Hiking the Appalachian Trail

“Hello all! Long time lurker, first time poster.



I’ve decided I want to through-hike the AT starting this Spring but I don’t have any gear except for my car camping stuff. What exactly do I need and where’s the best place to buy – local or the net? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.



Thanks.”

“Buying local is the best. Not local to you. Local to me.”

“Dude! Me too!

I thought I'd just hike in my sneakers and carry all my stuff in a gunny sack. I hope it doesn't rain, I really don't like getting wet.”

“Dude fill out your account info.”

“Is it okay to bring a gun on the trail for the bears and stuff?”

“Bringing a gun is mandatory.”

“I would take an RPG”

“Wow that's a lot of stuff. I might have to take my 4-wheeler on the trail.

Will the other hikers get out of my way, or will I have to honk my horn or something?”

“Honk your horn and scream as loud as you can. Try as much to disturb the peace.”

“Better than a four-wheeler, I never go anywhere without my trusty M1A1 Abrams Tank. Takes the worry out of being close!”

“Dude I can't steal one of those!!!!! They are all in Iraq.

I'm thinking of bringing my dog too.”

“Make sure he s h i t s all over the place and don't bother picking it up.”

“He does that anyway. I never clean up after him, what are street cleaners for anyway?

I heard there are lots of hot women on the trail ready to have sex with you. I can't wait!”

“You got it. When I last kiked the entire trail, I must have had sex 3,969 times. I lost count.”

“Ambitious newbie isn't he.


LMDAO @ wounded knee.”

“Clueless,

Get yourself a job working at REI or EMS and get all your gear at greatly reduced prices while saving up some dineros and meeting other experienced backpacking people...

Most of all, stay away from this forum!”

“Hay I just read something about people walking all that way? that's nut!

They should just ride 4wheelers.”

“This thread started out with Clueless Newbie and changed very sudden-like to Clueless Troll.

I suspect Clueless Newbie is by now long gone and not ever coming back.”

“You guys are tough you don't even give a new person a chance anymore!”

“If you give them a chance, they turn out to be a troll. If they're tough enough to take it, they're tough enough to stick it out.”

“"I suspect Clueless Newbie is by now long gone and not ever coming back."
- Geobeet

Why? Did you lose the password?”

“Requiescat In Pace, Stinky Wizzleteats.”

“This thread is hysterical!!!!!”

“im going to do the appalachian trail next year. im going to start on katahdin february first. i think they have a holiday inn on the summit. it will be neat to stay on top of the mountain in winter. so that i have plenty of time to explore, i plan on doing one mile a day. i should be done in about six years. im going to sleep with my food in my tent so the bears wont get it, especially the sweet sticky food. i dont think a bear can get in my tent, and besides most of the time ill be staying in shelters, where i can lock the door behind me and go inside and use the bathroom. does anyone know if the appalachian trail passes thru indiana? who can i see about getting it re-routed, or making a side-trail to my house?”

“Anyone who had been lurking for a while would know better than to use a username like Clueless Newbie. Unless they were intending to get a lot a wisecracks, in which case it is okay.

How come no one told the newbie that the pricier the gear, the better known the brand name, the better choice it is? We are really slacking off on the advice around here.”

“2Scoops

I stayed at the holiday inn 2Scoops. It really does have a great view. So great, I baged 15 girls in one evening there.

That is pretty ambitious doing 1 mile a day. I could only muster 1/2 a day. I think this was due to the enormous weight I was carrying in my day pack, 4 pounds.

You are going to sleep in a tent? Outside? On the ground? OK, have fun with that part. I stayed at various hotels along the way.

You don't have to worry about bears, I never saw one. I did see a lot of flies and lightning bugs at night.

The trail does cut through part of Indiana. Right down the middle of the city of Indianapolis on Meridan Street. I liked that part of the hike the best.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions.”

“LyndyS joins the pack attack.”

“There is only one piece of absolutely essential gear for a thru hiker - a TerraQuest - without it you are doomed to failure.”

“Wow, if they're that inportant, maybe the govt should hand them out at every trail?”

“They do- just walk up to any ranger and say the secret phase to them and they will give it to you for free. The Phase is " hey moron, wanna git high?"”