What caught you off guard on your first Thru attempt?

[Mtsman]

Hey WB,

Long time lurker, first time poster. I am going to be making my first thru attempt starting mid Feb 2016. I have most of my gear all situated (roughly 85%). I have read 4 paperback books on the AT along with two years of lurking on whiteblaze and I am pretty sure I have seen close to every AT youtube video out there. Thank you all for your content in helping noobs like myself.

My questions to you. What caught you off guard the first time you attempted a thru hike? What do you think you could have planned for better?


Some details about where I am at (optional read):

I have roughly a 9lb 8oz base weight right now (that might grow if i decide to take a video camera and hiking poles). I am a hammock camper going NOBO. I will be taking roughly 5k (or more) for funds. I am out of shape but i plan on the trail getting me in shape. Most of my gear is tested but I will be taking several more winter hikes to make sure the new stuff is going to pan out. I am debating also taking my dog but I am scared she will hinder my thru attempt (i.e. getting into hotels/some parks/extra responsibility). I guess these are most of my fears right now that I need to work out.

Anyway, Thanks again for all the advice and thoughts locked up in this time capsule of knowledge.

[Cobble]

Congrats on your first post Mtsman!

My first thru attempt was largely unplanned, unresearched, and an all around disaster. (And I loved it so much I kept coming back to finish the trail!)

Surprises for meMy personal solutions in parenthesis)
1. Hard work of hiking. It becomes a job of sorts. I had a fairy tale idea of the whole thing.
2. You have to keep walking when you hurt and start walking when you hurt. This is VERY unlike "normal life."
3. When it rains you get wet. (Rain gear, waterproof, and dry are all myths when it rains...short of what's inside a compacter bag after 4-5 days of rain WILL be wet.). Brush holds water which will wet you more than the rain.
4. Gear failures. (Have phone numbers handy and be mentally prepared for them)
***5. How everyone wasn't out there for the same reasons as me.
6. How nice everyone was. People really want to talk and are friendly on the trail. (Big shock!) (So be prepared to be warm too.)
7. How discouraged I could get. Little things like a fall into the mud or a mouse chewing something can be a really big deal, especially if traveling alone. (Celebrate small victories, save a "comfort meal" for bad days, take breaks)
8. How much I looked forward to towns...then how disapointed I became with towns.(at first I wanted to stop every chance I could...by my last hike I was actively avoiding every town I could)
9. How easy it was to follow the trail...then how bewildered I got when I lost it. (I only lost the trail while hiking once... several times I got lost on a rest stop **always remember which way when leaving the trail**)
10. How much water there is (and how clean)(I carried very little water most of the way, usually less than two liters and after first section rarely treated my water...once a week on avg...didn't get sick but HYOH)
11. It didn't take me 5 months to "find myself." (Make sure your reason for being on the trail makes sense to you and get off when it stops making sense.)

[CrumbSnatcher]

Hey WB,



My questions to you. What caught you off guard the first time you attempted a thru hike? What do you think you could have planned for better?

what caught me off guard was who in the hell put all these mountains in the way!
welcome to WB. good luck next year, have fun

[Dogwood]

First, I never looked at my first really LD hike, a thru-hike, as an attempted thru-hike. I saw it as something I was going to embrace fully, and that is a lot to say and do, when you really can not possibly plan for unknown contingencies. And, you can not possibly be expected to know all events in advance...NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU PLAN. If I had saw the thru-hike as an attempt at a thru-hike for me that would have been opening up the door in my mentality to quitting. I would have hated that.

What you will need despite umpteen planning is a willingness to adapt to be flexible to seek out solutions as challenges/problems/issues/etc occur rather than give into complaints and excuses. Different people apply different coping mechanisms under such scenarios. Personally. I never let my thoughts go to the dark side for long AND MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO NEVER GET MENTALLY NEGATIVE TO BEGIN WITH. It doesn't serve us well. I refuse to be negative refuse to let my mind go down a path of being a complainer. I always find ways to avoid long term mental negativity. For me, I do this when LD hiking by seeking ways to have fun, be grateful, to notice something of value I may be missing, by doing non always self absorbed hikes, and BY REALIZING and EXPERIENCING LD HIKING, THRU-HIKING, NOT JUST AS A HIKING ADVENTURE. Find ways to interrupt negative patterns of thought because if you don't you'll cede your mentality, and short to follow, behavior over to the negative.

Despite all the athleticism, fitness, and "how to do a speedy hike" talk to engage or consider pre thru-hike realize most AT thru-hikers are not in supreme fitness at the onset of their hikes. Yet, many of those same AT thru-hiker wannabees go on to finish their AT thru-hikes.

WORK YOUR WAY INTO YOUR THRU-HIKE! Most do. Be patient. Don't be anxious. It takes many steps and many days and nights to get to MT K. Chunk your hike down to smaller pieces so the thru-hiking adventure and experience doesn't take on such a huge endeavor. It takes a couple of wks to get your trail legs. It takes another two wks to get your thru-hiking legs. Don't start out to fast or go too long a daily distance at first! This is a huge mistake for AT hikers and takes many off the trail too soon into their thru-hikes. Despite the attitude of some that hike as if they are in a race you are not in a race. No need to get into comparing your hike, your daily mileage, your pace, etc with others. It is your hike! You hike your hike!

Taking along your dog poses pros and cons. Taking along a dog on a thru-hke of 2200 miles is major endeavor for a dog! It adds additional responsibilities to your hike but could possibly add to your hike in some other ways.

Since this is your first thru-hike the odds are quite high you will evolve as a hiker and so will your kit. Heck, after umpteen trail miles my kits and myself are still evolving. Embrace that too...evolution as a hiker. This means KNOW that you will be changing. Embrace the changes. You're on a journey. Let it happen.

So, what caught me off guard? A WHOLE LOT! No matter how much info you gather a whole lot will catch you off guard as well. The real measure of whether or not you complete your thru-hike is how you adapt to all the unexpected events.

[rafe]

+1 to Cobble's response. I hit the wall just shy of McAfee Knob and left the trail.

I simply wasn't hungry enough for Katahdin to put up with the boredom and drudgery.

I was so focused on Katahdin, I forgot to enjoy the journey.

[Datto]

Top Ten Surprises encountered when I thru-hked the Appalachian Trail (northbound):

1) I was surprised at how fast time elapsed. Next thing I new the leaves were turning and I was enterng Maine. Just seemed like time flew past so quickly.

2) I was completely surprised at how consistently nice people were on and along the Appalachian Trail. It wasn't a forced nice -- it was people who were naturally nice and friendly. Way nicer than normal. Me being from Indiana I was surprised some of the nicest people I met were people in New York. Also, some of the nicest people I met had never heard of the Appalachian Trail.

3) I was surprised New Jersey had so many swamps.

4) I was surprised at how I shrugged off all the shivering I was doing in Maine. I probably couldn't handle that much shivering today.

5) I was wildly surprised at how beautiful the Trail is when you are thru-hiking. I had been fortunate enough to have had past thru-hikers help me with my preperation -- they had hinted at what the beauty was without really telling me much.

6) I was surprised at how funny other AT thru-hikers were -- I walked into a shelter one morning where several thru-hikers had decided to sit out the rain and instead, occupy themselves with determining the funniest opening line to a complaint letter. Now that was funny. It started the first day too -- I had arrived at sundown on Springer Mountain and a group of hikers were watching the sunset when I climbed up on the rock. The top tip of the sun and just gone below the distant horizon and some thru-hiker stood up and exclaimed, "There! It dd it again!" Another thru-hiker arrived at Springer that night dressed entirely in green -- everything was green. Evidently that was the color that had been on sale when he went to by stuff for his thru-hike. I ended up seeng Riddler again when I summtted Katahdin.

7) I was surprised at how much weight people lost when thru-hiking. People I had first met on Springer Mountain -- when I saw them again on Katahdin for the first time in many months I ddn't recognize who they were because they were so ridiculously skinny and had a face full of beard. The guys too, same thing (just kidding).

8) I was surprised some of the most uptight people I've met in my life were thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail -- complete bigots, anti-anyone who had a non-traditional lifestyle and "their way was the only way" type of people -- those same people who started the AT like that in Georgia became close friends with other thru-hikers who were their opposite. That was truly amazing to see happen so many times on the AT. I think it was due to the disappearance of fears that happens to a person when they thru-hike the AT. Thru-hikers seem to become much more open minded about how others choose to live their lives and make their own choices rather than forcing their own views upon others. Plus, you can't carry all that burden and still go up and down mountains on a daily basis. It's too much weght to bear and still make northbound progress.

9) I was surprised at just how much time could be made up in Virginia. Wow a thru-hiker can really crank out some serious miles in Virginia if running behind or having started late.

10) I was surprised by the number of AT thru-hikers I met who I consider to be some of the best human beings I've ever met in my life.


Datto

[garlic08]

What caught me off guard (and amazed me):

How important it is to enjoy walking.

How little I needed to carry.

The amazing distance I could hike in day/week/month, that I could wake up every day to completely new scenery.

How well the body heals overnight, and the resilience of the body.

How little food I needed, and the fact that I could run out of food, get hungry, and still walk.

How many different types of people are out there, with different goals, different tools.

The volunteer effort going into trail maintenance, and that non-hikers can be a distinct part of a trail's culture.

[Old Hiker]

+1 on pretty much everything above.

1. How much HARD work, “just walking” actually is.

2. At the end, I was caught off-guard by a simple mud puddle on a perfectly flat section of the Trail.

3. People WERE pretty friendly, even to an old and shy guy with anti-social tendencies. Not just hikers, but pretty much anyone I met in town.

4. How much I could hurt at the end of the day.

5. How much I could hurt at the BEGINNING of the day.

6. How much I liked ibuprofen. And Motrin. And Aleve.

7. That I never, ever saw a Trail maintainer under the age of 55. Ever.

8. How unseasonably warm 2012 was. I over-planned.

9. How a 4 inch snow storm failed to kill me. Seriously – I was THAT worried.

10. That even after a 9 hour day of “just walking”, I wasn’t that hungry. Side-trail: I’m planning on MUCH less food this time.

11. How much water I drank. I will STILL filter and chem-sanitize my water.

12. How NASTY shelters are. I was glad I had a Tyvek ground cloth under my sleeping bag.

13. How a 20-ish girl (nothing personal – nothing sexist) with a soft cast for a sprained ankle could STILL out-hike me.

14. How depressed I could be when people would pass.

15. How elated I could be when I pass someone else. Twice? Three times? Whatever ! WHOO-HOO !!! PASSED SOMEONE !

16. How scary a bear sniffing outside your tent is until you realize it’s your beard scratching against your sleeping bag.

[Malto]

Surprised..
1) just how enjoyable living day to day can be.
2) how you have to take the trail as it is not how you imagine it to be.
3) how close you can become to people so different than you.
4) how you get to know people for who they are vs. what they are or what they do.
5) how things just seem to work out. See point 2.
6) how bad some hikers feet can smell.
7) how much I love to walk.
8) that the crappiest weather or terrain will make the high points so much high.
9) how much I dislike zeros.

10) how you have to take the trail as it is not how you imagine it to be.

[Busky2]

How you can sit down at a perfect vista for a bit of lunch and then realize that it is time for some dinner just like that lost another afternoon. Kills my day just like that but I hike for the views so eh...

[SteelCut]

I was caught off-guard on how easy it was to get over-use injuries when hiking day after day after ... especially for an older hiker.

I thought that I was in good shape prior to my thru attempt this year. I could easily do 15+ mile days in the Southern Appalachians on overnight shakedown hikes. But overnight hikes are not representative of a thru hike where you hike every day. I was somewhat aware of this and reduced my mileage for the first couple of weeks but I still developed plantar fasciitis and had to get off the trail to rehab. After rehabbing for a month and after getting a good pair of insoles, I got back on and the PF was gone but then developed IT Band Syndrome after a week and increasing my mileage too quickly. I got off the trail again and have decided to re-boot and attempt another thru hike next year. My experiences from my first thru attempt have really made it clear to me how important proper training is (for me) and what I need to do for myself to be in trail shape before I start my attempt again next year.

At least I feel that I have my gear and pack weight dialed.

[GreatDane]

How really cold it was in them there mountains at night, especially for a Florida girl. Next time I'm taking a much, much warmer sleeping bag!

[Don H]

I was surprised at how much my milage dropped in NH and ME, by almost 50%.

[ekeverette]

Its totally the strength of your mind. Depression ran me off the tail around central va...... For me it helps to have a hiking buddy, not someone right on your heels, just someone at base camp who you can share with. Your buddy who can tell you tell you to take a time out and don't freak. If you're both in the same frame of mind, then BYE-BYE

[Cobble]

Oh! Ooh! Forgot how surprised I was to find how much fun the shelter logs were!

hours and hours of entertainment and wisdom. I became a better person from what I read and the people I read about. (I tried to add something encouraging in every entry)

[BrianLe]

The things that might take YOU off guard are a 9-1/2 pound baseweight with a mid-February start, and taking a dog on a mid-February start.

I've done the early start thing on the AT twice, once a thru-hike, once doing the first month with a thru-hiking friend (starting late Feb once and start of March another time). I can't imagine staying warm enough with a 9-1/2 pound baseweight. You say that you plan several more winter hikes to see how everything works out; I would urge you to make sure that one or more of these are overnight or longer trips, and not just day hikes.

I have zero experience with dogs on trail other than encountering them on trail or at shelters. I will say that I've seen a good number of dogs on trail and I've seen a fair number of people hiking early season, but I can't recall anyone hiking early season with a dog. How will your dog do in extended snow in the Smokies? How will it stay warm enough when the temps drop into the teens? I'm not saying this isn't do-able (I don't know), but ...

[Mtsman]

Man, I LOVE all the replies!! You guys are amazing!! Thank you for sharing and I hope this keeps up.

The things that might take YOU off guard are a 9-1/2 pound baseweight with a mid-February start, and taking a dog on a mid-February start.

I've done the early start thing on the AT twice, once a thru-hike, once doing the first month with a thru-hiking friend (starting late Feb once and start of March another time). I can't imagine staying warm enough with a 9-1/2 pound baseweight. You say that you plan several more winter hikes to see how everything works out; I would urge you to make sure that one or more of these are overnight or longer trips, and not just day hikes.

I have zero experience with dogs on trail other than encountering them on trail or at shelters. I will say that I've seen a good number of dogs on trail and I've seen a fair number of people hiking early season, but I can't recall anyone hiking early season with a dog. How will your dog do in extended snow in the Smokies? How will it stay warm enough when the temps drop into the teens? I'm not saying this isn't do-able (I don't know), but ...

I guess I should share what I have so you guys can pick it apart and maybe help with a few answers:

I have a Dream Hammock : http://www.dream-hammock.com/order_d...tml?order=1992
20 F ZEPPELIN 3/4th length Underquilt : http://www.undergroundquilts.com/uq/default.html
15 F Marmot plasma: http://www.backcountry.com/marmot-plasma-15-sleeping-bag15-degree-down
A therm a rest zlite sleeping pad: http://www.rei.com/product/829826/therm-a-rest-z-lite-sol-sleeping-pad (cut down to size for sitting and using for under my legs at night)
A merino wool long sleeve tshirt (cant remember where I bought it)
A merino wool short sleeve tshirt (bought them both at the same time)
Columbia polyester omni shield shirt
White sierra zip pants
Frogg toggs top and bottoms
(I havent bought my down jacket yet, that is part of my 15% i am missing. I am going to wait to buy it last minute because I am boarder line on two different sizes and I hope to lose enough weight to sneak into the smaller size before I go)
and to hold it all...
Gossamear Gear Mariposa 60: http://gossamergear.com/mariposa-ultralight-backpack-all-bundle.html

That is just the stuff I thought I needed to share for the warmth thoughts. I have an excel spread sheet with all my weights and such. Once I get it finalized (or much closer) I will share the whole list for a reaming from everyone here possibly a month or two before I leave.

I am a very warm person. I have been seen in a couple of inches snow with shorts and sandals many times. Only my top half gets cold when I am in that type of weather for the most part and if I am really cold, I will pile EVERYTHING on at once. From reading here, I have notices many people say they only get cold at night and not during the hiking. That is why I focused so much on the sleeping snivel gear.

As for me and my mental capacity: I am a Veteran with war experience, I am quitting a pretty high paying job to join the AT (so there is "skin in the game"). I have already sold my house and I am living with a co-worker and I have sold almost everything I have (narrowed down to a small bedroom full of stuff now and a few heirlooms I couldn't part with in the garage). My family knows, my work knows, and I know that I will be joining the AT in Mid Feb. The reason for the early start? I don't like warm weather as much as I like cold weather and honestly, I think I will need the extra time to finish it. I have had multiple surgeries (knees, elbow, hernia, 9 places for stitches and 2 broken bones). I am VERY stubborn but facts can and will sway my opinion however, emotional pleas will not go very far with me.

I absolutely love what people are putting down here and I have read each and every post thus far. I hope I have directly or indirectly answered all the questions/concerns so far and if anyone thinks I missed something, feel free to bring it up. Thank you all very very much for what you have shared so far and although I am not much of a typist, I do read a ton on this site!

[booney_1]

dogs are not allowed in smokies...wool beanie...gloves...mittens...

Insulation on legs(ie base layer pants) can help keep whole body warm...good for in camp or in sleeping bag.

Don't know big your dog is...but you've got to carry weeks worth of dog food also...

[Mtsman]

dogs are not allowed in smokies...wool beanie...gloves...mittens...

Insulation on legs(ie base layer pants) can help keep whole body warm...good for in camp or in sleeping bag.

Don't know big your dog is...but you've got to carry weeks worth of dog food also...

yes! This is exactly my concerns with bringing my dog. I am leaning against it for sure as I would not be able to "complete" the AT with my dog without some major logistic battles. My dog is also a Pit Bull. Now, before anyone reams pitbulls she is the most loving and caring dog anyone has ever met. Pit Bulls get a bad rap but its because of this bad rap that I would have an even harder time getting into places in the trail towns to sleep. I am not concerned with the weight of her food as she often hikes with me and carries her own "pack" and food. We have been out on 4 day hikes before and done just fine as far as her food supply but its the rules and regs of parts of the AT that will ultimately keep me from bringing her.

ahh, I forgot to mention my head gear. I plan on wearing a buff almost always and I have a Watch cap left over from my service i plan on using. http://www.amazon.com/Condor-Watch-C...army+watch+cap

I did not think about glove though~! hrmm maybe I could use a spare set of my smart wool socks? Has anyone tried this with success? Good point Booney. I will look into some ultra light options. Thanks!

[Fredt4]

yes! This is exactly my concerns with bringing my dog. I am leaning against it for sure as I would not be able to "complete" the AT with my dog without some major logistic battles. My dog is also a Pit Bull. Now, before anyone reams pitbulls she is the most loving and caring dog anyone has ever met. Pit Bulls get a bad rap but its because of this bad rap that I would have an even harder time getting into places in the trail towns to sleep. I am not concerned with the weight of her food as she often hikes with me and carries her own "pack" and food. We have been out on 4 day hikes before and done just fine as far as her food supply but its the rules and regs of parts of the AT that will ultimately keep me from bringing her.

ahh, I forgot to mention my head gear. I plan on wearing a buff almost always and I have a Watch cap left over from my service i plan on using. http://www.amazon.com/Condor-Watch-C...army+watch+cap

I did not think about glove though~! hrmm maybe I could use a spare set of my smart wool socks? Has anyone tried this with success? Good point Booney. I will look into some ultra light options. Thanks!

Wore a similar cap early in the season, it's very nice to have when it cold.