Planning at Thruhike

[Chaco Taco]

Just want to ask the Vetrans and recent Thru's to answer:

1. How long did it take to prepare for YOUR thru?

2. How much money did you spend actually on the AT (trailtowns, luxury)?

3. The most difficult section for you mentally and the most difficult section physically?

Thanks in advance. i always like seeing the results each time one of these is posted. :-?

[fiddlehead]

1: 1st time ('77' about 2 months. After that, a week each time or less. (however long it takes to go to the supermarket, and repackage the food into about 12 boxes and get to the trailhead)
2. $2.00 per mile
3. Most difficult mentally is always getting the time. (although i remember once while hiking, i got false charged by a black bear, as close as 7 feet away, then i went and called my girlfriend to tell her about it and she broke up with me on the phone. That was a bit depressing but depression is rare for me)
3A. Most difficult physically? whenever i try to go up a hill too fast.

[Heater]

1: 1st time ('77' about 2 months. After that, a week each time or less. (however long it takes to go to the supermarket, and repackage the food into about 12 boxes and get to the trailhead)


How prepared were you prior to the 2 month prep? Did you have any gear or did you just throw it together from scratch? Were you an experienced hiker at the time?

[fiddlehead]

I had been in the boy scouts and lived near the AT so i had an idea of what i was getting into and had a pack and sleeping bag as did my girlfriend who went with me. (borrowed a stove) had no tent but bought an instant tube tent. what else did you need back then? (this was in the day when if a hiker wanted to use a pole to lean on, he found one in the woods)
read Ed Garvey's book and learned a lot from that.
I had done a 3 day 50 mile hike when i was about 15 so, i knew that i liked to walk more than most people.

[Condor]

#1 About two years. I tried out grear, saved money tried out more gear. and did as much stair climbing at the gym as I could.

#2 Actual money on the trail(not on gear) was probably about a grand. once your hiking it's pretty cheap. I didnt stay in any hotels until I finished the trail. the most expensive things were bateries for my camera, and resturaunts in trail towns.

#3A. Mental. challange harpers ferry thru mass I was terified of lyme. and the ticks were in full force.

#3b Physical. Everybody says the mahoosic notch is the hardest part of the trail. But, I thought it was more fun and diferent. The mahoosic arm, however, was the toughest thing I remember. It was raining and that thing was like tring to climb a vertical ice rink. I just kept sliding(with a smile of course) until I finaly reached the top. I dont think there was an ounce of dirt left on the trail there just smooth polished rock.;)

[Lyle]

Let me qualify this. I haven't thru hiked the AT, but have done a long-distance, hike of 3300 miles. As far as planning, very similar.

#1 Thinking about it for about 1 year. Deciding and actually planning, the last 6 months. Most of that time spend selling off possesions (sold car, furniture, moved in with relatives) and working a second job to save money.

#2 I spent $3500 for 11 months hiking, not including initial gear purchases. But this was many years ago.

#3 Mentally - was the initial two weeks. We were hiking through desert, as a group, led by US Forest Service personel, no marked trail, just bushwacking. Absolutely hated hiking as a group, enmass. Decided to give it a couple of weeks before quitting, since everyone was complaining about this method of hiking (rightly concluded this was not normal). After 2 days we were back on trails, and could spread out and hike normally - much better mental state after that. Learned not to make hasty decisions about your plans while you are miserable.

Physically, worst day out of 11 months was a 16 mile roadwalk in Kentucky in February. No shelter of any kind for the entire day, COLD, windy, and raining constantly. Lunch that day consisted of a snickers bar while crouching down under a rock overhang. Most difficult day physically on the entire trip - had to keep moving to stay warm.

Like I said, not AT specific, but hiking is hiking generally. What is tough may not be the mountains or trail surface, but learning to cope with the conditions you find and adjusting to make them possible. We found that for most people, the pre-hike anxieties are pretty standard. Once you have done some long distance hiking, you realize that all that fretting and planning aren't necessary. Some people, however, just enjoy the detailed planning and prep - more power to them, HYOH>