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AT/Long Distance Trails General

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 01:56:25 No.118100 View View Reply Original Report

Quoted By:

ITT:

We talk about our experiences and thoughts about the AT and other long distance trails.

Has anyone here on /out/ ever thru-hiked any long distance trails before?

Does anyone plan on thru-hiking any of the long distance trails?

To anyone interested on learning more feel free to ask questions and remember Google is always your friend for the simple ones.

Also, would love to hear about long distance trails outside North America that you guys know of.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 02:01:23 No.118102 Report

Quoted By: >>118103

>>117961

Why not use this thread instead? >>117961

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO hammock.jpg, 192KiB, 500x375

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 02:03:18 No.118103 Report

Quoted By: >>118108 >>118122 >>118222

OP here

My plan is to thru-hike the AT SOBO (MA-->GA) following my graduation from college in the spring of 2015.

So far, I plan to go it alone. I also plan on using a hammock for the entire trail.

Frankly, I believe none of the myths that I hear about the AT. The crazy, backwoods murderers etc. are nothing more than stories that people cook up to frighten people. So my only fears of doing it are ticks and getting caught in a surprise lightning or snow storm.

>>118102

Well I also meant for this to be more than the AT too. I saw his thread earlier, but I want perhaps a long distance hiking thread.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 02:10:19 No.118108 Report

Quoted By: >>118115

>>118103
>Frankly, I believe none of the myths that I hear about the AT. The crazy, backwoods murderers etc. are nothing more than stories that people cook up to frighten people.

That's what the guy who dies first always thinks.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 02:21:31 No.118115 Report

Quoted By: >>118179 >>118181

>>118108

Those stories are completely unfounded.

When you hear about murders concerning the AT they occur near, but off the trail. Usually when the trail gets close to populated areas.

As long as you keep to yourself and just keep hiking you'll be fine.

If you're extra paranoid, make friends with someone who is also hiking and make them your trail buddy. Even if you guys don't always hike together, at the very least set up designated spots to check up and/or go with that buddy into town when needed.

I'm not saying the AT is completely safe, indeed there are strange people that wander the AT. I once read about a infamous hobo on the trail that all he does is thru-hike one way and then turn around and does it again. He apparently just does this over and over again.

The AT gets a bad wrap though because it is the more popular of the long distance trails in the US.

The PCT and CDT are arguably more dangerous.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 02:25:26 No.118119 Report

Quoted By: >>118124

I'm going SOBO on the 3rd of June. 3 weeks can't fucking wait

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 02:30:37 No.118122 Report

Quoted By: >>118124

>>118103
is that pic your setup OP? is that just a hammock, tarp and some tent pole things?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 02:33:41 No.118124 Report

Quoted By: >>118126 >>118136

>>118122

Not my exact set up, but mine is very similar. Same basic components.

>>118119

Is your body ready for the mud and black flies in Maine during June?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 02:35:57 No.118126 Report

Quoted By: >>118131

>>118124
mind sharing with me what your setup is and how much it cost? im really fuckin jelly and want something comparable to that.

is it lighter than bringing a tent and everything?

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO Otways.png, 643KiB, 827x518

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 02:36:25 No.118127 Report

Quoted By: >>118131

65 Kilometres (40 miles, ausfag) over 3 days.
Was actually a really good hike, highly recommend it.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 02:42:22 No.118131 Report

Quoted By: >>118140

>>118126

DIY nylon hammock ~$5
Sil-nylon tarp ~$75
Down underquilt ~$125
Misc accessories ~$50

Pretty basic set up

>>118127

Nice, where about is AUS is that?

What other sorts of long distance trails you guys got over there? I may end up doing a semester abroad down under.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 02:43:44 No.118133 Report

Quoted By: >>118137 >>118923

Plan to do the Northville Placid Trail...if not this summer then next. The Adirondack equivalent of the Appalachian I suppose.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 02:49:46 No.118136 Report

Quoted By:

>>118124
Yeah, I've done a section in Maine during fly season. As long as I keep walking, or have a headnet on while stopped I'm fine

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 02:53:11 No.118137 Report

Quoted By:

>>118133

OP here

If you want a hiking buddy lemme know, I want to do that trail badly.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 02:56:32 No.118140 Report

Quoted By: >>118225 >>118971

>>118131
Southern Coast of Victoria.
There's a lot of trails up in New South Wales, other than that, it's just a whole lot of desserts.

Then again, the desserts and whatnot in the Northern Territory are really good.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 03:00:39 No.118143 Report

Quoted By: >>118145 >>118159

CT here. Doing 2 days right before Memorial Day weekend and then about a week in mid June.
If I had the money I would go for about a month with one friend but life is ruff.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 03:02:22 No.118145 Report

Quoted By: >>118177

>>118143

Amen brother, long distance hiking isn't cheap.

I am figuring to save about $5000 for a thru-hike of the AT.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 03:24:06 No.118159 Report

Quoted By: >>119004

>>118143
I'm in CT too. Where abouts are you? I need me some hiking buddies

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 04:28:03 No.118177 Report

Quoted By: >>118534

>>118145
how much of that would be for food and do you own equipment or are going to buy some with that money?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 04:30:19 No.118179 Report

Quoted By: >>118180 >>118534

>>118115
Did that infamous hobo subsist off only ramen and have a whole in his foot? Is he around 80 years old? Because I met that man while I was on the trail. Crazy fucker. First thing he asked me for was cigerretes.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 04:30:52 No.118180 Report

Quoted By:

>>118179
*hole in his foot. It's pretty late okay?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 04:34:09 No.118181 Report

Quoted By: >>118534

>>118115
What makes the PCT more dangerous? And how much do you think it would cost to complete it with basic equipment? I'm from PA and have explored the fuck out of everything on the East coast, so the Pacific trail seems like its more interesting with varied terrain and all.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 06:12:08 No.118222 Report

Quoted By: >>118534

>>118103
fwiw, most AT thruhikers are NOBO, so you aren't gonna experience nearly the "trail culture" that the AT is famous for. Depending on you, this might be a plus

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 06:29:20 No.118225 Report

Quoted By:

>>118140
>Then again, the desserts and whatnot in the Northern Territory are really good.

I live in Alice Springs. We got the Larapinta Trail. 223 km long, broken into something like 14 sections. Advantage of hiking in the desert is not too many mosquito's - though there's still a fair few flies at times. I've done some of the sections, but only know one person who's done the entire lot. Quite worth doing during winter, but you'll need someone to drop you off, or pick you up at the other end. There's absolutely nothing at the end of the trail, except the end of a road that leads back to town.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 08:13:07 No.118247 Report

Quoted By: >>118534

I got half half way on the GR10 in the pyrenees before I fucked my knee up. It goes from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean coast pretty much along the French-Spanish border. The main difficulty comes from the lack of tree cover and occasional scarcity of water. But it's easy to sensibly plan, there's a lot of info out there.

There's some lovely little towns along the way, a good number of shelters and its pretty easy to ghost-camp.

Takes about 60 days, including a few break days.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 19 May 2013 18:56:43 No.118534 Report

Quoted By:

>>118177

The $5000 is for food, occasional hostel stays, tipping drivers who take me into town, booze at bars, and other misc. other expenses.

I already own quite a bit of gear, I figure I only need a few more things and a few upgrades.

>>118179

Not sure, could be that guy. There are a lot of interesting characters wandering the AT.

>>118181

Well the southern part of the PCT is in the desert and water becomes a major concern. Don't really have that issue on the AT. There are also Grizzlies on the PCT, not saying you'll get eaten, but something to keep in mind.

>>118222

Yeah, but the SOBO crowd tends to be younger (less than 30-40 years old) and I am looking for that more isolated experience. I may miss out on quite a bit of pussy going SOBO, but I am sure I will still find a lot if I look hard enough.

>>118247

That GR10 trail looks interesting. Would be great to finish a long hike at the Med Sea.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 20 May 2013 02:22:59 No.118923 Report

Quoted By:

OP here

Would anyone be interested in doing the Northville Placid Trail this summer possibly?

I was thinking some time in late August before the Fall semester starts up for universities.

Anon here >>118133 also has plans to possibly do it.

It is pretty easy, nothing too hard. There are lean-to along the trail, would be a good hike for the mildly experienced novice to get some miles under their feet.

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO 17jpg.jpg, 42KiB, 900x614

Anonymous Mon 20 May 2013 02:53:21 No.118971 Report

Quoted By: >>119423

>>118140
Dude, you can't talk about Australian walking and leave out Tasmania. It has by far the best walking in Australia, in a huge range of environments from coast to semi-arid flat to rainforest to ranges. Overland track (yes it can be a highway in peak months, but incredible at each end of winter), the Walls of Jerusalem, Southwest Cape, etc. Lots of trails of various quality (from beaten bush to boardwalks) between 75 and 200km.

And then you've got the Arthurs. Pic related. My favourite place in the world. Hard walking but absolutely incredible.
http://www.david-noble.net/Tasmania/Arthurs/arthurs.html

David Noble's website is a great resource for Australian hiking.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 20 May 2013 03:34:03 No.119004 Report

Quoted By:

>>118159
Just refound this thread today. New haven county, ansonia precise.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 20 May 2013 17:15:59 No.119423 Report

Quoted By:

>>118971
In WA the most famous is the Bibbulmun. About a 1000kms from Perth to Albany, the longest section between towns is about 200km.

A really nice one is the Cape to Cape. Runs about 140km from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin. Mostly along the coast and in a touristy region.

If you want to go a bit remote the Gibb River road is pretty cool. Ive only driven it but apparently its a nice walk if you plan it properly. About 700km from Wyndham to Derby.

http://www.toptrails.com.au/index.php

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