Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail is cheap, but it’s not free. Figuring out the cost of an Appalachian Trail thru-hike will depend upon your personal spending habits. I know one hiker who started with $300 and would fly signs in town asking for work. I know a different...
The first week in Georgia can be very challenging: you don’t know what you’re doing, your pack is too heavy, and the mountains are almost painful to climb. Lots of people will quit in the first 30 miles. While the first week will be physically challenging, mentally preparing...
When choosing clothes for the trail, try to be as selective as possible. You don’t want to have too many articles of clothing, but you want them to be sufficient. The clothes you have with you will vary, depending on the time of year. Clothes For the Whole Hike •A rain jacket. It...
There are several items that you will need for the early and late weeks of your hike that will not be necessary during the warm summer months. •A sleeping bag rated to 20 degrees or less. You can also get a sleeping bag liner and use it along with your summer sleeping bag for extra warmth...
When you decide to do a thru-hike, your first instinct might be to recruit friends to come along too so you don’t have to go alone. Consider the benefits of solo hiking first before you invite anyone. Solo Hiking Pros: • You have more freedom to decide how fast you want to hike...
Hiking boots have always been the traditional footwear for backpackers. Now that backpacking technology has evolved and gear is more lightweight, hiking shoes have become more lightweight as well. I used hiking boots for the majority of the trail but made the switch to trail runners for...
What does an experienced thru-hiker have in their pack? Well, everyone has a different style, and you’ll find your own once you’re on the trail. I’ll tell you what gear I ended my hike with so you have an idea of what to shoot for. The Big Three For my hike, I went with...
During my thru-hike I started with a tent, switched to a hammock, and ended without a form of shelter. At the beginning of the trail I had a two-person, 5-pound tent. I already owned it, and I didn’t want to spend any money on a new shelter. I carried my 5-pound tent all the way...
When shopping for gear, it’s easy to get sucked into buying cool, high-tech stuff that seems like it will be very necessary. However, before you make any purchases, ask yourself, “Will I absolutely need this?” If you’re not going to use something...
AT: an abbreviation for Appalachian Trail White-blaze: the six-inch by two-inch swatches of paint on trees and rocks that mark the trail. Blue-blaze: the side trails are usually marked by blue paint. They may take you on short-cuts, side attractions, to the summit of mountains...