Saving Money for Thru...

[Miu]

Alrighty, I'm curious. What's the craziest way you've ever earned money for your hike?

Personally, I think I'm going to start participating in clinical research studies...until I find a job

Hopefully the medical researchers have eliminated the brunt of the vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, infertility, vampirism, feline leukemia, and any other wildly unpleasant side effects...thank God for animal testing...

[Chaco Taco]

I donated plasma to save for some new gear

[Programbo]

Aside from making money and shopping for gear how are you doing with your family supporting a thru-hike?..Have you been going on day hikes and multi-day hikes to gain experience and see what is what?

[fiddlehead]

Busking............

[soulrebel]

pushed tiny buttons for hours

[Nest]

For my thru next year I am collecting cans and eating at other people's homes. Food costs too much. I eat at my parent's house fri, sat, and sun. Mon-thur I just call friends around 6pm to see "what's going on". If I can cut $20 off m weekly grocery bill then I will have almost an extra $700. Plus a couple hundred from the cans and I will have $1k extra that I wouldn't have otherwise. I am collecting cans, and everyone I know is saving them for me. I have good friends and family.

[Miu]

Aside from making money and shopping for gear how are you doing with your family supporting a thru-hike?..Have you been going on day hikes and multi-day hikes to gain experience and see what is what?

Still working on it...my dad tells me that it's a bad idea pretty much every day. Haven't done any short hikes yet b/c I was waiting on my MacCat tarp to come in, but now that it's here I'm thinking I will go on some soon. But not this weekend, because hopefully I will be participating in a clinical research study complete with compensation up to $1700. They don't tell you the minimum $$ you'll get. Hmmm...

[Nest]

Still working on it...my dad tells me that it's a bad idea pretty much every day. Haven't done any short hikes yet b/c I was waiting on my MacCat tarp to come in, but now that it's here I'm thinking I will go on some soon. But not this weekend, because hopefully I will be participating in a clinical research study complete with compensation up to $1700. They don't tell you the minimum $$ you'll get. Hmmm...

Wonder how much you have to suffer to get the full $1700?

[The General]

Sometimes the side effects are not to bad, I will look out for you on the trail you will be the one with two heads.

[fiddlehead]

Still working on it...my dad tells me that it's a bad idea pretty much every day..

Dad sounds like pretty much of a fool to me.
How much does he know about thru-hiking I wonder.
He should be glad his daughter (or son?) is into hiking rather than drugs, high speed cars, guns or crime.
Maybe he just needs to get out in the woods himself a bit more.

[Programbo]

Dad sounds like pretty much of a fool to me.
How much does he know about thru-hiking I wonder.
He should be glad his daughter (or son?) is into hiking rather than drugs, high speed cars, guns or crime.
Maybe he just needs to get out in the woods himself a bit more.

I don`t know about all that...I agree that someone with basically no hiking experience (Even some day hikes) attempting a thru-hike is a bad idea...That`s why I told her that if she went on some day hikes at first and he saw she survived those and then went on some overnighters with a group and he saw she still maintained her interest he might change his mind

[Lone Wolf]

Alrighty, I'm curious. What's the craziest way you've ever earned money for your hike?

Personally, I think I'm going to start participating in clinical research studies...until I find a job

Hopefully the medical researchers have eliminated the brunt of the vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, infertility, vampirism, feline leukemia, and any other wildly unpleasant side effects...thank God for animal testing...

i was a gigilo once in boca raton

[sixhusbands]

I pick up cans for 2 entire months and took that money to a local casino. I placed it all on red and doubled up. If told myself if I win I hike this year if I loose I hike another year. I left the casino, bought the gear I needed and hitched to Maine. SOBO 1994

[Panzer1]

But not this weekend, because hopefully I will be participating in a clinical research study complete with compensation up to $1700. They don't tell you the minimum $$ you'll get. Hmmm...

If I was your dad I would tell you to forget the clinical trials and just give you the $1700. That's because I don't trust the clinical trial thing. It might harm you in some way.

Panzer

[Wonder]

Last year I had a beef and beer.....pain in the arse, but I raised $600
I've saved all my familys scrap copper (plumbers), picked up landscaping, contracting, catering gigs, second and third jobs....not to mention working along the trail.

[rusty075]

I sold my car. Got rid of a monthly payment, weekly gas charges, maintainence, and insurance all in one shot.

It also doubled as a training program...I had to walk or ride my bike everywhere.

[Mags]

I sold my car. Got rid of a monthly payment, weekly gas charges, maintainence, and insurance all in one shot.

It also doubled as a training program...I had to walk or ride my bike everywhere.

I did the exact same thing. From March of 2001 until this past January, I did not own a vehicle. Helped me save much $$$$.

It helps that I have very cool friends who would let me tag along on weekend outings and such for gas money (and buying the post-hike breakfast or burger/beer!)

[Miu]

Dad sounds like pretty much of a fool to me.
How much does he know about thru-hiking I wonder.
He should be glad his daughter (or son?) is into hiking rather than drugs, high speed cars, guns or crime.
Maybe he just needs to get out in the woods himself a bit more.

My dad is not against hiking in the least bit, he's just worried that I'm going to get murdered by a crazy person while I'm hiking alone with no gun.

[Lilred]

i was a gigilo once in boca raton

I gather that was the year you didn't hike then???

[Mags]

My dad is not against hiking in the least bit, he's just worried that I'm going to get murdered by a crazy person while I'm hiking alone with no gun.

That was more or less what my Mom thought as well.

Parents, friends and other loved ones often project their fears upon you before you set out for a hike.

THEY afraid of getting cold, wet and hungy.

THEY are afraid of being alone.

THEY think they will need a gun.

Etc.

What can help is to involve the people with concerns into your hike. Show them a book such as THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL: CALLING ME BACK TO THE HILLS

Passing out copies of the map of the AT also helps. You may also want to purchase a copy of the ALDHA companion or Wingfoot's guide. The map and a guide book lets them see where you are going, where you resupplying, etc. Helps make them part of the journey on some level.

Showing the beauty and camraderie of the people on the trail often makes parents feel better. When they know that you are not exactly bushwhacking in the Alaskan wilderness, the folks tend to feel better.

When they see pictures of sunrises, mountain vistas and wild flowers they will know why you not only want to hike the AT, but why you MUST hike the AT.

And when it is all said and done, they will be proud and happy for you.

If my very worry wart Mom (who is a master of Catholic guilt!) can support me for my hikes (and still shake her head and get scared), I'm sure your Dad will come around too.

It's your Dad's job to be scared for you. Wether you are 2, 22 or 102. But nothing says you can't do a few things to make him feel a little less scared. ;-)

Good luck!