View Full Version : Thru-hiker Survey
abbyflutterby
07-22-2010, 04:47
Trail name:
NOBO/SOBO:
Year(s) hiked:
Purpose of first thru hike: (divorce, searching, honeymoon, w/ friends, etc...)
Age during hike:
Total weight of pack:
Estimated amount spent on hike:
Did you start alone or with someone?
If you started with someone, did you intend to stay with them?
If so, did you stay with them?
Did you meet people along the way that stayed with you for a bit?
How long was your total hike?
Did you arrange for drop-boxes?
Something you wish you'd've brought with you?
Worst injury?
Coldest weather experience?
Hottest?
Footwear used, how many pairs?
Favorite/most useful gear item.
Favorite food.
Did you bring anything other than "necessities"? (journal, MP3 player...)
How did you feel upon completing your hike?
The biggest change you noticed in yourself was...
Trail name: LETITBE
NOBO/SOBO: yes/yes
Year(s) hiked: 16 of 21 (min.300m)
Purpose of first thru hike: adventure
Age during hike: 29-50
Total weight of pack: 30-35, 25-30
Estimated amount spent on hike: avg.3k
Did you start alone or with someone? alone mostly
Did you meet people along the way that stayed with you for a bit? kinda sorta
How long was your total hike? thru
Did you arrange for drop-boxes? in the old days - not anymore
Something you wish you'd've brought with you? no
Worst injury? sprain
Coldest weather experience? -25
Hottest? 100+
Footwear used, how many pairs? boots in the old days, runners except in winter nowdays
Favorite/most useful gear item. tent
Favorite food. anything but corn pasta
Did you bring anything other than "necessities"? journal, cameras
How did you feel upon completing your hike? good
The biggest change you noticed in yourself was... I was stronger inside and out
[/QUOTE]
Whew, that was a lot.:eek: Bet if you split these up and spread them out you'd get more feedback.;)
Trail name:
NOBO/SOBO: Nobo
Year(s) hiked: 2009
Purpose of first thru hike: (divorce, searching, honeymoon, w/ friends, etc...) I just like to hike.
Age during hike: 29/30
Total weight of pack: 15# winter baseweight, 11 1/2 summer BW
Estimated amount spent on hike: $4,000
Did you start alone or with someone? Started w/my SO
If you started with someone, did you intend to stay with them? Yes, of course.
If so, did you stay with them? Every step.
Did you meet people along the way that stayed with you for a bit? Here & there
How long was your total hike? 5 1/2 months
Did you arrange for drop-boxes? Only 6.
Something you wish you'd've brought with you? Absolutely nothing. Besides, you can get anything you need on the trail anyway.
Worst injury? No injuries.
Coldest weather experience? 70 mph winds and rain in April, GSMNP.
Hottest? Heatwave in Maine, August.
Footwear used, how many pairs? 2 1/2 pairs of New Balance 810
Favorite/most useful gear item. My cup.
Favorite food. Fritoes/potato chips
Did you bring anything other than "necessities"? (journal, MP3 player...) Journal, pen, book, camera.
How did you feel upon completing your hike? Like I normally do.
The biggest change you noticed in yourself was...
I've always been the same person, everything about me has always been there. I was 30 years old, not someone who needed to 'find' themselves. I just like to hike and be outside.
I am outdoors. A lot. Because I enjoy it.
(That's the short and sweet version :))
Interesting post. I've only heard one person say the trail had no effect on them and he works at the atc helping hikers and such. yeahuh.....:rolleyes:
I've always had the basic values I was raised with and didn't become a whole different person after 5 months in the woods either- hello.:) I started hiking because it sounded fun.:eek: I mean- really- how many people go, gee wiz - I have no idea who I am?! I'll go on this hike and then I'll know!:banana
If someone can thru hike and not gain anything from the experience I either don't believe them and/or feel sorry for them.:(
Trail name: Piper
NOBO/SOBO: NOBO on the PCT
Year(s) hiked: 2008, 2009 (two large sections, felt like a thru-hike to me.)
Purpose of first thru hike: (divorce, searching, honeymoon, w/ friends, etc...) Always wanted to do it, had the money
Age during hike: 43, 44
Total weight of pack: 12-30lbs depending on food and water
Estimated amount spent on hike: $5,000, $30,000 if I include loss of income and still having to pay my bills.
Did you start alone or with someone? With my boyfriend, but the plan was for only a few days.
If you started with someone, did you intend to stay with them? No
If so, did you stay with them?
Did you meet people along the way that stayed with you for a bit? For a very small amount of time (minutes or at most, 3 days)
How long was your total hike? 6 months but there were 350 miles of overlap
Did you arrange for drop-boxes? Yes
Something you wish you'd've brought with you? My pet parrot
Worst injury? Stress fractures in my feet
Coldest weather experience? Snow in Wrightwood over Memorial Day
Hottest? in the 100s in Oregon
Footwear used, how many pairs? 6
Favorite/most useful gear item. All the stuff I had during the last couple months. I got it streamlined.
Favorite food. Homemade cheesy pasta with real cheese, real pasta and alfredo sauce powder. Also, curried cous-cous with tuna, raisins, pecans and mayonnaise
Did you bring anything other than "necessities"? (journal, MP3 player...) Paper journal with mechanical pencil (always sharp)
How did you feel upon completing your hike? Satisfied, complete, with sorrow that it was over, with relief that it was over.
The biggest change you noticed in yourself was... Much calmer, can tolerate people who are mean to me better because I know the truth that they don't really have power over me anymore. I found the secret hole in the fence and can go back.
too many questions! Too many questions!
No, it's just that most people have short attention spans. I was thinking start and finish dates might be added since they might add some helpful insights.
Trailbender
08-21-2010, 17:53
Trail name: Hollywood
NOBO/SOBO: Nobo
Year(s) hiked: 2010
Purpose of first thru hike: (divorce, searching, honeymoon, w/ friends, etc...) felt like it
Age during hike: 30
Total weight of pack: 26 lbs
Estimated amount spent on hike: $2500
Did you start alone or with someone? alone
If you started with someone, did you intend to stay with them? no
If so, did you stay with them?
Did you meet people along the way that stayed with you for a bit? yes
How long was your total hike? 5 months, 1 week
Did you arrange for drop-boxes? no
Something you wish you'd've brought with you? ipod recharger
Worst injury? nothing big
Coldest weather experience? 10 degrees in the smokies at night
Hottest? 97, Vermont
Footwear used, how many pairs? Merrell, 2 pair
Favorite/most useful gear item. Gerber STL 2.0 pocketknife
Favorite food. Fig Newtons(dollar store brand)
Did you bring anything other than "necessities"? (journal, MP3 player...) ipod
How did you feel upon completing your hike? glad it was over, a bit depressed
The biggest change you noticed in yourself was... much more independent and assertive.
see answers above
Roughin' It
08-21-2010, 21:04
Trail name: Roughin It
NOBO/SOBO: NoBo
Year(s) hiked: 2010
Purpose of first thru hike: adventure
Age during hike: 22
Total weight of pack: 27 lbs.
Estimated amount spent on hike: $5,000
Did you start alone or with someone? Alone
If you started with someone, did you intend to stay with them?
If so, did you stay with them?
Did you meet people along the way that stayed with you for a bit? Yes
How long was your total hike? March 13 - Aug 8
Did you arrange for drop-boxes? No
Something you wish you'd've brought with you? an ipod
Worst injury? None
Coldest weather experience? snowstorm after Hiawassee, only about 20* though
Hottest? Hotspell through Vermont, a week of 90's
Footwear used, how many pairs? Montrail Sabino Trail - 2 pairs
Favorite/most useful gear item. HAMMOCK!
Favorite food: Mac & Tuna
Did you bring anything other than "necessities"? Journal, books
How did you feel upon completing your hike? Sad, very sad, but peaceful
The biggest change you noticed in yourself was: My hair was significantly longer