re: Anybody here ever hiked the appalachian trail before?

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What’s the percentage of hikers that don’t have health insurance? I find it highly unlikely that they’ve saved up enough to be able to pay private insurance costs for half a year.

Hell, how do these people pay their mortgages, car notes, and other such things? Or are they all homeless, carless, bums crossing their fingers that they won’t get injured and need to pay a hospital bill while hiking a couple of thousand miles across mountainous terrain?

I’d love to be able to take half a year off and hike the CDT... but my employer sure as hell isn’t going to carry me during that time.

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My assumption is that the vast majority of people who hike thru are younger or retired, and are free of the constraints you mentioned.

As for the OP’s situation, now is the time to do it. This will perhaps be the last time in your life without those things tying you down. Go for it, and don’t let anyone talk you out of it - if it’s something that will give you value and satisfaction.

Looking forward to the updates.

I did about 150-200 miles. It was fun and I’d do it again. I packed way too much stuff. For meals I ended up eating a pack of peanut M&M’s for breakfast a couple granola bars at lunch and for dinner, I’d cook some flavored instant potatoes and dump in a pack of chicken. It was fast, light, filling and tasted good.

Get good gear and you’ll be fine.

Been to Harper's Ferry and hiked a bit with the family. Beautiful place.

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Had a good friend who literally quit his job and spent 6 months on the trail, hiking the entire thing. No underwear and no deodorant, of course. He was a different person, in a good way, when he came back.

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I have a friend who did the same. He was always pretty "mother earth" before, but definitely moreso now.

He's cool as shite and was the perfect person to do it. I think it is awesome.

I plan on hiking it in 3 years after my daughter graduates.

I've done quite a bit of looking and I've found some great info on trek.com.
It's alot of story's and blogs from people who have did it, great info about supplies you would need etc etc etc.
Only about 2000 people attempt it a year and by the end only 10% make it. So it does start croweded of fairly early in the season.