I'm just not sure...

[sidebackside]

I'm planning on thru-hiking next year. I've gathered information from the ATC and other various places including here on WB about trip planning. I'm just not sure about how detailed my trip should be planned. I've met hikers on here who have their trip planned for everyday from Springer to Harpers Ferry. They know what shelters and what hostels they're gonna stay at. They know exactly how many miles they're gonna hike each day. Honestly, I'm just not there in my planning...and I'm just not sure I wanna be.
Somebody here on WB has a quote that says, "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." I think that's true to some point. My question to you is..."how detailed should I get when planning my hike?"

[SGT Rock]

AS little as possible. I had years to plan and with all that time it was fairly elaborate. I burned it the first night out.

[white_russian]

Pack 3 days food to get to Neels Gap.

There, I did all your planning for you. That is literally all you need for the trail.

Now as far as working out paying bills and other personal things that is where you need to plan.

[Rockhound]

Appalachian Pages-"The abundance of data presented in this book can tempt a hiker into over planning. The authorswould prefer to think that the book provides all the information that one needs to act with spontaneity".

[sidebackside]

Appalachian Pages-"The abundance of data presented in this book can tempt a hiker into over planning. The authorswould prefer to think that the book provides all the information that one needs to act with spontaneity".

I like that!

[Lyle]

Plan you resupply possibilities for the first week or two, taking into consideration a reasonable number of miles per day. Plan your food for the first 4 days, or until Neel Gap. Then at each re-supply, plan your meals for the next section. Any further planning will be out the window anyways.

[JustaTouron]

There is something to be said for planning and then being willing to disregard the plan.

At some point you are gonna have to figure out where you are gonna camp, buy food etc. Going thru the process of planning each day will get you familiar with what lies ahead. Just be willing to change those plans as you go.

That is what my wife does before our family (non-hiking) vacations. She will plan out restaurants, places to see, things the kids would like to do, etc. We never stick with those plans, typically if she has 6 restaurants planned we will wind up eating in one of those over the course of the week, the rest will be other places that looks good. But having this default plan avoids us spending 45 mins going around in circles discussing, "so what do you want to do today?" But if the plan calls for going to the zoo and kids want to go to the beach, we go to the beach.

If you have a tentitive plan. Then you will already have a good idea of how much food you need to buy at given storess. Also if you plan out the entire trip and need to end on specific date, you will know if you need to pick up the pace or ought slow down, even if you are not camping at the locations on the plan.

So I would make the plan and then not follow it.

Just my two cents.

[d.o.c]

i prepared for a week it turnd into six months but its not that hard just evry town or so ressuply when needed there is no way to kno how many miles ur gonna realy do until ur there just go for it if u prepare to much i thnk u set ur self up to fail.

[DrRichardCranium]

Pack 3 days food to get to Neels Gap.

There, I did all your planning for you. That is literally all you need for the trail.

Now as far as working out paying bills and other personal things that is where you need to plan.

my feelings exactly.

[10-K]

Everybody is different....

I always have a plan. But my plans are like the weather forecast. One or two days out - it's pretty good. Beyond that it's starts to get fuzzy but as best I can tell at any given moment I can tell you what my *plan* is for the next week or so.

[The Flatulator]

Figure on how many days you think it will take you to get to the next supply point and then add an extra days worth of food. I got sick for three days on my first thru-hike and was laid up and immobile. You just don't know. If you were southbound on the AT in Maine, all the river crossings are fords, so you can get laid up this way as well due to high water conditions. If you plan to do the whole AT, you will need to choose mail drops for map/money/food or other supplies, but other than that, the advise you have read above is all good and sound. Some people plan extensively and never make it more than a few days out. Others come to the Trail totally unprepared, regroup, and then make it all the way. I begin my third thru-hike in a months time. I have planned for 13 mail drops (mostly for supplies I can't get in whichever town), bought my plane ticket to Atlanta, have arranged a shuttle to Amicalola and from there, I will take each day as it comes (with Franklin being my first major re-supply). Just make sure you have the best of gear, because it will get a lifetimes worth of use in just five months. Other than that; just have fun and enjoy everyday.

[elray]

Section hiking requires day to day planning especially if I'm only allowed a week at a time, it's a real pain. I really look forward to the day when my only concern is when I reach the next supply opportunity. These guys know what they're talking about.

[DapperD]

I'm planning on thru-hiking next year. I've gathered information from the ATC and other various places including here on WB about trip planning. I'm just not sure about how detailed my trip should be planned. I've met hikers on here who have their trip planned for everyday from Springer to Harpers Ferry. They know what shelters and what hostels they're gonna stay at. They know exactly how many miles they're gonna hike each day. Honestly, I'm just not there in my planning...and I'm just not sure I wanna be.
Somebody here on WB has a quote that says, "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." I think that's true to some point. My question to you is..."how detailed should I get when planning my hike?"

I don't believe you need to dissect every single aspect of your planned thru-hike at all. I think part of the adventure of a thru-hike, and yes it is an adventure of sorts, is to not really know exactly where on trail, or in what town, you will wind up each and every day. Your own physical limitations, the weather, and the trail itself will be the deciding factor as far as this is concerned, so there is no need to waste mental time and energy attempting to figure out your days ending points for each and every day. This will be basically fruitless,and will even possibly be setting the stage for unhappiness and even failure. What other's have said, however, as in planning to have your homefront affairs in order before leaving, having secured enough funds to afford yourself a successful and comfortable thru-hike, having researched and chosen decent, safe gear, travel and by which means to safely arrive at the starting off point of your hike, etc...this is where the majority of your planning efforts need to be focused. Once underway, enjoy yourself and allow yourself to end each days hike where you choose to for that particular day and reason.

[WILLIAM HAYES]

you can almost get obsessive with planning get your equipment fine tuned use the guide or AT Pages be flexible on resupply points and just go do it

[singing wind]

As previous posters have mentioned, plan to be flexible. I do carry a rough guide for the trail with mileage, etc. and road maps however, part of the beauty of walking the AT is that resupply points and resources are relatively easy to access and are seldom more that 5-7 days apart - usually less than that. I used to plan everything down to the last detail - that was in the days when the trail had significantly less traffic. Now I prefer to get the appropriate gear and food together for the section I'm walking, have a look at the weather (knowing it will change), and then go with the flow. If out for a long distance hike, say more than 2 weeks I might consider a bounce box but again, most essentials and resources can be found close to the trail.

It's your hike and only you know what works best for you.
Good luck with your hike!

[Blissful]

Day Two, throw out itinerary.
Just hike and enjoy it. The only time I did have to plan some is making rendezous to meet people on certain days

[Tinker]

I got through Georgia with a 35 lb. pack (winter gear and 6 days worth of food [which I didn't need, since we came off the trail on day 4 for a stopover at the Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega]) - and that was in a 5-1/2 lb. pack! If I'd intended to continue on into NC, I would've just hitched back into Hiawassee from Dick's Creek Gap, resupplied, and been on my merry way for another week or longer. Unfortunately, I had to come home to work, and, even less fortunately, Tom (Frosty) had already come off the trail due to a sore knee and some kind of viral infection (Webshots, "Tinker and Frosty's Georgia AT hike". I'll post a link.

[Tinker]

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/548798178sXxbQh

My Georgia hike in 2006. Start with what you'll need for 3-5 days, let go of any urge to control your future, and you're probably good for as long as you decide to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
The most important thing - make sure your footwear is well broken in (or, if trail runners, is familiar to your feet).

[Bronk]

Have equipment that will make you comfortable and you know how to use. Carry the data book. Leave town with enough food to get you to the next resupply point, with a day or two extra.

Get up every morning and hike. When you get tired, stop and rest. When you find a cool spot, pitch your tent. Stop and smell the roses.

That's really all the planning you need.

[nitewalker]

i plan my trips all the time but never end up following them to the tee. my hike thru ocala two weeks ago went from a five nighter to a one nighter due to my partner having blisters and too heavy a pack[ long funny story]. all my planing was useless...plan on the run as u walk but carry enough food for the 1st three days maybe 4 days....after that u will form your own itinary but not a fool proof plan..comfort will come over time....i would study the maps to get familiar with what lies ahead..