps to check out all the possibilities.

Marta/Five-Leaf

[fiddlehead]

You have to answer your question by going out there and finding out.
I see people telling you that 10 miles per day is too much. I would be bored doing 10 mpd. (if i was in shape and out to see the AT)
From my last 3 thru-hikes, my shortest day (not counting town days) was 15. But then, i'm one of those guys who hate standing still on escalators and much prefer to walk them. It's up to you!
I think at age 21 and wanting to see the AT, i would think 12-15 mpd with a day off once or twice a week would be about right. (but then maybe you like standing still on the escalators like most people)

[joec]

I have found that I get in more miles by myself than with others. The other guy may want to stop more than you and vice versa. I did two, back to back, 15 mile days solo last year and with others the most I have done is 10 miles per day. To me, 15 is to much unless you are trail conditioned. Plan on 10 and enjoy the experience.

[Kiyu]

I'm just back from my first A/T hike.

I'm lots older than you guys, but I thought I was in shape too.

I busted my ass 8 to 10 hours per day to get 7 1/2 miles in. The end of the second day, I was too tired to cook. two instant breakfasts and a bagel were dinner.

I sure wouldn't plan on 10 miles per day if I wanted to smell any flowers.

Tom
Thanks so much for your post. Most info about hiking capabilities out here is from folks who are very young or very fit. Your experience is more what I want to hear....a 20 yo telling me that it will be a piece of cake doesn't carry much water with me. Where did you hike & what aches/pains/rubs did you monitor the closest on your hike?
I'm going to start with some hikes in the SNP because it is said to be easy.....I've done blueblaze there 30 years ago but that was a lot of up and down stuff with little AT trail work. (the AT looked like a superhighway)
I plan to set 5 mpd as a realistic elder f_rt goal and if I make that celebrate a successful day.
But a mpd number doesn't really get to the limiting factors of older hikers. My list of concerns/attention from the top is feet, lower back (previous problems), knees, intestines (no comment - elder stuff), energy levels & rest. Gear issues I am working out now...although I'd really like to hear your readings on gear vs. weight for older hikers.
Did you find hiking with extra weight (elder comfort items) to be worth the additional stress on your body? How did you deal with problems differently than younger folks?

[Grinder]

KIYU

I REALLY hate to consider myself an "old guy".

I had suprisingly few pains. The main one was the climbing muscles located where the ham strings meet the glutes. They screamed in protest from the git-go. also, my cardio fitness for climbing was woefully low. I would suggest step training with your packon to get ready for that.

I'm a firm believer in "vitamin I" (that seems to be the trail name for ibuprofen) . It could be that the massive doses ( two at a time three of four times daily) of vitamin I covered up all the petty day to day aches I experience in the flat lands.
I have a tight lower back, but didn't notice it on the hike. My feet got sore under the metatarsals, but everybody seems to undergo that. My 35 pound pack got tiresome, again par for the course.

I think your idea of 5 miles per day is a good goal. That's when I began to flag.

I did find that if a took a long break (more than on hour) I was ready for more.

Water may be a problem, it was in some stretches (like Woody Gultch to Blood Mountain). I camped three miles past woody Gulch in a nice streamside campsite. The only water trom there to Blood Mountain was a trickle of a spring a mile before the top.

hope this helps

Tom

[bigcranky]

Did you find hiking with extra weight (elder comfort items) to be worth the additional stress on your body? How did you deal with problems differently than younger folks?

Speaking for myself as an A.O.F.H. (that's an Apprentice Old Fhart Hiker) of 45, the only comfort item I find of any value is a good, thick self-inflating sleeping pad. I like the Thermarest Prolite 4, in regular size. Other people like the Big Agnes Air Core pads.

In my experience (and I've only done the first quarter of the Trail in sections), nothing else is really worth the weight on my back when walking. I've pared down to a pretty light load -- not super-uber-ultralight, but a total pack weight of under 15 pounds before adding food and water (which varies according to the distance). The lighter the load on my back, the happier I am at the end of the day.

[Slosteppin]

Thanks so much for your post. Most info about hiking capabilities out here is from folks who are very young or very fit. Your experience is more what I want to hear....a 20 yo telling me that it will be a piece of cake doesn't carry much water with me. Where did you hike & what aches/pains/rubs did you monitor the closest on your hike?
I'm going to start with some hikes in the SNP because it is said to be easy.....I've done blueblaze there 30 years ago but that was a lot of up and down stuff with little AT trail work. (the AT looked like a superhighway)
I plan to set 5 mpd as a realistic elder f_rt goal and if I make that celebrate a successful day.
But a mpd number doesn't really get to the limiting factors of older hikers. My list of concerns/attention from the top is feet, lower back (previous problems), knees, intestines (no comment - elder stuff), energy levels & rest. Gear issues I am working out now...although I'd really like to hear your readings on gear vs. weight for older hikers.
Did you find hiking with extra weight (elder comfort items) to be worth the additional stress on your body? How did you deal with problems differently than younger folks?

I am probably older than most on this list. I really don't like to set distance goals for a day. I would rather stop when and where I feel like it.

I've been out backpacking twice this year, once solo and once with a group of 7 other people. When I was solo I averaged 11 miles per day. When I was with the group we averaged 9.8 miles per day. My total pack weight was 28 lb both trips. It will be a little less next time out...

Hiking and trail work are just what I do for fun. I am generally out hiking about every other day.
The only concession I've made is to carry a Big Agness Air Core to sleep on. It seems like the ground has gotten much harder the last few years. I am very aware that if I get over tired or hurt it takes longer to recover.
I've had to learn how to safely carry the pills I need to take every day.

I don't have to prove anything to anyone, I'm past that.

Slosteppin

[gsingjane]

My friend and I were musing about mileage goals the other day... it seems like there are two extremes or predominant philosophies about hiking speed and distance out there. First is the Mile Monster, where you just love to bang out those miles, it's fun to see what your body can do if you really push it, and something exhiliarating about seeing double-digit days pile up. The second is the Stop and Smell the Roses approach, where your primary goal is to enjoy the journey, see what you're seeing, and really appreciate the natural beauty and special things about the trail.

I think everybody probably has a little bit of both of these in them... or alternates back and forth as the days go by. Some of us are more towards one end of the spectrum or the other, but sometimes also it's fun to try the other approach if we've been on one track for long enough. Also, a person may become more oriented toward one approach as s/he grows older, or other circumstances change. It seems hard for one "side" of the debate to understand the other, but IMHO they're both perfectly valid ways of approaching hiking... just different. And like I say, even the most confirmed dawdlers have a little bit of the Mile Monster in them some days, and the mileage kings and queens like to Smell one or two Roses from time to time, too!

Jane in CT

[iamscottym]

I, like you, am 21 and in good shape. This fall I did the shannies with my dad. He has heart trouble, so he was definitely the limiting factor as far as mpd. We averaged 2 mph, and hiked for about 4 hours per day (8mpd). I carried a 90lb pack (I only weigh 160lbs), and found our pace to be unbearably slow.

I find that walker at a slower pace than 'normal' is just as hard as walking faster. I'm going back to rehike it in July, and I expect to pull 25 milers with no trouble. Of course, I've since lightened my load to <30, and switched to trail runners. And I also tend to get enjoyment out of pushing myself physically (and I carry a gps to track my miles), so even if you're in the same physical shape, you may not get any enjoyment out of hiking this fast

[DavidNH]

From Northern Virginia to central PA the terrain is fairly easy (well easy compared to most of the AT!) so I think 10-15 mpd would be a very reasonable milage. Many thru hikers do 20-30 mpd in this section but I would not recommend shooting that high since you aren't thru hikers but out for a vacation! Also..being 21 as you say.. You are probably in descent shape.

Perhaps the first 1-2 days plan on 10 mpd max and then you can go up if that seems too easy.

David

[Kerosene]

At your age and for this section I'd plan for 15 mile days. You might try to do a bunch in the morning when it's cool, take some time to do your reading at a nice spot, and finish up in the late afternoon and perhaps after a rejuvenating dinner.