Hitchhiking?

[threepointrest]

What's the deal with hitch-hiking? (hitchhiking? hitch hiking? hitchiking? I'm sure there's a correct way to spell it...)

I recognize the dangers behind it (crazed, rabid kidnappers, etc.) and I understand that it's illegal in most states along the AT, but it still seems to be one of the most recommended methods of getting into town.

How is this done without getting abducted, either by creeps or police?

[dudeijuststarted]

What's the deal with hitch-hiking? (hitchhiking? hitch hiking? hitchiking? I'm sure there's a correct way to spell it...)

I recognize the dangers behind it (crazed, rabid kidnappers, etc.) and I understand that it's illegal in most states along the AT, but it still seems to be one of the most recommended methods of getting into town.

How is this done without getting abducted, either by creeps or police?

I hitchhiked once in WV between Blackburn and Harper's Ferry. The guy "jokingly" threatened to drive the car into a ditch. If you're looking for someone to tell you hitchhiking is safe, you're seeking an irrational response.

Know your pace, mind your rations, watch the weather, plan for shuttles. Hitchhiking is russian roulette.

[Feral Bill]

Hitchhiking is not illegal in most states. On the AT, only New Jersey comes to mind. As to safety, I'll let those with current experience speak up.

[Storm]

Most people around trail towns are used to seeing hikers on the road. If you hitch do it in a place where it is easy and safe for a car to pull over. As always, if you get bad vibes, don't get in the car.

[4eyedbuzzard]

What's the deal with hitch-hiking? (hitchhiking? hitch hiking? hitchiking? I'm sure there's a correct way to spell it...)

Hitchhike is now commonly one word. In the past it was two words if used as a noun or verb (hitch hike), but hyphenated when used as an adjective (hitch-hiking). English is a living language, so accepted practice is to use the one word form. http://www.csun.edu/~hcjou002/JHyphen.Guide.pdf

I recognize the dangers behind it (crazed, rabid kidnappers, etc.) and I understand that it's illegal in most states along the AT, but it still seems to be one of the most recommended methods of getting into town.

How is this done without getting abducted, either by creeps or police?

More likely you'll get picked up by people asking about your hike, where you're from/going (hint - you are ALWAYS going to meet someone who is waiting for you), if you want a cold beer/soda, if they can drop you anywhere particular even if out of their way, if you've heard the word of the Lord today . . .

Use common sense and I hate to say it but "profile" your rides. Women, couples, and young and older folks are generally (but not always) safer. A housewife in a Volvo is probably safer than a guy in a windowless van. You get the idea.

Don't put your pack where you can't grab it as you get out, like in a trunk or back of a pickup, so when you get out so they don't drive off with it.

If you can and if you have service, act as nonchalantly as possible and quickly text the license plate number of the vehicle to someone when you get a ride.

Oh, and here's a starting point on legal aspects of hitchhiking http://hitchwiki.org/en/United_States_of_America Click on the fine print links on the bottom of the page for individual state laws

[Lone Wolf]

Most people around trail towns are used to seeing hikers on the road. If you hitch do it in a place where it is easy and safe for a car to pull over. As always, if you get bad vibes, don't get in the car.

what he says. i've hitched hundreds of times over the years. never had a problem

[Prime Time]

Hitchhiking is not illegal in most states. On the AT, only New Jersey comes to mind. As to safety, I'll let those with current experience speak up.

Tennessee also.

[Prime Time]

I'd say if you're a single girl you should pair up with someone to hitch with, preferably a guy. Whack jobs seldom if ever are looking to take on two or more people.
If you're a guy the only danger you face is waiting up to an hour for a ride because you're not a girl. On my thru hike I hitched at least 15 times. Mostly it was with my fellow 60 year old male companion. About half the time we waited at least 20 minutes for a ride, an up to an hour. The 4 or 5 times I hitched with a young lady we never waited a full minute. You can draw your own conclusions, I just state the facts.

[Don H]

In some states it's illegal on limited access highways. Many states have laws against standing in the traveled portion of the road while hitching.

Check out this link for state rules on hitching;
http://www.hitchhiker.50megs.com/custom.html

I hitched many times while tru-hiking, never had a problem.

[HikerMom58]

I'd say if you're a single girl you should pair up with someone to hitch with, preferably a guy. Whack jobs seldom if ever are looking to take on two or more people.
If you're a guy the only danger you face is waiting up to an hour for a ride because you're not a girl. On my thru hike I hitched at least 15 times. Mostly it was with my fellow 60 year old male companion. About half the time we waited at least 20 minutes for a ride, an up to an hour. The 4 or 5 times I hitched with a young lady we never waited a full minute. You can draw your own conclusions, I just state the facts.

This ^^^ FYI- a single girl was offered a ride in Daleville VA, to the post office. (a few years ago) He was a creep. He didn't end up taking her to the post office. She had a bad experience but luckily was eventually returned to the trail, NOT umharmed. Grrrr!!!

[Happy44]

where is dogwood to tell us how a hipster grammar Nazi spells hitch hiking!

[Happy44]

i hitched many times on the at and ive been picked up like by all sorts of people, young women , old men , young men, old women , couples of both genders, and all went fine except one time, in glasgow after waiting 30 mins, a middle aged man pulled up in a ... tiny bmw and asked if i need a ride i said yes and thats when things started to get iffy for me.

first off a red flag went off because of the tiny car but i stuffed my pack in the back seat and jumped in the passenger side and i started talking to him, he told me he was driving thru and going to Kansas city but he had no luggage at all, (he had a creepy mustache) and i kept talking to him he started asking me to go to kansas with him because he didnt have time to drop me off in glasgow, at that time i was like let me out right here! he didnt say a word to me for like 25 seconds, ( longest 25 seconds of my life) at that time i was rdy to do something crazy but he started to slow down and said he would let me out up the road, the car stopped at the glasgow bridge , and i grabed my pack out and headed into that town, to find out that there was no place but a gas station at the time to resupply ,.

I got a great ride back, a couple give me a beer ( i declined ) becuase i dont drink and offered me to come to their BBQ party ( i also declined ) but i wish i hadn't because i bet it was fun, 99% of all people are nice people its just the one percent mess it up!

[Studlintsean]

I hitchhiked once on the AT and was picked up by a 1992 thru hiker (Arrowhead) and he gave me and my buddy a beer at 9 AM. I think it's relatively safe if your thru hiking and with people but use your better judgement

[kidchill]

Only states listed in the guidebook as truly illegal to hitch in are NJ and NY...luckily, most road crossings are close enough to town that it doesn't matter. I hitched in every other state and never had any problems. Be smart about who you get into the vehicle with. Most of the people picking you up will know that you're an AT hiker...and most of them have either hiked some of the trail, are associated with the trail, or just want to hear trail stories/have gear questions...

[swjohnsey]

Hitchhiking restored (somewhat) my faith in human nature. I met some really nice folk. I now pick up hitchers (sometime).

[bfayer]

what he says. i've hitched hundreds of times over the years. never had a problem

Lone Wolf, good to see you around.

I don't need to hitch much because I'm just a weekend section hiker kind of guy, but I wouldn't have a problem doing it if I needed to. If my daughter asked me that question I would tell her to try to avoid doing it, but if you do, always try to have someone else with you. Its a Dad thing.

[Feral Bill]

Only states listed in the guidebook as truly illegal to hitch in are NJ and NY...luckily, most road crossings are close enough to town that it doesn't matter. I hitched in every other state and never had any problems. Be smart about who you get into the vehicle with. Most of the people picking you up will know that you're an AT hiker...and most of them have either hiked some of the trail, are associated with the trail, or just want to hear trail stories/have gear questions...

Hitchhiking is quite legal in New York, if you stay on the "shoulder or berm".

[max patch]

I've hitched before and I'll hitch again, but in the interest of full disclosure when I thru'd:

1. Hitching back to the trail from Gettysburg the 20 something year old literally hit 100 mph and drove in a reckless manner at speeds lower than that. I told him I needed to get out and he let me do so without incident.

2. 4 hikers and a dog (not me) were in a pickup and were thrown from the vehicle as the driver thot he drove for Nascar. Bumps and bruises were luckily all that happened.

[Colter]

...Hitchhiking is russian roulette.

Hardly. In Russian roulette you have, theoretically, a 1 in 6 chance of dying.

Does anyone know of an AT hiker being KILLED by their ride?

Regardless of the answer, life is risky. AT hikers have hitched countless thousands of times, overwhelmingly they have arrived safely.

Still, it is definitely wise to use good judgment and carefully consider the tips others have already given. For example, if I had a daughter hiking the trail I'd recommend that she never hitch alone.

The biggest ride scare I've gotten is from a trail angel shuttling hikers. He thought it would be funny to veer off the road towards us at high speed to give us a scare. I was not amused.

[squeezebox]

Women along the AT are probably safer hitch hiking there than just about any where else, trail angels and locals that understand your situation and respect you and your situation. But there are plenty of creepy guys out there, inc. creepy guys after men, particularly young men. Keep your wits , be safe.