Appalachian trail - when to do it?

Ben_Mo-Fat

Ben_Mo-Fat

Member
So i am in 12th grade and i am starting college next year. My parents wouldn't let me take a gap year to hike the trail. so i have to do it some time in the future. Any info on how to prepare to thru hike the whole trail and when a good time to do it would be greatly appreciated.
 
it depends on how fast you expect to go? I think 6 months is normal. You can do it any time you want, but normally spring-fall is easiest
 
the couple people i've met here in Maine plan to take 6 months to do it. You could start in the summer up north and work your way south and not have to worry about it getting too cold once you get further south.

don't postpone college for something like that though. wait til you are done with college i'd say.
 
After college seems like a good time. I've been thinking about doing it as well... get ready to find out why they call it Rock-sylvania!
 
I did it after undergrad. It takes very little planning. I honestly had never heard of the AT, saw a Backpacker magazine in the airport, and three weeks later was on the trail in Georgia. Read up on some gear, buy the good stuff not the shitty cheap stuff, and just go do it. You will want to start in the spring in Georgia, between the middle of March and the middle of April. If you're young and fit it will take you 4-5 months most likely. It can be done faster, and some do it slower, but you will most likely fall between 4 and 5 months.
It is an amazing experience. It does not define my life, as so many say it does. It is simply a part of a very active, diverse life. Plan on taking approximately $3K for your time on the trail for food, hostels/hotels, gear replacement, etc.
If you want to geek out on everything AT, go to whiteblaze.net. Just be prepared to wade through a plethora of old guys who want nothing more than to tell you exactly how to do everything, when to do everything, and why it works/worked for them.
A suggestion I have is to go thru-hike another, shorter trail beforehand. Consider the Long Trail in Vermont (shares 100 miles with the AT). There are dozens of other trails that fit the bill. The John Muir Trail is fantastic as well.
 
reading through the thread i was about to say that!! good book, don't let it scare you tho...
 
section hike parts of it on breaks and what not. presidentials and hundred mile wilderness are generally the most difficult parts for through hikers, so maybe take week trips in those areas. if you are a southbounder you get through the more difficult parts first. northbounders have the advantage of having a smoother transition of developing trail legs, and usually can time the weather better.

good timing for the trip would be after graduating college and staring at your first real job.

be prepared to smell awful.

coordinate care packages to be sent to towns along the trail.

pack what you think is a "light pack" and then try to half that weight.

 
haha, took me 8 months to do my flip flop. however i did catch lime disease near bear mountain in NY, which slowed me down to ten milers most of the trip.

op- you don't really need to do much to prepare except research lightweight gear.

also buy a guide book, it helps quite a bit. Everything else you need to know, you will learn within the first couple of weeks into hiking.
 
Do it during the summer and make sure you have the right gear. This isn't anything insane to do, it just takes a month or three depending on how fast or slow you want to take it. You're never too far off from civilization so my suggestion is just to google it instead of asking a site filled with pre-teen skiers... or ask that one dude who actually did it. Also work your way up to it by doing a lot of hikes, increasing the length of each hike in increments, just in case.
 
This. Six months to thru hike, 4 if you're a badass. Leave from Maine in September I believe. Online programs you can sign up for to get food pickups and dropoffs, mail, etc
 
if your parents are dead set on not allowing you to take a year off, then wait. I'm assuming you'd rather not do it in segments so you will want to go from spring-fall. No question there.
 
Sorry, made an oopsie... it'll take you at least a couple months if you don't push it hard and if you're physically sufficient for it.
 
If you leave from Maine in September your going to have one cold lonely miserable trip. half the fun of the trail is the social aspect. northbound starts in Georgia anywhere form end of February to may. however if you leave in may you going to be racing the clock, as Baxter park, the northern terminus of the trail closes October 15th.

southbound usually starts when Katahdin opens, which is typically mid summer.

I recommend going north, better whether and more people to keep you company
 
trail runs right through my town next to my house. I always pick up guys hitchig with packs on. Always nice people so far, Id love to do it, but its a big commitment how to spend 4/5 months. none the less lyme sucks, my county is the highest rate of lyme in the country, sucks
 
I wasn't really advocating being a douche, it was more of a joke.

At the same time though, there comes a point in time where you have to live for yourself not your parents. I'm not saying it's bad to take their opinions into accounts, or your friends and other people you care about. Just saying that you can't always live ever facet of life around what your parents want you to do.
 
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