It’s Done!!!

[Berserker]

Well guys and gals, at about 10:30AM August 7th I summitted Katahdin thus ending my 13 years of section hiking the AT with a good friend of mine.

I wanted to thank all of you on here that have helped me through the years with good advice and encouragement. Hopefully I have helped a few of you along the way, and I will still be hanging around to try and help others going forward.

So how about a few stats:


Duration: 13 years
Timeframe: 2007 – 2019
Number of sections: 45
Order of sections: random
Direction of sections: all were done NOBO
Final section: Monson to Katahdin
Other criteria: made a point to pass all white blazes


So how about a summary of that last trip, which was Monson to Katahdin. This took 11 days. My bud and I used Phil at 100 Mile Wilderness Adventures for our shuttle and resupply, and I can highly recommend his services. Great guy and he has a really cool place we stayed at one night before starting and one night after finishing. The first 3 and a half days were rough. ME was in a hot spell, and this just beat us up. We were supposed to get to Logan Brook Lean-to for the 4th night and we stopped short at Sydney Tappan campsite to recover…really cool spot to camp by the way. That night a front went through with some thunder storms that skirted us, so we didn’t get much rain. The Barren/Chairback range is tough, reminiscent of the stuff in Southern ME on a smaller scale, then in contrast the Gulf Hagas/White Cap ridge is pretty tame with rock steps and easy walking. When we got to White Cap there was still fog from the rain overnight, that suddenly lifted to reveal clear blue skies and a stunning view of Katahdin. I had my main emotional moment here as this is the first time I saw the end point of the journey.

The next few days go through the flat stuff that’s fairly easy…yeah, there’s actually easy stuff in ME. In here are some of the ponds/lakes with beaches that are awesome. The weather was dry and cooler but started warming up again. We decided to stay at Whitehouse Landing one night. I have read mixed reviews about this place for years, and my personal experience was very positive. Bill and Linda are good people and we really enjoyed our stay. As has been discussed many times over you will spend some money there, but if you know that going in then you can enjoy yourself. I mean it’s pretty much the only place in the HMW that I know of where you can get food, beer, a bed and a shower. While we were there another front came through that evening with T-storms, and it rained a little overnight.

After leaving Whitehouse Landing it took us 3 days to get to Katahdin Stream Campground. Yeah, we were able to get a spot in the campground, which I believe is much nicer than the Birches shelters. I was getting a little beat up feeling but was able to take it easy the last couple of days up to the campground thus conserving some energy for the summit day. The night before Katahdin Stream we stayed at Abol Campground and had a fantastic view of Katahdin from our campsite. We also had a couple of beers and some good food at the store plus a shower. These 3 days were clear and cool with it warming up again.

Summit day started off a little concerning from a weather standpoint. The day before was crystal clear, and we were originally planning to summit that day so I was kind of annoyed, but the heat earlier in the trip basically put us a day behind. Well, it ended up being a blessing in disguise. It was overcast, and even rained for a few minutes once we got up on the flat part about a mile from the summit, but everything stayed dry and it was calm with no wind. There was also an awesome view as the clouds were above the summit, and the surrounding mountains were poking up out of low laying fog (an inversion I think). My bud and I got up there to an empty sign as everyone up there were just sitting around, so we did the obligatory summit pics. After that we hung out a bit and then headed back down. Katahdin is the hardest climb/descent on the AT by the way in my opinion.

Two big takeaways from the trip are that we hiked the HMW while it was super dry as in like I think I walked through maybe 20 mud holes the whole way…amazing. The other thing is the mosquitos and deer flies were bad in some spots, especially the first 2 miles in Baxter where the mosquitos were on an all-out assault.

On an interesting side note we hiked and camped most of this trip with a fellow named Rover that we met out there. Great guy, and man can he go…and I say this because he is 72 years old but moves like a 30 year old. He was also finishing his section hike up of 5 years so that was really cool that we got to share that experience with each other.

[joefryfry]

Well guys and gals, at about 10:30AM August 7th I summitted Katahdin thus ending my 13 years of section hiking the AT with a good friend of mine.

I wanted to thank all of you on here that have helped me through the years with good advice and encouragement. Hopefully I have helped a few of you along the way, and I will still be hanging around to try and help others going forward.

So how about a few stats:


Duration: 13 years
Timeframe: 2007 – 2019
Number of sections: 45
Order of sections: random
Direction of sections: all were done NOBO
Final section: Monson to Katahdin
Other criteria: made a point to pass all white blazes


So how about a summary of that last trip, which was Monson to Katahdin. This took 11 days. My bud and I used Phil at 100 Mile Wilderness Adventures for our shuttle and resupply, and I can highly recommend his services. Great guy and he has a really cool place we stayed at one night before starting and one night after finishing. The first 3 and a half days were rough. ME was in a hot spell, and this just beat us up. We were supposed to get to Logan Brook Lean-to for the 4th night and we stopped short at Sydney Tappan campsite to recover…really cool spot to camp by the way. That night a front went through with some thunder storms that skirted us, so we didn’t get much rain. The Barren/Chairback range is tough, reminiscent of the stuff in Southern ME on a smaller scale, then in contrast the Gulf Hagas/White Cap ridge is pretty tame with rock steps and easy walking. When we got to White Cap there was still fog from the rain overnight, that suddenly lifted to reveal clear blue skies and a stunning view of Katahdin. I had my main emotional moment here as this is the first time I saw the end point of the journey.

The next few days go through the flat stuff that’s fairly easy…yeah, there’s actually easy stuff in ME. In here are some of the ponds/lakes with beaches that are awesome. The weather was dry and cooler but started warming up again. We decided to stay at Whitehouse Landing one night. I have read mixed reviews about this place for years, and my personal experience was very positive. Bill and Linda are good people and we really enjoyed our stay. As has been discussed many times over you will spend some money there, but if you know that going in then you can enjoy yourself. I mean it’s pretty much the only place in the HMW that I know of where you can get food, beer, a bed and a shower. While we were there another front came through that evening with T-storms, and it rained a little overnight.

After leaving Whitehouse Landing it took us 3 days to get to Katahdin Stream Campground. Yeah, we were able to get a spot in the campground, which I believe is much nicer than the Birches shelters. I was getting a little beat up feeling but was able to take it easy the last couple of days up to the campground thus conserving some energy for the summit day. The night before Katahdin Stream we stayed at Abol Campground and had a fantastic view of Katahdin from our campsite. We also had a couple of beers and some good food at the store plus a shower. These 3 days were clear and cool with it warming up again.

Summit day started off a little concerning from a weather standpoint. The day before was crystal clear, and we were originally planning to summit that day so I was kind of annoyed, but the heat earlier in the trip basically put us a day behind. Well, it ended up being a blessing in disguise. It was overcast, and even rained for a few minutes once we got up on the flat part about a mile from the summit, but everything stayed dry and it was calm with no wind. There was also an awesome view as the clouds were above the summit, and the surrounding mountains were poking up out of low laying fog (an inversion I think). My bud and I got up there to an empty sign as everyone up there were just sitting around, so we did the obligatory summit pics. After that we hung out a bit and then headed back down. Katahdin is the hardest climb/descent on the AT by the way in my opinion.

Two big takeaways from the trip are that we hiked the HMW while it was super dry as in like I think I walked through maybe 20 mud holes the whole way…amazing. The other thing is the mosquitos and deer flies were bad in some spots, especially the first 2 miles in Baxter where the mosquitos were on an all-out assault.

On an interesting side note we hiked and camped most of this trip with a fellow named Rover that we met out there. Great guy, and man can he go…and I say this because he is 72 years old but moves like a 30 year old. He was also finishing his section hike up of 5 years so that was really cool that we got to share that experience with each other.

Congrats. Sectioning is no simple task. I'm 15% done in 3 years and it should take me about 20 years total.

[tiptoe]

Bravo to you!

[RuthN]

Well done! Congratulations!

[GlitterHiker]

Congratulations !!!

[rickb]

Excellent.

Great Summit Shot, too!!!

[u.w.]

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to You Berserker!!
Hell Yah!!

u.w. / willin'

[MtDoraDave]

Congratulations!
I started in October of '14 and I'm up to mile 755 or so. About a third of the way.

[QuietStorm]

Congratulations. Still working on mine. Started 2016. Will be done next year.

[kestral]

Good on you sir!

had to click on your photo to enjoy that smile!!!!!!!!!

[Astro]

Congratulations!!!:sun
167 miles to go myself and plan to join you as a 2,000 miler next summer.

[goatee]

Congrats !!

[jgillam]

Congratulations. Thats an amazing accomplishment.

[Gambit McCrae]

Outstanding B! Well done

[FlyPaper]

If you don't mind me asking, what was your single longest section?

I'm curious because most people that finish either thru-hike or else attempt a thru-hike and finish in subsequent years. I don't often hear of people that start out section hiking that wind up finishing the whole trail. And generally those that do finish the whole trail include some very long stretches in their section hikes.

In my case, my longest single section has been 50 miles and I have completed around 1200 miles. If I do finish, it will likely involve at least one usually long (for me) section.

I posed this question before, but I'm curious what the record will be for the "shortest longest section" for someone who has finished the trail.

For example, if your longest section is 100 miles and another person finishes the trail whose longest section is 75 miles, that person would have a "shorter longest section" than you. I doubt this will ever be a record people will compete to attain, but I'm still curious as to what is the record for the "shortest longest section" for someone who has completed the trail.

[Gambit McCrae]

If you don't mind me asking, what was your single longest section?

I'm curious because most people that finish either thru-hike or else attempt a thru-hike and finish in subsequent years. I don't often hear of people that start out section hiking that wind up finishing the whole trail. And generally those that do finish the whole trail include some very long stretches in their section hikes.

In my case, my longest single section has been 50 miles and I have completed around 1200 miles. If I do finish, it will likely involve at least one usually long (for me) section.

I posed this question before, but I'm curious what the record will be for the "shortest longest section" for someone who has finished the trail.

For example, if your longest section is 100 miles and another person finishes the trail whose longest section is 75 miles, that person would have a "shorter longest section" than you. I doubt this will ever be a record people will compete to attain, but I'm still curious as to what is the record for the "shortest longest section" for someone who has completed the trail.

Only having NH and ME left I am too far in to not finish. My longest section thus far (and I guess will stay the longest due to terrain vs vacation) was 237 miles from Salisbury, CT to Little Gap, PA. It was and I think will always be my most memorable section hike. If it works out like it does on paper I will complete the AT in 47 sections, every blaze.

[FlyPaper]

Only having NH and ME left I am too far in to not finish. My longest section thus far (and I guess will stay the longest due to terrain vs vacation) was 237 miles from Salisbury, CT to Little Gap, PA. It was and I think will always be my most memorable section hike. If it works out like it does on paper I will complete the AT in 47 sections, every blaze.
Thanks for the info. I'm curious of others who have finished or are near finishing. 237 is probably lower than the vast majority of finishers.

[joefryfry]

I don't often hear of people that start out section hiking that wind up finishing the whole trail. And generally those that do finish the whole trail include some very long stretches in their section hikes.

I used to have thru-hiker envy, but any more, I find it more interesting to talk to section hikers because there's more of a variety of stories on how it gets done. My longest section of 6 was 126 miles and it was very memorable. I started out as a section hiker and after doing the Presidential Range, I dont think I would want to do it in a thru-hike. I may thru the lower half when I retire depending on when that is. All my sections have been Front Royal northward.

[Pastor Bryon]

Superb! Congratulations! This is a great inspiration for me as I'm about 25% done and section hiking my way to Katahdin as well. Thank you so much for sharing.

[tiptoe]

I was an every blazer, too. Section hiking just fit better into my life. When I began, I was working and had to fit my hikes into my vacation time. After I retired, my sections grew longer (Damascus to Amicolola was the longest), but there were still considerations: gardening, pets, grandkids among them, to work around. Everyone is different, but I think I might have grown tired, mentally and physically, had I attemped to do it all in one swell foop.

[QuietStorm]

I have 319 miles left--from Pinkham Notch to Katahdin. I started 6/18/16. All of my hikes in CT, NJ, PA, MD, W.VA, VA, TN (except the Smokies), NC, and GA have been on weekends. My longest section was 156 miles from Williamstown, MA to Hanover, NH. My next section is in three weeks--from Pinkham Notch to Stratton, ME. I have hiked new miles on the AT 68 times. I've re-hiked most of PA, all of MD, and Northern VA several times but I don't count those. Every blaze.


If you don't mind me asking, what was your single longest section?

I'm curious because most people that finish either thru-hike or else attempt a thru-hike and finish in subsequent years. I don't often hear of people that start out section hiking that wind up finishing the whole trail. And generally those that do finish the whole trail include some very long stretches in their section hikes.

In my case, my longest single section has been 50 miles and I have completed around 1200 miles. If I do finish, it will likely involve at least one usually long (for me) section.

I posed this question before, but I'm curious what the record will be for the "shortest longest section" for someone who has finished the trail.

For example, if your longest section is 100 miles and another person finishes the trail whose longest section is 75 miles, that person would have a "shorter longest section" than you. I doubt this will ever be a record people will compete to attain, but I'm still curious as to what is the record for the "shortest longest section" for someone who has completed the trail.

[Storyguy]

Well done!!!

[Rain Man]

CONGRATS Berserker! I also took 13 years, from 2003 to 2017 (that's 14 years, but one year couldn't hike due to an injury).

Welcome to the club!

[Berserker]

If you don't mind me asking, what was your single longest section?

I'm curious because most people that finish either thru-hike or else attempt a thru-hike and finish in subsequent years. I don't often hear of people that start out section hiking that wind up finishing the whole trail. And generally those that do finish the whole trail include some very long stretches in their section hikes.

My longest section was actually the final one at 114.5 miles. The next 2 longest ones were in VT (2010) at 113.2 miles and ME (2018) at 105.9 miles. My shortest section was 13.7 miles in VA (2019).

I started doing the sections with a good buddy, and that in and of itself is a great story. I'm not too sure many friends have completed the entire AT in sections together, so it's probably a rarity. It worked out because we get along real well, have similar life situations (families and full time jobs), and our personalities complement each other so we typically don't want to kill each other after a few days out on the trail.

We started the section hiking not necessarily focused on actually finishing, but rather doing some of it and seeing where things went. We both happen to be goal oriented, and as the mileage starting adding up we got more and more obsessed with actually finishing. We averaged about 170 miles per year, which included the inaugural year of 2007 that only had one 25 mile section in it, and 2013 where we did one 52 mile section and then did the JMT instead of the normal yearly long section. So most years were closer to 200 miles. Our official trail mileage was 2,183.4 miles based on the length of the sections at the time we hiked them.

I have a totally different perspective on things now at 46 than when I started at 34. I could also tell a bunch of funny stories about the section hikes and how things evolved, but I'll save that for another time. What I will say is that section hiking the entire AT over a period of several years is quite an endeavor and requires sacrificing a lot of time including time to get in shape and vacation time, not to mention the added cost. I am very thankful I have an understanding wife, and she is very happy I'm finally done :D.

[JPritch]

Congratulations Berserker!

[FlyPaper]

Thanks for the info. At 114.5 miles, I'm noting that as the "shortest longest section" record until I hear otherwise.

[FlyPaper]

I used to have thru-hiker envy, but any more, I find it more interesting to talk to section hikers because there's more of a variety of stories on how it gets done. My longest section of 6 was 126 miles and it was very memorable. I started out as a section hiker and after doing the Presidential Range, I dont think I would want to do it in a thru-hike. I may thru the lower half when I retire depending on when that is. All my sections have been Front Royal northward.

I think I prefer section hiking, even if that one day means a fairly long section. Thru-hiking requires one of two things I find distasteful. (1) Speed at the risk of not feeling like you can enjoy a nice location or (2) Starting/finishing with risk of very cold weather. Still I feel the lure of indulging in a substantially long hike (longer than I've been able to do).

As far as thru-hikers, I don't envy them and I'm also not awed by their accomplishment. They're on a long vacation. Mostly very decent people and pleasant to interact with, but the act of hiking for 6 months is not any kind of status booster.

BTW: All my sections have been PA and south. If you've done the Presidential Range, I believe you have the hardest part done. But the south of Front Royal will be a harder than the mid-Atlantic area.

[joefryfry]

I think I prefer section hiking, even if that one day means a fairly long section. Thru-hiking requires one of two things I find distasteful. (1) Speed at the risk of not feeling like you can enjoy a nice location or (2) Starting/finishing with risk of very cold weather. Still I feel the lure of indulging in a substantially long hike (longer than I've been able to do).

As far as thru-hikers, I don't envy them and I'm also not awed by their accomplishment. They're on a long vacation. Mostly very decent people and pleasant to interact with, but the act of hiking for 6 months is not any kind of status booster.

BTW: All my sections have been PA and south. If you've done the Presidential Range, I believe you have the hardest part done. But the south of Front Royal will be a harder than the mid-Atlantic area.

Don't get me wrong, thru hikes are epic and I would like to do one, but I dont think my body would be able to take the abuse. I have about half of the technical 200 done, and should have those done in the next two years.

[Berserker]

;)
As far as thru-hikers, I don't envy them and I'm also not awed by their accomplishment. They're on a long vacation. Mostly very decent people and pleasant to interact with, but the act of hiking for 6 months is not any kind of status booster.

It's funny because throughout my section hiking odyssey I went full circle on my opinion of the thru hikers. When I first started I dreamed of meeting them and swooned at their feet as they told me wild stories of their mountain conquests. Then when I got about halfway mileage wise I started to think that maybe they were doing the AT the "easy way" and was not so impressed, plus I realized that they were annoying and stank. Finally in the last couple of years I was just like "D@mnit" every time one of those feral looking foul smelling heaps of hiker trash would roll into camp...I say all this in tongue and cheek of course ;).

But in all seriousness as with every demographic there are good and bad thrus. I have met a bunch of great ones, and I have also met the party crowd. The interesting thing I found though is that in the last couple of years up in ME the vast majority of the thrus I talked to were as impressed or more impressed with my accomplishment than theirs. That's when I really gained a deeper understanding of exactly what I had accomplished in coming back year after year to finish. So one of the many facets of the final section that was so awesome was talking with thrus on Katahdin, and exchanging congratulations while being in equal awe of each others accomplishment.

[JPritch]

I've found that thru and section hiking each have their own set of unique challenges. I don't think one is better or easier than the other. It's just a matter of life circumstance dictating how we each complete the AT.

Did you ever get the impression from others, mostly non-hikers, that you're "just" a section hiker? I've noticed that the majority of folks out to help hikers with trail magic or rides are intending to help thru-hikers specifically. I've gotten enough "oh"'s after telling people that I'm a section-hiker that I now tend to turn down any offers from folks.

[LittleRock]

Congrats Berserker!!! I love it every time I hear about a section hiker finishing! It's inspiring in the same way as someone who retires after working the same job for 30+ years.

Another data point: I've done 11 section hikes so far ranging from 73 to 180 miles, passing (to my knowledge) every white blaze from Springer to Pen-Mar in order NOBO. Got another 150+ miler planned this fall which will leave me with slightly less than 1,000 miles to go.

I'll echo Berserker's comments on thrus. For the first 500 miles I did all my hikes in the fall (to avoid the NOBO bubble) and I was always in awe when I saw the SOBO thrus flying by on their 20+ mile days. More recently I've done some spring sections in VA and had a great time sharing stories with the NOBOs who now have hiked the same distance I have. This fall, once I get past the halfway point I'll have smug feeling that I've finished more miles than even the SOBOs. But it doesn't matter, really - at some point you realize there's not much difference between experienced section hikers and thrus who have finished 1000+ miles (except maybe fitness level). You're both out there working toward the same goal and more importantly doing something you enjoy.

[Gambit McCrae]

;)

It's funny because throughout my section hiking odyssey I went full circle on my opinion of the thru hikers. When I first started I dreamed of meeting them and swooned at their feet as they told me wild stories of their mountain conquests. Then when I got about halfway mileage wise I started to think that maybe they were doing the AT the "easy way" and was not so impressed, plus I realized that they were annoying and stank. Finally in the last couple of years I was just like "D@mnit" every time one of those feral looking foul smelling heaps of hiker trash would roll into camp...I say all this in tongue and cheek of course ;).

But in all seriousness as with every demographic there are good and bad thrus. I have met a bunch of great ones, and I have also met the party crowd. The interesting thing I found though is that in the last couple of years up in ME the vast majority of the thrus I talked to were as impressed or more impressed with my accomplishment than theirs. That's when I really gained a deeper understanding of exactly what I had accomplished in coming back year after year to finish. So one of the many facets of the final section that was so awesome was talking with thrus on Katahdin, and exchanging congratulations while being in equal awe of each others accomplishment.

Favorite Trip / Favorite Section???

[Berserker]

Did you ever get the impression from others, mostly non-hikers, that you're "just" a section hiker? I've noticed that the majority of folks out to help hikers with trail magic or rides are intending to help thru-hikers specifically. I've gotten enough "oh"'s after telling people that I'm a section-hiker that I now tend to turn down any offers from folks.
Yes I have met many folks where the inflection in their voice changed when they found out I was "only" a section hiker. Most people doing feeds I ran into were cool with sectioners though, and I partook in several of them.

[Berserker]

Favorite Trip / Favorite Section???
Hmmmmmm…excellent question, and a hard one to answer. There were many where the weather was perfect and things went off without a hitch, and one would think those were my favorite. However, the funny thing is I don't even remember those. I usually have to go back to my journal and notes to even remember any detail of ever having done those sections.

The most memorable ones are always the ones that break your will. VT in 2010...it rained at least part of the day for most of the 10 days I was out. I can still vividly remember parts of that one including lots of mud, how it seemed to always be 57 degrees, the pouring rain on the Old Job trail re-route and having to shorten the trip due to planning too much mileage. NH in 2016 going into the Whites...4 days in I realized I was doing way too much mileage and had to get off trail for a couple of days...I can still feel what it was like when I collapsed into that bed in the AMC Highland Center and literally could not move for several hours. GA in 2008, it was like near 100 degrees for about half of the trip and I was coated in salt from the many cycles of sweating and drying and sweating again.

So I guess the short answer is I can't really pick a favorite because the low key ones were fun and relaxing, but it was the beatdowns that provided the stories I tell people and periodically reflect on.

As for favorite due to scenery, again I'd be hard pressed to pick a favorite. Some highlights for me (as in what looked good when I passed through there off the top of my head) were as follows:

Approach trail and Springer
Wayah Bald fire tower
Clouds and fog North of Newfound Gap in GSMNP
White Top/Mt. Rogers area
Inversion in SNP
Hiking into Harpers Ferry
Harriman SP
Mt. Greylock
Clarendon Gorge
The Whites and in particular Mt. Madison
The Goose peaks
Mahoosuc Notch
Baldpate
Katahdin

[tiptoe]

When I began my sections, I would introduce myself as "just" a section hiker. My third trip, NY/NJ, I met a trail maintainer who told me to drop the "just." He reminded me that the original intent of the trail was recreational hiking for the many people who lived close to it. Later in my travels, I found myself telling thrus that thru-hiking seemed much harder than sectioning. Many, if not most, disagreed. There wasn't any animosity, ever. Most hikers are just glad to be hiking, whatever the particulars.

[Colter]

Well done. It must feel pretty sweet.

[Ethesis]

Well done! Congratulations!
Indeed. Congratulations on completion.

[MtDoraDave]

When I began my sections, I would introduce myself as "just" a section hiker. My third trip, NY/NJ, I met a trail maintainer who told me to drop the "just." He reminded me that the original intent of the trail was recreational hiking for the many people who lived close to it. Later in my travels, I found myself telling thrus that thru-hiking seemed much harder than sectioning. Many, if not most, disagreed. There wasn't any animosity, ever. Most hikers are just glad to be hiking, whatever the particulars.

Very similar experiences here.
I have seen the subtle looks on thru hiker's faces change from one of superiority when they thought I was just a section hiker to that of respect or camaraderie when they realize I have hiked just as far (if not farther) than they have; that I have hiked all the trail up to his point - and some sections twice.

Now, I don't say I'm just a section hiker. People often ask a group of hikers if they're thru hiking, I'll often say I'm on the ten year plan.

[Longboysfan]

Well done.

I'm 200 miles into my section hiking NOBO.
My next pick up spot is Fontana Dam.

Any gear recommends?

[Astro]

When I began my sections, I would introduce myself as "just" a section hiker. My third trip, NY/NJ, I met a trail maintainer who told me to drop the "just." He reminded me that the original intent of the trail was recreational hiking for the many people who lived close to it. Later in my travels, I found myself telling thrus that thru-hiking seemed much harder than sectioning. Many, if not most, disagreed. There wasn't any animosity, ever. Most hikers are just glad to be hiking, whatever the particulars.
Baltimore Jack would have disagreed. I was fortunate enough to sit down with him once for a conversation, and he felt section hiking is much tougher since you had to work to get your trail legs every trip. He should have known with 8 thru hikes and hundreds of section hikes.

[tiptoe]

Well, yes, the trail legs aspect is the hardest part of section hiking. That, logistics, and efficiency. I always marveled at how quickly thrus would set up and take down their tents and hammocks, prepare a meal, etc., while I was fumbling in my pack for items I needed, especially for the first few days.

My longest section, Damascus to Amicalola, took me about two months, and I did develop a semblance of trail legs, which meant endurance, not speed. I could just keep going at my (some would say glacial) pace of roughly three miles in two hours.

[foodbag]

Hearty congratulations, with many stories to tell in the years to come!

[joefryfry]

I wish I knew what it was like to have trail legs. I used to spend a good amount of time thinking about the differences between section and thru hiking. They are many. I have done this only three years. I start walking two miles a day up and down local hills once daylight savings time hits. By Memorial Day I am in pretty decent shape and I do a short section hike (Ima kill it on the PA rocks, 35 miles at a time), then by Mid summer I am in better shape and do my long summer section. I shoot for a combined 110 miles a year. I am in pretty good hiking shape, I feel, by the summer, but most of my miles are because I get up at the crack of dawn, I don't mess around or stand around and I just hike. But I see stronger hikers than me, usually thrus, and I wonder...what is it like to just go like that. Like I think I am in good shape until I see them go past. When I was waiting for my ride in Rangeley on my latest section, two knuckleheads sat down by me and started smoking pot. One of them had done the AT NOBO, the PCT twice and the AZT, and was on a SOBO AT hike. I asked him how long it takes to get trail legs and he immediately replied 300 miles. I wish I knew how that felt and wondered what others think it takes when the trail legs kick in. I've always felt pretty good hiking just doing it the way i do.

[Berserker]

I wish I knew what it was like to have trail legs.
Yeah, me too. The closest I've ever come, and I think I was still a couple of weeks and 100 miles off was when I did the JMT. I was out for 20 days and calculated that I did close to 230 miles (one thing not often mentioned is that after summitting Whitney it's still 15 miles to get down to the portal). I was starting to finally get into a groove towards the end. I also lost 15lbs (and I'm kind of a skinny dude to start with), and was starting to develop an insatiable hunger I had never felt before. It would definitely be interesting to get to that point to see what's it's like.

[illabelle]

I guess I can claim the prize for the shortest longest section. We've completed about 95% of the trail, finishing up next year. Our longest section was 103 miles SOBO from a road crossing in Great Barrington MA to Fahnestock State Park in NY. Most other week-long sections have been 75-85 miles. And of course we've got a few dozen weekend trips as well.

Like others, I wish I knew what a thru-hikers trail legs are like. But even after a section, I've felt a real difference in my legs. There's a hardness to the muscle, a bit of steel in the bone, and some spring in the joints. And then it's over and I turn back into mush. :(

Congratulations on your finish, Berserker! High five!!!!

[FlyPaper]

I guess I can claim the prize for the shortest longest section. We've completed about 95% of the trail, finishing up next year. Our longest section was 103 miles SOBO from a road crossing in Great Barrington MA to Fahnestock State Park in NY. Most other week-long sections have been 75-85 miles. And of course we've got a few dozen weekend trips as well.

Like others, I wish I knew what a thru-hikers trail legs are like. But even after a section, I've felt a real difference in my legs. There's a hardness to the muscle, a bit of steel in the bone, and some spring in the joints. And then it's over and I turn back into mush. :(

Congratulations on your finish, Berserker! High five!!!!

Once you finish, 103 miles would be the lowest known record. At 95%, sounds likely this will happen.

[illabelle]

Once you finish, 103 miles would be the lowest known record. At 95%, sounds likely this will happen.
Maybe so - on this thread anyway. More than likely there are at least dozens of 2000-milers who have a lower longest section, but they're not here to share. We have about 130 miles to go, but it's discontinuous, the largest incomplete section being only 62.5 miles from Pinkham Notch to EB Hill Road.

[perrymk]

Congratulations on an impressive accomplishment!

[FlyPaper]

Maybe so - on this thread anyway. More than likely there are at least dozens of 2000-milers who have a lower longest section, but they're not here to share. We have about 130 miles to go, but it's discontinuous, the largest incomplete section being only 62.5 miles from Pinkham Notch to EB Hill Road.

Understood. This is not a widely discussed metric and as far as I know I'm the first person to bring it up. Although there are likely some that have beat this record, based on knowing other section hikers there would only likely be a very small number who have beat this record. Also, I don't know how many do the 100 mile wilderness in multiple chunks. I know it's possible, but normal practice means that few are going to complete the trail without at least one 100 mile segment. My guess is that there are fewer than "dozens", but that's just my guess and I respect your guess which comes from your own familiarity with the trail community.

Maybe we'll popularize this metric and inspire hikers to actually seek to set the record for the "shortest longest section". Then we'd have to make rules. For example if you went back and hiked 200 miles over a section you'd already hiked, I'd suggest that doesn't matter since you don't need to count that 200 mile section to have completed the trail.