Through hiking the AT, I need help

“I'm an 18 year old high school senior and I am looking at hiking the AT from the North starting in Late June/early July. I have done some 10 day trips in New Mexico and in Michigan. I am in good shape right now, I run about 50 miles a week and lift wieghts. I was wondering what kind of mileage I would have to do to finish before december. Any help or talking sense into me is greatly appreciated.
Alex”

“Well, it looks like you'll have 5 months of hiking to go 2160 miles. That comes out to approx. 20 miles/day over those five months. Surely you'll want to have some rest days thrown in.

You're young and in good shape so this possible. Some sections of the AT are a cake walk and big miles can be covered. Some aren't so easy. Lots of hikers finish in and around that time frame.

I say, "go for it"! If you make... great. If you don't... you'll still have a great five months of hiking.”

“naked ape hiked it in a little over 5 months i think. maybe he'll chime in. ginny has done it a few times also. give them a few days, one of them will reply.”

“I made a mistake above. You'll need to average between 15-16 miles/day.”

“Start at Katadin and go to Springer. That way you'll have time to do it.”

“I've never done it so I have no particular expertise. Sounds like you have some good experience and you are in excellent shape, so the daily miles should be very reasonable for you.

The only thought that occurs to me is that Maine and New Hampshire have some very rugged terrain. (I don't know about New Mexico and Michigan.)

Northbounders are in pretty good shape by the time they get there. Starting there could be pretty tough. But maybe not. You're young, strong, and in great shape.

Have fun! (I am jealous!)”

“A lot of people do southbound AT hikes. If I were to do it again (and I may when I get too old for the CDT) I'd do the AT southbound. You'll be starting late enough that mud season should be done - though I'm not sure about blackflies. You'll start meeting the bulk of the northbound in Vermont, though there are enough early starters that you'll probably meet several in Maine. If you can do a one week trip, you can do the AT - physically. Start out taking it fairly easy and expect the mileage to increase after NH. You'll get autumn in the Smokies - nice! Have fun.”

“Hi Run, WB and I are going nourthbound starting March 20th. Hope to meet you along the way. My name out there is Half-Pint-MOM. have fun, and remember this .... more southbounders make it than northbounders. you have a great chance of makeing Springer by Dec. I have trail angeled southbounders for years! good luck!”

“Half a$$ advice from a half hiker...

Rule number one; Never allow yourself to even consider quitting. Sub-rule; It's the strong of will, not the strong of body that make it.

Don't hook up with groups that like to party in every town along the trail. Few members of the mobile party groups make it. Focus on the hike not the next town.

When you do stop in town load up on FAT calories(pizza, ice cream, etc..), hit the post office,call home, wash your clothes and move on. A hotel or hostel every few weeks is great though. Hostels tend to be more fun and are definately cheaper.

Leave a list of mail drops you plan to stop at with your friends and explain the 'general delivery' thing to them. I found letters from home to be great for my attitude.

Bring a journal and a small camera. You'll be really glad you did. Keep a detailed journal not just a milage journal. Also make note of the photos you took. In six months it may be hard to remember if the third picture on that roll of film was "Skywalker on Springer Mt" or "Strider on Blood Mt".

Break in your boots! Then break them in more.

Look at the gear lists of successful thru-hikers, what they were carrying in the end not the begining. Still plan on mailing some stuff home from your first mail drop. If you can afford the lightest version of a piece of equipment, buy it.

A Snickers bar has a higher barter value than a $20 bill amongst thru-hikers.

Don't worry about who is blue-blazing or who slack-packed, etc. That's thier problem. Trust me this will be a point of heated debate in the shelters. NEVER yellow-blaze!!

That's my opinion, I may be wrong.

If you have any specific questions about the strech from PA to GA feel free to e-mail me at "Walkincrow@aol.com".”

“With your start date you will either have to flip-flop or go south-bound.”