That would probally cover your food cost, limit in town stays ect lots of articles on how to save money on the trail.
Hiking is expensive when you spend $562 on a shuttle.Originally Posted by 10-K
Wouldn't start without $7k available myself.
I wonder how many times I've said that on this forum......I don't think I've said anything new for about 2 years...
The trouble I have with campfires are the folks that carry a bottle in one hand and a Bible in the other.
You never know which one is talking.
too many assumptions on cost. we did it (two people) for this cost, but it depends on what you are having to pay for. I wrote this on another discussion:
it all depends on how you define "expenses". here was our breakdown.
we saved up about $10,000 to hike the trail. we did this because we worked like dogs to save - it can be done - we were poor college grads.
a look at expenses starts before the trail. we canceled our living expenses (ie no apartment), we canceled our cell phone/TV/internet/etc, we had no car payments on either of our cars, no student loans, and we were 100% debt free.
$3500 of our $10,000 savings was actual on-trail expenses. that's right...both of us spent only $3500 total to hike the trail. thats restaurants, food, laundry, shipping, everything. our nature is to be frugal, but we were not overly frugal. what do i mean by this? We had no reservations about spending on food - we spent what we wanted when we wanted. however, we didnt stop in towns very often (we averaged every 10 days or so whereas a lot of people are half that), and when we did stop in town we were very frugal about where we stayed. lots of hostels and few motels. we dont drink or smoke and didnt waste our money there. we did half mail drops and half resupplies in town (33 total resupplies, 17 being maildrops).
the remaining monies were distributed accordingly: $500 for car insurance while we were gone (let family drive the cars once a week or so while away), $1500 for a 6-month medical insurance policy, $500 for the return drive (gas money) back home (and our trip to springer was virtually free as we lived at the time just a couple hours from springer), we spent maybe $500 on miscellaneous gear before the trip (we had most of our stuff already), we spent maybe $500 on gear/gear replacements while on the trail, and we spent around $500 for a 3-day side trip into NYC (stayed with a friend).
Returning from the trail, we had $2500 to work with. We spent all of that to get our life back in order including renting a new house, and were left with $700 in the bank the day we started new jobs. $700 is not much money to work with, but we made it happen. the only reason it happened was because we didnt scrimp on expenses on the front end.
I think it is very doable I'm starting out in March of 2013 and doing my thru with $1K or less. I'm going out there to hike and see the scenery not to spend money and time in towns.
The good thing about hiking together is savings can come from bigger packages that are more affordable per unit with less excess to discard.
You say that now.....
Seeing scenery and hiking becomes the new normal within 2 weeks and I give about 99% odds that you'll start looking forward to a shower, bed, and some real food - all of which cost $$$.
Not to mention how nice it is to lay in a hotel bed watching it rain cats and dogs and thinking about how nice it is not to be camped out on an unlevel spot with a root sticking your back while water is dripping on your sleeping bag.
I think it would be more fun to hike with $1000 and quit around Damascus than it would be to try and go all the way to Maine on $1000.
Please keep us informed on how that works out for you.
Anyone know the cheapest documented thru recently? (Grandma Gatewood maybe did it for less but that was in the 50's and 60's).
"Chainsaw" GA-ME 2011
interesting. have you had any experience in the southern appalachians that time of year?
Good for you! Assumption; Mail drops allow you eat eat better & what you want, planning & preparation. I often wonder why do the other backpackers need so much more money then I do, no where to spend it on the trail. $1000.00 will buy you lots of pizza & a few hot showers...save some for the ice cream. Your heading out to HYOH, I admire that. I believe a thru hike cost so much more then when Grandma Gatewood did it, because the culture has changed. A thru has become for many a purely social event and backpackers are getting harder to find. It's like the skydiving analogy; Why would anyone jump out of a perfectly good airplane......Well, I have this perfectly good tent I carry, so why would I get a room. I find nothing wrong with today's 'thru culture', but it's world is not my home. I'm certain you find none of the comments here a distraction. I must say $1000.00 sounds challenging, I'm sure your prepared for it. Your temporary inconveniences will pay lasting dividends. I am cheering you on.
How much are planning to spend for the bus ride and shuttle to Springer?
And how much will it cost to get home from Katahdin?
Are these costs included in your $1,000?
"Chainsaw" GA-ME 2011
The cost of gear, getting there and back are already taken care of. The $1K is for the thru-hike only. I have started a journal and will be adding a list of things I plan on eating along the way. As far as hostels, hotels not interested in them. I do intend to eat occasionally in towns when resuplying. I'm not planning on drop boxes or a bounce box at this time. I have decided to leave my dog with a family member.
you're the first one to ever say that.
I think we need to define what the cost of a thru includes.
You're not including gear and transportation.
Is the $1,000 per person or for your family?
Aside from food what else is included in your budget?
Some additional costs could include:
Transportation to and from trail and town for resupply. Sometimes you have to pay and you should offer some gas money for anyone who picks you up.
Laundry. Certainly not as cheap as doing it at home. Wash, dry and soap can cost 4 to 8 bucks total.
Gear replacement. You're gonna break and wear out stuff, shoes, poles, packs, etc.
Medical/Emergencies. You're gonna twist, sprain, strain something (repeatedly!) or get sick along the way. You might need to see a doctor or go to a clinic.
Lodging/Showers. You say you're not interested in towns but are you willing to walk through towns like Damascus or Hot Springs and not stop for a shower? Even hiker hostels that only ask for donations cost money.
I'd like to see you succeed but have concerns over how realistic your budget is. I've seen many people leave the trail because they ran out of money.
Good Luck!
"Chainsaw" GA-ME 2011
Maybe first to say it, but not alone in the thought.
Just a question, is your son a child, teen, or adult? If the son is an adult and willing to "rough it" on the cheap, then its not much of an issue.
If you are taking a kid or teen then you may want to bump up the money a bit. You don't want to get stuck in a bad situation with your child, or have a miserable hike because you were cheap. Also you cant expect you kid, especially if he or she is young to hike hungry and hike big miles just to make the budget work. You kid will needs to enjoy the Thru hike and be safe if you have an emergency like an injury, an equipment failure, or a need to get a hotel room in really storm weather. It about a father and son having an experience of a lifetime, not dad selfishly checking off thru hiking the AT off his bucket list and dragging the son along if he likes it or not.
Agreed, beside, at most I'm not welcome anyway, I hike w/ a Devil Dog. I like the company I keep.
Sitting at home talking about hiking to Maine on $1000 is like sitting at home during an ice storm and insisting on going on a hike.
Sounds great in my head but once I'm on the trail I think "holy crap...this sucks!!"
Good luck maybe you'll pull it off.
Gear is almost complete just getting the weight where I want it. Transportation to GA and from ME is already taken care of.I think we need to define what the cost of a thru includes.
You're not including gear and transportation.
Is the $1,000 per person or for your family?
Aside from food what else is included in your budget?
The $1000 is per person. My children have saved up $1000 each for the thru-hike. My youngest is the only one that may be a little short. That will come out of my $1000.
The $1000 includes: Food, Laundry, Showers, a restraunt now and then, and a little for replacement.
We are planning to carry 7 to 11 days of food to cut down on resupply stops and less towns.
I've done the math and believe that it can be done.
Starbright, I think you're awesome. I'm wishing and your whole family the best luck. I'm cheering for you and your kids, and I hope you have a great hike.
best of luck to you...just having the motivation to get out on the trail is admirable.
However, a $1,000 budget, while it might be possible is going to be tough, real tough..... you will spend a lot more time cold, hungry & wet than most people do........ make sure you have the mental strategies to deal with that....and if it stops being fun, be willing to change you plans....... $1000 will get you a very comfortable 4-6 weeks on trail, and that is a fantastic experience in itself !!!
i hope you're in shape. i remember carrying 6 days worth of food out of damascus and it was torture. when your hiker appetite develops, you're gonna be in a world of hurt. best of luck to you.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote