Cost of a Thru-Hike

[TOW]

Becasue L. Wolf I wanted peoples honest opinon, which I got.
So I took their opinons and weighed them and multiplied them by what I have read and then divided it by your comments and it equaled you still being a jerk and making stupid rude comments to make yourself seem better than everyone else. My feelings were not hurt by you L. Wolf. Only my intelligence by your babble.
But to all else who have responded thank you and to you and you only this is what I obtained from all of your advice.


To go with my budget but make sure to have ample funds avaliable to me if needed. Which I will do!

excuse me if you might think i am rude by stepping in, go hike your hike and perhaps you'll get rid of this childishness..........Lone Wolf said nothing offensive to you, and believe me, he knows how to ruffle some feathers.................

[fiddlehead]

I got some great laughs this morning from this thread.

It's all a moot point actually.

Experienced people are saying that you don't know what's going to come up.
You choose not to believe them.
Why did you ask then?

When you just had 11 days of rain, and hit the next town where there is a hotel but it cost $60 and your budget only says you can spend $40, do you really think you will simply spend that night stealth camping next to the post office for one more rainy night?

Budget your food, money, time, days in town, phone calls home, how many steps your going to take a day, etc. BUT, when you start your hike, throw the schedule (and budget) away!

[rickb]

How often are you planning for Hotels, Bars, Hostels, and Restraunts. Are you planning these for every zero day you take, Or every town you come to?

Northbounders are powerless to resist towns and hotels and frequent restaraunt meals. Your only hope is to go Southbound.

[1Pint]

I'm budgeting $5000 for my actual hike and $5000 to cover the cost of covering my other expenses while I am away (student loans, car payment, storage unit, health insurance, etc.).

I called my student loan folks when I first started to consider whether a thru would be financially feasible. They said I could ask for my loans to go into deferment while I'm on the trail. Well, not on the trail, but while I'm unemployed, which is going to be the same thing. I explained that it would be a voluntary lack of income - not a layoff or whatever - and was still told that if I had no income, Uncle Sam would pay the interest on my consolidated subsidized loans while I was hiking and the interest accruing on my consolidated unsubsidized loans would just get rolled into the balance due for that bunch. You should call your student loan holders and ask, but not paying for those months might allow you to have a bigger emergency cushion. Of course, if you finished the trail and hadn't needed the loan payment $$, you could send in a lump catch-up payment (not to be confused with other condiment payments.)

Hope this helps,
Laura

[the goat]

They said I could ask for my loans to go into deferment while I'm on the trail. Well, not on the trail, but while I'm unemployed, which is going to be the same thing.

yeah, i put my loans into deferment for six months and it was no problem. i seem to remeber them limiting me to six months for some reson though.....maybe b/c it was immediately after college.

[Alligator]

yeah, i put my loans into deferment for six months and it was no problem. i seem to remeber them limiting me to six months for some reson though.....maybe b/c it was immediately after college.

Immediately after college you get 6 months and also if you become unemployed you can get a deferment, or if you have a financial hardship. Interest accrues and it depends on what loan type you have. You also have some max number of months you can have deferments (this I am not 100% sure of).

[Frosty]

It is kinda like guys you meet in the military. Think they know all there is to know about everything because they pulled guard duty on a fence in North Korea and when the first scud hits the ground they are crying like babies.

Heh heh. Yeah, that's what happens when guys yap about stuff they haven't experienced. They get a rude awakening.

[strebor]

excuse me if you might think i am rude by stepping in, go hike your hike and perhaps you'll get rid of this childishness..........Lone Wolf said nothing offensive to you, and believe me, he knows how to ruffle some feathers.................

You right he said nothing offensive to me. Must have just been my imagination or the kid in me. Why would go F*** yourself be offensive. Ohh but then again I asked hime for that. And, I am glad he has had more time on the trail than I do on the computer. Maybe when I actually get out to the A.T I can be as big of a jerk as he is and people will defend me too.

And isn't it amazing that with the number of comments posted on this thread. He is the only one I had anything negative to say to or about. Poor wolf everyone is picking on him huh?

I am glad for the comments on here and I have received alot of great advice. I got what I asked for in the original post and I thank everyone for it. I have no problem with L. Wolf but, maybe just maybe he should consider the contents of his post and how it is worded before hiting the submit/reply button and people wouldn't take offense to his comments.

[Skidsteer]

You right he said nothing offensive to me. Must have just been my imagination or the kid in me. Why would go F*** yourself be offensive. Ohh but then again I asked hime for that. And, I am glad he has had more time on the trail than I do on the computer. Maybe when I actually get out to the A.T I can be as big of a jerk as he is and people will defend me too.

And isn't it amazing that with the number of comments posted on this thread. He is the only one I had anything negative to say to or about. Poor wolf everyone is picking on him huh?

I am glad for the comments on here and I have received alot of great advice. I got what I asked for in the original post and I thank everyone for it. I have no problem with L. Wolf but, maybe just maybe he should consider the contents of his post and how it is worded before hiting the submit/reply button and people wouldn't take offense to his comments.

Fantasy and reality are two different things. The AT is gonna show you that.

I still don't get it. In what way is that statement offensive?

[TOW]

Quote:
Originally Posted by L.Wolf
Fantasy and reality are two different things. The AT is gonna show you that.



Skidsteer said;
"I still don't get it. In what way is that statement offensive? "

exactly...........Lone Wolf said nothing offensive to you Strebor in this statement that i can see


Strebor said;
"You right he said nothing offensive to me. Must have just been my imagination or the kid in me. Why would go F*** yourself be offensive. Ohh but then again I asked hime for that. And, I am glad he has had more time on the trail than I do on the computer. Maybe when I actually get out to the A.T I can be as big of a jerk as he is and people will defend me too.

And isn't it amazing that with the number of comments posted on this thread. He is the only one I had anything negative to say to or about. Poor wolf everyone is picking on him huh?

I am glad for the comments on here and I have received alot of great advice. I got what I asked for in the original post and I thank everyone for it. I have no problem with L. Wolf but, maybe just maybe he should consider the contents of his post and how it is worded before hiting the submit/reply button and people wouldn't take offense to his comments."

Lone Wolf only said "go do the sex thing to yourself" only after you attacked him on his first thread................furthermore, he has earned my respect and i will stand up for him in a heartbeat..........here or elsewhere if it comes to that.........as long as he is right...............

[QHShowoman]

You should call your student loan holders and ask, but not paying for those months might allow you to have a bigger emergency cushion. Of course, if you finished the trail and hadn't needed the loan payment $$, you could send in a lump catch-up payment (not to be confused with other condiment payments.)

Hope this helps,
Laura

Thanks for your advice Laura, but I wasn't exactly asking for any. I'm not the one who needs a bigger "emergency cushion" -- I was just responding to Strebor's question about why I was budgeting $10K for my thru.

The WORST thing you can do for your student loan debt is go into deferment when you can actually continue to pay it off (which I fortunately can). Of course, the kind folks at Sallie May won't recommend against it because the longer you defer your loan, the more money they make.

[StarLyte]

Strebor-

Lone Wolf is a realistic person.

I also refer to Lone Wolf as an Appalachian Trail advocate.

You will learn on your hike what an AT advocate really means.

If I were thru hiking.....Lone Wolf would be one of several people that I would console. Perhaps you should contact several thru hikers and get their honest opinions. I would also email Miss Janet.

The result of your clamor might be a negative impact on your own livelihood, your OWN AT experience.

While you are being extremely optimistic, some of us are saying.....there's no way.

I also noticed you quoted Weathercarrot.

Yes, he did this on $2,000..... but in 1991..."when it was somewhat cheaper to hike". Also in personally knowing Weathercarrot, one might understand how he did this.

Panzer spoke of hiking half the Trail on this.

I am speaking here from experience of having to help others get thru their hikes. I am speaking of a thru hiker phoning me in the middle of the night because they were laid up in a motel sick for days, or stolen packs, JUST unforeseen events, I can go on.

I would say start your hike as planned. Work as much as you can on the Trail. Be as FRUGAL as you possibly can, and to set up mail drops!!!

Try and rectify any differences you have with folks prior to your hike. Start with a good---FRESH attitude.

Then HYOH.

[Alligator]

...
The WORST thing you can do for your student loan debt is go into deferment when you can actually continue to pay it off (which I fortunately can). Of course, the kind folks at Sallie May won't recommend against it because the longer you defer your loan, the more money they make.

Absolutely. And while consolidation can be a good thing, try to avoid extending the length of the loan period. Again, they are making money on you.

[QHShowoman]

Alligator: Agreed.

While we're on the subject: If you like to send in more than your monthly payment amount in hopes that you'll pay your loan off faster, you're not actually doing so. You need to call your lender and ask to have your monthly payment amount formally recaculated so that they can recalculate your interest based on the new payment toward your principle.

[Alligator]

Alligator: Agreed.

While we're on the subject: If you like to send in more than your monthly payment amount in hopes that you'll pay your loan off faster, you're not actually doing so. You need to call your lender and ask to have your monthly payment amount formally recaculated so that they can recalculate your interest based on the new payment toward your principle.

That's a good point too, and in a broader sense something to consider when paying extra on a house and a car. Sometimes lenders (considering all types now: home, auto, etc.) will do that and sometimes not, meaning it comes off the "back end" of the loan. Auto loans are usually like this I believe. Isn't it fun getting older ?

[QHShowoman]

'Gator: It totally sucks. I had about $35K in student loans by the time I finished school. When I first graduated, I was paying like $300 a month towards my loans and one day, I did the math in my head and figured, well, I must have a 10 year loan then ($300 X 12 months = $3600 x 10 years = $36,0000). Out of curiosity, I called good old Sallie Mae and the rep was like, "uh, no, you have a 20 year loan." It was at that moment I realized the evils of interest.

[strebor]

Originally Posted by L.Wolf
Fantasy and reality are two different things. The AT is gonna show you that.

THis was his first post on this thread. He made no other comments before this. He jumped into this thread and posted this comment. Maybe you know L. Wolf well, actually you said you did. However I do not know him or what type of person he is. He might be a saint I am not judging him. However I took offense to this post of his. And how was it offensive to me well any normal human would deduce that he was telling me that I live in a fantasy world.

Now he made a post after that where he stated what he ment by his original post.

What attack? I'm saying 2 grand is a fantasy, 3 grand is more of a reality cuz you will probably get wrapped up in the AT social thing. And I do know a thing or two about the AT and military. Loose your anger, Chip.

And, I replied:

WOW!!!! Now was that hard? Did it hurt? All you needed to do to make your point was, to originally post the above. And, nothing more would have been said towards you.
Have you ever stopped to think L. Wolf that there are people here that are in seek of answers and not sarcasim, rudeness, or attacks in any form?

And then He replied:

Gee Wally, you said"tear it apart and give comments" so I did and your little feelings are hurt. Not enuf smileys for ya. Why the hell did you ask if you don't plan to go over 2 grand?

So I came back With:

Becasue L. Wolf I wanted peoples honest opinon, which I got.
So I took their opinons and weighed them and multiplied them by what I have read and then divided it by your comments and it equaled you still being a jerk and making stupid rude comments to make yourself seem better than everyone else. My feelings were not hurt by you L. Wolf. Only my intelligence by your babble.
But to all else who have responded thank you and to you and you only this is what I obtained from all of your advice.
To go with my budget but make sure to have ample funds avaliable to me if needed. Which I will do!

And He Replied:

Then feel free to go *** yourself.

I came back with a ohhh noooo thing

and Then you jumped in with:

excuse me if you might think i am rude by stepping in, go hike your hike and perhaps you'll get rid of this childishness..........Lone Wolf said nothing offensive to you, and believe me, he knows how to ruffle some feathers.................

Defend him till the end of time and you may like his comments and maybe you know him well enough to know that thats just the way he is and he ment nothing by it. Well, hard to believe I don't know him and what he ment other than what I took it as.

I am sure he is a great person we just got off on the wrong foot. And, I would like to be the first to offer my appologies to him for what I said.

Now if it is ok, with everyone I will say thank you for your comments and I have gotten alot of information from all of you and thank You.

OHHH one more thing. Weathercarrot did his thru-hike in 1991 for $2000.00 but as to his post he did his 2001 thru-hike for around $1200.00.

And I'm not saying it is an easy thing to do I am sure it is not.

[The Solemates]

OHHH one more thing. Weathercarrot did his thru-hike in 1991 for $2000.00 but as to his post he did his 2001 thru-hike for around $1200.00.

He also had several years, and several more hikes, in there to refine the practice of frugalness and to gain the experience of living off less.

[TOW]

Defend him till the end of time and you may like his comments and maybe you know him well enough to know that thats just the way he is and he ment nothing by it. Well, hard to believe I don't know him and what he ment other than what I took it as.

I am sure he is a great person we just got off on the wrong foot. And, I would like to be the first to offer my appologies to him for what I said.

Now if it is ok, with everyone I will say thank you for your comments and I have gotten alot of information from all of you and thank You.

OHHH one more thing. Weathercarrot did his thru-hike in 1991 for $2000.00 but as to his post he did his 2001 thru-hike for around $1200.00.

And I'm not saying it is an easy thing to do I am sure it is not.

as far as i'm concerned, it's settled and done with.............

[Ewker]

I have been watching this thread since it concerned how much money it takes to hike the AT

based on what I have read it went like this strebor:

Post# 1

I have read the help on this sight in regards to costs of actually doing a thru-hike. I have done some figuring on what my actual costs might be.


I will post it here and everyone can tear it apart and give it their comments. This is for a estimated 7 month trip. I included the seventh month as a saftey.

$35.00 per week for food x 4 weeks x 7 months = $980.00

$500.00 for the trip for replacing/repairing or buying new gear.

$500.00 for town visits restraunts/hostels.

I plan on hiking and staying out of towns unless I have no other choice. Of course resupply.

I have seen figures on here where people have spent $12,000.00 on a thru-hike.

I have planned on $2000.00 for my hike and that will be all I take with me. This is not including the rides to and from the A.T.

Lone Wolf's post #10

Fantasy and reality are two different things. The AT is gonna show you that.

then you said post #12

Well, lets see based on your post I should save up $12,000.00 and stay at every hotel and hostel I come across and maybe bring my 90Qt. marine cooler with me.

Or, mabye you are one of those people that feel the need to attack others. Because you have no dreams, fantasies, or ambitions of your own. Hmmm I think you are.

It is kinda like guys you meet in the military. Think they know all there is to know about everything because they pulled guard duty on a fence in North Korea and when the first scud hits the ground they are crying like babies.

then you said post#16

I did ask for comments and so on. I did not ask for L. Wolf's personal attack.

I will head the advice of you and others to increase my budget. I will however still only plan on a $2000.00 budget. If needed I have the money to increase my budget 10 times that amount.

sorry the only post by Lone Wolf was post# 10 and that was not an attack!

then LW said in Post # 21

What attack? I'm saying 2 grand is a fantasy, 3 grand is more of a reality cuz you will probably get wrapped up in the AT social thing. And I do know a thing or two about the AT and military. Loose your anger, Chip.

then in post#24 you replied:

WOW!!!! Now was that hard? Did it hurt? All you needed to do to make your point was to originally post the above. And, nothing more would have been said towards you.

Have you ever stopped to think L. Wolf that there are people here that are in seek of answers and not sarcasim, rudeness, or attacks in any form?

I take to heart all advice that I receive on WB. I do realize that I have not hiked the A.T and any information, advice, and comments from those who have are priceless.

However I do know myself and what I am able to do. If I set my budget for $2000.00 I will keep to it. And, the only way that I will blow this budget is an emergency. So with the advice of others I will make sure I have more than that.

I have seen posts on here where you (L. Wolf) have given some great advice. Maybe stop and think a little before you type and then read back to yourself what you wrote and think if it might in any way affend you. Thats my advice. So have a good one wally

Post # 31 by Lone wolf

Gee Wally, you said"tear it apart and give comments" so I did and your little feelings are hurt. Not enuf smileys for ya. Why the hell did you ask if you don't plan to go over 2 grand?

Post# 32 by strebor

Becasue L. Wolf I wanted peoples honest opinon, which I got.
So I took their opinons and weighed them and multiplied them by what I have read and then divided it by your comments and it equaled you still being a jerk and making stupid rude comments to make yourself seem better than everyone else. My feelings were not hurt by you L. Wolf. Only my intelligence by your babble.
But to all else who have responded thank you and to you and you only this is what I obtained from all of your advice.

Post # 33

Then feel free to go *** yourself.

Post#34

OHHHH!!!!!!!!! NOOOO!!!!!!!! Lady Wolf such language. What will I ever do....Not very lady like

ok that is enough...based on all of that no where did LW insult or personally attack you. It is you who came back on him for his original comment and then it went up, up and away.