After my first day of hiking in Georgia, I arrived at Hawk Mountain shelter to find the whole area packed. I claimed my tent spot among the thirty-some other tents, then I headed toward the stream. On my way through camp, I witnessed two guys who were starting a fire in the fire pit. There…
The winter before I began my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, I told everyone I knew about my plans. The number one question people asked was, “You’re not going alone, are you?” Having already done a few section hikes before starting my thru-hike, I knew exactly what I was getting into and was not worried…
A few months ago, during a section hike in Georgia, my boyfriend and I were tenting at Low Gap shelter when we decided to go watch the sunset through the trees. We walked back to the trail and found a spot in the trees, ignoring the shredded Mountain House packages on the ground. As the…
On October 3rd of 2012, I summited Mt. Katahdin in Baxter State Park, ending my 2000 mile Appalachian Trail journey. On the trek down the mountain, it was getting late in the day, when myself and my trail buddies came across a woman in her 40’s who had blood on her face. She was asking…
Being a vegetarian on the trail isn’t nearly as difficult as you would think. I had been a vegetarian for 11 years, and I didn’t eat any meat during my thru-hike. Ironically, I started eating meat 6 months after my hike. I thought my body would struggle without enough protein, but I actually continued to…
This month I’ve been experiencing a sense of nostalgia for the trail that is referred to as “Springer Fever. ” The 2013 thru-hikers have begun their journey, and I’m very sad that I am not among them. This feeling occurs during the spring time and hikers find themselves longing for the Southern Terminus of the…
How long does it take to hike the Appalachian Trail? The standard answer is five or six months. It can certainly be hiked in more time or less. My hike ended up taking six and a half months. Factors That Can Impact the Time it Takes to Complete a Thru-Hike Athletic ability. It does take…
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 hiker that blew through $8000 and was broke…
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 yourself will help you succeed. What to…
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 will not…