WhiteBlaze - Advice

WhiteBlaze Pages 2020,
Buy here for $10 each

Click here to order
Appalachian Trail Updates
AT INCIDENT REPORTING
Hostels and Lodgings
Resupply Locations
Shelter Mileages
Shuttle providers
Kennebec Ferry Schedule
Departments

Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail Tips

Data and Schedules (AT)

Hiker Advice (AT)

News (AT)

WhiteBlaze thru hikers (AT)

Memorial Wall (AT)

Hiking

Hiking Trails

Health and Safety

Preparation

Dehydration

Skills

Gear

Make your own

Reviews

Photography

Journals

Blogs

Pets on the Trail
WhiteBlaze Pages
I am looking for ideas and suggestions of what you would like to see in an Appalachian Trail guidebook.

Please post your ideas and suggestions here. This is a private forum. The only person that can see your post is you and the books author.
Forum Stats

Number of Members: 76,229
Total Threads: 115,198
Total Posts: 1,977,009
Currently Online: 794

Newest Member: Danishlongpants

Random Images

2006 Section Hike - Ti...
by Fat Man Walking

Uncle Fungus Finds The...
by Tipi Walter

Trimpi Shelter
by Cookerhiker

Advice

Be aware of scammers praying on families of hikers completing the trail

Published on 09-15-2017 21:21

Categories:

News,

Advice

I just received an email from a family that just got hit with a scam that I wanted to make everyone aware of. Here is a portion of the email.

I am the father of a thru hiker that just completed the AT this month. Our family just got hit by a scam we believe involves AT hikers that anyone on the trail or planning to be on the trail should be aware of. There is a scam ring on social media watching those who complete the trail, and, if they can determine who their elderly relatives are (also through social media), they attempt to pull off the 'Grandma Scam'. They contact the grandparents posing as the hiker saying they've been in an accident, need money, not to tell their parents - and elderly grandparents fall for it, and send money to the scammers using numbers from untraceable Target or similar gift or bank cards - typically around $2,000-$4,000 worth. It is a masterful scam- they know their families and know their grand kid just completed the trail and are on the way back home etc. The scammers string of phone numbers are landlines from NY State. We think all hikers (current and future) should alert their families of this scam.

9 Comments

2017 PCT Backpacker Alert - 01 April 2017

Published on 04-04-2017 20:22

Categories:

Safety,

Advice

2017 PCT Backpacker Alert for 01 April 2017
PCT High Sierra Spring Threats on Full Display
Read the most recent 2017 PCT Backpacker Alerts Page by Alex Wierbinki
http://tahoetowhitney.org/content/backpacker-alert-april-1-2017

How to Get Kids Involved in Your Hiking Adventures

Published on 03-12-2017 06:14

Categories:

Children,

Advice

How to Get Kids Involved in Your Hiking Adventures

You’ve got kids. Now what? Does that mean you have to put away your tent and pack your trekking poles for the next 18 years? Luckily, the answer is no. You will, however, have to change your goals a bit. Instead of trying to trek the entire Appalachian Trail in one go, you might need to break it up into more ...

Read More 8 Comments

Ultra light 101

Published on 10-17-2016 16:15

Categories:

Clothing,

Reviews,

Gear,

Advice

Ultra light 101: It’s All In Your Head
By: Maggie Wallace

My trail crew had hauled in 70-pound packs to this desert 200 miles from the Northern terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail. It was on this trip, while we worked in a particularly arid day, that I had my first experience with an ultra light hiker. We had noticed a figure moving towards us through the heat. He was wearing tennis shoes and clothing that hung in tatters, and his pack appeared to be a child’s school bag, held together with duct tape. His eyes were wild as he asked us where the next spring was so he could fill the single water bottle he carried. Explaining that he planned to reach Canada ...

Read More 7 Comments

Great trail tricks and Words of Wisdom for hiking the Appalachian Trail

Categories:

Advice

On a long distance hike we all learn tricks we never read about in books. Like: Hanging washed socks on my pack with a safety pin, then when they are still a little damp tossing them in my sleeping bag so my body heat dries them completely. On a wet day an excellent fire starter is alcohol hand sanitizer but watch the blue flame. Filtering water through a bandana to remove the floaties before treating it were three tricks I learned the first week out. We know there are a million more tricks backpackers use to make their hike more pleasant.
...

Read More

Basic Advice For Newbies

by
The Solemates

View Profile

View Forum Posts

View Journal Entries

View Articles

View Gallery Uploads

Published on 04-02-2012 23:39

Categories:

Advice

BE FOREWARNED: THIS IS A LONG POST!

Back before our thru-hike, I compiled this for the many people in my life who had no clue what we were about to undertake. So what follows is a VERY basic overview of some general trail advice that someone new to hiking could perhaps benefit from. I was doing some computer clean-up last night and found it. I post it here as a general guideline for people who come to whiteblaze to obtain information on their newfound hobby of backpacking, even though many will not agree with some of the ideas (ie, please withhold criticism). I simply cut and pasted it from a word document, so the format may be a little weird, but I tried to clean it up as much as possible. The original document had more information and also many tables, pictures, figures, and appendices, which I have not included. Its simply stripped down to text (minus a few other sections) for the most part. My hope is that the new hiker may perhaps find something beneficial in the process. Happy hiking!__________________________________________________ _________
...

Read More 59 Comments

Packing and sending the perfect Maildrop

Published on 11-13-2011 18:17

Categories:

Resupply,

Advice

Packing and sending the perfect Maildrop along the Appalachian Trail
This article was written by Karen Sousa...
...

Read More 14 Comments

Canister stove/fuel FAQ

by
tlbj6142

View Profile

View Forum Posts

View Journal Entries

View Articles

View Gallery Uploads

Published on 11-13-2011 17:01

Categories:

Resupply,

Advice

Canister Stove/Fuel FAQ

Edited by Yellow Jacket (tlbj6142)

Q: Can I mail canisters?

Yes, according to USPS guidelines, you can ship a 1L (or smaller) canister via ground delivery if the package is marked with an “ORM-D” and/or "Surface Delivery Only" sticker. This is the same sticker that must be placed on a package if it contains alcohol hand sanitizer (Purell).<o></o>
...

Read More 117 Comments

Recent RSS feeds

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy Won’t Recognize Your 2021 Thru-Hike for Now - Backp

I support the ATC on this.
kolokolo Yesterday, 17:58

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy Won’t Recognize Your 2021 Thru-Hike for Now - Backp

You are right from what I have read.
TexasBob Yesterday, 17:45

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy Won’t Recognize Your 2021 Thru-Hike for Now - Backp

Because it is a possibility, is why The CDC is recommending that people keep wearing masks, and practice social distancing after being vaccinated.
gpburdelljr Yesterday, 10:40

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy Won’t Recognize Your 2021 Thru-Hike for Now - Backp

I think the jury is still out about whether a vaccinated person can become infected but not ill and yet spread the virus to others. Maybe or maybe not,
TexasBob Yesterday, 00:11

Newest Images

Gator lovin the trail...
by Gator64

Decision
by attroll

Stephenson’s Warmlite...
by petedelisio

Currently Active Users

There are currently 812 users online. 35 members and 777 guests

Most users ever online was 9,543, 12-23-2015 at 12:06.

AegisIII,

Aporia,

BCPete,

bmsrunner,

Brutalguyracing,

CalebJ,

chugger,

Coffee,

Countrybois,

Dan Roper,

dbolster24,

Deadeye,

dring117,

Dropdeadfred,

Durwood,

Enmyria,

fletch,

fly2rsqu,

Highlonesome,

LazyLightning,

Linesman,

mountaineerfan,

one foot,

Pakav,

Prov,

rdljr,

RPGer001,

sethd513,

Skuzapo,

Slo-go'en,

smkymtns,

TNhiker

Log in

User Name:

Password:

Remember Me?

Make a yearly donation.

Donate and support the web site and our writers

Have you thru hiked or section hiked the entire length of the Appalachian Trail? If you have, please add yourself to our 2,000 miler listing/database.

Newest Boots McFarland

Recent Threads

How will Covid-19 affect hiking in 2021?
Thread Starter: futureatwalker
The nights are drawing in, and it is time to think about next year....

Will the A.T. be fully open? When? The Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Last Post By: CalebJ Today, 22:02

Scaring Bears
Thread Starter: Majortrauma
This is a lot more expensive than Bear spray (approx $200.00) but I think this would be an exceptionally effective way to scare away bears that may have
Last Post By: rickb Today, 21:05

Shenandoah resupply
Thread Starter: mverville
Any thoughts on resupply through the SNP in early April?
Last Post By: BillyGr Today, 20:56

Tools for planning bootleg multi-day multi-forest hike?
Thread Starter: Tender Fire
Hi all, I'm in the beginning stages of planning a Long Trail hike late this summer/September (in hopes of vaccines working and resupply & shuttles
Last Post By: Cosmo Today, 20:48

Where are trail services needed the most?
Thread Starter: mclaught
Let's say, hypothetically, someone was thinking about setting up a hiker friendly B&B/shuttle service close to the trail and was trying to identify
Last Post By: TwoSpirits Today, 19:03

Z-Packs Arc Air Pack?
Thread Starter: bert304
I currently use an Osprey Kestrel 48 liter. My question is, Is the Z-Packs Arc Air pack worth the cost. I am a weekender and vacation hiker. The weight
Last Post By: bert304 Today, 18:43

Departments

Forum Stats

Random Images

Advice

Recent RSS feeds

Newest Images

Currently Active Users

Log in

Recent Threads