Not to mention some of these campsites and shelters can be upwards to a mile detour off trail in some instances. If you find out a piece of gear isn’t working for you, replace it! For thru-hikers to earn a place at one of these huts requires either a reservation with a substantial fee or a work-for-stay agreement with the hut’s crew. You reach Greyson Highlands only to find them riding a pony. Though water releases may be infrequent they can occur with little to no warning down river. Water is one of the heaviest items hikers have to carry weighing in at approximately 2.2 pounds per liter. Sleeping in a crowded shelter can be aptly compared to sleeping in a sardine can. When to Start ARTICLE: Report: Tick-Transmitted Powassan Virus “Worse Than Lyme Disease” About 25 miles per day so far, but it’s been pretty easy. The trail is about 2,200 miles (3,500 km) long, though the exact length changes over time as parts are rerouted or modified. The trail is uniformly marked with a 2\" x 6\" white-painted, vertical blaze. Now, try the right place. Many hostels are run by former hikers so they tend to understand a thru-hiker’s budget, but at the end of the day a business needs to be able to turn a profit in order to survive. A Flow Chart There are a lot of factors to consider when trying to determine how much your thru-hike will cost you. While accidental bites sometimes occur from an unfortunately placed footstep, most bites are the result of mishandling or unnecessary/unsafe interaction with snakes. Hostels may have ingrained themselves as a popular part of the A.T. experience, but unlike the rest of the trail you actually have to pay to experience them. How the AT Works: What DOES a Maintainer Do? Consequently hikers will find the trail through the Mid-Atlantic region peppered with historical sites for ready hikers to explore. I agree with earlier posts. Both methods are equally effective and are much more enticing options than boiling all of your water one pot at a time. You don’t need him doing upside-down crunches from the shelter rafters. A southbound hiker starts their adventure at the A.T.’s northern terminus atop Mount Katahdin and hikes south toward the southern terminus on Springer Mountain in one continuous journey. Sleeping bags that use hydrophobic (i.e. I thru-hiked the AT in 2013 and the PCT in 2016, but I am currently living in New Hampshire, where I eat real breakfast and sleep indoors most nights. A free six months doesn’t just happen, nor does a spare $5,000. Coming up with a hiking schedule is now just a matter of taking out your guidebook/maps and crunching the numbers. This hike on the blue-blazed AT Approach Trail departs from the summit of Amicalola Falls, rolling through a beautifully diverse forest t… The kind souls who gift hikers with trail magic are commonly referred to as Trail Angels. Giardia in particular is a parasite that lives in the guts of people and animals passing via feces. As long as you are not obstructing the flow of traffic, safely on the shoulder of the road, and an officer isn’t having a particularly bad day hikers can usually stick out their thumb with little fear of reprisal. It has stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Reactive measure: kills pathogens in collected water through chemical reactions. They provide extensive and practical information about not just the A.T. itself, but also its surrounding businesses and communities all contained in one small, easily affordable package. This act would set in motion the long and arduous process of officially acquiring and placing the A.T. along federal lands–a process that would not be formally completed until 46 years later in 2014. For many, hiking the A.T. is potentially a once in a lifetime experience. However, much of the physical work involved in keeping the trail alive is done by an army of willing volunteers. It’s not a bad idea for all hikers to consider the question, ‘if something were to happen to me right now, when would a search party find me?’. Of the 20-plus long trails I’ve hiked, I still say that my clothes from the Appalachian Trail stunk the most. ARTICLE: 10 Reasons You’ll Love a Flip-Flop Thru-Hike  New Hampshire’s White Mountains are the most anticipated section of the trail for many thru-hikers. Still, never feel like you have to get into a car with someone just because they are the first to stop. The following decade the trail was plagued with challenges. It is highly unlikely you would end up in a situation where you would require such a deterrent. Take a trip into New York City, perhaps? You can find more information on the Kennebec River ferry services in the articles below. CC BY 2.0. The hardest part about picking the right boots is that you probably won’t know for sure whether or not the shoes will work for you until you’ve actually bought them bought them and taken them on a few hikes. Many thru-hikers are far from homeless and people familiar with the trail know it. The final three states are wryly known as Vermud, No Hope, and Pain. Katahdin Thru-Hiker Alert Baxter State Park, SoBo Vs. NoBo Thru Hikers: The Tiny Differences and The Immense Similarities, Alternative Thru-Hikes on the Appalachian Trail, 10 Reasons You’ll Love a Flip-Flop Thru-Hike, Flip-flop, Leapfrog, NoBo… the AT choices, The Best Blue Blazes on the Appalachian Trail – Part 1, The Best Blue Blazes on the Appalachian Trail – Part 2, The Best Blue Blazes on the Appalachian Trail – Part 3, The Best Blue Blazes on the Appalachian Trail – Part 4, The AT Guide vs. The year I hiked, it was 4 to 1. ARTICLE: The Thru-Hiker’s Suggested Gear List Me: umm you realize the amount you spent on gear you could have just hired the youth group from the last shelter to carry you on a litter the whole trail. If you feel thirsty it means you are already dehydrated. They feel like it is mandatory to take every trail to every view point, vista, or waterfall etc. The idea for the Appalachian Trail was birthed by Benton MacKaye. Otherwise you can expect both physical, mental, and financial repercussions seeking replacements. Carrying names like the “Flip Flop”, the “Head Start,” and the “Leap Frog,” alternative hikes are becoming popular choices as they allow more flexibility in starting and ending dates along with many other benefits. It is a philosophy embraced by many to help improve every hiker’s personal A.T. experience while also representing a ethical code for how hikers should interact with each other and other members of the A.T. community. The state of the Appalachian Trail is fluid and malleable, as is this page. The squirrelly old woman is just as unstoppable as the Squirrelly old man, but will pass you while chain smoking Virginia Slims and wearing Rambo sunglasses. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s mission is to protect, manage, and advocate for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Nature does not discriminate between the genders. The trail takes hikers up, over, and around the beautiful wooded mountains of the Chattahoochee, Nantahala, Pisgah, and Cherokee National Forests. You know about people hundreds of miles in front of you and hundreds of miles behind … through only the most rudimentary of mechanisms – paper notebooks, message boards and the word of hostel owners. Allow it to move of its own accord or navigate around it at a safe distance. Permits are valid for 38 days from the date of issue and give hikers 8 days to travel through the Smokys upon entering the park. If at all possible it is desired for hikers to reuse existing campsites as opposed to clearing new ground to establish a new sites. Rather most thru-hikers will rely on the work-for-stay option, but this is by no means a guarantee either. Considering that this website is based off a book on this very subject, we may be a bit biased in saying so, but mental preparation is the most important aspect in preparing for a thru-hike. The ATC organized this useful spreadsheet outlining camping regulations in different areas on the A.T. The organized folders include official trail and waypoint data from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. I can probably come up with a handful of other ones too, I imagine I will be the explorer. . Because we didn’t know about the post office method and we knew that we would “eventually be using the snowshoes. Many thru-hikers utilize them as checkpoints for lunch breaks or for ending a day’s hike. At this time southbound thru-hikers are not required to obtain a permit. If so what kind? It’s your hike after all. This is due in no small part to the cast of colorful characters who staff these establishments to offer weary hikers a welcomed respite from the trials of the trail. So be sure to take advantage of outfitters when you have the chance. The chain runs North and South, East and West. Hikers then return to Harpers Ferry and hike south intending to end their hike on Springer Mountain by November or December. ARTICLE: Base Layers for Hiking: What You Need to Know. Maintenance sections can be as small as the Wilmington Trail Club’s 7.2 miles or as large as the Maine Appalachian Trail Club’s 267 miles. It’s the silly truth. A backcountry permit is required to camp within this national park. The burden for financial stability is on us: the hikers, not the businesses and services we wish to use. Many big box outfitters are going to try and talk you into a larger pack than you need. He dreamed of a Utopian ideal with small, self-owning community camps set up near the trail supported by food and farm camps where people could come reap the numerous benefits of mountain living. Did I forget any trail characters? Adequately preparing for the A.T. means adequately preparing your wallet insofar as possible, not just your body and mind. They won’t kill anything but time not a snake, a mouse, a fly, mosquito or even a tick. Should you get a sleeping pad at all? The dog whisperer. quick use my 1000 dollar phone it has an app they will ship it by drone to you in an hour! Some hostels even include breakfast or dinner with their stay. When you’re out thru-hiking the trail you represent the thru-hiker community as a whole whether you like it or not. While you may get to disappear back into the woods the hostel will be left dealing with any messes your actions may cause. You are half expecting to see them pushing a wheelbarrow eventually. The feud eventually culminated in 1935 with MacKaye diverting much of his attention away from the A.T. and towards other projects. As a result your actions can have both positive and negative effects on the perception of thru-hikers both from within and outside the A.T. community as a whole. Running a hiker hostel is not easy work. Which method you choose is a matter of personal preference, but here is a list of general considerations: While these are not the only methods for water treatment they are easily the most popular. An historic stone shelter, built in 1934 by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) is perched on the summit.Mountain Crossings Outfitters at Neels Gap is t… And being a hiker, living out in the Woods with the scorpions, the snakes, the trees and the dirt … you inexplicably feel bound to each and every other person who does the same. Just when you think the last hiker has reached camp that night, you get a whiff of Bengay on the breeze. Each map is focused on the Appalachian Trail and overlaps with the neighboring maps, ideal for long-distance hikes and planning. To put things in perspective, there have been less than 75 people killed by black bears in the last 115 years. I love it! Common applications are DriDown and DownTek. Purpose: Knowing your purpose for thru-hiking is paramount. More often than not, hikers have to work with their gear a few times in the field in order to formulate a proper opinion. He is the turtle to your hare, the tireless march of time that hunts you down. For a more in depth discussion on HYOH consult the article below. Their best feature is that they can absorb a hiker’s stank that would otherwise soaked up by your sleeping bag. Relatively speaking, the A.T. is a safe place, but not having the right gear, underestimating the weather, and generally not knowing how to handle yourself outdoors can compound the risks. Because of the problematic issues of crowding for northbound hikes coupled with the extreme starting difficulty of southbound hikes there is an increasing number of A.T. hikers seeking out alternative itineraries for their adventure. It was a good shot. Still water runs the risk of stagnation and is more likely to contain parasites and waterborne illnesses. There are many ways to construct a flip flop hike which the ATC outlines in fantastic detail. Length: 78.5 miles (0 to 78.5)Highest Point: 4,458 ft (Blood Mountain)Overview and Why it is Awesome: Springer Mountain has become an iconic landmark for the Appalachian Trail. Squirell hunting trip near Stratton mt in VT few years back. ARTICLE: The Generosity of Trail Magic ARTICLE: By the Numbers: Backpacks on the AT Though contained within those miles is a crucial landmark: the headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in historic Harpers Ferry, WV. Snagging a spot in a hut is one part planning and one part luck. I heard a story on the trail a few years back about a girl who got knocked up after a trail hookup and had no idea who the father was, because she only knew his trailname. The A.T. community has a language all its own. While some people feel more comfortable with a firearm on their person, there is no practical reason any hiker would need a gun on the A.T. Come on Jack, Lighten up and have some fun! Traditional maps, while not as detailed as modern guidebooks, still provide valuable information. The ratio is greater than 3 to 1 (male to female). In southern Virginia hikers see the state’s highest summits along with the open balds of Grayson Highlands State Park… including the wild ponies! It is important to perform tick checks every night to catch these little buggers before they can cause any harm. ARTICLE: Snake Identification. The high southern mountains in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and southern Virginia can still experience freezing temperatures and deep snow as late as April. Expectations: Those who go into a thru-hike expecting a half-year vacation are also at high risk of falling short of their goal. Our CFC number: 12230. He sleeps in the shelters and occasionally builds his own tent by lashing together branches and covering them with leaves. If you intend to sleep in shelters expect to deal with other hikers’ night-time quirks, such as snoring, sleep talking, and even night-terrors. Stretching 2184.5 miles I have never struggled and experienced so much in 6 months that has changed my very way of thinking about life, the universe and everything in it. Venom is primarily used to help snakes immobilize prey and using it on something they know they are not/cannot eat (i.e. ARTICLE: A Thorough List of Hostels on the Appalachian Trail. The best stories from the A.T. tend to revolve around the people of the trail. A beautiful scenic forest service road. When you find yourself in their presence you’ll find yourself a little star struck and you become a sponge trying to take in all the useful info they share. However, unlike the Smokies no fee is required to obtain a permit. Therm-a-rest makes great sleeping pads. This is why a high-quality tent is crucial- to ensure your shelter remains dry at night, whether it be from condensation or shielding off rain. The options are infinite and the choices can be overwhelming to those unfamiliar with long-distance backpacking. ARTICLE: The Best Blue Blazes on the Appalachian Trail – Part 4. Need the hammock dude, trail dreamer, juggernaut (mix of old squirrelly guy and heavyweight) and Eagle Scout (has something for every situation) Keep rocking! Trail Correspondents 2021: Apply to Join the Team! Notable Locations: Stratton Mountain | Mount Killington | Hanover, NH | White Mountains National Forest | Mount Moosilauke | Mount Washington | Mahoosuc Notch | Kennebec River | Monson, ME | 100 Mile Wilderness | Baxter State Park | Mount Katahdin. Yes, these people are out there. However, the exact time of year a thru-hiker should set out on the A.T. is highly dependent on their hiking route. Visit outfitters and ask questions. Hiking the Appalachian Trail will cost anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000, not including gear or transportation to and from the trail. Lastly, the A.T. community is made up of kind and friendly individuals. An unfortunate precedent has been set. First off, the A.T. in the Whites passes through many Forest Protection Areas (FPAs) – areas designated by the US Forest Service as “high use” that need protection from overuse. max. Oh, it’s just the guy with sleep apnea. Then with the onset of World War II, progress on the trail was more or less halted for much of the decade with many volunteers’ efforts focused on the war. Starting at Springer Mountain is mentally, physically, and logistically simpler than starting at Mount Katahdin. Shelters and popular campsites are also usually positioned within reach of a viable water source. Though all backcountry water sources may be potentially harboring giardia cysts, lower-lying water sources near farmland or in areas with higher access to animals and runoff may pose a greater risk of contamination. Also space available for work-for-stay hikers is very limited with each hut usually accepting only 2 – 4 hikers per night. Can you minimize your financial commitments before setting out on the trail? Naturally, sleeping bags designed for backpacking are a bit different than those you might take to a friend’s sleepover. reading this feels like 8 pounds of feces in a 2 pound bag….. so much judgement … really? ARTICLE: Tiny Terrors of the AT: Everything You Need to Know About Deer Ticks and Lyme Disease ARTICLE: Sleeping Bags for Backpacking: How to Choose Do you want to visit any tourist spots? ARTICLE: Tent, Tarp, or Hammock? The Southern Terminus of the A.T. atop Springer Mountain. A thru-hike can be done on a minimal budget, but doing so involves sacrificing many potential in-town luxuries that may be hard to pass up. They allow hikers to view a better lay of the land by showing surrounding topography, providing insight on the paths of relevant side trails & forest roads as well as better insight into the location of the A.T. in relation to the surrounding area. 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