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Appalachian Trail- anyone hiked it?

76k5grrl

76k5grrl

killin it
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I've done some pieces here and there- Maine, mostly.

I am putting together my "10 year plan" and that is on it- the whole thing.

I'm thinking in about 4-6 years. I'm looking at several things regarding timing- not the least of which is either being dogless or my youngest dog being old enough that I can leave her in the care of someone for several months. The other factors are money, possible schooling (which would be done in 3 years), and TRAINING.

Just curious if anyone here has done the whole thing, or even large portions of it- and would be willing to relay experiences.
 
http://www.trailjournals.com/index.cfm

Reading these trail journals is cool- some of them are really detailed and awesome, and it's really helpful tips.

I'm looking at a SOBO trip. I don't know why- I just feel it. It seems this is generally very unpopular, and over the next few years I suppose I'll find out why. But for now I'm reading all I can about the SOBO- I suspect a lot of these people are not truly familiar with the Maine wilderness (I am) and were not expecting its discomforts.

Some of you will eventually weigh in here. I'm sure Rich has done legs of it. Curious about you southerners out there....
 
it goes through my back yard . walk a few mountains . had couple friends who walk most of the gaspe trails. i drove them a few times to sections of the trails where roads were accesible. brought water and food to section so they wouldn,t have to carry to much stuff, and have better suppers. they were a married couple. now that about 10 years ago. atleast once a year i will go for drives around the park areas. http://www.quebecmaritime.ca/en/company/international-appalachian-trail-quebec/activities
 
HA! I didn't know there was a Canadian section- my traditional wisdom says it "ends" at Katahdin!! Cool link!
 
SOBO= southbound, ME to GA- terminology generally used for "thru-hikers", the ones doing the full 2000 miles

I cannot really figure out why everyone goes northbound "NOBO"- seeing as how the most difficult hiking is in Maine and New Hampshire, I would think after 6 months of hiking the last thing you would want to do is hike NH where you're having to do serious bouldering and 1mph hikes through the mountains???

I mean, I know spring/summer in ME bring mosquitoes and deer flies but I'm thinking I would rather hash that out nice and early.

Right now I'm reading all the SOBO trail journals I can find to see if there's anything to truly put me off. I'm deep into this one by a 60+ year old man who (I think) is still on the trail right now, which is interesting to me....
 
Very very cool. Sounds like a lot of fun and a great experience. Do it!
 
I got to walk part of the GA end/TVD.......at Ranger School! Lets just say I didn't get to enjoy it.....LOL!
 
why not??? why not why not?

This is what I need to hear- I have this whole deal really romanticized. I plan to spend the next couple years really working on the multi-day food pack skills- that seems to be the main sticking point with people- food weight and amounts vs resupply points.

Also, this relates almost directly to the HAMMOCK THREAD! Since a lot of the packers I'm reading journals on are using hammocks instead of tents- reporting lots of heavy weather with no issues, so that's encouraging.
 
Just plan a ck5 resupply mission. And consider a ham radio license for emergency communication.
 
76k5grrl said:
why not??? why not why not?

This is what I need to hear- I have this whole deal really romanticized. I plan to spend the next couple years really working on the multi-day food pack skills- that seems to be the main sticking point with people- food weight and amounts vs resupply points.

Also, this relates almost directly to the HAMMOCK THREAD! Since a lot of the packers I'm reading journals on are using hammocks instead of tents- reporting lots of heavy weather with no issues, so that's encouraging.
Click to expand...

my guess is because he was in ranger school.

I think it would be cool to do, but I doubt I will ever get to.
 
It has not escaped me how many members actually LIVE along this corridor, particularly in the mid-Atlantic and Smokey Mountain type regions.:thumb::whistle:
 
Only parts of it Ive been close to are at Mt Chase in Baxter state park "my cousins hunting camp" and riding the blue ridge and skyline drive on my motorcycle
Avoid black fly season, and "that time of the month"
I'm sure you know...
Bears have a great sense of smell
 
76zimmer said:
Only parts of it Ive been close to are at Mt Chase in Baxter state park "my cousins hunting camp" and riding the blue ridge and skyline drive on my motorcycle
Avoid black fly season, and "that time of the month"
I'm sure you know...
Bears have a great sense of smell
Click to expand...

Dave, it takes 6 months to hike..... there is no way to avoid that. :haha:
 
You could wait til your 50 then....
So when will you have 6 mo to do it?
I figured you might do it in "legs" over a few years???
 
I did bits and pieces of it near Asheville, NC when we lived there. Can't say I have the desire to hike the whole thing
 
Done some of the pieces in NJ, although not much more than a couple miles at a time.
 
76k5grrl said:
why not??? why not why not?

This is what I need to hear- I have this whole deal really romanticized. I plan to spend the next couple years really working on the multi-day food pack skills- that seems to be the main sticking point with people- food weight and amounts vs resupply points.

Also, this relates almost directly to the HAMMOCK THREAD! Since a lot of the packers I'm reading journals on are using hammocks instead of tents- reporting lots of heavy weather with no issues, so that's encouraging.
Click to expand...

Because this.....(special attention to Mountain Phase)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranger_School
 
heavyleft said:
Because this.....(special attention to Mountain Phase)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranger_School
Click to expand...


Well danged if that don't take the fun out of it.... but I take this as a sign that should I become endangered or incapacitated on the trail, you would be the most capable to save my life, and therefore you are hereby enlisted as my emergency contact.


Dave: doing it in several legs is an option, and it's still recognized by those who recognize such accomplishments as being a 2000 miler- they are called "section hikers" and I believe they make up the majority of the completers. It's just that I have this idea that thru-hike is a bucket list type deal for me. I have considered breaking it into 2 legs due to weather conditions.

When will I have time and option to take 6 months and several thousand dollars out of life to do this, you ask? Good question. This is why I'm thinking about it now- they say it costs about 1K per month to do and another 1k in gear- most of which I already have.

I say in 4-6 years. I will either have enough seniority at my current job to TELL them, hey, I'm out for 6 months BYE see ya when I get back, or I will be quitting that job, taking 6 months off to do it, and moving on to something else. Those details remain to be seen, although I am inclined to believe it will be the latter. The ultimate plan is to get my brother and SIL to join me at the same time but if not, I'll do it alone. If the boyfriend is still around I will encourage him to come- he definitely out-hikes me sometimes (which make me mad) and we are at our best when we're doing stuff like that, but as we all know- his station in the plan is fluid.

If any of YOUS GUYS are interested in this project, either in full or section hikes- that is obviously AWESOME and you are hereby invited to participate in any way you choose.
 
76k5grrl said:
Well danged if that don't take the fun out of it.... but I take this as a sign that should I become endangered or incapacitated on the trail, you would be the most capable to save my life, and therefore you are hereby enlisted as my emergency contact.
Click to expand...

CK5 hiker-down rescue team.....

Im down for that!
 
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