How and Why

Many people ask us about food. What will we eat? The answer we will simply eat whatever we get our hands on. If the typical person consumes 2000 calories a day, a thru-hiker will consume anywhere from 4000 to 6000 calories a day. Heavy carbohydrates such as rice and pastas, and fatty foods such as peanut butter and cheese will be our staples.

Many people ask us about sleeping. Where will we lay our heads at night? For the most part, the AT has shelters that are spaced about a day’s hike apart. On days when we are not in a shelter, we will sleep in our tent.

Many people ask us about re-supplying. How will we get more food, gear, and clothing? The AT crosses through (or passes close to) many mountain towns along its length. We will either have someone mail us food and gear to these towns, or we will purchase it while passing through. This procedure is easier in the south, where towns are about a week apart, but it gets harder in New England where towns are sparse. And yes, we will bathe in these towns about once a week.

Arizona and running out of time

Well, we're getting low on days now... leaving in exactly 1 week, and leaving for Arizona in the morning.

Going to Arizona till Monday to scout out a prospective college for Kate.

Rushing around kind of frantically trying to get everything done, and still waiting for last minute gear to come in the mail...

Also running a bit low on cash, donations would be nice, but not mandatory.

Still haven't had time to get a gear list up, will try and get that up by tonight.

Plans

Ok, well.. where to start...
Lets just do the short and to the point version...

About a year ago, my girlfriend and I decided we wanted to hike the entire Appalachian trail.
We originally shot for last year, but our plans fell through, and after having another year to make plans and arrangements and get gear together, it looks like we're doing it this year.

We're leaving March 1st, and starting March 3rd in Georgia.

We're planning the trip to take us 6 months.

There is a donation link over on the left hand side of the page, and if you have some change to spare, i'd appreciate all the help i can get.

I will try to get a list of the gear I'm taking with me posted either later tonight or tomorrow, and I will keep you all up to date on what's going on.

-Reddog-

Trail FAQ

1. How long does a thru-hike take?

Most people spend between five and seven months on the Trail.

2. When do people generally start?

Most people start in early April from Springer Mountain.

3. Do you need to be an experienced backpacker to thru-hike the trail?

The odds are probably in your favor if you have a certain amount of experience under your belt before attempting a thru-hike.

4. How much does it cost?

While there are no fees involved for hiking the Trail, it ends up costing between $2000-4500. This would include books and maps, transportation to the trailhead, food, occasional lodging, occasional restaurant meals, etc. And then of course you will need to have proper equipment.

5. Who was the first person to thru-hike the Trail?

Earl Schaffer hiked the whole A.T. in 1948 and subsequently wrote about the experience in his book Walking with Spring. You can read a bit about Earl on the Appalachian Adventure Page, in the entry for the first week in July.

6. How many people thru-hike, or otherwise complete the Trail every year?

From 1948 until 1970, the numbers per year were a single digit with no hiker reporting having completed the Trail in many of the years. 1970 saw ten folks complete the Trail, including Ed Garvey. In 1979, the numbers jumped into the triple digits, and starting in 1990, numbers have been in the low 200's. (Approximately one-third of the reports filed are by people who have done the hike in sections over the course of 2 to many years.) Another person who hiked the whole A.T. was Justice William O. Douglas, the same person largely responsible for saving the C & O Canal from being turned into a highway.

Here is a chart showing how many people have hiked the whole A.T. year by year.

7. Do any dogs make the hike?

They can't make the entire hike, as dogs are not allowed in the Smokies nor in Baxter State Park in Maine. Dogs must be kenneled or otherwise provided for during these stretches. If one feels one must take one's dog, check out the ATC's page about hiking with dogs and be sure to read the article "Hiking with Fido." ATC can also give you information about people who can help you kennel and shuttle your dog in the Smokies and Maine. Also see Phil Heffington's page about hiking with dogs.

See AMC's page and Wolf Packs' Hiking with Dogs Info. Jim Greenway's "Traildog" e-mail list and the "Traildog Hiker's Shelter" |

8. What about horses or bikes?

No pack animals or wheeled vehicles are allowed on the Trail. (There are a very few miles where this is not the case. For example, the 3 mile stretch that coincides with the C & O Canal Towpath allows horses and bikes.)

9. Did I hear something about a blind man hiking theTrail?

You probably did! Bill Irwin hiked the Trail with his dog, Orient, in 1990. You can read about it in his book Blind Courage: Journey of Faith, available from the ATC or see a video about his amazing accomplishment.

10. Are there any special health issues to be thinking about?

Most definitely. Water-borne diseases including giardiasis, tick-borne diseases including Lyme Disease, in addition to possibilities of falls, stress fractures, dehydration, etc.

Summary of the AT

The Appalachian Trail is a continuous marked footpath that goes from Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia, a distance of about 2160 miles. Many trace the origins of the Trail to a 1921 article by Benton MacKaye entitled An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning.