View Full Version : Thru-hiking the AT in 4 months..
BlazingPaddles
02-11-2015, 23:55
Has anyone ever done it?
What was it like physically?
Did you still have time to sight-see and really appreciate your surroundings?
Thanks :)
Yes it has been done numerous times my numerous people. High mile days little or no zeros. Under 120days you have some time to sight see but not as much as if you took 5-6 obviously.
I did in 2012. Physically - no problem. Right equipment, most importantly - shoes. Blisters? Just one. Hot spots? A couple. If no problem, it means: plenty of "time to sight-see and really appreciate your surroundings". I know, I know... It was my second thru-hike. First one in 2006 abruptly has ended with the broken ankle. But, anyway it can be done, even in my age (56 at that time).
old school
02-12-2015, 06:02
I took 7 months to hike it and I still didn't see everything I wanted to
Sirsnappy09
02-12-2015, 06:24
It can be done without issues . Limit zeros and town time. I did it in 126 days
Yes, it has been done by many. It is also is not near as draconian as some would lead you to believe.
An itinerary for a 4 month hike might look something like this:
28 days -- start at 14 miles per day and slowly build to 20 miles per day by the time you cover the 469 miles to Damascus VA
66 days -- 20 miles per day covering the 1321 miles from Damascus VA to Glencliff VT
15 days -- 14 miles per day covering the 211 miles from Glencliff VA to Stratton ME hiking the most rugged part of the AT
10 days -- 20 miles per day covering the 188 miles from Stratton to Katahdin
119 days total
If you think you can handle that then go for it.
Ruffdude
02-12-2015, 09:29
An itinerary for a 4 month hike might look something like this:
28 days -- start at 14 miles per day and slowly build to 20 miles per day by the time you cover the 469 miles to Damascus VA
66 days -- 20 miles per day covering the 1321 miles from Damascus VA to Glencliff VT
15 days -- 14 miles per day covering the 211 miles from Glencliff VA to Stratton ME hiking the ruggedest part of the AT
10 days -- 20 miles per day covering the 188 miles from Stratton to Katahdin
119 days total
If you think you can handle that then go for it. I love your number crunching map man.
How about a 135 day itinerary?
CarlZ993
02-12-2015, 15:52
An itinerary for a 4 month hike might look something like this:
28 days -- start at 14 miles per day and slowly build to 20 miles per day by the time you cover the 469 miles to Damascus VA
66 days -- 20 miles per day covering the 1321 miles from Damascus VA to Glencliff VT
15 days -- 14 miles per day covering the 211 miles from Glencliff VA to Stratton ME hiking the ruggedest part of the AT
10 days -- 20 miles per day covering the 188 miles from Stratton to Katahdin
119 days total
If you think you can handle that then go for it.
I agree, very good number crunching. And you have one extra zero day to play with. :)
After doing the AT in just under 5 months, I can see where I could whittle a few days here and there. But an entire month? Maybe when I was 25. It ain't happening now.
evyck da fleet
02-12-2015, 17:48
Not quite 4 months but in 2012 I did it in 4 months & 10 days with 22 zeros. Spend 4 days at Trail days, 6 in NY with college friends and 3 zeros in NH with Norovirus:( I started off at 12 mile days and it took me about 2-3 weeks before I could consistently hike 20 miles a day. I briefly hiked with about six solo hikers at different times who each finished in around 3 1/2 months. They all had marathon backgrounds so they were hitting big mile days right out of the gate. I could stay with them for a few days but would need a day off every now and then to not breakdown physically. I tried to plan those days around towns I'd like to sightsee. If you're (young and) in shape 20 or 30 mile days aren't overly difficult when you have 15 hours of sunlight.
I love your number crunching map man.
How about a 135 day itinerary?
How about the same miles per hiking day but 15 more zero days?;)
But seriously, if you reduce every section by two miles per day (12 miles per day at your slowest and 18 miles per day at your fastest, instead of 14 and 20) you end up taking two weeks longer for the whole trip, or around 133 days.
The sections would break down like this:
31 days Springer to Damascus
73 days Damascus to Glencliff
18 days Glencliff to Stratton
11 days Stratton to Katahdin
133 days total
In both itineraries I'm assuming that the miles per day includes some zero days, so your miles per HIKING day would be a little higher for each section depending on just how many zeros are taken.
Kaptain Kangaroo
02-13-2015, 02:23
Has anyone ever done it?
What was it like physically?
Did you still have time to sight-see and really appreciate your surroundings?
Thanks :)
Yes, my hike in 2006 was a few days over 4 months. Physically it was pretty easy, but I had done plenty of hiking prior and was in good shape, with a light pack.
Only someone who hadn't done a 4 month hike would say that you don't have time to enjoy the sights of the trail. You are hiking the same trail at a similar walking speed. A 4 month hike means a daily average of 18 miles. A 5 month hike is 14.5 miles per day. So you only need to walk an extra 3.5 miles each day. That's probably an extra hour and a half of hiking (= 90 minutes less sitting in camp). How could that make a major difference to what you see ?
I spent a lot of time just chilling out enjoying views, watching sunsets, swimming in ponds and all the other things that make hiking special. I didn't spend much time in town (5 zeros) That seems to be the reason for most longer hikes.
As far as "seeing the sights" goes, I'd consider the towns part of that. Clearly you can't stop at every one, but IMO, minimizing town visits is more of an issue than supposedly missing stuff on the trail.
I guess I view a thru as being immersed in Americana of which the towns are a part of vs maximizing your isolation from civilization. Not saying the latter is a bad thing, just saying it might be good to understand what you don't mind missing if you want to keep yourself on an aggressive schedule. Pretty much when you did make a stop, I would think the memory would seem like one convenience store after another, with the experience of the good and bad that each community offers minimized.
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yes it can be done and has been done. It would be basically a death march.
Just Bill
02-13-2015, 11:15
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php/99086-How-long-will-it-take-me-to-hike-the-AT
Calculator on here- It blends MapMan's numbers with some other stuff to show you not just how fast to go, but how fast to go where and considers zeros.
2200/120= 18.33 MPD average, not much higher than the average thru.
2200/110= 20 MPHD average with 10 zeros is a bit more realistic to have some breaks.
I think the best strategy overall is neros over zeros- but that is discussed extensively in the Speed Hiking forums which should be your next stop if you are serious.
Neither is too hard overall, just takes a bit more effort than showing up.
You can still have many smiles even with the miles.
Just Bill
02-13-2015, 11:20
ON A SIDE NOTE-
Considering the recent discussions on trail impacts and overcrowding...
Perhaps more support of "fast" hikes is in order as a viable solution. There are lots of fit (enough) twenty somethings hitting the trail that could do five month and under schedules with a little support from the community. These schedules typically involve a later than typical start and/or earlier finish to help at Baxter and Springer.
A May- August trip especially shines as a very realistic trip and would put said hiker outside of the highest impact months at either end.
In addition, with some help/training, this type of hiker is more likely to use dispersed camping (stealth) sites and further reduce shelter traffic and impact.
Just saying...
Its not really uncommon. Usually by people who have the AT on their bucket list and are not regular hikers. Just a younger person up for the challange.
I call em the Jackrabbits. Also, have run into some who just wanna get out of the bubble. Myself, just not into going fast. 4 months is not even what I'd call a speed hiker.
JessetheViking
02-13-2015, 12:18
Worrying about a schedule and mileage would be a little crappy and stressful. But if you can continualy put out big miles and be okay with it then the more power to you.
coppertex
03-29-2015, 11:38
Not every hiker can afford to take off for 6-7 months, but for some 4 months is do-able. You are hiking the same trail, just longer days and less time in town. For some I think the less time in town is a good thing.
fastfoxengineering
03-29-2015, 17:15
Pack light and move swiftly. Don't get caught up in trail towns and you'll be allright.
garlic08
03-29-2015, 20:52
I hiked the AT in 3.5 months at age 51. I hiked the PCT and CDT earlier, so the 20 mile days were just my natural pace since that pace is pretty much required on the longer trails due to the shorter season.
Like Kaptain Kangaroo's experience, it was not a forced march at all. In fact, comparing notes with slower hikers I passed, it turns out I actually saw more than most. I had the energy to take more side trips. I was usually hiking at dawn and dusk, so I saw more wildlife. I had many great sunrise and sunset views.
I saw a lot of hikers spending up to 16 hours a day hanging around a shelter. I suspect they were among the ones taking up to six months. Huddling in the corner of a mouse- and snake-infested lean-to, downwind of a loaded privy, in the company of habituated bears and snoring hikers, is not my idea of a good hiking vacation.
Another good reason for a shorter hike is cost. An average AT hike costs about $1000 per month, and it doesn't matter much how many miles you hiked in that month. The opportunity cost has already been mentioned.
I met a few first-time hikers finishing in Maine on a four-month pace. They were strong, confident hikers having a great trip. It can definitely be done and it does not have to be difficult. Hiking 2 mph for 10 hours a day, the world isn't exactly flying by to the exclusion of all enjoyment!
fiddlehead
03-29-2015, 21:20
I agree with Garlic and Kaptain Kangaroo.
If you get up early, and hike late, I can pretty much guarantee you'll see more than the average hiker who takes probably 5 1/2 months to do the trail.
They might see more of the inside of a tent, but you'll see more wildlife and have the trail to yourself much more often.
That's been my key to big mile days.
4:30 wakeup. Hike until dark. Take a long lunch and dinner.
1 night in town max. (get in early, leave late the next day, you'll still have time to do what you need to do and even hit a bar and 2 or 3 restaurants)
Experience helps a lot as many newbies just love town too much (and the inside of their sleeping bag)
Plenty of people have hiked the trail in 4 months.
The hard part is starting the HAVING to hike that fast.
The stress of HAVING to make miles is vastly underestimated IMHO.
I am not sure how 18 MPD on average is a death march? It is a lower pace typically than done on the PCT and the CDT. On the trail at 8am, hike until 6pm. 1-2 hrs of breaks in between. There you go... I believe the major difference are the more social aspect of the trail vs the CDT (The PCT? changing IMO to be more AT like) esp in town stops.
But, we've been having this same discussion for 10+ years and I doubt any views will change.
I am not sure how 18 MPD on average is a death march? It is a lower pace typically than done on the PCT and the CDT. On the trail at 8am, hike until 6pm. 1-2 hrs of breaks in between. There you go... I believe the major difference are the more social aspect of the trail vs the CDT (The PCT? changing IMO to be more AT like) esp in town stops.
But, we've been having this same discussion for 10+ years and I doubt any views will change.
A other difference is the tendency to camp at shelters or designated sites along the AT. In some areas you are required to. That can make it a bit more difficult to keep the average where you need it to be.
northernfrostbite
03-30-2015, 14:40
I'm planning 110 days nobo beginning Apr 19th. The daily mileage itself doesn't intimidate me as I have an ultra running background, although I'm a bit removed from that now. I have a ~12lb base weight, and with careful planning don't figure on needing to carry more than 8lbs of consumables (usually about 6). I went through the AT Guide and circled goal end points for each day based on terrain, length of daylight, etc. I have 2 zero and 3 nero days planned but I do have a few 30 mile days planned (mostly near solstice in northern va to pa).
Of course all plans are tentative, but it helps me mentally to have a goal.
A other difference is the tendency to camp at shelters or designated sites along the AT. In some areas you are required to.
Tendency to camp at shelters...yes. Designated sites? In nearly 2200 miles, the amount of places where you HAVE to camp is not the majority.
I always figured if you graphed the distribution of "Miles Hiked Per Day" for hikes of a given length of time, it would be much broader on the AT than other trails.
I have no no basis for that conclusion, I will admit.
I wonder what a typical range of MPD over 1 or 2 week span (no zeros) one would fine for those who average 18 miles per day on each Trail.
I did in 2012. Physically - no problem. Right equipment, most importantly - shoes. Blisters? Just one. Hot spots? A couple. If no problem, it means: plenty of "time to sight-see and really appreciate your surroundings". I know, I know... It was my second thru-hike. First one in 2006 abruptly has ended with the broken ankle. But, anyway it can be done, even in my age (56 at that time).
How'd your ankle hold up on the thru-hike? I broke mine 5 years ago. Had 7 pins and a plate inserted. The slightest misstep while hiking can cause me problems.