Appalachian

“I have spring break coming up from March 10th to the 19th and I wanted to do a 5 day hike of the Appalachian. I am in Vermont going to school. I have no car so I was planning on taking an Amtrak or a bus to a starting trail and then perhaps getting off the trail after the hike and hitching a ride back to a train station. Does anyone have any good routes that I can hike?”

“If it was later in the year, I'd suggest sticking with Vermont or New Hampshire. If you have solid winter backpacking skills, you might still consider that. The Vermont bus system hits the AT in a number of places.

Others have a better idea of AT sections that would offer you warmer weather. There is a nice discussion of public transportation options for the AT at http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?25588-Public-Transportation-Options

As an aside, hitch hiking around the AT is generally safer than most areas of the country. People are used to seeing backpackers hitch to get around the AT and many are receptive and helpful.
last edited: 2/22/12 8:42:21 AM”

“Awesome, thanks for the help. I am not only restricted to the Appalachains, but it seems to be the best trail for hiking for my dates. If there are any other trails with mountains on the east coast that offer a better 5 day hike I am open to that as well”

“Through hike the AT through the GSMNP”

“I don't think I will have enough time to do that. It is pretty far south from me as well. Isn't the GSMNP in Tennessee?”

“Skip the AT and check out the ADK's”

“Do you have any good references for the ADK that I can look into. I am in Vermont so preferably close”

“http://m.adk.com/hiking#/hiking/adirondack-wild?sort=alpha

Much more hiking diversity than the AT.”

“can you just enter the Appalachian trail anywhere, and just camp along the trail? just come and go whenever, or are there any rules?”

“Mostly the rules are to a minimum and you can get in at any traiolhead - often it is even legal to bushwhack to the AT - depending on the specific land you are crossing. Most of it anyone can hike at any time - some aeas have specific rules about where you can camp, whether or not you cna set a fire - where it goes through national parks or wildnernes areas you have to follow the rules for the area.


If you start planning a specific hike you can get more usefully infomation about that area, A few here have hiked the whole AT - many more have hiked sections.”

“thanks man”