Miles Hiked in a day ?

[ChinMusic]

I have not been on the AT for more than 6 days in a row. For the terrain I have experienced (all south of Dickey Gap) I average between 1.5 and 2 mph (including breaks). 2 mph ave for a day is pushing it unless it is a smooth section like Hogpen to Unicoi. I just don't have the aerobics to fly up a hill and have to pick my way down rocky declines to avoid injury.

10-15 miles is a comfortable range for this section hiker.

If I was starting a thru I would do LESS miles in the beginning and expect to be in the high teens in a month.

[Blissful]

This figure is nothing but a wide ranginin variable between an individual hiker and the day in front of them. . . . anything else is dissecting a vibrant experience. . . . let the day and the trail come to you as it will . . . . .

that about sums it up. I have hike one half mile and 20 plus. It doesn't really matter.

[cravj1988]

In the southern Appalachians I hiked about 15-18 mpd. In the Mid - Atlantic States I hiked about 17-20 mpd. In New Hampshire it dropped off to about 12-15, especially through the White Mts. Southern Maine was about 10-13 mpd.

[medicjimr]

Well thanks guys and gals I am still a rookie 100 miles and some change section hiking and thought 12-14 was a wimp must not be lol . I haven't been out longer than 3 days so far I do though want to stretch my horizon. I really appreciate the response. it was civil too.

[leaftye]

Over the first month of my hike this year I averaged 5 miles a day.

[Ox97GaMe]

What I have noticed is that when I dont worry so much about how far Im going to hike and just enjoy the hike itself, miles go by faster. I used to get up in the morning and say...Im going to do 15 miles today. I would be exhausted at the end of the day. Then, I got up one morning and said... I dont care how far I walk today, I just want to enjoy the day. I ended up doing 27 miles that day and still felt pretty good. I have hiked a LOT of 30 mile days on the AT. NONE of them were ever planned that way. They just seemed to happen. I have come to hate being on a schedule and having to make a certain destination by a certain time. It really puts a damper on the enjoyment of the outdoors.

[medicjimr]

What I have noticed is that when I dont worry so much about how far Im going to hike and just enjoy the hike itself, miles go by faster. I used to get up in the morning and say...Im going to do 15 miles today. I would be exhausted at the end of the day. Then, I got up one morning and said... I dont care how far I walk today, I just want to enjoy the day. I ended up doing 27 miles that day and still felt pretty good. I have hiked a LOT of 30 mile days on the AT. NONE of them were ever planned that way. They just seemed to happen. I have come to hate being on a schedule and having to make a certain destination by a certain time. It really puts a damper on the enjoyment of the outdoors.

I know what you mean I get in a hurry to often I just did 32 miles of the LHT and had to do 12 mile days for the shelters you can only camp at the shelters so had to stick to a schedule problem was we always got to them way early then got bored need to pace myself more stop and enjoy the sites longer.

[modiyooch]

. I have come to hate being on a schedule and having to make a certain destination by a certain time. It really puts a damper on the enjoyment of the outdoors.

I don't carry a watch for this very reason. My day breaks down to walking, sleeping and eating.

[David@whiteblaze]

I don't carry a watch for this very reason. My day breaks down to walking, sleeping and eating.

Me and my dad found that a watch worked well for eating... 2 hours and get a snack... 2 more and lunch... 2 more... snack... 2 more... snack... 2 more... supper... 2 more... sleep...

[Tin Man]

I hike 9-12 miles days or until beer thirty... whichever comes first.

[leaftye]

That's pretty much why I wear a watch too. Every hour I make sure I get at least a certain amount of nutrition. Besides that, it helps me know when I should start looking for a campsite, especially when I'm on the side of a ridge that blocks a view of the sun.

[Chowder]

I tend to shoot for 12-18 miles on a 'normal' day. The big thing for me is to take a long a break for lunch. I like to get a good bit covered in the morning and then chill and enjoy lunch, chat with whoever is around, etc.

[EasternBox]

For me, it depends on what the scenery is like. If there are incredible views, I can hike for 10 miles a day and be happy. If there are no views then I will average 25 miles per day.

[crazyonelost]

I have done up to 25 miles in a day hike with just the min.
But I usually cover about 12-15 miles a day. Of course the heat/humidity whips me pretty good so those days around 10-12 miles day.

Of course,now that I have bone spurs in both feet. It takes awhile to loosen up those calfs and heels may take a mile or two to get into the grind.