Why aren't people interested in Great Eastern Trail?

[ki0eh]

There, I asked it. What do you say?

[4eyedbuzzard]

No hiker feeds.

Okay seriously, same can be said for a lot of other LD trails that aren't truly completed trails. The NCT comes to mind right away. Lots of unfinished trail, lots of road walks, little infrastructure/hiker services, lack of "advertising", recognition, etc. Having a planned route and some of the trail built isn't going to attract a lot of hikers. They're not the AT, PCT, or even the CDT. Add that the AT has achieved "cult pilgrimage" status.

[rafe]

I'm getting much more involved with local trails lately. I crossed paths with the GET this fall on the Tully Trail in western MA.

One of the problems with trails other than the AT is that they have many roadwalks and not a whole lot of vertical.

Did the Monadnock-Sunapee trail last summer and it was fine, though again, lots of walking on country lanes, ATV trails, etc.

[Puddlefish]

I'm getting much more involved with local trails lately. I crossed paths with the GET this fall on the Tully Trail in western MA.

One of the problems with trails other than the AT is that they have many roadwalks and not a whole lot of vertical.

Did the Monadnock-Sunapee trail last summer and it was fine, though again, lots of walking on country lanes, ATV trails, etc.

I've day hiked the elevated portions of the Monadnock-Sunapee trail. They ask that you camp only at the six designated campsites, five of which are shelters, which for me isn't an ideal thru hike.

[Slo-go'en]

I've day hiked the elevated portions of the Monadnock-Sunapee trail. They ask that you camp only at the six designated campsites, five of which are shelters, which for me isn't an ideal thru hike.

Why not? They were nice shelters and when Rafe and I did the MST last summer we were the only ones there. We did meet two girls going the other way one afternoon, but that was it.

[Puddlefish]

Why not? They were nice shelters and when Rafe and I did the MST last summer we were the only ones there. We did meet two girls going the other way one afternoon, but that was it.

Probably only because of my own prejudices and phobias. For what it's worth sleeping in campers creeps me out as well. Maybe I'll give it a try.

[Cheyou]

Or the finger lakes trail or Northville placid trail or ...............

[rafe]

Comparing any of these trails to the AT reveals a lot of what's wonderful and not-so-wonderful about the AT.

They don't have the crowds or the traffic. They often don't have shelters. They often have lots of roadwalks. Compared to the AT, they're often poorly maintained, poorly marked, and subject to frequent re-routes. They travel extensively over private land.

Because of this, some of them aren't really amenable to thru-hiking. They're meant more for day use.

They simply don't have the massive volunteer force that ATC and its many member clubs can bring to bear. Historically, the AT is an amazing, wonderful and unique thing.

[Lone Wolf]

no shelters, no hostels, no feeds, no shuttles, etc.

[rafe]

no shelters, no hostels, no feeds, no shuttles, etc.

No guides (ALDHA, Awol, Nat Geo) or Guthook maps either.

I can tell you for certain one of the weirdest and most unpleasant shelter experiences I ever had was on the Finger Lakes Trail.

The Monadnock-Sunapee trail in southern NH has three or four shelters that are very simple but nice. The MA mid-state trail also has a few shelters of varying condition, but lots of road walking.

[handlebar]

I can tell you for certain one of the weirdest and most unpleasant shelter experiences I ever had was on the Finger Lakes Trail.

I assume that the "weird and unpleasant experience" was the result of interaction with another hiker. I found all the shelters on the FLT where it coincides with the NCT to be really nice with the exception of one (Kimmie's Shelter) which had a leaky roof and a floor that was collapsing. When it started the predicted rain, I simply relocated to a dry portion of the floor that still was intact. Otherwise, all the FLT shelters I stayed in and passed by were really nice.

[kf1wv]

no shelters, no hostels, no feeds, no shuttles, etc.

Inaccurate generalization.

The GET is an old-school, seat-of-your-pants, really-have-to-think, multi-month trek down the Appalachians. It is not the AT, not a superhighway, and I hope it always remains this way. The GET lives up to its name; it is truly the Great Eastern Trail.

[kf1wv]

We hikers who cut our teeth on the superhighway of the AT are spoiled. We learn to be takers, and that can be a very difficult habit to break. Any trail that is "less [insert descriptive adjective here]" is seen as less worthy and an excuse to complain. A trail's "community" is much, much larger than the hikers who traverse it. Off-the-cuff complaints by hikers are disrespectful to trail builders, trail maintainers, trail neighbors, and trail communities -- and cast a poor light on the hikers. This can't be said enough: trails don't maintain themselves. If hikers want great treadway, actions speak louder than words: volunteer. Volunteer. Volunteer.

[rafe]

Slo and I have done a few hikes together but he's more of a stickler for rules and regulations about camping.

Wapac Trail is another one I did this summer (all 22 miles, woo hoo!). It has no official shelters or campsites. It goes through a cross-country ski area that has a shelter on it... but supposedly that shelter is only available by reservation.

The shelter had a direct view to some house in the valley below, which made me a bit uneasy. Rather than stay at the (empty) shelter I made a stealth camp nearby.

[redseal]

Too many road portions for my taste. Honestly though, I would probably do it if it was more convenient for me to get to as part of day/weekend trips.

[SonrisaJo]

I think it's because the GET requires advanced planning. Unless there is one guide someday, it will always require more planning than the AT (and most other long trails). There *are* guides, guides for every section, but you have to figure it all out and buy many of them as opposed to dropping $20 on a single guide.

[ki0eh]

I think it's because the GET requires advanced planning. Unless there is one guide someday, it will always require more planning than the AT (and most other long trails). There *are* guides, guides for every section, but you have to figure it all out and buy many of them as opposed to dropping $20 on a single guide.

There was an attempt last year SOBO by someone who was very capable and determined to convert available guide information into mapping suitable for his purposes, someone who was a previous thru-hiker and apparently in excellent shape. Yet, that individual did not even make it into the sketchier guide areas. His less previously experienced initial hiking partner made it into the 5th state before she was injured and left the trail.

As for road walking, this page (by someone who very much should know) points out there is less of that than on the CDT or some other more often thru hiked trails: http://www.gethiking.net/2014/05/roa...ern-trail.html

This has been interesting, any additional thoughts?

[Mags]

There was an attempt last year SOBO by someone who was very capable and determined to convert available guide information into mapping suitable for his purposes, someone who was a previous thru-hiker and apparently in excellent shape.

Many "experienced" thru-hikers know how to hike a long trail that is well defined, has ample guidebooks and an ample community around it. (Definitely the triple crown trails. Some of the regional trails such as the CT, LT, JMT. And arguably some of the gnarlier trails but with excellent resources such as they Hayduke to a certain extent).

IF there is a very active Facebook group for the trail, much of the logistic challenge and planning is a lot easier, I think, as a good rule of thumb.

Off the beaten path ones that are also off the radar? Not-so-much.

I don't know the person you are alluding to or who it is , but I would not be surprised if that is the case.

Just my observation that may or may not be reality.

[ki0eh]

IF there is a very active Facebook group for the trail, much of the logistic challenge and planning is a lot easier, I think, as a good rule of thumb.

There was an FB Page, and now there is also a Group, thanks for the idea!

[ki0eh]

... now there is also a Group

This might be the right hyperlink for it: https://www.facebook.com/groups/474050112796297/