Thru hike both ways nonstop

[groszmann79]

Has anyone ever hiked the entire trail GA to Maine and back in a single trip? I am finishing my military service and want to take about a year off and attempt this. Any thoughts from you pros on here would be great.

[ams212001]

You are referring to what is called Yo Yo attempt. A popular topic here as of recently. I am novice at hiking so here are some threads to reference to give yourself a good idea as to what people's opinions are going to be.

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?51267-Yo-Yo-Hiking

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...er-in-the-mind

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...aight-up-Yo-Yo

The site below may be helpful in getting in contact with people in the military who are planning to hike the trail as well.

http://warriorhike.com/

[Meriadoc]

Yes it has been done.

Check out the Barefoot Sister's books "Southbound" and "Walking Home." They will give you a flavor for what it takes to do a thru hike and what it takes to yo yo.

[4eyedbuzzard]

I think the first yo-yo was done back in the 1980's, but a few (relatively speaking) people have done yo-yo's since then. A couple dozen maybe? And one guy did a yo-yo-yo in one year.

[bigcranky]

I suspect that a lot of thru-hikers get to Maine and start thinking, "Hey, maybe I can just turn around and keep walking."

It can be done. You'll probably want an early-ish start in Georgia so you can make the turn by mid to late summer in Maine. Assuming you're in fine physical and hiking shape, starting in early March puts you in Maine in July or so (a 4 month thru is pretty quick), then turn around and head south. Even a 5 month pace would be fine, starting back south by early August.

[Son Driven]

I suspect that a lot of thru-hikers get to Maine and start thinking, "Hey, maybe I can just turn around and keep walking."

It can be done. You'll probably want an early-ish start in Georgia so you can make the turn by mid to late summer in Maine. Assuming you're in fine physical and hiking shape, starting in early March puts you in Maine in July or so (a 4 month thru is pretty quick), then turn around and head south. Even a 5 month pace would be fine, starting back south by early August.

Gave some thought of turning my flip flop into half of a yoyo as I came SOBO into Swatara Gap to finish my hike on 10/7/13. Just keep following the blazes south, check in at the ALDHA gathering and onto Springer Mountain.

[Alleghanian Orogeny]

In 2012, PJ Wetzel (Seeks It) completed a one-man yo-yo by parking his van at or near AT road crossings and doing day-hikes out and back to the van. He'd leapfrog the van ahead the next day and would hike to his endpoint of the previous day, then double back to the van. He thus hiked the entire AT twice. One of his goals was to hike the entire AT without spending a single night on the trail (the great majority of his nights were spent in his van, with a few in motels). He managed to do so with epic 30 mile out-and-backs in the GSMNP, requiring 0400hrs starts and 2300hrs finishes, and by using side trail access in the Whites. He also used the commercial logging road access within the 100 Mile Wilderness. PJ started on 1 January 2012 and finished on 27 October 2012. He started SOBO for a segment in central VA, then moved down to GA to NOBO back up through the Smokies, NC-TN, and the Mount Rogers area. Then he hopped up to New England through the Whites and Maine, and finished in either MD or PA in late October.

While PJ's feat was not a classic through-hike in the backpacking sense, he in fact hiked the entire AT twice in a little less than 10 months, and he did it all by himself. Definitely a HYOH mission, and one which receives my own admiration.

And, please, allow me to thank you for your service and wish you the best as you transition to civilian life.

AO

[fredmugs]

I suspect that a lot of thru-hikers get to Maine and start thinking, "Hey, maybe I can just turn around and keep walking."

It can be done. You'll probably want an early-ish start in Georgia so you can make the turn by mid to late summer in Maine. Assuming you're in fine physical and hiking shape, starting in early March puts you in Maine in July or so (a 4 month thru is pretty quick), then turn around and head south. Even a 5 month pace would be fine, starting back south by early August.

If I was going to attempt a Yo-Yo this is how and when (mid March) I would start.

[yellowsirocco]

Aim for a regular thru first, the odds are well against you just for that. Once you know you can do that then start planning your yo-yo.

[slbirdnerd]

Yes it has been done.

Check out the Barefoot Sister's books "Southbound" and "Walking Home." They will give you a flavor for what it takes to do a thru hike and what it takes to yo yo.

Yes, definitely read these! And it wasn't a Yo Yo, but in terms of a loooong hike, read "Ten Million Steps" by Nimblewill Nomad (Eberhadt). Nomad walked the entire Appalachian chain and then some, something like 4400+ miles. He turned 60 during his jorney, which he calls "The Odyssey of '98."

[Corsac]

Finishing a Thru takes a lot already! If you still feel good and have the desire, go for the yo-yo!

[Dogwood]

I think the first yo-yo was done back in the 1980's, but a few (relatively speaking) people have done yo-yo's since then. A couple dozen maybe? And one guy did a yo-yo-yo in one year.

Must have been from NJ or NY? yo yo yo I'm conversatin over har.