is it a thru hike

[hikerboy57]

coming off the beating a dead thread, figured we could always use some new debating material.

i am attempting to thru hike in 2014. i sectioned from springer to damascus march 23rd to may 1st this past spring. rather than do the same section again next year, im starting at springer, taking the bmt until it hooks back up with the at, so i could avoid the pack, and get into the backcountry.
so , would you consider this a thru hike?

[evan_rolltide]

who cares? By whose definition? There's a ton of different ideas about what qualifies and what doesn't and it really doesn't matter anyway. You are hiking "through" every area anyway so sure.

[Malto]

You would get your 2000 mile patch. You would be walking from Springer to Maine uninterrupted. I would probably call it a slight variation of an AT thru hike.

[canoe]

what matters is what you think. That is all that matters. No matter what you decide others will disagree

[rocketsocks]

I guess technically speaking if you finish by your start date of last year...then yes...but man your pushin it close should you succeed though, you get a speed record out of the deal too.


what was your start date this past Spring?...can't remember

[hikerboy57]

I guess technically speaking if you finish by your start date of last year...then yes...but man your pushin it close should you succeed though, you get a speed record out of the deal too.

I already know what my answer is I really don't care I just want to give us something all you about the next couple of hours I'm bored with the other threads

[JustaTouron]

IMHO, yes.

First it is unquestionable that you would qualify for the 2000 miler.

But I see the difference more as style and particular challenges than anything else.

A section hiker has challenges that a thru hikers does not, specifically getting to and from various trailheads, a loss of being in hiker shape/mode as they hike for two weeks and then spend the next 50 behind a desk, etc. A thru-hiker has specific ones too -- resupply, hiker hunger, etc. Which one does your hike have?

Per the the smokies you are a thru hikers.

If waitress in some trail town asks you if you are thru hiking the AT, and you respond "yes", you would not in my mind be lying. If you say no, and nothing else you would be being deceptive. And if you explained your exact route to her you would just confuse her.

[rocketsocks]

I already know what my answer is I really don't care I just wanted to give us something we all could bitch about the next couple of hours I'm bored with the other threads

fixed it up a bit, I think this is where you were headed?

[hikerboy57]

I guess technically speaking if you finish by your start date of last year...then yes...but man your pushin it close should you succeed though, you get a speed record out of the deal too.


what was your start date this past Spring?...can't remember

refer to my op.

alright, march 23rd

[rocketsocks]

refer to my op.

alright, march 23rd

ah...duh!

Ok, when will you start in 2014...maybe jan 1st...you could do it....

the real question is, assisted or unassisted?

[hikerboy57]

ah...duh!

Ok, when will you start in 2014...maybe jan 1st...you could do it....

the real question is, assisted or unassisted?

yes .

i dont plan on leaving till mid march.

[rocketsocks]

But you'll really need to be on your "A" game...time savers

Bury your food stores (cache)
Don't bury Poo, just leave it lay on the ground...dogs do it, bears do it too, pack out the TP though, better still, use a tent stake and pack it out.

[rocketsocks]

yes .

i dont plan on leaving till mid march.

Oh....then NO, not a snowball's chance in Hell

[hikerboy57]

socks, it would appear youo're dominating the discussion here.

[JustaTouron]

Just out of curiosity: Is your route longer or shorter? And does it allow you to skip hard stretches of the trail for easier ones, or is it harder, or about the same?

[coach lou]

refer to my op.

alright, march 23rd

He He!.......You know I never though of it until I saw it in print. Why go thru that cold freezing rain/sleet /ice crap again.....why not leave in April.......you can then cruise into Trail days!

[rocketsocks]

socks, it would appear youo're dominating the discussion here.

Your right, got carried away, thanks for the heads up ...Next!

[hikerboy57]

Just out of curiosity: Is your route longer or shorter? And does it allow you to skip hard stretches of the trail for easier ones, or is it harder, or about the same?

I'm not sure but I believe the distance would be longer as far as difficulty I found the South fairly easy compared to the northeast I still have to look at the logistics of resupply

[hikerboy57]

refer to my op.

alright, march 23rd

He He!.......You know I never though of it until I saw it in print. Why go thru that cold freezing rain/sleet /ice crap again.....why not leave in April.......you can then cruise into Trail days!

simply because I love the suck

[The Ace]

coming off the beating a dead thread, figured we could always use some new debating material.

i am attempting to thru hike in 2014. i sectioned from springer to damascus march 23rd to may 1st this past spring. rather than do the same section again next year, im starting at springer, taking the bmt until it hooks back up with the at, so i could avoid the pack, and get into the backcountry.
so , would you consider this a thru hike?

Yes. When you are done, let me know and I will send you a certificate that you can display. I will let HikerMom choose the appropriate icon to add here.