survey for my statistics class

[ductape]

I would really appreciate some responses from thru hikers here. I'll be analyzing the data I receive for a class project at UC. I'll post the findings after I'm finished also. It's only a few questions and I'd be very grateful.

1. Have you completed the AT?

2. Are you a smoker?

3. How many miles per day did you average on your thru hike?

4. How often did you take rest days, approximately?

5. How much weight did you lose/gain on your thru hike?

6. Would you consider yourself "in shape" at the start of the hike?

7. Would you consider yourself "in shape" at the end of your hike?

Thanks for the input.

[Blue Jay]

1) Yes
2) No
3)13 miles
4) once a week
5) 40 pounds (lost)
6) Yes
7) Yes

[ganj]

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. 14.54362416107382 miles per day (including zero days)
4. approx. every 10 days
5. 40 lbs in 2001
25 lbs in 2002
6. no
7. yes


ps. just saw that you were asking about thru-hikers. Don't know if you want this data since I did the AT over two summers due to school.

[max patch]

Please clarify "how many miles per day" is calculated.

Example; if I hike 12 miles over 3 days, and one of those days is a "zero" day, have i averaged 4 miles per day (12/3) or 6 miles per day (12/2).

[ductape]

that would be how many miles per day on average for the days hiked. zero days wouldn't be factored into that. for example, if you walk 15 one day, 18 the next, 21 the next, then take a rest day, your average would be 18 miles per day.

[rickb]

1. Have you completed the AT?

Yes

2. Are you a smoker?

No, But I was when I hiked the AT from ME to GA 20 years ago.

3. How many miles per day did you average on your thru hike?

15, almost exactly.

4. How often did you take rest days, approximately?

I took 1 full day off during the entire hike.

5. How much weight did you lose/gain on your thru hike?

About 10 Lbs

6. Would you consider yourself "in shape" at the start of the hike?

Yes

7. Would you consider yourself "in shape" at the end of your hike?

Yes. Well, except the heart I abused by smoking, that is. The "bill" for all the wonderfull moments puffing away on Winstons will probably come due in the next 10 years or so, if my family history is any guide.
____

Hope this helps your project. If you need to get a bigger sample size, there is a book out which is mostly a survey of hikers. If you are interested, someone here knows the title, as would anyone at the ATC. Perhaps you could use some of the data from those surveys?

Rick B

[Peaks]

1. Yes
2. NO
3. 15.5
4. 5 1/2 months
5. 15 to 20
6. Good shape, but not as good as at the end.
7. definate yes

[Presto]

1. YES

2. not on the trail

3. 12.6 including zero-days

4. For hiking it would be a day off about every 10-days or so but we visited friends for a week and went to traildays for 4 days making it an average of 1 day a week.

5. 40 lb.

6. no

7. yes

[Trail Yeti]

1.Yes
2. no
3. 17
4. every 5-7 days
5. Didn't gain or lose a pound!
6. yes
7. hiking shape yes, all around shape no...lost a lot of strength in my upper body, gained a lot in my legs

[celt]

1. Have you completed the AT? Yes

2. Are you a smoker? No

3. How many miles per day did you average on your thru hike? 14.5

4. How often did you take rest days, approximately? 9 zero days: three times I hiked for nearly a month, twice I took three days off within 10 days of each other.

5. How much weight did you lose/gain on your thru hike?
I yo yo'd: I'd lost about 10 by Waynesboro but I gained it back by Katahdin.

6. Would you consider yourself "in shape" at the start of the hike? Yes

7. Would you consider yourself "in shape" at the end of your hike? Yes, but tired

[Grimace]

1. Have you completed the AT?
Yes

2. Are you a smoker?
No

3. How many miles per day did you average on your thru hike?
I actually worked this out. Including zero days 14.5 mile per day. I guess 17-18 w/o zero's.

4. How often did you take rest days, approximately?
10-14 days

5. How much weight did you lose/gain on your thru hike?
I lost 55 lbs at my lightest but gained 5-10 back towards the end. We ate more fast food and didn't hike as far. trying to prolong the trip i guess

6. Would you consider yourself "in shape" at the start of the hike?
Yes

7. Would you consider yourself "in shape" at the end of your hike?
Cardiovascularly yes. I lost tons of muscle mass and forced to pretty much start from scratch at the gym again though.