WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 27
  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-29-2010
    Location
    annapolis, md
    Age
    32
    Posts
    5

    Default college student in need of advice

    I am a freshman in college and my goal is to thru hike the entire AT.

    My biggest dilemna is when to do it.
    After college I will hopefully be working, so the only time I can envision myself having the time to hike it is during college sometime.

    I was wondering was worked for everyone else. When did you find time to hike it?
    I'm thinking between undergrad and grad school.

    The second dilemna is whether I should go SOBO or NOBO. I want to go NOBO because of the fellowship of other hikers and the experience. But that would require me to take 2 semesters off college. If I went SOBO I could manage to only take off one semester.

    Is NOBO worth it?

  2. #2
    Registered User Spider's Avatar
    Join Date
    07-24-2008
    Location
    Durango, CO
    Age
    31
    Posts
    280
    Images
    9

    Default

    I'm in the same position as you. I'm thinking about joining the Peace Corps after college and then thru-hiking after that with the small surplus provided. That could make it difficult to land a job though. The only other option I've got is what you suggested- section hiking over the summer. Problem with this though is I'd really like the summers for making money. Anyway, we'll figure it out I'm sure. Where are you attending? I'm at Dickinson College in PA.
    "Mr. Franz I think careers are a 20th century invention and I don't want one."

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    03-02-2007
    Location
    mokpo, south korea
    Posts
    1,507

    Default

    depending on your major you could work hard and graduate a semester early. that'll free up the late winter to start a NOBO hike.

    I believe that hiking Northbound is worth it...but i also enjoyed the crap out of college and wouldn't have wanted to miss that last semester (it was a blast).

    You could also do two thousand mile hikes during your summer breaks. if you really want to hike with the NOBO's start at trail days heading North and stop when you have to go home. Then mop up the rest the following year.

    Start saving money and take a photography class to satisfy your fine arts requirement (if you have one). knowing how to use a camera is worth it for more reasons than just hiking the AT.

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-29-2010
    Location
    annapolis, md
    Age
    32
    Posts
    5

    Default

    I'm at penn state.

    I could graduate early, but the dilemna is delaying a job. If all goes according to plan ill have a job waiting for me when I graduate.

  5. #5
    Registered User Spider's Avatar
    Join Date
    07-24-2008
    Location
    Durango, CO
    Age
    31
    Posts
    280
    Images
    9

    Default

    You know we're about an hour away from each other. Dickinson is also 6 miles from the AT. If you're interested in meeting up sometime for a trip I'm down. Any chance you play Ultimate Frisbee there?
    "Mr. Franz I think careers are a 20th century invention and I don't want one."

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-29-2010
    Location
    annapolis, md
    Age
    32
    Posts
    5

    Default

    Yeah that's a coincidence. And I played for our B team for a little then ended up resigning.

    I would definitely be interested in a trip. Our outing club does a lot of trips in our area.

  7. #7
    Registered User Spider's Avatar
    Join Date
    07-24-2008
    Location
    Durango, CO
    Age
    31
    Posts
    280
    Images
    9

    Default

    Oh okay. Yeah I'm on the Jive Turkeys, not sure if you've heard of us, but we played at your home tournament. I haven't gotten too involved with our Outing Club yet for several reasons, but I'm sure it'll happen eventually.
    "Mr. Franz I think careers are a 20th century invention and I don't want one."

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-29-2010
    Location
    annapolis, md
    Age
    32
    Posts
    5

    Default

    I actually have a jive turkeys disc

  9. #9

    Default

    well this is all nice and happy! just came on to say johnney thunder was the one to ask. but he allready beat me to himself. his planning skills are the best. now ill leave you to planning your hikes witch should be mine. i hate you all.if i ever hike i will require your hatred in kind. lol!
    matthewski

  10. #10
    Registered User Spider's Avatar
    Join Date
    07-24-2008
    Location
    Durango, CO
    Age
    31
    Posts
    280
    Images
    9

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by atkriebel View Post
    I actually have a jive turkeys disc
    I probably sold it to you then haha. I was going around selling those discs at the tourney.
    "Mr. Franz I think careers are a 20th century invention and I don't want one."

  11. #11
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-29-2010
    Location
    annapolis, md
    Age
    32
    Posts
    5

    Default

    Well thanks for everyones input, I will have to figure out my college schedule

  12. #12
    The internet is calling and I must go. buff_jeff's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-06-2008
    Location
    Media, Pennsylvania
    Age
    36
    Posts
    747

    Default

    I section hiked the trail during my vacation time in college. I started the summer after my freshman year and ended up finishing the summer after my senior year. It worked out well for me; I always had something to look forward to.

  13. #13
    Registered User johnnyblisters's Avatar
    Join Date
    06-02-2005
    Location
    Frostburg, MD
    Age
    36
    Posts
    330
    Images
    23

    Default

    That sounds like a good plan Buff_Jeff. I did a somewhat similar schedule, except working on the trail during the summers during college.

    atkriebel, if I had to do it again, I would have just taken a year off and hiked it when the reality first struck me. Instead I have been slowly meandering towards my goal of a 2011 thru, although the wait will surely be worth it! Good luck with your planning.
    -milkman

    got soul?

  14. #14

    Default

    You can always delay your hiking for the almighty Work and then you can be like me and wake up in your 40s and wonder is this all there is to life and go hike then.
    Some knew me as Piper, others as just Diane.
    I hiked the PCT: Mexico to Mt. Shasta, 2008. Santa Barbara to Canada, 2009.

  15. #15

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by sbhikes View Post
    You can always delay your hiking for the almighty Work and then you can be like me and wake up in your 40s and wonder is this all there is to life and go hike then.
    Dang, that sounds familiar to me.

  16. #16
    jersey joe jersey joe's Avatar
    Join Date
    01-12-2004
    Location
    Highlands Region, NJ
    Age
    48
    Posts
    1,920
    Images
    7

    Default

    The statistics say that you won't make it very far if you do attempt a thru hike. Because of this, I wouldn't alter my life greatly if I were you. It would be a shame to put off grad school for a year and drop off the trail after 3 days. Sorry that this came off as so negative...i know every situation/hiker is different.

  17. #17

    Default

    Thank you, thank you, thank you. For the first 35 years of my life I spelled dilemma with a silent 'n' instead of the second 'm'. I thought I was the only one. I still prefer our spelling. 'Dilemma' just looks wrong.

    Take the job. Get student debt down, manage it, then quit your job in a few years and go hiking.
    Yahtzee

  18. #18
    AT 4000+, LT, FHT, ALT Blissful's Avatar
    Join Date
    07-14-2005
    Location
    Virginia, 10 miles from the AT near SNP
    Age
    61
    Posts
    10,470
    Journal Entries
    1
    Images
    171

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by sbhikes View Post
    You can always delay your hiking for the almighty Work and then you can be like me and wake up in your 40s and wonder is this all there is to life and go hike then.

    Ha ha yeppers that was me too.







    Hiking Blog
    AT NOBO and SOBO, LT, FHT, ALT
    Shenandoah NP Ridgerunner, Author, Speaker


  19. #19
    AT 4000+, LT, FHT, ALT Blissful's Avatar
    Join Date
    07-14-2005
    Location
    Virginia, 10 miles from the AT near SNP
    Age
    61
    Posts
    10,470
    Journal Entries
    1
    Images
    171

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jersey joe View Post
    The statistics say that you won't make it very far if you do attempt a thru hike. Because of this, I wouldn't alter my life greatly if I were you. It would be a shame to put off grad school for a year and drop off the trail after 3 days. Sorry that this came off as so negative...i know every situation/hiker is different.
    Makes total sense.

    I waited 30 plus years.

    Section hike is a great way to experience the AT.







    Hiking Blog
    AT NOBO and SOBO, LT, FHT, ALT
    Shenandoah NP Ridgerunner, Author, Speaker


  20. #20
    Registered User RGB's Avatar
    Join Date
    12-11-2009
    Location
    Reykjavik, Iceland
    Age
    34
    Posts
    427
    Images
    29

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Spider View Post
    I'm in the same position as you. I'm thinking about joining the Peace Corps after college and then thru-hiking after that with the small surplus provided. That could make it difficult to land a job though. The only other option I've got is what you suggested- section hiking over the summer. Problem with this though is I'd really like the summers for making money. Anyway, we'll figure it out I'm sure. Where are you attending? I'm at Dickinson College in PA.
    I'm going SOBO after graduation. Halfway through I'm putting in my application to the Peace Corps. After that I'm finishing whatever grad school I don't finish in the Corps.
    "A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do."

    -Bob Dylan

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
++ New Posts ++

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •