Is it too last minute?

[jj dont play]

New here.
Always had a fascination with the AT, read a few books, have a huge map that take up about half a wall posted.. etc and always played with the idea of thru hiking it one day, but I never actually put the planning in motion.
Recently have a window where if I was going to do it, there is no better time than now.

Do I realistically have enough time plan it out to start Early to mid April?
I'm one of those people that likes to plan out every little detail of a trip, I know the trip never happens as planned but I at least like to think I'm prepared for whatever happens. I feel like I wouldn't have enough time to plan out every little detail but if I could at least get some pointers on the things I absolutely must plan ahead then it could be possible.

Other option is to just do a 1-2 week trip this year as a test run and hope the opportunity comes along again in the future.

Thanks for the input ahead of time folks!

[JaketheFake]

Go for it. What's the worse thing that could happen?

[Feral Bill]

You have 8 weeks. Unless you're a total novice that should be plenty.

[evyck da fleet]

The AT is a series of 1-2 week hikes. Or three to four day hikes between resupply. All you have to do is plan for the first resupply. Now if you want to make things easier then spent the next few weekends testing (or buying) your gear on day or weekend hikes, depending on your schedule, before you hit the trail. Two months is more than enough time. Some people can do a couch to thru hike but they just make it a little more difficult at first.

[MuddyWaters]

experienced hikers who have their gear could depart at drop of hat

You dont need much.planning. just gear, guide, maybe maps, and a little overall knowledge.

[Mtsman]

all you really need to have gear wise is clothing for warmth and a good shelter in case of storms. the weather is the only true threat, you can learn the rest on the way. too much water on the trail, and too many towns for food to be true threats. just don't get lost

[NewHeart]

New here.
Always had a fascination with the AT, read a few books, have a huge map that take up about half a wall posted.. etc and always played with the idea of thru hiking it one day, but I never actually put the planning in motion.
Recently have a window where if I was going to do it, there is no better time than now.

Do I realistically have enough time plan it out to start Early to mid April?
I'm one of those people that likes to plan out every little detail of a trip, I know the trip never happens as planned but I at least like to think I'm prepared for whatever happens. I feel like I wouldn't have enough time to plan out every little detail but if I could at least get some pointers on the things I absolutely must plan ahead then it could be possible.

Other option is to just do a 1-2 week trip this year as a test run and hope the opportunity comes along again in the future.

Thanks for the input ahead of time folks!

I start thinking about this adventure around Thanksgiving. I didn't really do anything about it until mid January, that's when I started gathering my gear a lot of which I've made myself. I'm planning to leave Springer in late April. If you want you can hike along with me. PM me.

[hubcap]

I could depart with 2 hours notice - quick run to the store, pack.... GO! Dang..... I really could depart with 2 hours notice.... interesting thought.....

[bigcranky]

Do you already have some backpacking experience? All your gear? Then this is an easy "yes". I'd lean toward leaving in mid-April, both to cut down on the crowds a little, and to minimize the cold weather gear you'd need for an earlier start. (You'll still need some warm clothing.)

If this would be a totally new experience, and you need to buy all new gear, then my answer is a more qualified "maybe". There are plenty of successful thru-hikers who had their first-ever night in the backcountry on top of Springer on the first day of their thru. But having eight weeks to figure out what gear you need, buy it all, test it, and then start hiking, well, that's not a huge amount of time.

(We met an older man from New Orleans on the trail in Georgia several years ago. He had never backpacked, but he went to the Neels Gap outfitter, right on the trail, they set him up with the proper gear and showed him how to use it, and he completed the trail. The advantage of Neels Gap is they specialize in the kind of gear that long distance hikers need -- most "backpacking" stores do not, especially the further you get from the AT.)

As for planning, well, you already know that no plan survives first contact with the enemy. There's a good resupply planning guide on the front page of this site, which will help with the initial planning. You'll need one of the two thru-hiker's guides, either the AT Guide or the Thru-Hiker's Companion - both are good, but since I'm a volunteer editor with the Companion, I'll recommend that. The guides have everything you need while on the trail - mileage to water, campsites, shelters, and roads, and also complete town information for getting into town for resupply. After a couple of weeks on the trail, you'll find it pretty easy to plan how many days of food you'll need to the next town, and hit the grocery store then get back on the trail.

Good luck. When my daughter had the opportunity to do something she really wanted to, but it would interrupt her life for a year, my advice was to make a choice that she won't regret in five years, or fifty. Grad school will still be there when she gets back.

[FatMan]

I've said it before and I'll say it again...plans are for city folk. Once you have your gear about the only plans you need to make are how you are getting to the trail. After that...just do it.

But that does not mean that you should not spend all of your 8 weeks educating yourself on long distance hiking, including doing a shakedown hike. Knowledge / experience and planning are different things.

[NewHeart]

Cranky, I want to say thank you for all the help and advice that you have given me over the last few months. It has helped me get ready for my hike with a fair amount of ease.

[saltysack]

GO!!!!!! Damn I'm jealous! I dream about the day when I can hit the trail for a few months with NO SCHEDULE or plans....just hike..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Otter Boy]

The question is: do you have the financial resources available to support yourself for 4-6 months without working?

[soumodeler]

Go for it. You may never get another chance.

If you have your gear lined up, grab and AWOL guide and enough food to get to Neel Gap. That is all the planning that is needed. You will figure it out on trail from there.

[Puddlefish]

The only concern I'd have is being careful if you order equipment online. You might not have enough time for the shipping, if it's coming from China, or certain cottage industries. Just pay attention to time frames.

[jj dont play]

Thanks for all of the great input so far!
I would put myself as a novice when it comes to backpacking/ hiking.
I have always been an endurance athlete with the exception of the past 2 years due to working a ton, but I know I have a decent base as far as conditioning and an understanding of pacing your self and listening to your body. The trail would be completely different then my running but I feel that the lessons I have learned will be transferable.
I camp and hunt public lands a lot. No where near the same thing but again like the running I feel some of the lessons learned will be valuable.
Finances for the trip are secured. Contractor in a field that is slow, current work is more stressful then it needs to be and unstable. Could go years or could end any day, neither would surprise me. Taking time off to do the AT would be a great break and the 6-7 months would probably be around the right time for things to pick back up, giving me more options upon my return. So basically instead of stretching out stressful work I could take a break, do the AT and ideally return to a better market and more options.
Well I do like to plan ahead I am more of a learn by doing type and pretty much always through the plans out the window. It's just nice to have the false peace of mind that you are prepared
Would need to get the bulk of the gear. I appreciate the tip of going to a store near the trail rather than just any backpacking store!

[Mags]

You have 8 weeks. Unless you're a total novice that should be plenty.

Indeed. Download the guthook app, get the appropriate guidebook and buy five days of food.

You say you are a novice backpacker, should be time to get in a few weekend trips to test out your gear set up as well.


Should be good to go.

Some Quick and Dirty info to help a bit perhaps:
http://www.pmags.com/a-quick-and-dir...alachian-trail

[saltysack]

Do you already have some backpacking experience? All your gear? Then this is an easy "yes". I'd lean toward leaving in mid-April, both to cut down on the crowds a little, and to minimize the cold weather gear you'd need for an earlier start. (You'll still need some warm clothing.)

If this would be a totally new experience, and you need to buy all new gear, then my answer is a more qualified "maybe". There are plenty of successful thru-hikers who had their first-ever night in the backcountry on top of Springer on the first day of their thru. But having eight weeks to figure out what gear you need, buy it all, test it, and then start hiking, well, that's not a huge amount of time.

(We met an older man from New Orleans on the trail in Georgia several years ago. He had never backpacked, but he went to the Neels Gap outfitter, right on the trail, they set him up with the proper gear and showed him how to use it, and he completed the trail. The advantage of Neels Gap is they specialize in the kind of gear that long distance hikers need -- most "backpacking" stores do not, especially the further you get from the AT.)

As for planning, well, you already know that no plan survives first contact with the enemy. There's a good resupply planning guide on the front page of this site, which will help with the initial planning. You'll need one of the two thru-hiker's guides, either the AT Guide or the Thru-Hiker's Companion - both are good, but since I'm a volunteer editor with the Companion, I'll recommend that. The guides have everything you need while on the trail - mileage to water, campsites, shelters, and roads, and also complete town information for getting into town for resupply. After a couple of weeks on the trail, you'll find it pretty easy to plan how many days of food you'll need to the next town, and hit the grocery store then get back on the trail.

Good luck. When my daughter had the opportunity to do something she really wanted to, but it would interrupt her life for a year, my advice was to make a choice that she won't regret in five years, or fifty. Grad school will still be there when she gets back.

+1...get gear and advice from backpackers not car campers at big box stores!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Slo-go'en]

Show up at Mountain Crossings at Neel gap with a wad of cash, tell them to "fix you up" and be on your way.

[soumodeler]

Show up at Mountain Crossings at Neel gap with a wad of cash, tell them to "fix you up" and be on your way.

If you have the cash, you really cant go wrong here.