View Full Version : Next time... what would you differently?
For those who've walked the AT, or most of it... what would you differently if you were to do it again?
I would not go into as many towns and just go to the ones that I really liked.
Here is another thread to read that has some of the same info in it titled what would you do differently? (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=5505&page=1&pp=20)
Try to go lighter and blue blazemore and last not bithch about the ups and downs of the trail.
I'd take a LOT more money.
I'd take a LOT more money.
(((mindi))) My fellow 10/6 Libran, me too!
WalkingStick75
03-08-2008, 21:28
Thru no section and go lighter
Bare Bear
03-09-2008, 13:28
Skip all the mail drops...pain in the arse to hit town AFTER the post office closed on Saturday at noon...you either wait until MOnday or just go on and hope the packagecatches up somewhere. I lost a couple that went to post office heaven I guess.
Jim Adams
03-09-2008, 13:39
no mail drops and go slower.
geek
I would go SOBO, blue blaze, and visit many of the towns I bypassed the first time like Rangely, ME: Great Barrington & Kent, CT: Slatington or Palmerton, PA: Glasgow or Bland or Bastian, VA. You get the idea.
I would also hammock instead of tent or shelter, at least during the warmer months.
Go SOBO or start a very late NOBO hike to see wildflowers and foliage.
Drink more beer
Spend less money
Spend less time in town and more in the woods
camp away from shelters more
Not be so concerned with making it to places
Care less about what other hikers were doing
Visit new towns and not return to some I already saw
Re-visit some of the best towns/hostels/friends I met
Do more trail work. Lend a hand more to those helping hikers, pay it forward more for the next hikers
Take more side trails
Go faster through boring parts and slower in prettier places
Take more zeroes, listen to my body more
Take more photos
Get more people's contact info
Don't make journaling a daily obligation
Carry lighter gear
Share some or all of the trail with a partner
walk more of it alone
Leave my own trail register somewhere to get a record of the hiking class
Say thanks more to others
learn more about the natural history of the land, better identify the flora and fauna
Try to have as different an experience as possible.
If I were to hike all or most of the AT again (I thru hiked in 2006) I would:
Be less concerned about others hikes and more about mine
Take a full 6.5 months perhaps even 7
The miles per day obsession of many hikers is insane
I would spend a LOT LESS time in shelters and more camping out
Resupply in Duncannon and get out the same day and avoid the DOYLE
Stay at most ONE night in Damascus.
Resupply at Kneels GAP then get the hell out. That hostel was too crowded and too busy and too noisy.
Eat at every restaurant I could
Not go into Great Barrington Mass (but gee not going to Friendlys ...that's unthinkable!)
No mail drops at all for food. You can buy everywhere. I would still use mail to switch out gear.
Hopefully start out with a hiking buddy
I'd do the entire approach trail.. not just the seven miles after the road ends.
ANd just to remphasize to all the young whipersnappers..
thru hiking the AT is not a race..at least it shouldn't be. Take your time.. enjoy the scenery and have fun!!!
David
Jim Adams
03-09-2008, 17:09
Go SOBO or start a very late NOBO hike to see wildflowers and foliage.
Drink more beer
Spend less money
Spend less time in town and more in the woods
camp away from shelters more
Not be so concerned with making it to places
Care less about what other hikers were doing
Visit new towns and not return to some I already saw
Re-visit some of the best towns/hostels/friends I met
Do more trail work. Lend a hand more to those helping hikers, pay it forward more for the next hikers
Take more side trails
Go faster through boring parts and slower in prettier places
Take more zeroes, listen to my body more
Take more photos
Get more people's contact info
Don't make journaling a daily obligation
Carry lighter gear
Share some or all of the trail with a partner
walk more of it alone
Leave my own trail register somewhere to get a record of the hiking class
Say thanks more to others
learn more about the natural history of the land, better identify the flora and fauna
Try to have as different an experience as possible.
Very nice!
My second hike was 12 years after the first....in that time period, the trail changed so much! There was not much the same between the 2 hikes...and that did make so much difference!:)
geek
I'm going SOBO this year for that reason, it will be different from my previous experiences. Can't wait!
Sleepy the Arab
03-09-2008, 23:22
Take more pictures of people. People hiking, people cooking, people setting up tents, people being people.
That's it.
fiddlehead
03-10-2008, 01:53
take my kid with me.
and let him decide when and where we camp and when we stop.
(he's only 2 1/2 , so it'll be a while yet)
jersey joe
03-10-2008, 08:57
Lighter
Faster
Less shelters
More shaving
Digital Camera