Appalachian Trail

[rayne]

A friend of mine has finally completed hiking the Appalachian Trail. It took him about 2 years due to an injured ankle received while hiking. I like the fact that this one can be done in stages rather than all at once.

[Judy Ann]

If my trips are any indication of section hikes, it will take me most of this decade to complete Virginia!

[Hazel]

I'd like to hike the whole trail at some time in my life but I don't know who I'd want to hang out with for 6 mos straight.

[Grandpa]

Nearly 2200 miles? From trail conditions my friends have talked about that would be 200 days at 11 miles a day, every day for the whole trip. Sure, I can put in longer days but also need some rest days and restock days. I've also been told that a lot of that trail is tougher hiking than out here in the Rockies.

[ponderosa]

A cool accomplishment. I'd sure like to do parts of the AT. I definitely need to spend some trail time in deciduous forests at some point. I don't think the AT thru hike is my cup of tea though, a little too social and populated for my taste. The idea of staying in trail shelters gives me the heebie jeebies a bit.
My long trail ambitions are limited to the Idaho Centennial Trail, and perhaps the John Muir.

[Theosus]

Originally Posted by ponderosa

A cool accomplishment. I'd sure like to do parts of the AT. I definitely need to spend some trail time in deciduous forests at some point. I don't think the AT thru hike is my cup of tea though, a little too social and populated for my taste. The idea of staying in trail shelters gives me the heebie jeebies a bit.
My long trail ambitions are limited to the Idaho Centennial Trail, and perhaps the John Muir.

The more I read about shelters and people, the more I think about stealth camping. My plan would be to go a mile or so past a shelter and mark the trail on the gps. Then walk into the woods a few hundred yards wherever the trees are thick and set up camp. Cook on my little stove before dark so the flame doesn't show at night.
I wouldn't mind stopping to rest at shelters during the day and saying hello, maybe even walking with people a ways. It would be interesting to hear other peoples stories. But I don't want to sleep with a bunch of snoring smoking or noisy strangers.

[IndianaHiker]

Originally Posted by Hazel

I'd like to hike the whole trail at some time in my life but I don't know who I'd want to hang out with for 6 mos straight.

Go solo that is the only way I can every imagine doing this. Having reading many accounts of through hiker seems that most do it this way. They do find people on the trail that they get along with and hike with them for some time but groups change up quite often it seems.

[pastywhite]

Originally Posted by IndianaHiker

Go solo that is the only way I can every imagine doing this. Having reading many accounts of through hiker seems that most do it this way. They do find people on the trail that they get along with and hike with them for some time but groups change up quite often it seems.

That's the way it works. Even the folks who start with a group often end up with different folks before it is over. Only around 10% that start actually finish so the chances of everyone in your group making the entire trip are pretty slim.

My initial thoughts would be to tent camp a little away from the shelters but I think after a few weeks on the trail I would enjoy the company of the shelters.

[Marshmallow]

We live within easy access to the North Carolina and Virginia mountains, so walking parts of the trail is more appealing to me than trying to do the whole thing. Still, just walking a part of the way gives a sense of being out there like nothing else. The older I get, the more I wish I'd done.

[limaker]

I want to go one day but maybe for just a weekend trip. I am not sure I could keep up with anything longer than that due to work right now, maybe a week tops. Its always possible in a few years though, you never know.