2014 Thru-Hike Registry

[neonmeat]

Trail Name: Neon Meat
Direction: NOBO
Estimated Start Date: May 12
Approach Trail: Yes

Just got back from a section hike (Garrison NY - Pittsfield MA) which helped me sort out what will and will not work for a thru-hike. Planning to get a late start next May with an ultra-light load.

[Stormcrow]

Trail Name: Barticus
Direction: NOBO
Estimated Start Date: Mid-March
Approach Trail: Yes

Can not wait!

[Eniwuts]

Trail Name: Don't have one yet. Friends call me Stew Beef.
Direction: NOBO
Estimated Start Date: Mid-March
Approach Trail:Yes

Been wanting to do this for years! Finally done with my Master's degree and ready to experience some long-distance trail!

[Sisu'14]

Anyone in the D.C. - Maryland - Northern Virginia hiking in '14 interested in some practice hiking? Contact Sisu at [email protected]

[kneedles]

Trail Name - JustMe
Direction - NOBO
Estimated Start Date - April 6
Approach Trail - No

[SouthernPride]

Trail Name - none yet
Direction - NOBO
Estimated Start Date - May 5 - section hiker Springer to Hot Springs, then 2 more 30 days sections throughout 2013 and 3 30 days sections each year until finished
Approach Trail - prolly

[Kdoiron]

Trail Name - It'll Find me
Direction - NOBO
Estimated Start Date - May 15th Thru Hike
Approach Trail - probably

Lifelong hiker, the appalachian trail has always been at the top of my bucket list. For a week straight i could not stop talking about the trail and then out of nowhere an old hiking friend from the past contacted me asking if i wanted to join them on the trail. though a week before i would never have said yes expect for...

In the last month I've gone through a very messy divorce to my wife of three years. I gave up a lot of my outdoor hobbies and dreams when we found out she had chronic adult asthma and became a shell of my former self. After finding out shed been unfaithful she cleaned me out and now has continued to harass me, and to make things worse she and i work within the same place of employment.

The trail offers both redemption and freedom for me, if only i had the funds saved id leave tomorrow. This life of money, sex, power, and materialism has very little appeal to me now. I need not only an escape but a means to completely redefine myself.

[spanky4x4]

Trail Name - Spanky....its been that for about 25 years
Direction - NOBO
Estimated Start Date -Jan 2
Approach Trail .yep. already did the stairs a few years ago. this time I'll go up through the woods!

Been wanting to try this the last couple years. Had a good start in March 2012, but broke my ankle and spent most of the year recovering. Tried again this year, but my ankle wasn't quite ready yet. In 2012 I met a young man who started Jan. 1 and was near harpers ferry in mid march. sounded like a fun/different experience,so that is what changed my plan.
Plan is to get to Amicalola Dec. 31, hike the approach trail Jan. 1, then start at Springer Jan2. it will be my 42 birthday.

[durk]

Trail Name: I've been called a few things in my life but none I want to use as a trail name.
Direction: Nobo
Est start date: first half of April
Approach: yes
Other: Retired, 57, Air Force vet. I'm old so the plan is to get UL. I'm estimating my big three is <6 pounds with total base weight of <12. Consumables will push me to ~20. Hopefully this will place me on a more level playing field with the 20 year olds carrying 40#.

[Trevor Lord]

Trail Name: TBD (I want to think on this)
Direction North
Estimated Start Date: April 6
Approach Trail - yes
any additional info that you want the world to know: not really as of now just announcing my intents

[cusegirl]

Trail Name: TBD
Direction: NOBO
Estimated Start Date: March 12 (my birthday!)
Approach Trail: Undecided, probably no
Other: posting on this thread makes it official, right?! 26 y/o female hiking solo and looking to meet awesome people along the way.

[Armywife]

Trail Name: Nothing yet
Direction: NOBO
Estimated Start Date: March 21 End date October 4 (my 40th birthday!)
Approach trail: ashamed to admit I have no clue what this means.
Other: Since I have posted this, I have to do this, right? No backing out or there will be shame all the way around?

[vtgorilla]

Trail Name: Nothing yet
Direction: NOBO
Estimated Start Date: March 21 End date October 4 (my 40th birthday!)
Approach trail: ashamed to admit I have no clue what this means.
Other: Since I have posted this, I have to do this, right? No backing out or there will be shame all the way around?

The AT officially starts at the top of Springer Mountain so you have to get up to the start of the trail somehow. The approach trail allows you to hike up to the start from Amicalola Falls visitor center/park, passing Amicalola Falls on the way. Some people choose to bypass this by getting a ride up a nearby service road which takes you within a mile (iirc) of the AT's southern terminus.

The approach trail is a little more than 8 miles and purists argue whether 'real thru-hikers' should always hike up the trail.

There's some more information here: http://www.georgiatrails.com/gt/Sout...Approach_Trail

[Double Wide]

Earlier on I said 'No Way' to the Approach Trail, too many friends and acquaintances have said it's not worth the effort and it doesn't count. Part of me wants to use that as a reason, or maybe even an excuse, to skip it. I think the real reason is that I'm afraid it'd be hard for somebody not in 'trail shape' yet. So I've been working on my fitness level, and I'm thinking that I *might* end up doing the approach.

Another reason is that while I can easily get a free ride to Amicalola Falls (my dad lives in N. Georgia), the shuttle from there to Big Stamp Gap (FS 42, .9 mile from the summit of Springer) cost me $60 when I did a section hike in May. Also, I'm thinking of going to the ATKO event at Amicalola, since it's the weekend before my planned departure date, and if I'm already there at the falls, I might as well just walk...

Just thinking out loud, that's all.

[Cyngbaeld]

Trail Name: Cyngbaeld (King Bold)
Direction: NOBO
Estimated Start Date: March ?
Approach Trail:Probably not
Other: Really looking forward to pushing my envelope.

[SCFoxtrot]

Trail Name: Don't have one, I'll let it find me.
Direction: NOBO
Estimated Start Date: Probably mid-March
Approach Trail: Yes
Other: Always wanted to see Maine, so I'll walk to it.

[WeShallSee]

Trail Name: We Shall See Direction: Southbound flip flop; start at Harper's Ferry, sobo to Springer; go up to Maine and sobo to Harper's Ferry. Start Date April 17, 2014 Approach: maybe to see the Falls on the way out I have checked the whole list: where are all the folks from the great plains? I've seen two from ND only.

[WeShallSee]

Trail Name: We Shall See Direction: Southbound flip flop; start at Harper's Ferry, sobo to Springer; go up to Maine and sobo to Harper's Ferry. Start Date April 17, 2014 Approach: maybe to see the Falls on the way out I have checked the whole list: where are all the folks from the great plains? I've seen two from ND only.

I forgot to mention: I have a journal at www.trailjournals.com/weshallsee/.

[Gluefoot]

Trail Name: Gluefoot
Direction: NOBO
Estimated Start Date: March 1st
Approach Trail - yes
Info: Packed a lot of gear in ARMY for 11 years, drove semi rigs almost 3 million miles. I have seen a lot of beautiful places. Now is the time to take the long hike and enjoy on my own and natures terms.
I will be posting gear selections, photo's and more on FaceBookhttps://www.facebook.com/GluefootsAdventure page as it all unveils or unravels.

[BigEnso]

Trail Name: it'll find me when I get there
Direction: NOBO
Estimated Start Date: 1st week in March, weather permitting
Approach Trail - Most likely not but things can always change
Any additional info that you want the world to know: my reward to myself for finishing is to stop in Tanzania to climb Mt Kilimanjaro on my way home to Thailand. That is the reason for the early start. I figure I'll need a couple of weeks or 4 to rest up and put a few pounds back on.