Suckerfish
05-13-2012, 19:28
I am sure there are 1,000s of post on this topic, I recently joined this forum and my hiking experience only consists of section hikes in Georgia along the AT.
My equipment is a patch work of stuff I have either had given to me or I picked up at either REI, special outdoor stores, and yes some even from Wal-mart. I am looking at planning a thru hike in 2014 and I just feel completly overwhelmed. I don't even know where to begin or where to start.
I am planning to hike the AT in 2014 and this year and next I plan the following:
Doing a 4 day hike from Springer to Mountain Crossings then another hike at another time from there up to the NOC.
I would like to do the entire 70 miles in georgia. I figured the most I would be hiking would be 7-10 days before resupplying in a town somewhere.
Then the final test possibly a hike through the smokeys
Physical prepairation: I am 39 turning 40 on Halloween and I have been doing 8-12 mile day hikes with only water and food in my pack, very little weight. I also bike to work 3 days a week (12 miles round trip). Suggestions from you all would be helpful as to what you did to get physically in shape. I am 5'11 and weigh 205 lbs. I have always been in good physical shape however I know my age will show on my bones when I start this journey.
Equipment
I know I need to dump everything I currently own and purchase everything I need. I currently have a peak 1 cobra tent I bought in 1998 and have used it alot since, the seams are still in great shape however the rainfly sucks in hard rains, the tent with 1 pole and rainfly weighs 4lbs.
My sleeping bag is, get this, an accent from outdoor products, my girlfriend bought the bags brand new in 1980. Honestly this bag has held up well, I camped overnight in the smokey's last year, the night temp was 27 and i stayed warm all night. However this bag feels heavy and doesnt stuff well.
Financing the trip:
This is probably the biggest challenge of all in my opinion. How much money will I need to do an entire hike? Hostels, food supply, misc. and so forth.
I appologize in advance for any typos and the rambling. I have hiked about 200 miles over the last 4 years along the AT in Georgia and parts of NC and smokeys. The longest hike I have done is a 3 day hike.
Thanks if anyone even reads this...
My equipment is a patch work of stuff I have either had given to me or I picked up at either REI, special outdoor stores, and yes some even from Wal-mart. I am looking at planning a thru hike in 2014 and I just feel completly overwhelmed. I don't even know where to begin or where to start.
I am planning to hike the AT in 2014 and this year and next I plan the following:
Doing a 4 day hike from Springer to Mountain Crossings then another hike at another time from there up to the NOC.
I would like to do the entire 70 miles in georgia. I figured the most I would be hiking would be 7-10 days before resupplying in a town somewhere.
Then the final test possibly a hike through the smokeys
Physical prepairation: I am 39 turning 40 on Halloween and I have been doing 8-12 mile day hikes with only water and food in my pack, very little weight. I also bike to work 3 days a week (12 miles round trip). Suggestions from you all would be helpful as to what you did to get physically in shape. I am 5'11 and weigh 205 lbs. I have always been in good physical shape however I know my age will show on my bones when I start this journey.
Equipment
I know I need to dump everything I currently own and purchase everything I need. I currently have a peak 1 cobra tent I bought in 1998 and have used it alot since, the seams are still in great shape however the rainfly sucks in hard rains, the tent with 1 pole and rainfly weighs 4lbs.
My sleeping bag is, get this, an accent from outdoor products, my girlfriend bought the bags brand new in 1980. Honestly this bag has held up well, I camped overnight in the smokey's last year, the night temp was 27 and i stayed warm all night. However this bag feels heavy and doesnt stuff well.
Financing the trip:
This is probably the biggest challenge of all in my opinion. How much money will I need to do an entire hike? Hostels, food supply, misc. and so forth.
I appologize in advance for any typos and the rambling. I have hiked about 200 miles over the last 4 years along the AT in Georgia and parts of NC and smokeys. The longest hike I have done is a 3 day hike.
Thanks if anyone even reads this...