I'm planning on thru hiking the Appalachian Trail, probably within the next year or so to prepare myself and gather supplies. Any tips or tricks/things you wish you knew beforehand? I think I'm most worried about food resupply
The AT is a great hike as there isn't any real pressure from weather so you can start really slow and let yourself get fit on trail. Having said that the more time you can spend hiking with a pack on your back before setting off the better. It's a good idea to be really comfortable and familiar with your camping setup before setting off too. Don't plan much beyond your first two or three resupplies, things will change after then. Don't sweat resupply on the AT. It's not a remote trail and the infrastructure around it is high. Use guthooks, or whatever it's called now, farout? There is no reason to not to. After the AT if you want you can hike stuff that is less paint-by-numbers.Never quit on a bad day, it's very easy to go home, it's harder to get back on trail. If you want to go home hike on for another week. If you still want to go home hike to the next resupply point. It's worth keeping in mind the main reasons people quit a thru-hike like the AT:Boredom InjuryRunning out of moneyRunning out of timeUnforseen personal shit happening off trailKnowing these you can accept the stuff you can't control and make efforts to manage the ones you can control.Something I don't see people talking about much when it comes to thru-hiking the triple crown trails is how much of the hike is filler. It's a slow, unexciting activity. But in that is the peace and stillness that makes long-distance hiking an established, maintained trail so appealing. Start saving as much as you can, arrange your life so it can go on pause for 4-6 months, and get hiking!
You need a good trail name
>>2779418Definitely get the FarOut guide. It’s not just a map and elevation profile. The guides contain information about towns, such as how to get there and where to resupply. There’s up to date information about established campsites (to stay in or to avoid) and water sources. FarOut is probably the best source for that kind of information.
>>2779540>>2779568Appreciate it, I will look into FarOut. The AT site offers a trail guide every year but is currently sold out so this will be great. Didn't know it was an app, which kinda sucks but if it helps it helpsAny particular advice on what type of food to bring? I'm trying to avoid spending extra money in towns unless I absolutely have to. People say towns are the most expensive part of the trail but then they exclusively buy beer, eat out and blow it all on junk food so I don't know how true that is. Regardless, I anticipate hotels would add up quickly so I want to do my best to stay out of them.Any books you guys would recommend I bring? I want to be off my phone as much as possible as well
>>2779551I always wondered about this. Is it something other people give you or is it something I make up beforehand? The latter seems kinda lame but if it's the former I can understand it
It might be a while. According to various bonafide groups, about 1/3 of the AT is currently inaccessible. Large sections of the trail are heavily damaged from mudslides and flash floods, so bridges are washed away and there are tons of blowdowns. Several trail towns were flooded.https://thetrek.co/appalachian-trail/hurricane-helene-brings-flooding-to-at-trail-towns-hikers-warned-to-avoid-first-865-miles-of-at/
>>2779585Traditional: it is given to youEasy mode: you pick it yourself, and tell other groups you meet, that someone gave it to youInb4 someone says their name is rapey mcdogfucker or something
>>2779626My trail name is Peanut Butterscotch!
>>2779605That sucks but I won't be going for at the very least another year, more like year and a half. Hopefully it should be good by then
>>2779626thats so cornyis it possible to dodge the kumbayah live laugh love stuff?
>>2781440if you act like a miserable antisocial faggot people will naturally avoid you. problem solves itself
>>2781460What's your Trail Nickname bud?Sparky?Lasso?Fireman?
>>2781465Quinoa flower three possum skidoodle
>>2779626There are two traditional ways as well.That guys name is Blue. He was hitchhiking into town when the cops tried to pull over the driver. The driver took off and led them on a chase. He eventually flipped over into a ditch and the cops found 3 kilos of meth in the trunk. Blue was arrested but eventually convinced the police he really was a hiker, and they not only let him go but gave him a ride back to the trail from the police station. They turned the lights on when they stopped to let him out, and like 15 people had gathered because someone was barbecuing at the trail head.That others guys name is Red. He wore a red shirt, so we call him Red. >>2781440You’ve got it wrong. It’s people being social and trying to force a culture rather than letting it happen organically. It’s more cringe than it is hippy dippy love or whatever.
>>2779583There's tons of good advice out there on this. I think the best stuff is in Mike Clelland's book Ultralight Backpackin' Tips. Don't get triggered but the word ultralight, it's a good book with solid advice. But the stuff on food is very good imo. For the first couple of weeks aim for like 2500 - 3000 cals a day, after that ramp it up. Towns can be expensive, but time = money. If you can 'heroing' or 'neroing' is the best resupply strategy. Get in, have a meal, either at a diner or from the supermaket, once you've eaten do your resupply shop. When you've resupplied decide whether you want to stay in town or not. Ideally don't. Hostels suck imo, 30-40 dollars to sleep in a stuffy hot room full of people snoring. On the AT I ended up skipping hostels and saving the money so I could once in a while get a motel room to myself.You don't need to zero either. People will go on about it but if you pace yourself right there is no need to take a whole day off from walking. I did the CDT last year and took three zeros. One was to get snow gear sorted for CO, the other two were to deal with off trial admin the cropped up while I was hiking. Dunno about books, that'll come down to hiking style I suppose. I can't read on a long thru hike as I'm moving all day and fall asleep in a matter of minuets once I stop.
>>2781465It's actually Cuckster because of all the thruhikers I let fuck my wife in my tent while I patiently waited outside for them to finish
Sounds exciting! Pack light, plan resupplies carefully.
>>2779583>>2779418I followed the paper AWOL guide. It's nearly identical to the apps with mileage, water sources, town maps, etc but not on phone. Really easy to follow, only time I used phone GPS was to get around in towns. Plus it's a cool souvenir once the hike is done.Cell service was very unreliable, and it would have been a huge pain to worry about charging and battery packs. Also noticed people with the app would check their phones constantly, just walk keep phone in backpack.Ppl will suggest maildrops for food and gear, bounce them up the trail, whatever. Don't fucking bother sure you might have to live off honey buns a few days but small town postal service is a joke. Imagine getting into a town 20 minutes later than planned and being stuck for 3 days until until post office opens.Other items to bring,- GOOD headlamp. Recommend Fenix. NOT Petzl.- Ben's ultranet. Or other no-see-um bug headnet. There will be bugs. - Injinji toe socks & leuko tape. If you get small toe blister, wrap toe in tape in morning, put on toe socks, the tape will not fall off. Regular socks your toes rubbing together will rub the tape off. I did not have blister problems.- Normal food. Anything will last a couple days. Bread, eggs, cheese, deli meat. Ensure calorie shakes are gas, way better than clif bars. Had success with a whole tub of protein powder.
>>2783360>maildrops for food and gearposting food on the AT is not needed, unless you have dietry requirements. I mean in NY I was eating gas stations food at least once a day. There is so much access to food. Sending gear is another story though. If you don't have someone who can post you replacement stuff or you're from a differetn country then having a bounce box is pretty handy. >being stuck for 3 days until until post office opens.This does suck a lot though. I got stuck twice as I arrived into town and had new shoes waiting for me in the PO. Luckily I arrived on Sunday so it wasn't a massive wait. What can be fun though is if you are interested in messing around with your kit is to post items you think you might not beed to a PO two weeks ahead of you. It's a low risk way of exploring what you do and don't actually need in your pack.
>>2779418gravity filterthe less stuff the better. You can always buy stuff on the trailsobo > nobodon't need to worry about food resupply. I only had one hickup where the only resupply for 50 miles was a gas station and they closed down that summer. Walked a bit and packed out french fries and chicken for the next 2 days.>>2781514>On the AT I ended up skipping hostels and saving the money so I could once in a while get a motel room to myself.This but don't pass up the opportunities to, say, sleep in a barn with six other people for the experience. There will be free places to stay and some that make money by donation or selling pop and pizza for a dollar each.>>2783376>posting food on the AT is not neededbut definitely makes for a better experience. I shipped chocolate protein powder for hot chocolate at night and because there's not much protein in oatmeal, ramen and sardines. Also favourite candies/snacks that you know you wont find. Also reading material - leave the book you finished in a free box.
>>2779418Get the most recent map too. I had a free map 3 years out of date and I got stopped by land owners crossing private property and went down side trails to town that no longer existed.
>>2783360>good headlampIs not AAA based.18650 has about 3x energy density as 4xaaa.Fenix has such a headlamp.Agreed on petzl being cheap.>>2783402>gravity filterWhat's the point, it takes me about 1min to squeeze a liter through a sawyer. You have to mind the setup anyway so it doesn't overflow.>foodAgree that eating trash tier food for weeks is not enjoyable. Buy a dehydrator and prepare healthy actually good meals.
>>2783462>What's the point, it takes me about 1min to squeeze a liter through a sawyer.1) it takes 5s to scoop a bag of water2) you can press the flexible bag up against a rock to collect from a seep in the mountains3) by the time you set up your stove/tent you have filtered water4) can scoop multiple water bottles full of water at one time and hang it at camp5) you can hang the bag up in a tree and use the hose for hand washing or even a shower
>>2783531I mean, compared to filling a 2-5L bag and pressing it through the squeeze, just leaving it to drip seems pointless. Especially when gravity slows down as the top bag empties.I can press out a liter in a minute or so.I actually carry a 10L s2s bag (the grams...) For camp showers and washing. I made a gravity system between that and a smart water but stopped using it as such due to above issues.
>>2783402>free placesyeah they are handy, the church basement in the werid town with the bar, dam I forget the name. But that was super handy.>definitely makes for a better experiencesubjective, I only deal with mail drop if it's a requirement, like to avoid really long hitches. Otherwise I much prefer buying food as I go. >water treatmentI'm a chemical user. Aquamira is my go to, I premix it in a little dropper bottle for the day.
