Cost/Money

[kap]

This may be covered elsewhere but I couldnt find it. I am considering a 2009 hike (after college graduation) and I was wondering:

how much money I would need for supplies and stuff on the trail?

I already own most of my own gear so thats not a huge cosideration, I was just wondering with resupplies and camping fees ect what would be a good amount to have??

Thanks!

[Johnny Swank]

I'd figure at least $2/mile to cover food/lodging/gear replacement/ etc

[Ramble~On]

In 1996 I had planned on $2.50 a mile...yeah right !

Since this hike may be the only time in your life to do such a thing (if you can) plan on $4.00 a mile and don't skimp or worry about it...
Slow down and enjoy it.
Mail drops are expensive, a bounce box is expensive, unexpected expenses and gear replacement is expensive, insurance, transportation and then last but not least the last thing in the world you'll want to do is come back and jump right into a job...so having some money to live off of for a while after your hike will be "money well spent"


I'm still saving to do it right...:-? 2010 ?

[Jimmers]

Kap, how much money you spend depends largely on how you approach your hike in general, and how long you like to stay in towns. I'm a section hiker (and fairly thrifty), so I'm not as familiar with the costs as some here, but there are several excellent articles in the articles section of the site you can read to get an idea.

Here's a link to one (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?p=22959#post22959)

Good luck, and have fun!:D

[Jaybird]

I'd figure at least $2/mile to cover food/lodging/gear replacement/ etc



yea...what HE said!:D

then again...if you head into every nice trail town you come across...it could be considerably more!

[hopefulhiker]

I would plan on about 4k. I depends on how much you want to rough it. If you on how much you want to rough it whether you sleep in motels and eat in resturaunts a lot or just zero in the shelters. I found that I actually spent less money than I would in regular life most of the time.

[Marta]

I think what you do in your regular life will pretty much carry over onto the Trail.

When you buy clothes do you shop at:
1) Designer stores
2) The mall, for "in" brands only
3) TJ Maxx
4) Wal-Mart
5) Goodwill
6) Get cast-offs from friends and family--who cares what they look like?

Your socks are
1) brand new and in fashion
2) in good shape
3) free of holes that really count
4) older than the Bush presidency
5) older than both Bushes' prsidencies

If you're out on the town with friends, do you go to:
1) The restaurant written up in the local culture magazine as having a talented new chef
2) A good steak house
3) AYCE buffet
4) not eat anything, but have some ramen at home

If your friends all want to go out drinking and you are short of $$$, do you
1) Figure what the heck, you only live once, and put it all on your credit card
2) Say, thanks, guys, but I can't.

Cigarettes, booze, and dope are:
1) Essential if I'm going to have a good time.
2) Okay in moderation
3) Too expensive.


And so on. Low scorers will need 8-12 k for an AT thru-hike. High scorers can get by with a couple thousand, or maybe less. See Weathercarrot's Ideas for an inexpensive Thru-Hike. Just don't kid yourself that if you're a Type #1 personality that you will suddenly become a Type 6 when you start hiking.

Marta/Five-Leaf

[superman]

I scored 14 on the test.

The cost of my AT hike goes like this. I hiked the LT in 99 to train Winter and select the gear for the AT in 2000. Mostly I was going to use my old gear on the AT. Then during the winter my younger son said that he'd like to go with me. So I bought his gear and replaced some of mine that I hadn't intended to replace. It just seemed like a good idea at the time. My son hiked to Gatlinburg and went home with sore knees. I told the other hikers on the AT that hiking the AT was my reward...not my punishment so I didn't skimp. I did not hesitate to enjoy a motel or a good meal along the way. When I got home I did an accounting. I spent about $7,000 hiking the AT. If I had been alone I probably would have spent close to $5,000. When I left to hike the AT I let my girl friend, at that time, have access to my money so she could pay my bills for me. She stole $15,000 from me and I guess she assumed that I'm so brain dead that I wouldn't notice. So the total price is at least $22,000. That may not be a record but it wasn't what I had in mind. The funny thing is that as I hiked the AT I smiled to myself that I was actually saving money as I hiked. The final accounting was a rude awakening. What's an AT hike worth...a lot?

[STEVEM]

I scored 14 on the test.

The cost of my AT hike goes like this. I hiked the LT in 99 to train Winter and select the gear for the AT in 2000. Mostly I was going to use my old gear on the AT. Then during the winter my younger son said that he'd like to go with me. So I bought his gear and replaced some of mine that I hadn't intended to replace. It just seemed like a good idea at the time. My son hiked to Gatlinburg and went home with sore knees. I told the other hikers on the AT that hiking the AT was my reward...not my punishment so I didn't skimp. I did not hesitate to enjoy a motel or a good meal along the way. When I got home I did an accounting. I spent about $7,000 hiking the AT. If I had been alone I probably would have spent close to $5,000. When I left to hike the AT I let my girl friend, at that time, have access to my money so she could pay my bills for me. She stole $15,000 from me and I guess she assumed that I'm so brain dead that I wouldn't notice. So the total price is at least $22,000. That may not be a record but it wasn't what I had in mind. The funny thing is that as I hiked the AT I smiled to myself that I was actually saving money as I hiked. The final accounting was a rude awakening. What's an AT hike worth...a lot?

Superman, Given 7 years to reflect on this, was your AT experience worth that much money?

[superman]

Superman, Given 7 years to reflect on this, was your AT experience worth that much money?

“It was to me” is the short answer. The longer answer is that my AT hike was completing unfinished business. I had almost hiked the AT after I came back from Vietnam in 1968 but life got in the way (I married my ex-wife, etc). The road not taken hung in the air for all those years. I had recently retired and I wanted some time to think about what I wanted to do with my future. I also reflected a lot on my past and told enough anecdotes to drive most hikers away.

Most people have pivotal times in their lives. For those who hike the AT many would describe their hike as that. I would.

[The Solemates]

In 1996 I had planned on $2.50 a mile...yeah right !

Since this hike may be the only time in your life to do such a thing (if you can) plan on $4.00 a mile and don't skimp or worry about it...
Slow down and enjoy it.


you spent over $8000 on a thru-hike?

[The Solemates]

This may be covered elsewhere but I couldnt find it. I am considering a 2009 hike (after college graduation) and I was wondering:

how much money I would need for supplies and stuff on the trail?

I already own most of my own gear so thats not a huge cosideration, I was just wondering with resupplies and camping fees ect what would be a good amount to have??

Thanks!

We had all our gear before we left. We ending up spending about $5000 on our thru hike, or about $2500 per person. We were able to share lots of things though. I would have plenty saved up. We had nearly $10,000 saved up. We just didnt need to use it, thankfully. You dont want money to be the reason to end your hike.

[7Sisters]

One of the real big cost drivers will be what you do in towns? Will you be passing thru, or spending several nights and drinking. Doing this once in a while will be fine, but if you do this often, you'll spend considerably more than most.

I have heard around 3-4K if you have your gear. There should not be a lot of gear that breaks down and needs replacing if you've bought wisely.

[Jim Adams]

Marta,
Great quiz!
I stayed in motels for 3 nights and in hostels for 12 and 17 nights respectively on each of my two thru hikes and ate in a restuarant and drank beer in every town that I could. I spent $2000 the first time and $1600 the second time.
You can save alot of expense by taking some days off in the woods instead of in town.
geek

[Johnny Swank]

FWIW - I've got some article on my website about Thru-hiking on the Cheap, Cutting Down on Town Time, and some other thru-hiking specific stuff you might want to take a gander at.

http://sourcetosea.net/Articles/articles.html

[Jack Tarlin]

Wow, there are some really good posts here.

I second the suggestions that you check out Johnny's and Weathercarrot's articles on how to save money.

Also, there are all sorts of threads here at WB on the subject of saving money before a thru-hike; a hiker named Miu started a good one last month, I think it's in the "general" section of the Forums.

I think most folks spend betwen $3500 and 5000 dollars these days on a thru-hike, not including their starting gear, and transportation to and from the Trail. Older hikers tend to spend more, as they generally have higher discretionary incomes; they eat at nicer places; tend to get their own motel rooms rather than bunk with others, etc.

There are all sorts of tips and ideas for how to save money. In a nutshell:

*Limit your town time. It's almost impossible to spend money when you're
not in a town.

*Be smart about your initial equipment purchases. A lot of folks spend tons
of money during their trips replacing gear that they discovered was "wrong"
for them. Probably 95% of these expenditures are preventable.

*Try to get some sort of health insurance before you leave. Even a minor trip
to the Emergency Room can be very expensive.

Oh, and while Geek's comments above about spending $2000 on one hike and $1600 on another might encourage you about how cheaply one can hike, I feel compelled to mention that his hikes were some years ago, and one of them was 17 years ago! A soda pop that costs $1.29 today probably cost 35cents back then......and this is true of everything else as well, i.e your major expenses (gear; food; lodging; postage; medical/personal care; etc.) Anyone that brings in a thru-hike on $1600.00 these days will be cutting quite a few corners, especially when it comes to such "amenities" as motels; hostels; and town meals.

[Doctari]

Wow Marta, that is the best "rule of thumb" for planning for a thru that I have ever seen.

I scored about 15 for at home & on the trail: I wear clothes from Wallyworld at home, goodwill on the AT, Socks are clean & (mostly) hole free at home, Brand new (or nearly so) on the trail.
From my (limited) experience sectioning, your guide works out almost to the penny if I don't factor in travel to / from the trail each time on the trail. I could likely easily do a thru with $4,400.00, based on my 380 miles sectioning has run about $800.00. A Thru would likely be a bit cheaper per mile cause I spend a bit more sectioning than I should, with the reasoning "I'm on VACATION!!!" :D

[Sectioning runs about $2.10 a mile plus travel to/from. I think a thru would be $2.00 a mile or less.]


Thanks for posting this.


Doctari.

[Footslogger]

Hostels are less expensive but motel stays alone can add up to close to $1000. Prices range but lets's say an "average" night in a motel between Springer and Katahdin costs $40. Not saying you would need to or even want to but ...if you stay in a motel 25 nights out of your 180 or so days on the trail you've just spent $1000.

Also ...the cost of motels tend to increase as you make your way north.

'Slogger

[Jim Adams]

good point Jack.
These figures were cost on the trail--ie: no gear costs. My last A.T. thru was 2002 and although prices have risen since then, it was also the cheaper of my two hikes. I take alot of zero days BUT most of them are in the woods, not in town. This is the key to a cheap hike. I did not deprive myself of restuarant food, beer, showers, etc., but the key is to do it for 1 or only 1/2 a day and get back into the woods. woods = $0....it is easy to spend $50--$100/day in town even staying in hostels!
I should have elaborated more. BTW, with todays prices, I don't know if I could do it again for $2000 or less.

geek

[Marta]

To the folks who enjoyed the quiz: Thanks!

I keep thinking up new ones.

In town you will stay at:
1) A nice place. You won't catch me slumming at Motel 6.
2) In a private room in Motel 6.
3) With three or more friends in Motel 6.
4) Camping in someone's yard or on a patch of grass.
5) Under a bridge.

I've discovered that my sleeping bag is heavy and not very warm. Everyone else's is better.
1) Now that I've seen the Light, I will place an order with Feathered Friends immediately and wait in town for it to arrive before I continue.
2) I'll keep an eye out for a sale on Western Mountaineering bags.
3) I'll get a liner and replace my heavy stuff sack with silnylon.
4) So what?

Pieces of titanium gear I am carrying:
1) More than 5.
2) 3 or 4.
3) 2
4) 1
5) zero

Marta/Five-Leaf

[superman]

Now it's easy to handle your own finances while you hike. There are plenty of computers along the trail. With direct deposit, auto-pay and click to pay you don't need anyone else to handle your finances or monitor your accounts. Now you can relax and hike with piece of mind knowing that your whole portfolio will be intact when you finish the AT.:)

[Jim Adams]

Marta,
Thought that you might want to add my biggest dilema:

When you take a day off in the woods you:
4. carry a small flask of whiskey from town.
3. carry 1-2 beers from town
2. carry a six pack from town.
1. all of the above and then hitch to the distributor for a case.


geek

[Marta]

Marta,
Thought that you might want to add my biggest dilema:

When you take a day off in the woods you:
4. carry a small flask of whiskey from town.
3. carry 1-2 beers from town
2. carry a six pack from town.
1. all of the above and then hitch to the distributor for a case.


geek

Good one! Although a true #1 doesn't take days off in the woods.

[Chaco Taco]

Wow, there are some really good posts here.

I second the suggestions that you check out Johnny's and Weathercarrot's articles on how to save money.

Also, there are all sorts of threads here at WB on the subject of saving money before a thru-hike; a hiker named Miu started a good one last month, I think it's in the "general" section of the Forums.

I think most folks spend betwen $3500 and 5000 dollars these days on a thru-hike, not including their starting gear, and transportation to and from the Trail. Older hikers tend to spend more, as they generally have higher discretionary incomes; they eat at nicer places; tend to get their own motel rooms rather than bunk with others, etc.

There are all sorts of tips and ideas for how to save money. In a nutshell:

*Limit your town time. It's almost impossible to spend money when you're
not in a town.

*Be smart about your initial equipment purchases. A lot of folks spend tons
of money during their trips replacing gear that they discovered was "wrong"
for them. Probably 95% of these expenditures are preventable.

*Try to get some sort of health insurance before you leave. Even a minor trip
to the Emergency Room can be very expensive.

Oh, and while Geek's comments above about spending $2000 on one hike and $1600 on another might encourage you about how cheaply one can hike, I feel compelled to mention that his hikes were some years ago, and one of them was 17 years ago! A soda pop that costs $1.29 today probably cost 35cents back then......and this is true of everything else as well, i.e your major expenses (gear; food; lodging; postage; medical/personal care; etc.) Anyone that brings in a thru-hike on $1600.00 these days will be cutting quite a few corners, especially when it comes to such "amenities" as motels; hostels; and town meals.

Also check out Jacks post on how to save for a thruhike, Some great things I never thought about. Thanks Jack, I have my change jar about
%25 full.
I cant post the link for some reason
Its the thread Saving for a thruhike by Miu (I think) Jack's post is #52.

[Jim Adams]

Marta,
If the provisions are there there is no need to stay in town! BUT I see your point quite clearly!

geek

[Ramble~On]

you spent over $8000 on a thru-hike?

No. But I'm sure I could. $2.50 a mile doesn't come out to $8000.

Planning for $4.00 a mile takes into account a hike with little limitation and no rush to jump directly back into the rat race when you get back to wherever it is you get back to.

[Skyline]

Seems to me most who do the AT as a thru-hike these days spend at least $2.50/mile not counting starting gear and transportation to Springer or back from Katahdin. The very frugal and/or experienced can get by for less (good example, Weathercarrot). Others can and have spent considerably more.

You might plan to spend about $5,000, but have some extra funds (perhaps $1,500 to $2,000) in reserve in some place not that easy to access but not impossible should you really need it. I'm thinking an interest-bearing CD that you could withdraw, even at a penalty, but not be able to draw down from an ATM.

Some will probably disagree, but IMHO for most, hiking the AT is not cheap. Having adequate funds is as important as having gear that works for you, being in decent physical shape, and having a healthy mental/emotional outlook.

[mixinmaster]

I spent $750 this year in 36 days going from Springer to Damascus...... That included a handful of maildrops......... I didn't splurge but didn't starve and neglect myself........... I thought later I could have done it on $600 if I had squeezed a little more.......... Being solo I gave some food away, bought a small amount of replacement gear, stayed in several hostels, ate at AYCE places. BUT I don't drink or smoke anymore so that saved me considerably than if I still did. At least the way I ran up tabs. Personally I think ( or hoped ) I could have gone to Maine on less than $4000 and not suffered from denying myself of all the pleasures. But I have to say that quite a few others I saw were NEVER going to make it on that amount........ Jack and Marta have it pegged really.......... It depends on the person. Be aware that a nice relaxed time in town on occasion does refresh the soul, but the town is, as Weathercarrot says, what will burn your money up for you. .............. Get in and out.......... I did only one zero............ The rest were 6 or 7 mile in's, stay in town at a hostel, out the next morning............ :)

[the goat]

in '01 i did a six-month thru and spent roughly $1/ per mile.

in '03 i spent more between ME & VA than i did on my entire '01 hike.

i guess if you have money you'll spend it, if not you'll find a way to stretch it.