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Straightshot
01-06-2016, 18:28
Hey everyone, I am planning a thru hike for 2017 (?) But I am about to have surgery on both feet, they will be cutting some bone off of my heels and cutting/stretching my Achilles tendons...I am aware how challenging the trail is, but it has been a dream of mine for quite some time. Just wondering if any of you have done the trail after a surgery like this?

And I guess instead of posting two threads I will go ahead and ask some questions here.

First off, the money thing, I've read that for a through hike you need around $3,500....but i believe that post was fairly old, I'm looking for a more recent amount that some of you may have spent on your trek.

Now packs, I had an osprey atmos 50, I really liked it but I sold it before I joined the military, should I go ahead and buy another one or would you guys recommend something else? (Lighter, bigger, smaller, etc.)

I've done both tent and hammock, I own both still, but which is better for a thru? (I've got an eno and a hubba hubba nxt with carbon fiber poles) I know if I go the hammock route I'll need more gear to go with it.

Basically, any advice you guys have on thru hiking and/or gear recommendations, I'd greatly appreciate any info I can get.

4eyedbuzzard
01-06-2016, 21:10
Welcome to WB. Good luck on your surgeries. No experience to offer there.

I haven't attempted a thru-hike in many years, but since no one has replied yet, I'll throw this out there:

Most thru-hikers report to be spending about $800 to $1000/month while on the trail +/-, not including gear and transportation. The range is pretty wide though, you could probably dirt bag the AT on $2000 eating out of hiker boxes, rarely taking a town day/zero or showering or doing laundry, and "relying on the kindness of strangers". Or you could spend $10,000 getting shuttles at every town, staying at motels, eating good meals and drinking a lot of beer, etc. $4000 to $6000 seems to be the average range.

A hammock will work almost everywhere on the AT with a few exceptions. In GSMNP, you must stay in the shelters if space is available, which if you don't have a pad, will be cold and uncomfortable. But during normal thru-hike season, you should be able to arrive late enough to not have to use the shelter spaces reserved for thru-hikers. In the White Mountains, if you don't stay at any of the AMC huts, you will have to hike down far enough below treeline to find trees big enough to support a hammock. Not a huge deal IMO, but just a know-in-advance thing.

Packs are a matter of personal preference. Biggest suggestion is to figure out the rest of your gear and food carrying requirements first, such as hammock vs. tent, quilt or bag, which sleep pad if tenting, cooking system, amount of cold weather gear if starting early, etc, as all this affects the size and weight carrying ability of the pack you will need.

Here's a few posts on really frugal thru-hikes:
Check out this thread and the OP's video http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...t=#post2029099 (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php/115796-money?p=2029099&highlight=#post2029099) and expenses https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...t?pref=2&pli=1 (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iE9R3gK716zA4OLwyswPyjPX5y3DR93BMVJeNYrkWT0/edit?pref=2&pli=1) but keep in mind he had lots of help from family/friends with freebie shuttles, lodging, meals along the way.

Also this by Weathercarrot regarding his 2003 hike (factor in quite a bit for inflation) http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/cont...-(Hiker-Advice (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/content.php/177-Ideas-for-an-Inexpensive-Thru-hike-%28Hiker-Advice))

Here's a more conservative and expensive opinion http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/content.php/173-Planning-an-Appalachian-Trail-Thru-Hike#comments

There are many, MANY, threads on costs and almost any topic you can imagine.

Search around the site - do google searches on topics and include the following text as an example: site:whiteblaze.net then add the search string. For example site:whiteblaze.net thru-hike cost

Good luck!

Slo-go'en
01-07-2016, 00:22
As for hiking after the foot surgery, that is something only you will be able to determine. If after say 6 months it's still painful to walk, I would guess not.

Whack-a-mole
01-07-2016, 11:19
One thing to keep in mind about your surgery. They will be working on your heels, which will leave scar tissue which remains more sensitive to pressure and wear, than regular tissue. Some times our hearts are bigger than our brains and we really want to do something, and we are set on it, but the reality is that our bodies are just not ready. They body will be ready, but it is not as fast as we want it to be. I type this, right now, with my foot elevated, with three screws and a pin in it to correct a severe hammer toe. I'm out of work for eight weeks, and before I went out, I had all of these visions about what I was going to get done around the house. Boy was I wrong. Bodies heal, and I am healing, but not as fast as I want. I have things to do, and don't have time to be sitting around fighting inflammation! Ha Ha. Sometimes Mother Nature has to smack you around a little so you have to remember who is in charge. You WILL be able to do your hike, you just have to do it on Her time! Fight Her, and you will just be setting yourself back. Good luck with your surgery and the healing. I'm hoping to get back out there too, I know I will just have to start back slow. Sorry for the book.......