Consuming Beverage Alcohol on the Trail

[Roots]

I'll say. After three cups of beer out of the keg at the Overmountian beer blast put on by the Appalachian State collage trail crew last spring, I almost couldn't make it back up the ladder to the loft. I must be getting old. Or maybe it was the wiskey chasers I seem to vegly remember someone was passing around.

How long does a keg of beer last with 50 hikers drinking? Not long!

When did you go through there? Maybe I'll run into some App crew this year.

[Jim Adams]

1. Alcohol is a necessity.
2. Almost never.

The correct answer.

geek

[Jim Adams]

1. Didn't see much because alcohol is extra weight and extra weight is a no-no
2. Not once on my hike.

What planet were you on?

geek

[stranger]

Booze and Weed are quite common amongst hikers. Wouldn't say abusive behaviour is a problem, but it does occur occaisionally.

If you don't like being around weed or booze, I would avoid most places hikers come together in groups.

[Slo-go'en]

When did you go through there? Maybe I'll run into some App crew this year.

May 8th. I guess they do this every year the first weekend after the spring semester ends.

[Mags]

What kind of hiker would carry alcohol on a hike? Geeesh...

Ah..er..nevermind...





Being serious for a change....

On my thru-hikes, I did not pack alcohol. I did partake in a beer in town. On weekend trips, I don't mind packing in a little vino (even on 20 miler days off trail...) On the AT most hikers will be just like anywhere else: The majority who enjoy adult beverages and behave like adults. Kinda like life...


Of course, I did find this unopened treasure in the middle of the Great Divide Basin. Tasted much better than the cow water...

[garlic08]

The definition of a rowdy hiker is one who finishes a beer before falling asleep.

[Frick Frack]

I carried a 3.0L of wine and 12-pack back to the shelter to support the troops on more than one occasion...the problem is packing it all back out the next day....all fuzzy...

I never experienced anyone out of control..except me in Damascus at the Hikers Inn one night....

[Spirit Walker]

What kind of hiker would carry alcohol on a hike? Geeesh...


Of course, I did find this unopened treasure in the middle of the Great Divide Basin. Tasted much better than the cow water...

Mags - we saw that bottle at Brenton Springs, but left it behind because we didn't want to carry the bottle out. Figured somebody else would want the vodka enough to carry out the empty. We didn't.

As to the original question - it has been a while since I hiked the AT, but when we did, there were a few who were focused on finding alcohol and carrying it on the trail. (Used to be a lot of the south was dry, so it wasn't that easy.) There were a few who made the trail a pub crawl. Most of us just drank in town, when it was easily available or if we ran into a freebie on the trail. (I found an unopened bottle of Guiness on West Mountain in NY - it was lunch.) Pot was less frequent then, I gather, but there were a few who partook openly and many who were more discrete.

Seems to me a few years ago there was a thread on where a hiker could find AA meetings along the trail. So if you are concerned about the issue - do a search.

[Jim Adams]

thanks for the beer at gooch gap, last march, geek. hit the spot!

you going to be in GA early march this year?

Yeah, I'll be there. A few alumni on saturday the 14th at Gooch Gap and St. Patrick's Day further down the trail.

geek

[Johnny Thunder]

Nothin' wrong with a liquor-pus.

[Mags]

Mags - we saw that bottle at Brenton Springs, but left it behind because we didn't want to carry the bottle out.

Split, it was just enough to wet the whistle w/o getting drunk. I ended up being a good doobie and carried it out.

[DCHiker]

I always thought it was a rule to backpack with a flask and canoe with a cooler

[mister krabs]

I always thought it was a rule to backpack with a flask and canoe with a cooler

That's the one I always follow.

[JAK]

I hike solo mostly, so when I drink alone I prefer to be by myself.

[jersey joe]

I very rarely encountered drinking by thru hikers at shelters. Most of the alcohol I saw at shelters was brought in by weekenders. I did have ONE bad experience with a couple guys who weren't thru hikers but were drinking heavily at Cable Gap Shelter in the south. They were loud and abnoxious and thew rocks at the shelter while a few of us were trying to settle down for the night. Kind of unsettling.

[Gaiter]

the most drinking you'll find, is by locals camped near a road, they'll leave the place trashed.... and a few of the few i've meet in the process of becoming trashed have been obnoxious, couple of really nice ones too....

[GeneralLee10]

The Greener the Lighter and less to carry.

[BAG "o" TRICKS]

1. very common. come to trail days or just come to damascus during hiking season. you'll see
2. lotsa drinking at shelters. not so much abusive/obnoxious behavior

Definitely agree Wolf and may I add, be 'very careful' where you consume.
If it says "no alcohol" then 'respect the rules', go somewhere where you can drink legally, again it’s about ‘respect’ not ‘entitlement’. Don't stem those to follow. Most problem incidents I've witnessed and heard about within the trail community occurred due to alcohol. You've all heard the saying, "instant a-hole just add alcohol".

[Funkmeister]

I have a considerable fondness for happy hour after a long day's walk. My standard carry and ration is 2 oz of 100 proof bourbon (Knob Creek), 2 oz of grain alcohol, and one packet of Crystal Lite per day. Start with the bourbon, then move to the camp punch. Makes my feet hurt less, or at least makes me think about them hurting less.

It's also an interesting dilemma when I run short on my denatured alcohol supply--I can burn the grain alcohol instead...Do I want that cup of hot tea, or do I want happy hour punch?

I've never seen any long-distance hikers act badly because of happy hour. Weekenders a little. Generally, I've found those who act badly when intoxicated also act badly not.

And yes, the before-mentioned happy hour consumables do weigh less than alcohol. Or so I'm told. That's the story I'm sticking with.