I am planning for a 2011 thru hike. I know that is well down the road but I need the time to follow a tight budget to save money to cover my expenses back home while out backpacking.

My son and I will be NOBO '11. I gotta get this one old enough and the other one out of the house, then I'm free!!
healthymom:welcome

My son and I are planning a field trip to Bill Jackson's in St Pete next Mon. We'll probably also stop by the outfitters on SoHo here in Tampa to see their expanded line. Although when I stopped by their site, they looked like mostly a clothing store.
Are you a member of FTA? I'm looking at their activities. The only one I can see fitting into my schedule right now is the walkabout at Lettuce Lake this Sun morning. Since my husband's BD is Sat, I'm not sure if I'll be up early enough to go, but would like to.

My son and I are planning a field trip to Bill Jackson's in St Pete next Mon. We'll probably also stop by the outfitters on SoHo here in Tampa to see their expanded line. Although when I stopped by their site, they looked like mostly a clothing store.
Are you a member of FTA? I'm looking at their activities. The only one I can see fitting into my schedule right now is the walkabout at Lettuce Lake this Sun morning. Since my husband's BD is Sat, I'm not sure if I'll be up early enough to go, but would like to.


I just went to Bill Jackson's last night. Must have been there for about two and a half hours. The employees were great! I got some needed items but am still holding out on the big items like tent and sleeping bag. They are having AT Clinic in Feb. I signed up for it.
I have not been to the outfitters in Tampa. I am not a member of the FTA but was actually just looking at that the other day. It would probably be a good idea to join. Do you have any long distance backpaking experience?

No, we haven't done any LD hiking yet. We did a 19 mile day from Hillsborough River State Park earlier this year. We're looking to do the Croom Trail as soon as I get a big enough hole in my schedule. I'm on call 24/7, so finding escape time is difficult.:o I think we can do it in 2 days, but want to allow 3 just in case.

I am new to LD hiking also. Maybe we can help each other out. I need hiking partners since my friends are not into it and being a female I am to scare going out by my self.

I am new to LD hiking also. Maybe we can help each other out. I need hiking partners since my friends are not into it and being a female I am to scare going out by my self.
I'd love to hook up sometime!:banana Email me privately and we can talk about it. I had a female hiking buddy, but she got married. Still says she's going, but I really doubt it. If you click on my handle, you should go to my profile. One of the tabs says 'contact info'. Click on that and there will be a link to email. Drop me a line. I'm going to bed with my wine and "There are Mountains to Climb." It's by a woman who thruhiked by herself.
Looking orward to talking with you soon!
healthymom

Hi! hikingbear and healthymom:

Welcome to the Class of 2011. I'm planning a Thru-Hike starting April 1st of that year.

I just came on this site to check my thread that I brought back to the surface yesterday and found this one.

I've been section hiking the trail since 73' and hope to do a few more section hikes as well as several hikes here in Southern Indiana before the 2011 date.

If you have any questions I'd be glad to answer them for you, if I can.

You can send me a PM anytime from this site or drop me an E-mail.

Take care and again :welcome
Gorp-Gobbler

My son and I will be NOBO '11. I gotta get this one old enough and the other one out of the house, then I'm free!!
healthymom:welcome


I hiked the trail with my 16 yr old son in '07. If you want to talk about anything, PM me.

As for me, I am still tentatively planning a 2011 SOBO - we'll see how the job front goes, etc.

I hiked the trail with my 16 yr old son in '07. If you want to talk about anything, PM me.

As for me, I am still tentatively planning a 2011 SOBO - we'll see how the job front goes, etc.

Blissful I am so sorry to learn of your loss. I know what you must be feeling having loss pets myself over the years. I was even sadden when I lost an Oscar that I'd transported in a Coleman Cooler from Ohio. He survived the trip but died 8 months later.

When are you planning on leaving for your SOBO hike? My plans are for an April 1st launch NOBO.

Blissful I am so sorry to learn of your loss. I know what you must be feeling having loss pets myself over the years. I was even sadden when I lost an Oscar that I'd transported in a Coleman Cooler from Ohio. He survived the trip but died 8 months later.

When are you planning on leaving for your SOBO hike? My plans are for an April 1st launch NOBO.


Thanks so much.

I hope to leave as early in June as I can - depending on the weather on Katahdin and Maine.

April 1 is a HUGE start day, just to let you know - you will be with a crowd for a while.

Blissful, I'd love to hear about hiking with your son. Wilser will be 16, turning 17 on our hike. How did you prep him?
Right now we're doing hikes around here. But there is very little elevation gain in FL.
I'm sorry to hear about your Lady. I had to put our Shelley down this week. She lost all control of the muscles in her back end. She spent nearly 12 years with us. Her companion, our Aussie, has been wandering around looking for his sister.

Hi HealthyMom and Hiking Bear,
I'm planning on starting from Flagg Mt. on the Pinhoti on Feb14, 2011. Between the thread that Gorp-Gobbler started and this one, its nice to know so many people are planning for their hike already.:clap Hope to meet you on the trail if not sooner.:)

Hey 2011ers. The hike is not that far away, really!

I got excited just mentioning it. Planning for me helps ease Springer fever.

Odd thing. I'm looking forward more to my April 1st, 2011 start date then I am my October 31st, 2010 retirement date. I'm more than ready to retire, just more excited about taking a long stroll in the woods. :)

I was in the class of '68 in high school. Now Im in the class of 2011 and feel younger than ever!:sun

Our 2010 thruhike date is now postponed till 2011. One hiking partner has a job issue and can't get away in 2010, this postponement will allow me to get in better financial shape so I am not too disappointed. Have $$ saved for trip but the need to quit job in 2010 would create $$ issues.
And I'll have more time to update some gear. I'll do a week AT trip in May and hopefully 5 or so shorter AT trips
Glad to join the rest of you 2011's
Nana
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/wb_style/misc/progress.gif

I planing 2010 thru hike and would have like to go 2009 but the economy is so slow if it its like this next year I might have to hold off another year I sure hope not but this is giving me a chance to get in another couple hundred miles in section hiking before the the time comes to hit the whole trail

Sounds like a good plan. :)

Hello,

I am planning, saving, and trainning for a NOBO hike starting March 15th 2011. Just figured i would see who else is planning to hike around this time...and if anyone wants to talk about different ideas for saving and buying gear.

My son and I are planning, saving and training for a March 2011 thru as well. I won't know our date of departure until about 4-5 days before we go. I'm in the birth business, and will be leaving after my last Feb '11 baby is born. I will be packed and ready to go before the mom goes into labor. :)

For the time being, we're training by doing a few day hikes and as many longer ones as I can get away for. Getting away at all is tough when you're oncall 24/7.

Got a good deal on a steripen today. :sun

Am probably looking at bags/pads next. Which brings me to a question. My son (now 14) has been camping and hiking with me since he was about 3. He has never expressed a need for a sleeping pad when we've primitive camped. Now he tells me that he doesn't feel he'll need one for our thru. Should I trust that? Or should I put aside a little extra because he's going to need one whether he knows it or not?:-?
Dee

Get him a Thermarest z rest. It's what my son used throughout. And if he ever wants to be in a shelter those floors get mighty hard after a long day of hiking week after week.

Hey there...I'm getting pretty pumped even though its almost 2yrs away. I would also recommend a therma rest for your son. The padding is great and all but the main purpose is to get him off the cold ground. Hope all works out.

Hello everyone, Im glad to meet some people that I might meet on the AT. My friend and I are plan a thru hike april 1st 2011. I would love to any kind of advice to help me prepare better. thanks

I'm planning a SOBO hike in 2011 starting in mid to late June. I figure this will be as good a time as any because I'll be transitioning from graduate school to working, or possibly more graduate school...

I wish everyone luck with planning and hope that everyone trying to get out for the 2011 season can make it happen!


- Tucky

Hello all....Another Class of 2011 hiker checking in. Trip planning still in its infancy but I figured this forum was a good place to gather information. Interesting to see the Florida hikers posting in this thread. I lived in Florida for years and used to go to the Smokies to hike two or three times a year.

Me too! Trying to get back out there in 2011!

Hey everyone :) April 1 2011 is my date. Can't wait :D

Unless something drastic changes in my life between now and then (god forbid)...

April 1st 2011 NOBO for me as well. Gear is already taken care of, at least until I see what I like and don't like and whittle away the dead weight. This year for training, next year for conditioning, then away we go!

My wife and I will retire next summer and are planning to do a southbound flip flop hike starting in March 2011. I look forward to talking with all of you and meeting you on the trail.

I posted in the 2010 class, and then started doing some math. Just was not going to work out financially. 2011 may be better, but 2012 may be best.

Just have to see where the money is, cause right now, i dont got none :D

I am also planning a 2011 NOBO hike around the last of Feb. or early Mar. hope to see you all.

hikingbear about when what month are u plannig on starting?

Hello?
Forgive me if I make any mistakes, I'm new to the whole forum thing...
My name's Steven, and myself and a friend of mine are firmly determined and exited about a South-bound thru-hike after we graduate in 2011. We camp and hike often, normally for no more than 2 or 3 nights at a time, but towards the end of summer we will start to dip into more long-distance adventures.
I have been trying hard to do the necessary planing myself, I have read books a-plenty but I desperatly need to ask real people some real questions (and I have LOTS). So i'm realy exited about this site and i hope i'm posting on the right page...
sooo.. am I in the right place? might i be worthy of haveing a few (or a lot) of my questions answered, I'd appreciate it more than you know!
Thanks!

Hello?
Forgive me if I make any mistakes, I'm new to the whole forum thing...
My name's Steven, and myself and a friend of mine are firmly determined and exited about a South-bound thru-hike after we graduate in 2011. We camp and hike often, normally for no more than 2 or 3 nights at a time, but towards the end of summer we will start to dip into more long-distance adventures.
I have been trying hard to do the necessary planing myself, I have read books a-plenty but I desperatly need to ask real people some real questions (and I have LOTS). So i'm realy exited about this site and i hope i'm posting on the right page...
sooo.. am I in the right place? might i be worthy of haveing a few (or a lot) of my questions answered, I'd appreciate it more than you know!
Thanks!


Start by reading the articles on here and doing searches on threads. Lots of info too.

Will do.
Muchas Garcias

I am planning for a 2011 thru hike. I know that is well down the road but I need the time to follow a tight budget to save money to cover my expenses back home while out backpacking.

Whew and I thought I was starting to plan too early!

Greetings fellow hikers, trail name here is UKFlatfoot and after doing some research and soul searching, I am in the April class of 2011 NOBO!

It was a tough decision for me. Although my first major trail experience was on the AT when I was a boy scout, when I was in the Air Force I was near the CDT and saw the beauty out there.

So I have been going back and forth over the past few months trying to decide which trail to attempt a thru.

Although I would love to hike the CDT realistically I am probably only going to get one shot at a thru until retirement and factoring in everything I decided on the AT.

The AT was where I first fell in love with hiking those many years ago, so it is only fitting that I return.

I am lucky that in my job, unless things get worse, we are allowed one time to take a paid 6 month sabbatical to do research and then come back and make a presentation. I am eligible to apply in 2011, and will do my research on the trail :O)

I thought maybe I was starting to plan too early but looking here on WB looks like I am in good company.

Currently reading everything I can get my hands on and starting to update my hiking equipment to my thru gear to start testing on hikes this year and next.

I look forward to meeting many of you on the trail and hopefully next 2 years at Trail Days!

Hike YOUR hike,
UKFlatfoot

Woooh! I'm also planning a 2011 thru-hike. Hopefully going in march, but I'll be a senior in high school and I don't know how much I'll be allowed to miss. Who cares though.Life is short...you have to live. I don't think I'll be able to stand being inside a concrete box anymore beyond that point. Still have to get a lot of gear and earn some cash...

Speaking of which....does anyone know of a decent outfitter in or some-what near upstate New York? I've got an EMS near me, but their selection is limited.

I am new to LD hiking also. Maybe we can help each other out. I need hiking partners since my friends are not into it and being a female I am to scare going out by my self.

I really encourage you to check out Nocona's trail journal (http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=662) and look up her posts on Whiteblaze. She did a thru hike without a planned partner and did just fine. She's a neat lady and has been a big help to me!

2011, that's my year too.

Woooh! I'm also planning a 2011 thru-hike. Hopefully going in march, but I'll be a senior in high school and I don't know how much I'll be allowed to miss. Who cares though.Life is short...you have to live. I don't think I'll be able to stand being inside a concrete box anymore beyond that point. Still have to get a lot of gear and earn some cash...

I have been advised that a thru hike can cost between $2000 and $5000 depending on how much gear you have to buy, so earning some cash will be a serious challenge. You might consider a Rayway quilt kit instead of a sleeping bag - I don't have one yet though have a couple rave positive reviews from someone I trust. The quilt kit is a third what a bag costs (but you've got to have a sewing machine...)

I applaud your enthusiasm and won't throw cold water on it but please carefully consider that "Who cares though" when talking about missing the last 2+ months of your Senior year in HS. I'm doing the Cool Breeze flip-flop and will set out in late May '11 SOBO from the AT Train Station at Pawling. If you did something like that, you would still be doing a continuous thru hike, be on the trail at a good time of the year, and (importantly) not goob up your HS graduation.

I am hoping to thru in 2011. I am working two jobs now to pay off some things so that I can hike without worries. Also planning a 5 day hike the end of August to try out some new gear and start getting back out there!

Hey all, I might not come through on it but I am hoping very much to give the ole AT a try in 2011! Going to need a lot of things to align just right between now and the end of 2010 but if I can get the money to buy gear and to use on the trail I'm going to do it if nothing else stands in the way!

Never really backpacked in my life but my parents used to take me on camping trips (although it was full hook up in a pop up camper in a private campground, so doesn't count so much) but once I can get the money to buy some gear I'm going to start spending some nights hiking in my own neck of the woods (live in Las Vegas, have some wilderness areas within 20 miles of town).

We'll see, hopefully I won't have to wait until 2012 to take on the AT!

Welcome sickgoku and cbost2678!

There are lots of good people on here with a lot of helpful information. LOok forward to seeing you in 2011 on the AT!
UKFlatfoot

Look foward to it, but more than likely I'm going to need a good football season here in Vegas to make it :D Otherwise I might have to rob someone!

I really encourage you to check out Nocona's trail journal (http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=662) and look up her posts on Whiteblaze. She did a thru hike without a planned partner and did just fine. She's a neat lady and has been a big help to me!
BTW - I'll be starting a flip flop late May 2011 in Pawling NY, and I'm looking for partners along the way. If anyone's interested, please drop me a PM.

I am so excited for '11. I recently decided I am going to walk away from my job and hit the trail. :sun I think I just need a new direction in my life and being on the trail will give me the opportunity to decide what I want for the next half of my life. My daughter is turning 18 soon and after that I have no one to be responsible for. She is thinking about going with me but I don't think this is really her cup of tea. If she does not go with, I am going by myself. I just know that if I do not go I will regret it and think about it for the rest of my life. It is going to be a long year and a half.

2011 Still Looks good for me. Will be be retiring towards the end of 2010 and am planning for a SOBO journey.

2011 Still Looks good for me. Will be be retiring towards the end of 2010 and am planning for a SOBO journey.


Hope my hubby and I see you! We're going SOBO also, not sure if I can go all the way or just a long section. Depends on work and other factors.

Maybe I'll see you 2011 SOBO folks along the way south of Troutville! I'll be starting about the same time you do, just in a different spot.

im in for 2011 as well, going to be nobo and starting around april first, most likley bringing a freind for a few weeks into the hike as well...

seems theres 2 class of 2011 threads, which of these will be the official one?

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=42116&page=7

im in for 2011 as well, going to be nobo and starting around april first, most likley bringing a freind for a few weeks into the hike as well...

I'm starting April 1st, 2011. Looking forward to it!


seems theres 2 class of 2011 threads, which of these will be the official one?

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=42116&page=7

My bet would be on the one Mountainsquid starts. :D

will look forward to bumping into ya on the trail then Fritz

I am also planning a thru in 2011. I see from the post that Florida hikers will be well represented. I live in Tarpon Springs, Fl. and am a member of the FTA. The last hurdle I face is transportation to Springer. Girls do well on the trail and provide a much needed civilizing influence.

Anybody SOBO starting around May? I'm going to kennebunkport next spring to have a look around up there and do some hiking. Anybody have any intrest? What other dates are any of you SOBO's starting?

Not hiking in kennebunkport obviously.........

I'm just thinking at this stage, and haven't really planned anything but if all goes well and I've saved enough by 2011 when I graduate high school a kiwi may be hitting the trail :)