All my life, I have loved being in the outdoors. The sense of wonder and excitement associated with hiking uncharted territory shoots sparks of adrenaline through my veins. Its like entering a sacred place, a place that only you and a hand full of others know about. And growing up in the eastern US, I have always heard rumors of an ultimate outdoor/hiking adventure involving a 2100 + mile trek from Georgia to Maine enduring rabid animals, hostile locals and rugged terrain.
Life has brought me to a point where I can finally attempt this life long dream. To walk the most famous hike in the United States, if not the world. The Appalachian Trail. 2100+ miles of wilderness escape expanding roughly the extent of the Eastern half of the United States. Every year, thousands of hopeful hikers begin the journey from Springer Mountain, Georgia with the goal of reaching Mount Katadin, Maine before the snows in October close it off to hikers. Their goal is called the thru-hike, a nonstop hike the entire 2100+ miles of the trail. The journey normally takes 5 - 6 months of continual hiking to complete. Along the way, 90% of all those attempting will leave the trail due to injuries, financial burdens, back home issues or loss of interest. This column is an account of my journey to hike the entire trail and have a lot of fun along the way. The article is written as a “how to” and “how not to”, including lessons learned, some regional info and hiking highlights. I’m not planning on any other major goals or any rigid itinerary. Just a 6 month hike with a pen and a camera.
The Pre-Plan: There is a huge commitment to hiking the entire trail in one shot. Planning the hike involves as much or as little as you want. I opted for a basic pre planning setup including all pre-hike concerns: financial obligations, trail familiarization, a health check, and gear check.
For Financial obligations you want to ensure all your responsibilities like mortgages, bills and family matters are covered for 7 months (6 for hiking and one for societal reintroduction from the wild, aka wilderness detox).
For Trail Familiarization, you want to buy an Appalachian Trail Data Book, which breaks down info along the trail including milage markers from each shelter, water source and town along the trail. This information can help you plan food resupplies via towns on the trial by supermarkets or by Post Office pick ups where you schedule friends to send you packages at predetermined locations.
For Physical preparations and gear check, make sure you begin walking, and working out 2-6 months prior to beginning your hike to build up your muscles and to break in your equipment including boots and gear. Take a minimum of one over night camping trip prior to your thru hike for a gear and gut check. Find out what works and what doesn’t before you hit the trail and to see if this is something you really want to do for 6 months straight. Being on the trail is no place to test a 50 degree sleeping bag during an unexpected snow storm.
After all the preparation, the only thing left, is to do it. Start the hike. I will be heading out the end of March to begin mine. Ill be sending updated info on my progression via smoke signals and pigeon carriers to the editor for the next 6 months. look for my updates in the next issue of Small Town Living. You can also follow my journey via my website, www.thetrailhike.com. Don’t know how often i’ll be able to update it, but i will make a valiant attempt to send in my new journal entries.
So if you love the outdoors and camping or have ever dreamed of a long distance hike like this, anticipate the next issue, curl up with a cup of hot java, and enjoy the ride.... i mean, the hike.
Good Hiking,
Blu Webster
