hike the appalachian trail

I’ve wanted to do this since I was 14. My first time camping and hiking in the foothills of the Appalachians, I was on a week-long trip with a “wilderness” camp. Looking back, it was during this time that I first felt connected to the world. I’ve seen alot of the continental U.S., but it’s still the Appalachian area that has a draw to me – it feels like going home.

I have read three different books on thru-hiking the AT and I am deeply intrigued. Given the time committment, I will probably have to save this goal until retirement, but it’s definitely on my list.

I love nature. I want to be absorbed by it, in a physical and spiritual sense. Reading A Walk in the Woods makes me want to have my own journey. I have always wanted to travel my entire life, this will give me an opportunity not only to see different parts of our country but to experience what it is like to travel long distances on foot. It will give me a better understanding of time and space, and hopefully one great adventure.

seeing as my savings for costa rica is going so well, i thought it might be an idea to start saving up some kind of AT fund. looking around, most people seem to be saying about 3000-5000 dollars, which is about £2500 to £3000 roughly.
i’d rather not section-hike, if only out of convenience and expense. living in the uk, it’s not exactly ideal to jet in and out of america to walk a few days around a forest.
also, with thru-hiking, just imagine stopping at the end after months of walking towards the finish. it would be amazing.
so anyway, time to start saving. kit won’t really be an issue, i’ll have a lot of stuff from costa rica and other treks. just need to get it all together. i won’t be going for a good few years yet, but i might as well get started.

This is one of those goals that I feel will happen. Growing up in NC, spending time in the mountains and hiking has really made me love the outdoors. I would definitely want to thru-hike it, not sure whether going North or South… probably north to keep it more traditional. Thinking going at it alone right now but would be open if a good friend expressed strong interest. If I end up really enjoying the AT, I might consider trying to hike the Triple Crown: Pacific Crest Trail and Continental Divide Trail. One trail at a time though.

I graduate college in May 2010. I plan to begin the trail shortly after that. The estimated date of hike would be May 10 – August 17. The goal is 100 days. This means 25 miles a day if there is to be an ocassional “zero”/rest day every couple of weeks. If anyone thinks they can handle it and wants to join up with me, contact me at Razortceps@yahoo.com. I have a friend who is already on board with me and we are looking for people that think they can handle hiking with us from sun up and until sometimes even a little past sun down if need be. Again if you are interested feel free to contact me at Razortceps@yahoo.com and title the email “43 things Hike” so I dont throw it way.

On another side note, I plan on doing the Pacific Crest Trail in 2011 and the Continental Divide Trail in 2012. Just another thing to keep in mind if your looking for some partners.

Im young and have a whole life of work ahead of me, I figure why not take the first 3 years after college to do what I want to do. Besides work being in the way, while the next thing Im about to say wouldn’t really be in the way, it would definitely create an obstacle…Wife (whoever she is, she’ll be into hiking though so she really wouldn’t be an obstacle)...Kids (I don’t care who they are, life goes onto a whole new path when they come along and their life becomes your life…can’t wait for the day…just not now though ^_)

I spent 1 night on the trail near Gatlinburg, TN. It was during a freak winter storm. Not a good experience. I want to go back.

a question about this goal: what’s the terrain like in Vermont?

I went for a week with a friend two summers ago in PA. It was a trial run to see if it was really something we both wanted to pursue. We are going again for a few weeks up in Vermont this summer. I am super excited to get back on the trail.

I suspect I never will.