Itinerary

[Edwardo Rodriguez]

Do I need to buy the trail guilds to plan out my itinerary to hike the AT. Or is the a less inexpressive way to go about planning my itinerary. Right now am planning either to hike the AT or the PCT. Thanks for your help Ed the Tortes

[Slo-go'en]

You could use on line resources for now, such as the various articles found on the home page here at White Blaze. You will eventually want to buy a trail guide for which ever trail you decide to hike. It will be one of the less expensive things you need to buy and worth every penny.

[Spokes]

Read this 10 page article (http://www.backpacker.com/november_2008_american_classic_hiking_the_appalach ian_trail/destinations/12530) from Backpacker Magazine (ignore the popups). It has most all the info you need including what to expect in each of the major sections.

[Edwardo Rodriguez]

I use the resources here in White Blaze to get thing started and the link you guys gave me. Thanks

[Nitrojoe]

Buy yourself an outdoor journal, I would suggest the Rite in the Rain All-Weather journal #1773. Purchase the The Thru-Hikers Companion and Data Book. Go to White Blaze and down load and print out info about the At trail , such as Hostel locations and PO locations and info on towns along the way get as much info as possible. Now start cutting out section by section using the states or areas where you want to make a major stop for a resupply or a couple of days rest. You may have as many as you want, I have chosen 6 sections for my 2012 AT thru hike. Now you place all this info in your on personal journal. It took me two weeks to gather all this stuff and it will go with me the whole way. With the info that I cut out, I will place this in zip lock bags and mail then to me in my resupply boxes along the way. If for some reason I dont receive the resupply box, I do have the vital info in my journal. Good luck on your itinerary.

[bigcranky]

Hey, Ed,

Carrying one of the trail guides (like the AT Guide (http://www.theatguide.com/)) is immensely helpful when actually out on the trail. You'll be able to plan water, food, and campsites several days in advance.

Once you decide which trail you'd like to hike, buy the appropriate guide and put together a rough outline of your itinerary. Just realize that it's almost impossible to create a day-by-day hiking itinerary ahead of time, and actually stick to it on the trail -- so it's not really necessary to have that level of detail in your pre-hike planning.

Hope this helps. Have fun.

[-Animal]

Read this 10 page article (http://www.backpacker.com/november_2008_american_classic_hiking_the_appalach ian_trail/destinations/12530) from Backpacker Magazine (ignore the popups). It has most all the info you need including what to expect in each of the major sections.

I think this is one of the best articles I have read... thanks Spokes.

[coheterojo]

I found Awol's spreadsheets to be very useful in visualizing where I might be when I was planning my first thru-hike. I even summitted Katahdin on the day the 15 mpd spreadsheet said I would! That was kinda strange.

Here's the link:
http://www.theatguide.com/HikePlans.html