/out/ - Outdoors » Thread #1072348

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Anonymous Tue 01 Aug 2017 19:48:20 No.1072348 View View Reply Original Report

Quoted By: >>1072624 >>1072630 >>1072836

Has anyone on /out/ ever hiked the Appalachian Trail?

I've always loved hiking, but the longest trip I've ever done was a 3 nighter. I'm going to graduating college soon, and I figured I would take the year off after I get my diploma and bike the trail. I'd train, of course, I'd have 4 months to prep before I'd leave. Curious if anyone here has done it and could offer their experience.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 01 Aug 2017 19:53:16 No.1072350 Report

Quoted By: >>1072352

I did a SOBO section (Maine-Connecticut) in fall 2013. Avoid the Feb-Apr NOBO bubble.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 01 Aug 2017 19:55:41 No.1072352 Report

Quoted By:

>>1072350
Did you do it alone? I'd probably be doing this alone--no one I know shares this hobby with me.

I was told SoBo would mean less interaction with people's--it'd be a somber trip especially alone. NoBo was "easier" and also more populated.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Wed 02 Aug 2017 00:39:12 No.1072596 Report

Quoted By: >>1072645

did he say BIKE?

http://www.appalachiantrail.org/

The Appalachian Trail is designed, built, and maintained by hikers for foot travel. Motor vehicles are illegal on all off-road sections of the Appalachian Trail. >Bicycles and mountain bikes are not permitted except where the A.T. coincides for about three miles with the C&O Canal towpath in Maryland, the Virginia Creeper Trail in Virginia, in certain Pennsylvania state gamelands, and roads in town. Horses, llamas, and other pack animals are not allowed on the A.T., except along the C&O Canal towpath in Maryland and on about 50 percent of the A.T. in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (where, by law, the route is open for horses as a historical use).

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 02 Aug 2017 01:18:46 No.1072624 Report

Quoted By: >>1072645

>>1072348
Bike better mean Hike, it's a foot path only.

But yes 2016 nobo. It will take you at least 3 months if you are in great shape with light gear, otherwise depending on how fast you hike and how many zero days expect 4-6 months starting in March.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 02 Aug 2017 01:22:43 No.1072630 Report

Quoted By: >>1072665 >>1073320

>>1072348
You will be bored as fuck after a couple weeks. One can only look at forest understory for so long

It's also a pain in the ass to get resupplied as that was not a priority during its creation

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 02 Aug 2017 01:39:35 No.1072645 Report

Quoted By:

>>1072596
>>1072624
Fuck, I meant hike. Autocorrect strikes again.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 02 Aug 2017 01:54:14 No.1072652 Report

Quoted By: >>1072665

Does it actually sound fun to you? Real question. Do you actually want to know what 2,200 miles of trees and hills look like, or would you have more fun hiking a few smaller hikes in various climates and conditions?

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 02 Aug 2017 02:22:26 No.1072665 Report

Quoted By:

>>1072652
>>1072630
this! it gets boring as fuck after a while. and if you don't have someone following you in a car from town to town you are going to have a rough go of things when your arch collapses or you run out of food.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Wed 02 Aug 2017 12:04:14 No.1072836 Report

Quoted By: >>1072876 >>1072881 >>1073330 >>1074180 >>1074736

>>1072348

I'm doing it now and it's one of the greatest adventures I've ever had. Fuck all these weak faggots, just do it OP.

It will be difficult at first. You'll question every moment you're on the trail but don't give in to your doubts. You'll be snowed on, hailed on, and rained on but in the end you'll be stronger than you ever thought possible.

No amount of training will prepare you for it. You'll change elevation so much that by the end you'll have climbed 16 Mt. Everests. Take your time and really experience it.

Gear won't get you the 2200 miles to Maine. Only your sheer force of will. That being said make sure your pack is a good weight (under 35 lbs). Ignore the ultralight hikers; ignore the ultramarathon runners. This is the hardest long distance trail in the US but it's worth every fucking moment!

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 02 Aug 2017 13:42:48 No.1072876 Report

Quoted By: >>1072884

>>1072836
>AT is harder than continental divide

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 02 Aug 2017 13:51:13 No.1072881 Report

Quoted By: >>1072884

>>1072836
I'm front Vermont and the people I see on the last 500 miles of the trail are all very cheerful and happy with their experience. They all tell me that the first 500 miles filters out a lot of people but the ones that make it love it.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 02 Aug 2017 13:56:41 No.1072884 Report

Quoted By:

>>1072876

I doubt you've done any long distance hiking.

>>1072881

Best part of the AT is that many people try it but very few finish it. Thru hiking is a stunt but definitely worth it if you're capable.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 03 Aug 2017 02:27:14 No.1073320 Report

Quoted By:

>>1072630
Resupplying is easy as shit. Get AWOLs guide and its not a problem.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 03 Aug 2017 02:50:38 No.1073330 Report

Quoted By: >>1074021 >>1074239 >>1074992

>>1072836
>This is the hardest long distance trail in the US
It would be difficult to make an EASIER long distance trail in the US, maybe if the trail was a spiral through Kansas and Iowa, but then, unlike the AT, you wouldn't be 5 miles from a road at all times. The AT is an absolute joke compared to the PCT or Continental Divide.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 04 Aug 2017 10:31:23 No.1074021 Report

Quoted By:

>>1073330

As of July 27th only 1684 people of the estimated 3735 people who started the AT this year made it to the half way point in Harpers Ferry. That's a 45% success rate for half way. With the PCT and the CDT you hit elevation and stay at elevation. While with the AT you ascend and descend regularly, making the Trail physically demanding more so than other trails. Like I said before you climb 16 Mount Everests by the time you're done with the AT.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 04 Aug 2017 18:29:41 No.1074180 Report

Quoted By:

>>1072836
What this gent said.

Do it OP.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 04 Aug 2017 20:27:26 No.1074239 Report

Quoted By:

>>1073330
>ignoring elevation change
I love when bonafide nonhikers regurgitate nonsense

Anonymous

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Anonymous Sat 05 Aug 2017 14:54:51 No.1074669 Report

Quoted By: >>1074859

I'm on it now, I don't see the attraction

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 05 Aug 2017 17:18:04 No.1074736 Report

Quoted By:

>>1072836
Thanks for sharing, anon.

Weird question. What kind of underwear are you wearing? Did you specifically choose it for the hike, or was it a kind you've previously used?

I normally wear Calvin Klein briefs but I figured 15-30 miles of walking a day would chafe the shit out of my legs.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 05 Aug 2017 21:08:00 No.1074859 Report

Quoted By:

>>1074669
>right next to highway
So the AT is the Bear Grylls of through hike trails? FFS...

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 05 Aug 2017 21:20:27 No.1074864 Report

Quoted By:

It's easy peasy, I'll be able to do it in a couple of months at 280 pounds.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Sun 06 Aug 2017 01:38:26 No.1074992 Report

Quoted By:

>>1073330

Appalachian Trail
Distance: 2,175 miles
Total Elevation Gain/Loss: ~515,000 feet

Pacific Crest Trail
Distance: 2,650 miles
Total Elevation Gain/Loss: ~315,000 feet

Continental Divide Trail
Distance: 3,100 miles
Total Elevation Gain/Loss: ~400,000 feet

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