should I do this

[Colter]

For people like many of us here who really like the outdoors and hiking, it is an easy decision. But MOST people find out a thru-hike is not as much fun as they thought it would be (boring, lonely, cold, wet, dirty, muddy, buggy, steep, difficult) and they decide not to finish the trail. For a smaller percentage of people, a thru-hike is one of the very best experiences of their life. (difficult, wet, buggy, adventurous, scenic, challenging, fun.)

Frankly, I think that asking your question here is not going to be very helpful in deciding what's best for you, because in a very real sense we tend to be "extremists." If you don't know what you want to do, take a week-long hike and think about it and maybe the answer will become clear.

[Lyle]

this is the deal im 26 graduated with my M.A. and will be enrollng in a PHD program in september. I cant find a full time job but have roughly 3000 saved up (probably more through a temp job). I see no point sitting around from late febuary/ early march to september doing nothing should I hike?.

You didn't really think you would be talked out of it here on Whiteblaze did you?

Most of us would absolutely LOVE to be in your situation. If you don't go for it, may a thousand camels set up housekeeping on your tongue...

[ShelterLeopard]

My gut reaction was GO FOR IT. But wait... Why do you want to hike? Have you ever hiked before? Or are you just thinking that you'll be bored out of your skull, and what else can you do? If you have never hiked before, go for a section before you decide about thru hiking.

For me, I love hiking, I CAN'T WAIT! For my thru, and have been planning and getting psyched. But not just because I had nothing better to do, but because I've always really wanted to do it. Just saying, before you go blow thousands of dollars on gear and transportation for something you don't necessarily want to do, try it first. Borrow a friend's gear, join an outdoor club (they often let out gear, maybe for a small fee). Try it first. You knows? Maybe you'd rather take a trip to Ireland or backpack across Europe? Just think about what you have ALWAYS wanted to do, and do that. Otherwise, you're not going to be spending your last free months wisely.

[Snowleopard]

Once you start your doctoral program it'll be hard to take such a large chunk of time off. You probably won't have much money to spare in grad school. I went straight from college to grad school and had to work the summer. The thing I remember best of that summer was a couple day backpack on the AT in CT and MA.
I'd say do the AT, or part of the AT, or travel someplace where the living is cheap.
If you don't have gear now, look in the articles section of this site. SGT Rock has a good article on getting cheap gear.

[daylaandjasper]

I agree- Do it ! you will never regret it.

[Sully5400]

DO IT!!!!!!

And if you're worried, just think "hey, if I'm not having fun, I'll come home". You don't have to finish, and if you tire of it or it's not what you thought it was going to be, go home. I guarantee you will have fun!

[ShelterLeopard]

I still hold to what I said earlier, think about it first. The AT is not for everyone. And that has nothing to do with strength or weakness for many people, maybe you'd rather hike the camino de santiago in spain, awesome, but no heavy pack (don't need to carry much, as you always stay in hostels and buy food along the way), a totally different experience. Or maybe you'd rather do the AT- who knows? All I'm saying, is try it before blowing all your savings on trail stuff.

[Dogwood]

I like your answer Colter because it hits home some of the realities of a thru-hike! For so many a thru-hike is only viewed as something adventurous, romantic, an escape, or as an accomplishment to brag about. Once on the trail it can become a surprising negative dose of reality real fast if not knowing what it entails before COMMITTING to a thru-hike. I think this is what happens to many, hence the high drop out rate on the AT or those who skip major sections of trail and still claim to have completed a thru-hike!

Colter, I also think it wise for the OP to take your suggestion by doing a week long hike and getting a glimpse of what may be right for them. Perhaps, a long section or AT state hike is more suited to their desires?

I think it needs to be strongly stated over and over, especially on this website, that doing a 2200 mile thru-hike over the course of several months IS NOT for everyone. It requires a high level of committment. It usually requires much planning and expense. To start off a thru-hike with the mentality that you can just "go home" when you don't feel you are having "fun" anymore seems like an incredible waste of time and expense during the thru-hiking planning stage and lacks committment to a thru-hike!

Frankly, for a 26 yr. old to seek validation and needing coaxing to start a thru-hike at a web based hiking site points to a lack of committment to a thru-hike that will show up in so many ways once on the trail!