You might find this BLOG of interest - Letter of a $1000 thru hike. Some have done it.
The summary from The Fine Article:Originally Posted by Blissful
1. Hike fast
2. Eat cheap food aka hiker box food
3. Make friends
4. Work for stay everywhere
5. Become someones trail slave
6. Become a breatharian
1. Is excellent advice as a "fast" (which really means few town stops) is a good way to save money indeed.
2 -5 Is depending upon others. Like most of these so-called cheap thru-hikes, these are subsidies that can not/should be counted on. Add the true cost of the of these subsidies in and the real cost is much different.
6. breatharianism /brɛθˈɛəriənɪzəm/is the belief that it is possible for a person to live without consuming food. Breathariansclaim that food, and in some cases water, are not necessary for survival, and that humans can be sustained solely by prana, the vital life force in Hinduism.
Er...yeah...(To be fair, I think point 6 is tongue-in-cheek..somewhat).
The author, half-kiddingly talks about stealing food from a pizza buffet and outright begging.
So to sum up the steps for a "cheap" thru-hike:
1. Hike Fast and avoid lengthy town stops. This works for many.
2. Mooch, beg and steal.
3. Hope for many work for stays and ample hiker boxes
4. Don't eat a lot
To quote the first known published recreational outdoor book in the US:"” If you cannot travel honorably, and without begging, I should advise you to stay at home” "
Let's stop posting these "cheap" thru-hikes as they really aren't and are misleading and not helpful for someone planning.
Two gentlemen on this site did well documented hikes of spending ~$700-$800/month for their thru with actual costs factored in.
Only Animal is a person I know of who did a truly inexpensive AND documented sub-$2000 thru-hike without hidden subsidies such as packages from home and people paying for this lodging and meals.. I have a lot of respect for that. However his methods, by his own admission, aren't for everyone (5 gallon bucket for example).
Last edited by Mags; 05-05-2016 at 16:13.
Paul "Mags" Magnanti
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The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau
If you have to ask "is $1500 enough to thru-hike the AT?" than it certainly is NOT enough.
This!
This!$1500 makes a great luxurious Long Trail hike, too, with money left over
OR a Sheltowee Trace Thru-hike Or a 500+ mile AT/BMT Figure 8 OR a long segment of the AT OR a Superior Tr Thru-hike OR a Sierra/JMT Thru-hike Or ….Or….Or….! ALL the thru-hikes mentioned including the Long and Colorado Trails I thru-hiked for $1500 OR LESS. I'm in a different situation than you but I'm sure you could have a GREAT shot at thru-hiking ANY of those at $1500 enjoying yourself if LD hiking is your passion.
Let's stop posting these "cheap" thru-hikes as they really aren't and are misleading and not helpful for someone planning.
+100000000000000000000000000 Here Here
I agree with so many of the above sentiments. Either hike the AT until you run out of money, work until you have enough money or pick a shorter trail or two to thru-hike.
Anything is possible, but on $1500 I doubt you'll enjoy it as much as if you'd waited and saved.
Redbeard addresses $$$ here:
https://youtu.be/KQvUVKtZ3wA
perrito
684.4 down, 1507.6 to go.
"If a man speaks in the woods, and there is no woman there to hear, is he still wrong?"
I am on the trail now, probably an average spender. I have spent in excess of that and currently at mile 850+. I did bring down cost by stoping zero's that started usually late in an evening when I got to the place I wanted to stay, taking the next day off, staying another night and leaving in the morning. Now I camp as close as I can to where I want to spend a day, hike in early the next morning, use the day doing what I used to do on my zero, sleep one night in a bed and hike the next morning. Cut my hostel/motel bills in half just that easy. I couldn't do it on 1500 that is for sure. There would be way to many cuts I would have to make and I would not enjoy the experience that way (I don't find much of this that enjoyable anyway just so you know).
This is just the type of information that should be taken into context of the individual's experiences and habits offering this information. Many times people will hear info like this and totally ignore that aspect which is significant especially surrounding the topic of trail budget which basically has an infinite number of individual conditions and possibilities. It's just as applicable as anyone being exposed to FKTers or someone like Andrew Skurka's experiences making uh hem ignorant comparisons having little or no idea who these people are, their abilities/skill sets, their backgrounds, their hiking styles, etc.
For a Newbie Wannabe first time LD hiker/AT thru-hiker one is adapting to the stresses and newness of LD trail life with typically many unknown individually specific challenges and lack of knowledge. Adding complexity to the situation with a shoestring budget, when the goal is to have the most enjoyable journey and actually hike the entire AT, contributes further risk to not accomplishing these goals.
I'd skip the gear shakedown at Mountain Crossings altogether if on that tight of a budget. FWIW, I'd ask for free opinions right here on WB.
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
The shakedown is (was?) free at Neel Gap. They will make some suggestions that you don't have to take if they cost money, but a lot of what they suggest is leaving stuff behind.
Joe Brewer's advice:
https://youtu.be/NiiU7opMHJU
perrito
684.4 down, 1507.6 to go.
"If a man speaks in the woods, and there is no woman there to hear, is he still wrong?"
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