Welcome To My Appalachian Trail Blog
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| Appalachian Trail Vista |
There comes a time in a persons life when they yearn to take time to find the simple life, to leave many of life's modern conveniences and to head out to the wilder parts of our country. Many of us yearn to simplify our lives for a while, to test ourselves both physically and mentally, to be able to contemplate and think about life. I have decided to simplify my life, to slow down for awhile, to enjoy the outdoors in a way many people have thought of doing, but few are able to attempt. It is time I push myself and grow.
So what will I do to push myself and grow? I have decided to again hike the Appalachian Trail. The lofty goal is to hike the entire length starting in late winter 2014. Why have I decided to do a long distance hike now? Why not? I am in good health, I still love hiking and I feel the draw of the trail.
So what will I do to push myself and grow? I have decided to again hike the Appalachian Trail. The lofty goal is to hike the entire length starting in late winter 2014. Why have I decided to do a long distance hike now? Why not? I am in good health, I still love hiking and I feel the draw of the trail.
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or the AT extends between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. The trail is approximately 2,184 miles long and passes through the following the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The Majority of the trail is in wilderness, although some portions traverse towns, roads and cross rivers. A large portion of the trail consists of walking up and down mountains and walking ridges which make for strenuous hiking.
Approximately 2500 hikers try to thru hike the trail every year although only 15-25% of those that start this journey actually finish the whole trail in a single season.
Many of the unprepared hikers who set out on a thru hike make it less than a week. I suppose they romanticize hiking the trail and do not realize how difficult a task hiking the trail can be. These majority hikers that attempt to hike the trail and fail to complete it seem to have 2 common issues they did not prepare for properly.
First, they try to carry to much equipment and supplies. Their packs are loaded heavy. The common denominator seems to be pack weights when loaded without food and water over 35 pounds. Add 2-3 liters of water and 10 lbs of food and you have a pack weight over 50 pounds. My goal is to have a fully loaded pack weight with food and water of under 30 pounds and includes everything I need to survive while hiking. When I am able to hike in warmer weather I will not have to carry as much gear and the pack weight should be under 25 lbs. This will entail keeping gear to the minimum necessary and eschewing many "luxury" items most people think as must have to keep my pack light. This is even more critical to keep pack weight light for a section hiker so you can move at a respectable rate of speed. Section hikers generally do not spend enough time on the trail at one time to really get into hiker shape.
Secondly, many of these persons are not in decent physical shape to begin a hike of this magnitude. This does not mean that they cannot complete the hike, but they do not have the mental stamina to push through the pain, blisters, cold, rain, soreness etc. until their bodies and muscles adapt and strengthen over the first 3 weeks. They do not take it slow and hike to their abilities while waiting for their bodies to adapt to the trail.
Most persons attempting to thru hike the Appalachian Trail will begin in the early spring in Georgia in order to finish before October when the weather will prevent a hiker from summiting Mount Katahdin in Maine due to poor weather and snow. The typical hiker will face freezing temperatures, snow, ice, sleet and freezing rain as he starts high in the Georgia Mountains in early spring, brave the high temperatures, rain and humidity of the summers in the Mid-Atlantic states and will end in the cool fall weather of the North East. The hiker will do this while averaging 15-25 miles a day hiking with 30-35 pounds of gear on his back. Why does someone do this? Everyone who attempts a long distance trail either for weeks or months at a time has their reasons. I cannot speak for others, but I will talk about my reasons in this blog from time to time.
Approximately 2500 hikers try to thru hike the trail every year although only 15-25% of those that start this journey actually finish the whole trail in a single season.
Many of the unprepared hikers who set out on a thru hike make it less than a week. I suppose they romanticize hiking the trail and do not realize how difficult a task hiking the trail can be. These majority hikers that attempt to hike the trail and fail to complete it seem to have 2 common issues they did not prepare for properly.
First, they try to carry to much equipment and supplies. Their packs are loaded heavy. The common denominator seems to be pack weights when loaded without food and water over 35 pounds. Add 2-3 liters of water and 10 lbs of food and you have a pack weight over 50 pounds. My goal is to have a fully loaded pack weight with food and water of under 30 pounds and includes everything I need to survive while hiking. When I am able to hike in warmer weather I will not have to carry as much gear and the pack weight should be under 25 lbs. This will entail keeping gear to the minimum necessary and eschewing many "luxury" items most people think as must have to keep my pack light. This is even more critical to keep pack weight light for a section hiker so you can move at a respectable rate of speed. Section hikers generally do not spend enough time on the trail at one time to really get into hiker shape.
Secondly, many of these persons are not in decent physical shape to begin a hike of this magnitude. This does not mean that they cannot complete the hike, but they do not have the mental stamina to push through the pain, blisters, cold, rain, soreness etc. until their bodies and muscles adapt and strengthen over the first 3 weeks. They do not take it slow and hike to their abilities while waiting for their bodies to adapt to the trail.
Most persons attempting to thru hike the Appalachian Trail will begin in the early spring in Georgia in order to finish before October when the weather will prevent a hiker from summiting Mount Katahdin in Maine due to poor weather and snow. The typical hiker will face freezing temperatures, snow, ice, sleet and freezing rain as he starts high in the Georgia Mountains in early spring, brave the high temperatures, rain and humidity of the summers in the Mid-Atlantic states and will end in the cool fall weather of the North East. The hiker will do this while averaging 15-25 miles a day hiking with 30-35 pounds of gear on his back. Why does someone do this? Everyone who attempts a long distance trail either for weeks or months at a time has their reasons. I cannot speak for others, but I will talk about my reasons in this blog from time to time.
I welcome you to my little blog. Enjoy the history, watching me fret and discuss equipment and its benefits vs weight. History of the trail, maps and links to other websites of people who have hiked the trail as well as follow my training hikes on and around the Appalachian Trail. Again, enjoy and if you have any questions, please ask them in the comment sections and I will be sure to answer.
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