How to Fund a Thru Hike

[lonehiker]

Let's solve this problem. You have 15 months until your hike. Get a job at McDs and shoot for 15 hours a week. 15 x 9.00 an hour is 135 dollars a week. Time 4 equals 540 a month. Multiply this by 15 months and you end up with 8,100. Let's take out 15% for taxes, SS etc. (at your income level that is probably too high and you would actually pay almost no taxes) and you end up with 6,885. Let's be generous and allow 5,000 for the trip. I always shoot for about 1,000 a month for a long hike. This leaves you with 1,885 for gear. If you already have gear then that amount could be used for transportation to/from the trailheads. If you don't have gear 1,885 will be more than adequate to get you decently equipped. But, you still need to get to/from the trailheads. Did I mention that at your income level you probably won't be paying 15% in taxes? Well there is your transportation funds. We still haven't accounted for "emergency/gear" funds. Shoot for 20 hours a week and the extra 180 a month translates into 2,700 (minus possible taxes of course) and there you go...

[Mother Natures Son]

Knew of one Thru Hiker who would get a job (Off the trail.) until he had enough to go on. The only problem was when he hits the Whites it was starting to get too late to go on. Cindy Ross (In her book.) told a cool story on how she could afford the hike. She worked her b.. off working two or more jobs just to afford the hike.