Taking the Bus

[starbright]

I'm planning on taking the bus to get to Gainesville, GA. My question is when traveling by bus do you put your pack in the bus storage or keep it on bus with you.

Will have 2 transfers and multible stops. About 16 hours on rode.

[Don H]

They put my pack in the baggage compartment. Every time a changed busses I claimed my pack at carried it to the next bus.
It's not like transferring planes where they move your luggage from plane to plane during transfers.

[88BlueGT]

I would imagine you COULD bring it with onto the bus if you wanted too.... but it would be pretty uncomfortable having your pack down by your legs on a trip that far. Not sure if overhead compartments are available? I guess it depends on kind of bus you take.

[turtle fast]

The seating on your typical greyhound would not have enough room for a pack, they stow it in the compartments below. Just remember to put something on your bag to identify that it is yours like a hang tag or a sticker. Just remember that the bus company too can weigh your bag and you may have to pay for an overweight bag per pound.

[88BlueGT]

^^ Definitely some type of ID card with all of your information... I like the ol' bright orange bandanna on the bag as well for easy spotting.

[Raymond James]

The driver will want to put it underneath with the rest of the luggage even if there is is an empty seat. The pack will not fit above or under your seat. A small day pak but not a backpack. Like Don H said you get off and get your bag during trainsfers. If you are worried that someone else willl take it at stops -sit on the right had side of the bus so you can see what comes off. If the bus is stopping for any length of time get off hit the bathroom then get a drink or snack and walk around next to the bus. When you see the driver headed back onto the bus get on right away as this helps keep the bus on schedual.

[jakedatc]

Yep, going under the bus. make sure you buckle the waist belt and tuck in other straps so it won't get caught up.

50lb is the weight limit on greyhound... a good reason to pack lighter, your body will thank you.

[turtle fast]

Also mind you a bus is not too conducive for taking a snooze, you invariably get people who talk on the cell at 2 in the morning or the group who just wont stop talking. Just keep an eye on your personal belongings as unfortunately as the cheapest transportative option you can get some unsavory characters.

[Slo-go'en]

I've traveled many times to and from the trail via bus. 16 hour ride isn't bad. Try 32 hours a few times for the full experinace

I always clip the waist band around the back of the pack as it helps keep my hiking poles in place. Cinch up the shoulder straps too. ID tag is required and if there are transfers, you will get a tag for the pack showing at what stops it comes off the bus.

I like to try to be one of the first people on and off the bus. This allows me to get an asile seat near the front. Asile seat as I can streach my legs out into the aisle and it keeps fat people from sitting next to me and squishing me against the window. Near the front as you don't hear as much engine noise and is less bumpy then the rear. And being one of the first off means you can grab your pack before anyone else can, but that really isn't a problem as they have thier own luggage to deal with.

The main problem with the "unsavory characters" isn't a threat of having anything stolen, it's just listening to thier sob stories in an effort to get you to give them money. One of the common ones is "I just need a few more dollars to buy a ticket home". If I had a dime for every time I heard that line, I could buy a ticket home.

[88BlueGT]

Anything over 10+ hours on a bus sucks pretty bad. I did 15 hours in a bus in Argentina and it was not pleasant... even though I had top row, front seats at a huge bay window with wine and whiskey at my fingertips.

[Feral Bill]

Make sure and buy a refundable ticket. If anything goes wrong (which is likely) Greyhound will take no responsibility. Their customer service is appalling. If they screw you up big time, a visit to the better business bureau will likely eventually get you compensation.

[Alligator]

If that is your actual location (Wynne) you could grab the Megabus (from Memphis) to Atlanta and the trip would only be 8 hours, no stops. I have found the Megabus to be a much nicer bus than Greyhound. Plus it ought to be about $30 or less. You would have to stow your pack.

Most bus lines I have used the overhead compartments do not fit packs too well. I have sat with my pack at my feet and it is fairly uncomfortable. If you have a camp pillow, keep it handy. You should have earplugs if you have any shelter plans, keep those handy as well. However, I have found most riders to be reasonably quiet on several overnight rides but I have been avoiding Greyhound of late. Megabus has wifi and outlets and other lines are working on that so if you have a charger keep it with you too.

[garlic08]

I put the stuff I want in my seat in my food bag and keep that with me.

If you take the bus home from a trail, you won't have to worry about scary, smelly people sitting next to you.

[jakedatc]

I put the stuff I want in my seat in my food bag and keep that with me.

If you take the bus home from a trail, you won't have to worry about scary, smelly people sitting next to you.

everyone else will!

[Dogwood]

I typically hike with a small 3400 cubic pack with nothing hanging off it outside the pack. If there is room on the bus/train/plane, etc I MUCH prefer having my pack in the overhead, underneath the seat, or on the seat next to me. BUT, the Dog typically overbooks their routes so bus seats are typically all taken. So, when there is no room my pack goes underneath in the storage area of the bus. I prefer placing my own pack under the bus. BUT, I watch and check on my my pack at stops! AND, I prefer to handle my own pack at ALL transfers. I'll even insist on it even if it means I need to be pushy. It's a good suggestion to sit on the right side of the bus where baggage is unloaded so you can see what's going on. Some of the worst baggage(backpack) handlers I've ever seen work for the Dog! Beware! I took the Dog from Atlantic City to Gainesville GA for my AT thru. I had three transfers. I watched one Greyhound baggage handler yank my pack out from a tangled mass of bags from the underneath storage compartment by one of the shoulder straps at one transfer. At another transfer the baggage handler grabbed my pack one shoulder strap and plopped it down on the tarmac into a puddle of motor oil. Third transfer is when I got pushy about handling my own pack!

Another thing to be aware of when traveling on the Dog is transfers. You have two. Even though you have already paid for a bus fare, IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE FRONT OF THE REBOARDING QUE AT TRANSFERS YOU COULD BE DENIED REBOARDING AND HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT AVAILABLE BUS TO TRANSFER !!! It's happened to me two times on the Dog, once on my way to Gainesville GA to hike the AT. I had to wait 9 hrs through the night outside the locked(closed) terminal in Richmond Virginia before the next transferring bus arrived the next morning!

TRY TO AVOID TRAVELING ON THE DOG ON FRI, SAT, AND SUN IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. That's especially when the routes are typically over-booked AND you'll likely be around someone who's drunk, high, and/or inconsiderately LOUD.

I know many hikers are eager to hit the trail once in GA, but after a LONG cramped bus ride I would recommend staying at the Dalonega Hostel run by Josh and Leigh Saint so you can get a fresh start on your thru-hike. Get a good hearty B-fast, gear check, and ride to the TH and AWAY YOU GO!

[TEXMAN]

If you return home on the bus after hiking be aware that the rest of the world doesn't understand HIKING..
I came back to Dallas from Virginia after 2 months on the trail. When the bus stopped in Texarkana the local officials had the drug dogs go through everyones luggage..Only one bag was identified by the dogs as suspect ...MY Pack... after i had let them go through the pack I had to explain to them why I was traveling so lite, where I had been etc...they really didn't have a clue about what I was telling them .... I think the dogs smelled some of my water purification chemicals ( I was using iodine at the time) or maybe my pack had rubbed up against some illegal smells in the shelters ...

Riders beware

Old Man River

[Mother Natures Son]

I've traveled on the the dog (to and from the trail for years). DON"T DO IT!!! I have enough bad travels to last a lifetime. There was one trip where the ticket agent "forgot" the night bus was canceled and I was stuck in a seedy part of town, miles from home. Lucky me, I hitched a ride rather then sleep on the sidewalk untill the next morning. The Dog did not care. Never has, never will.

[turtle fast]

Reminds me of the time in Turkey I was dropped off by a bus at 1 in the morning at a place I had no idea where I was as the bus driver was motioning to me that this was my stop...problem was the bus was supposed to arrive at 7:30 in the morning at my destination. I was in the middle of a residential area with no clue of where I was, my map of my destination did not fit the local terrain. I was sure that this bus did not fly to its destination, so why such a time discrepancy. We ended up drinking tea for a few hours having some food and wandered the area, turns out the bus had left us in a newer area of town and who knows why the large time discrepancy.

[mountainman]

Greyhound employees and drivers are every rude and hatefull. You will be glad when it is over.

[trapper]

26hrs from Ohio to Vermont with a talon 44 on my lap the whole time with treking poles jabing me the whole way...no way my pack was leaving my side...if at all possible i will never ride a bus again