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Section Hiking the Appalachian Trail: Ideas on How to Document
Posted on 4/6/23 at 6:28 am
Posted on 4/6/23 at 6:28 am
On 04/29, I am kicking off a decade plus pursuit of section hiking the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. I'm parking my car at the NC border and getting shuttled to the AT Southern Terminus at Springer Mountain.
I'll hit Georgia the first week of May and pick back up in NC in the fall. I'll keep doing this until I finish (200m/year will take me 11 years).
I've wanted to hike the AT my entire life and it's always been something I would "get to later", but the time is now.
I'm now 35 and it seems unlikely I am ever going to take 6 dedicated months to finishing the AT, so I decided to do it in sections. If I do between 150-200m per year, I am going to finish between age 45 & 50.
The planning & logistics of this is actually super complicated. I've got to find a way to physically get to point A and have a car at point B that is 100+ miles away, so this requires a lot of planning.
Does anyone have any cool ideas of how I could document this over 10+ years to make it more meaningful?
Here are some ideas I have:
- Keep ongoing journal for entire duration, both on the trail itself and also documenting preparation, reflection, etc
- Take picture of myself prior to each section, document age/weight/pack weight
- Somehow drop a google pin at the start/end of each section and keep an ongoing tracker of how close I am to finishing
- Track progress on a website and document learnings, gear I am using, etc
- Potentially write a book one day if the story is worthwhile
Thanks for reading and I am open to any cool ideas out there!
I'll hit Georgia the first week of May and pick back up in NC in the fall. I'll keep doing this until I finish (200m/year will take me 11 years).
I've wanted to hike the AT my entire life and it's always been something I would "get to later", but the time is now.
I'm now 35 and it seems unlikely I am ever going to take 6 dedicated months to finishing the AT, so I decided to do it in sections. If I do between 150-200m per year, I am going to finish between age 45 & 50.
The planning & logistics of this is actually super complicated. I've got to find a way to physically get to point A and have a car at point B that is 100+ miles away, so this requires a lot of planning.
Does anyone have any cool ideas of how I could document this over 10+ years to make it more meaningful?
Here are some ideas I have:
- Keep ongoing journal for entire duration, both on the trail itself and also documenting preparation, reflection, etc
- Take picture of myself prior to each section, document age/weight/pack weight
- Somehow drop a google pin at the start/end of each section and keep an ongoing tracker of how close I am to finishing
- Track progress on a website and document learnings, gear I am using, etc
- Potentially write a book one day if the story is worthwhile
Thanks for reading and I am open to any cool ideas out there!
10
Posted on 4/6/23 at 6:52 am to Lawyers_Guns_Money
Start a blog or sub stack? Sub stack can provide you the opportunity to document everything you needed to do to prepare.
I’d give it a read. We only hike 5 miles or less when on vacation but we’ve come to enjoy the trails.
I’d give it a read. We only hike 5 miles or less when on vacation but we’ve come to enjoy the trails.
Posted on 4/6/23 at 8:06 am to Lawyers_Guns_Money
I've hiked about 300 miles. Over the last few years. I have an Awols guide book from 2014 that I just highlight the parts I've done. Cool to look back and see when and where I was hiking.
Not sure if it's still printed but you should be able to find a copy.
Not sure if it's still printed but you should be able to find a copy.
Posted on 4/6/23 at 8:07 am to Nodust
It's still in print. The 2023 version is on Amazon for $17.
Posted on 4/6/23 at 8:29 am to Lawyers_Guns_Money
One cool idea I'd seen from someone doing the PCT was each day they'd type a small entry about the day in notes on their phone, take a pic or two, then when the finished they had a book printed with their favorite picture from the day, with the journal entry from that day laid over it.
Posted on 4/6/23 at 9:02 am to YOURADHERE
quote:
One cool idea I'd seen from someone doing the PCT was each day they'd type a small entry about the day in notes on their phone, take a pic or two, then when the finished they had a book printed with their favorite picture from the day, with the journal entry from that day laid over it.
This is a good idea.
Posted on 4/6/23 at 9:13 am to eatpie
quote:
One cool idea I'd seen from someone doing the PCT was each day they'd type a small entry about the day in notes on their phone, take a pic or two, then when the finished they had a book printed with their favorite picture from the day, with the journal entry from that day laid over it.
This is awesome, I am going to do this for sure. Thanks for the idea!
Also like the AWOL & Substack idea, going to look into both
Posted on 4/6/23 at 1:15 pm to Lawyers_Guns_Money
Congrats! You should be proud of yourself for making it happen now and not letting the time pass you by and waiting for the “perfect time” like many people do. The best time was 17 years ago, the 2nd best time is now. Bravo, sir.
I did a thru-hike in 2008 and it completely changed my life for the better. I was 19 at the time and was at a place in my life where I could disappear for 6 months without any major impact on my life. I think doing it in sections at 35 is wise. You’ll get many of the benefits without a lot of the drawbacks.
Good luck to you and enjoy!
I did a thru-hike in 2008 and it completely changed my life for the better. I was 19 at the time and was at a place in my life where I could disappear for 6 months without any major impact on my life. I think doing it in sections at 35 is wise. You’ll get many of the benefits without a lot of the drawbacks.
Good luck to you and enjoy!
Posted on 4/6/23 at 1:24 pm to WarCamEagle88
Get a GPS unit and record the hikes with an App like Strava. Can add pics, videos etc.
Posted on 4/6/23 at 8:49 pm to Lawyers_Guns_Money
Make a ceremony out of the start and end of each section - touch the last blaze when you stop and make sure you touch it when you start the next time. Carry something small that’s personal or meaningful to you every time you go to help give the hikes a cohesiveness or a theme.
Maybe you’ll meet someone you click with and they can join you for future hikes. I would definitely document the people you meet along the way…other hikers, hostel owners, shuttle drivers, etc.
It sounds like you’re avoiding the steps at the Falls - I would do the same!
Maybe you’ll meet someone you click with and they can join you for future hikes. I would definitely document the people you meet along the way…other hikers, hostel owners, shuttle drivers, etc.
It sounds like you’re avoiding the steps at the Falls - I would do the same!
Posted on 4/6/23 at 10:01 pm to Lawyers_Guns_Money
I encourage you to do as much or as little of the AT as practical at the time. Obviously, after sitting on your arse at a desk job for 15 or 20 or 40 years, you won't be as physically fit as you were at 20. The sooner the better, but don't let old age dissuade you. There are plenty of old facts on the trail.
I've hiked (rough guesstimate) about 300 - 400 miles of the AT.
- Springer Mtn to Fontana Dam
- a stretch in VA/WV through Grayson Highlands (I don't recall our start point) to Harper's Ferry
- A little piece in NY
- All through NH and the White Mtns/Presidential Range (BEATIFUL!)
- Baxter State Park to Mt Khatadin
There is a well established network of shuttle drivers and "trail angels" that can assist. Sometimes for free, sometimes not. If you have someone dependable who can mail you resupply boxes, that simplify things greatly.
Good luck and enjoy your hike. It's not a race. Unless it is a race, and in that case I can't offer any meaningful help!
I've hiked (rough guesstimate) about 300 - 400 miles of the AT.
- Springer Mtn to Fontana Dam
- a stretch in VA/WV through Grayson Highlands (I don't recall our start point) to Harper's Ferry
- A little piece in NY
- All through NH and the White Mtns/Presidential Range (BEATIFUL!)
- Baxter State Park to Mt Khatadin
There is a well established network of shuttle drivers and "trail angels" that can assist. Sometimes for free, sometimes not. If you have someone dependable who can mail you resupply boxes, that simplify things greatly.
Good luck and enjoy your hike. It's not a race. Unless it is a race, and in that case I can't offer any meaningful help!
Posted on 4/8/23 at 3:12 am to Lawyers_Guns_Money
I just finished a section ending @ mile 364.5 (Iron Mountain Gap). I use my Garmin watch to track my hikes, put them on Strava (auto when I sync with my phone). I see that you can use the Far Out app to track your hikes, as well as use it as a planning guide, GPS to all POI and all around must have app for hiking the AT. I make it a point to do the blue blaze trails to POI's and take pictures that I put in dated albums on Fakebook.
Posted on 4/8/23 at 1:19 pm to Lawyers_Guns_Money
May be a dumb question. Do you guys that hike a lot carry a pistol?
Posted on 4/8/23 at 1:26 pm to Potchafa
I do...
glock 43 tucked into a hip belt pocket
glock 43 tucked into a hip belt pocket
Posted on 4/8/23 at 3:20 pm to Potchafa
No. I carry nearly always otherwise.
Posted on 4/8/23 at 3:30 pm to ccard257
I've been thinking about doing a section of the AT this fall. Two weeks worth. I will pack my 9mm Shield and some spray. Thus far hiking in north New Mexico, north Arkansas and anytime we primitive camp, I was pack my gat.
Posted on 4/8/23 at 8:47 pm to Potchafa
I carry a NAA mini revolver in .22mag as a noisemaker and dumbass repellent, nothing light enough to carry is going to do any good against a bear, but my noisemaker is loud as heck with a 1/2" barrel.
Posted on 4/11/23 at 2:42 pm to Potchafa
I backpack at least 2 multi day trails a year and have a few week-long hikes. I never carry when backpacking.
I have zero concerns about people when I'm hiking. If I ever encounter a badguy with a gun, as far as I'm concerned, he brought the gun for me, so we won't need two.
If I encounter a critter big enough to be a concern, I don't need to outrun it, I just need to outrun whoever I am with.
I have zero concerns about people when I'm hiking. If I ever encounter a badguy with a gun, as far as I'm concerned, he brought the gun for me, so we won't need two.
If I encounter a critter big enough to be a concern, I don't need to outrun it, I just need to outrun whoever I am with.
Posted on 4/11/23 at 2:51 pm to Lawyers_Guns_Money
I can shuttle you to Springer if you need
Posted on 7/6/23 at 12:53 pm to PCHSDawg
quote:
I carry a NAA mini revolver in .22mag as a noisemaker and dumbass repellent, nothing light enough to carry is going to do any good against a bear, but my noisemaker is loud as heck with a 1/2" barrel.
I think the .22 will only piss off the bears. I've shot raccoons with my .22 rifle and it doesn't even penetrate their thick coat. This post was edited on 7/6/23 at 1:15 pm
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