cardinalsfan115
01-24-2015, 23:47
So I'm seriously considering thru hiking the A.T this year, but I have a few questions, and this seems to be the place to ask them.
Firstly, is $4,000 a do-able budget for a thru hike? I realize this is probably on the low end of a budget, especially in 2015. I will avoid staying in towns as much as possible, only going to pick up food, maildrops and occasionally do some laundry. I'm also only 19 so alcohol will not be an in town expense that I have to worry about. Additionally, is it cheaper to buy food as you go, or try to coordinate mail drops town to town?
I should add that I already have the vast majority of gear for such a trip. I'll probably grab a lighter, smaller pack and a new pair of boots before the trip, but not much else. I have backpacked most parts of the A.T in CT, NJ,and NY. I've hiked the Monadnock sunapee trail (i think thats what its called) I've also backpacked a good portion of the Long Trail, so I definitely know what to expect in terms of preparedness, difficulty, etc.
I'm still deciding between NOBO and SOBO for a number of reasons. Obviously I know it's going to be lonely doing a SOBO, but I don't mind that, I'm looking for a more introspective journey, so avoiding the party like atmosphere of a NOBO might even be a plus for me. Obviously going SOBO is going to be an extremely difficult start to the hike though, so I'm not sure if this is the best idea. I've also heard there are several rivers in Maine that cannot be passed on foot, especially for SOBO hikers, so that worries me a little.
I have some prior family plans that are going to require me to take about 2 weeks off in July to go back home. I live in Connecticut so either way I'm going to have to backtrack, and add in some extra travel expenses. I was considering doing some sort of flip-flop hike, there seem to be several different ones, because this might work out easier with me needing to travel back to CT mid summer, although these don't seem to be a popular as a traditional NOBO or SOBO.
Also, what would some realistic start dates be for a NOBO and a SOBO thru hike?
Thanks for reading all this, I'd love to get some input from some experienced thru hikers about it.
Firstly, is $4,000 a do-able budget for a thru hike? I realize this is probably on the low end of a budget, especially in 2015. I will avoid staying in towns as much as possible, only going to pick up food, maildrops and occasionally do some laundry. I'm also only 19 so alcohol will not be an in town expense that I have to worry about. Additionally, is it cheaper to buy food as you go, or try to coordinate mail drops town to town?
I should add that I already have the vast majority of gear for such a trip. I'll probably grab a lighter, smaller pack and a new pair of boots before the trip, but not much else. I have backpacked most parts of the A.T in CT, NJ,and NY. I've hiked the Monadnock sunapee trail (i think thats what its called) I've also backpacked a good portion of the Long Trail, so I definitely know what to expect in terms of preparedness, difficulty, etc.
I'm still deciding between NOBO and SOBO for a number of reasons. Obviously I know it's going to be lonely doing a SOBO, but I don't mind that, I'm looking for a more introspective journey, so avoiding the party like atmosphere of a NOBO might even be a plus for me. Obviously going SOBO is going to be an extremely difficult start to the hike though, so I'm not sure if this is the best idea. I've also heard there are several rivers in Maine that cannot be passed on foot, especially for SOBO hikers, so that worries me a little.
I have some prior family plans that are going to require me to take about 2 weeks off in July to go back home. I live in Connecticut so either way I'm going to have to backtrack, and add in some extra travel expenses. I was considering doing some sort of flip-flop hike, there seem to be several different ones, because this might work out easier with me needing to travel back to CT mid summer, although these don't seem to be a popular as a traditional NOBO or SOBO.
Also, what would some realistic start dates be for a NOBO and a SOBO thru hike?
Thanks for reading all this, I'd love to get some input from some experienced thru hikers about it.