congrats to you.it is really encouraging to hear some on our plan has completed the trail.note I didn't say finished.
wudhipy
Good goingOriginally Posted by Quicksilver
Completed Ga-Me on October 6, 2007. Section hiked the AT over 12 years in light of family and career. Can't imagine (and really don't want to) the cost per mile to do it. If I had ever thought about it I'd probably wouldn't have ever stated. Now looking in my gear closet, it's strange to look at all the gear I've accumulated over the years. Yet, looking at all of it I see a progression from a truly inexperineced neophyte to a reasonably savy hiker. Did I mature in mind and soul or did I just spend more money? I hope the former.
Summit day: There was no way I could have ordered a more perfect day. Crisp air, bright sun and deep blue skies plus a great bunch of other hikers at the top..Rex, Breeze, the Twins, Nobody and my long time hiking partner Captain Bacardi. Decending via Knife Edge and the Helon Taylor trail were a fitting end to the journey.
As Jan D. Curran wrote in his book, 'if you think you're finished when you've done Katahdin--you shouldn't have started".
To all who went before and to those who will follow: Hike your own hike.
Happy Trails,
Quicksilver
GA-ME
Hearty congratulations, from another habitual long-term section hiker. What next, eh?
Congrats, Quicksilver. I'm so happy for you that you had a beautiful summit day...something that I hope will happen for me when I finally finish up. I don't keep track of what it's cost me either, for fear that my wife will get wind of what I've been spending!
GA←↕→ME: 1973 to 2014
CONGRATS! Nice work! In the last year I've started my section hike quest with NorthEastern PA and NJ, all within 3 hours drive of my home. I hiked up Katahdin years back with friends and I've been hooked on the idea of seeing all of the AT ever since. I don't want to try to figure out how long it may take me though!
The Mountains to Sea Trail is in his backyard. A fine trail too.
Awesome achievement. It helps to hear success stories like this - especially for me with over 1800 miles to go.
The Dinos had planned to start a two to three year section hike in the fall of 2004, but a bad auto accident (damaged the She-dino's right leg) got in the way. While the She-dino has backpacked for many years, the AT was never on my list of things to do until the He-Dino expressed an interest in hiking the AT after retirement. We still plan to try to complete it, but on a slower schedule and with more support and slackpacking than we originally planned.
Fantastic. My hat goes off to sectioners who really have it tough.
Congratulations! My wife and I are halfway done with a 4 year section hike and I don't think I would have it any other way. The freedom to take one's sweet time and check out side trails at will is priceless. Maybe when I've seen the whole thing I will be ready for a thru.
Why, may I ask? This is more of a question out of curiosity on how a section hiker views the thru-hike as I am conflicted with the idea of a thru someday myself. Certainly there is an element of accomplishment that comes with a thru, but is it worth the long trudge and living the "no rain, no pain, no Maine" life for 5-6 months? [Although, I would probably do a thru SOBO.] For many, I certainly under the answer is a resounding yes. For me, the more I read about the thru experience, the more I understand the relative benefits of the section hike and it is becoming less likely I will attempt a thru of AT proportions.
Congratulations from another section-hiker following your boot prints!
Maybe you could post some favorite experiences and stories from the trail?
Rain
.
[I]ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: ... Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit....[/I]. Numbers 35
[url]www.MeetUp.com/NashvilleBackpacker[/url]
.
Congratulations. But now, of course, that you've seen the Knife Edge and Helon Taylor trails, you'll have to go back and do any other great blue blazed Trails you may have missed during your 12 years....Decending via Knife Edge and the Helon Taylor trail were a fitting end to the journey.
As Jan D. Curran wrote in his book, 'if you think you're finished when you've done Katahdin--you shouldn't have started".
To all who went before and to those who will follow: Hike your own hike.
Happy Trails, Quicksilver GA-ME
Weary
Congrats from one GSO guy to another!
The key to success in achieving a goal is focusing not on how far you have to go, but rather how far you have come.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Phil 4:13
As said before, Thanks to all those who have replied and offered their congratulations. Now I feel like I gotta go out a do some big miles to live up to the kudos bestowed upon this simple hiker!
Tin may asks how a section hiker views the thru-hike. Quite frankly, I have always looked at thru hikers with a slight bit of envy. Just being on the trail for few days or a couple of weeks just starts a lot of things but finishes few. For example, I always tried to 'fit in' and make new friends. But, as a section hiker when we first stated a section I'd usually hear ta snear or snicker that "he's just a section hiker. Well, my hiking buddy and I would do the big days (+20s) when necessary and at the end of the day we'd be there in camp with the rest of the young guns...maybe not as early but we'd be there. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little proud of ourselves at the end of a 20+ mile day when someone would ask, So you guys are section hikers? So, just when you start earning 'props' and making some headway toward real friendships it's time to leave the trail. I always felt very envious when it was time to leave the trail and the thru-hikers just kept going knowing that lasting friendships were being forged every step they made.
We seldom had the choice of dismissing the 'no rain, no pain, no Maine' method of section hiking. Family and business were always present in the mind...just a little less intense when on the AT. When the shuttle dropped us at the trail head, we knew we had x number of days to get to get to the airport and be back in the office. The farther north we hiked, we always calculated in at least a nero day and depending on where we were maybe one zero. Both came in handy from Conn north.
You can do all the gym work possible but nothing prepares you for the trail. Just when this section hiker got 'trail legs' and was able to churn and burn and do the +20 days without taking at least 10 Aleves, it was time to leave the trail. Each time we began a section it was hurt like hell for the first several days. Each section...do it all over again. This is not a problem if you are a thur hiker.
Rain Man asked for a favorite experinece...too many to list but I'd say the most memorable was going over Mt. Madison, Sept 1, 2005 when Hurricane Katrina blew thru. Read Gypsy Lulu & Touk's 2005 Applalachian Trail journal at http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=115815
A great big Kudos from the "soon to be out of public water" Souths Capital...Hot Lanta.
Fantastic!! My hat is off to you. Such a remarkable accomplishment.
Way to go I have been doing the AT section by section over the past 5 years am now in northern Va Just when you seem to get your trail legs it is time to go home. It does hurt like hell . This march I will be retiring and will pick back up and go straight thru- I have met a lot of thru hikers overthe years and have never seen any put downs because I was doing a section hike if anything like you said they were always amazed at the end of the day when an old guy rolled in later after a 18-20 mile day, Many have told me that they think it is very hard to be a section hiker and trying to get your mileage in during the time you have available. All of the thru hikers I have met have been really cool people and I have enjoyed everyone I have met and spent time with on the trail. Once again congrats you are still young enough to do the PCT or another trail. Good luck
Hillbilly
There are a variaty of section hikes. I hiked all of Maine in the 70s and 80s with my three kids. During those times and later I hiked sections in North Carolina, where my late inlaws lived. Over many decades I've done a lot of the trail in New Hampshire.
IN 1993, for a variety reasons I've reported on here from time to time, I took Amtrak to Georgia with a vague plan to walk home to Maine.
I started late (April 13 from Amicalola) and arrived on Katahdin's summit on October 16. But I was not a purist. I didn't take many easy alternative trails, but I did take a lot of scenic alternatives.
Anyway I arrived in New York as a "reasonably pure" thru hiker, looked at the Calendar and skipped ahead to the Whites in hopes of reaching Baxter before it closed. I missed the deadline by a day, but being known as a longtime critic of park, they let me stay and climb the mountain anyway.
I've never sat down and calculated the length of that "section" but I'm thinking, maybe 1,900 miles. I've picked a few hundred miles since. And I've done quite a few hundred miles before and since twice or more.
When ATC awarded me with an honorary "life" membership, four years ago, part of the claims made on my behalf is that I was a "thru hiker." Because the program was running late, I didn't bother to correct them. I sort of felt like a thru-hiker when I reached the summit of Katahdin at age 64, after six months and three days.
However, I'm really most proud of is being a section hiker over a span of 65 years. I may even pick up a few miles in the south sometime and apply for a 2000-miler patch. It might inspire a hiker or two to read my obituary.
Weary
I can't imagine the cost to section the AT or any long trail with gas going for 75c a quart, which in turn raises any shuttle fees one might incur. Has anyone done, or know of, a cost analysis of a section hike? Any suggestions on how to do one?
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
