Thinking about hiking the Appalachian trail next year

[Doc Holiday]

So, I am completely over my current job, and plan to quit  April 2016 unless I either get a promotion I've been promised(been promised for a while and still haven't gotten it), or get a job that I'm interviewing for next week.

the odds of either of those two things happening are about 25%. So I'm already starting to plan what I may do when I first quit.  And have been thinking about doing the AT,. Thinking of starting south and going north, this is to avoid the worse of the cold weather and should end around August 2016.

 

anyone hike the AT or know someone who has?

Just curious about what I should bring and about how much a hike would cost.  I already have a most of the gear needed. So it's more for little things.

Alternatively I've also been thinking about doing a cross country bike ride instead, but as far as time goes that takes about a month and I don't know how soon I'd get a chance to do the AT again. 

[Inimicus]

Through hiking the AT is a genuine dream of mine.  Ive just never had the 5 to 6 months to do it.

Not considering the costs "back home" and assuming you have the gear already, my calculations put the cost at between 400 and 2500 depending on how well you want to eat and how many nights you want to spend in a hotel.  If you're willing to spend every night on the trail and eat very frugally You can do it for 2 to 4 dollars a day.  Given a 6 month time frame thats between 360 and 1320 bucks. A little "Trail Magic" combined with the nature of the folks you'll meet that should be plenty.

Hotels cost more.  Support from home and REI will ballon the cost. And if you have no gear you can count on sinking a grand into  a tent, backpack, clothes, shoes, stove, cookware, utensils, water filter, etc...

I envy you and the opportunity.  If you can make it happen it will change your life

[chknwing]

your going to need a mixtape of SCP's Greatest Hits

[h0llywood]

Reminds me of that movie I just saw the other day with Reese Witherspoon "Wild." Looks like a lot of fun and adventure. If you are still young and don't have a wife and kids, you should definitely get this done!

[ladypanther]

My nephew did it this year.  Amazing experience for him.

 

check this out:

http://www.appalachiantrail.org/home/explore-the-trail/thru-hiking

[Doc Holiday]

2 hours ago, h0llywood said:

Reminds me of that movie I just saw the other day with Reese Witherspoon "Wild." Looks like a lot of fun and adventure. If you are still young and don't have a wife and kids, you should definitely get this done!

This is part of the reason I'm seriously considering it, I dont have anyone besides myself to look out for so that's part of the reason I've been looking at this, I think what freaks me out the most about this is actually just not having a job for that long, since I was 16 the longest i've been unemployed was 11 days, if I do the Hike it's looking to be around 5-6 months just to finish the hike, and while they will be very small, I will still have some bills to take care, I may try to go at a good pace and do it in 4 months, but my expectations may be too high with that. 

[Chimera]

II hiked about 70 -100 miles through VA and about 10 miles in PA at different times.

They can be pretty strict about packing in and packing out, so make sure you have a way to deal with food scraps... And a way that doesn't attract bears. 

You should be good with just one canteen and a poo load of iodine tablets. I remember walking along creekbeds more than I remember an actual trail. There are designated rest / camping areas. They tend to have a guest log. Make sure to share your experiences and read what others have left.

[Hammerin'Cameron34]

Wow .. on the way are there plenty of areas to fill a cantine of fresh water? what to eat for that long?

[Chimera]

12 minutes ago, Hammerin'Cameron34 said:

Wow .. on the way are there plenty of areas to fill a cantine of fresh water? what to eat for that long?

Plenty of mountain streams to fill up. 

I ate a lot of trail mix (duh) and had 1 hot meal a day. Campfire + small pot + pasta. 

[thefuzz]

I have hiked different parts through the years, but never had any desire to hike it fully.

 

If you can do it, and you want to do it, go right ahead.  You will probably need to figure out a way to have someone pay your bills for you while you are up there, so maybe someone you trust can hold your checkbook or something.

Buddy of mine hiked it, and mentioned a few things that stood out.  Almost everyone took too much stuff....like all of them, and would have to stop at the first good place and either throw it away or pay to mail it back home.  You need a really good pair of shoes...that may sound stupid, but he said that, and some fresh socks will keep you going.  Are you in pretty good shape?  Some of the trail is pretty tough.

[Doc Holiday]

On 11/7/2015, 12:15:32, thefuzz said:

I have hiked different parts through the years, but never had any desire to hike it fully.

 

If you can do it, and you want to do it, go right ahead.  You will probably need to figure out a way to have someone pay your bills for you while you are up there, so maybe someone you trust can hold your checkbook or something.

Buddy of mine hiked it, and mentioned a few things that stood out.  Almost everyone took too much stuff....like all of them, and would have to stop at the first good place and either throw it away or pay to mail it back home.  You need a really good pair of shoes...that may sound stupid, but he said that, and some fresh socks will keep you going.  Are you in pretty good shape?  Some of the trail is pretty tough.

I've done a bit of backpacking before, and know how less is more. and figured on a ultra light kit,  part of the reason is because I want to do a bit of a fast hike. less gear = faster pace. reason I want to talk to someone would be to see what was essential gear and what could I do without. 

I'm in decent shape, am running the spartan beast next week. it's my second one.