Seven Tips for a Successful Thru-hike

[Johnny Swank]

Seven Tips for a Successful Expedition

After traveling over 5,000 miles on the Appalachian Trail and Mississippi River, I've found seven thing that help to make for a sucessful expedition. Success means different things to different people, so throw out whatever doesn't work for you.

1. Take less stuff: Before you leave, split your gear into three piles - Essential (sleeping bag, toothbrush), Might Want (camp chair, extra towel), and Nice To Have (radio, expresso mug). Get rid of the last two piles—you’ll never miss them. Less gear means less to buy, less to carry, less to keep dry, and less to repair.

2. Schedule: Make a schedule at home, then burn it as soon as you start your trip. Those things never work anyway and just cause more stress. Better yet, don't have a firm ending date at all. Who knows, you might end up on a sailboat in Bali. Weirder things have happened.

3. Money: Estimate how much you'll need, then take double that amount. Make sure to put some funds aside to live on when you return.

4. Re-entry: Take some time when you're done to reflect on the journey. Jumping into the rat race too soon is a good way to forget those lessons you've worked so hard to get.

5. Raingear and duct tape: don't leave the driveway without them.

6. Sense of humor: Pack plenty. Resupply often.

7. Go with the flow: Something's going to mess up. It's just going to happen. How you deal with it is up to you. (I need to remember this one more.)

That's about all there is to it. Now go get outside.


Selected excerpt from the book Source to Sea:A Journey down the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers.
Release date: 2006
Copyright: 2006

[1Pint]

Thanks for the Cliff's Notes version that captures everything. Maybe that's what I should post in my office next to the AT map.

[fiddlehead]

Very good list. But i'd trade no. 4 for this one: Know before you take that first step that you are going to make it. (or if you don't know, you won't make it)
I especially like 1,and 2

[Sly]

Very good list. But i'd trade no. 4 for this one: Know before you take that first step that you are going to make it. (or if you don't know, you won't make it)
I especially like 1,and 2

Yeah, #4 is after the hike, not a tip for a successful hike and should be last if included at all.

[crutch]

I love rule #2.....here's a thought: if they must have a schedule, write it on T.P. and then at least it will be useful for something.

[Peaks]

I'd advise everyone to make a tentative schedule, but then be very flexible about implementing it. It allowed me to plan resupply, and gave family and others a rough time frame of when I expected to be where. If I were to do it again, I'd still make a plan.

[gunner76]

Have enough time to complete your adventure

To me going on a trip implies everything is already planed and you know what to expect and when. Boring

I preferr an adventure as you never know what will happend or when.

I also agree that we should each hike our own hike.

[Phoenixfyrebird]

[QUOTE=gunner76;1143371]To me going on a trip implies everything is already planed and you know what to expect and when. Boring

Well, there's always more than one way to plan an adventure. I think the frame of mind to go on said adventure makes all the difference. Just to simply prepare for the worst yet expect the best is the plan ... no matter where you go or what you end up doing.

Everything can be an adventure...like Wally World visits for example - how does one find those boring with such an eclectic mix of individuals of good forms, questionable forms, and slightly odd yet entertaining forms also. Or what's down the next isle...it may say canned goods, but turns out granola is there with coffee also. Just never know what you may leave with also. Just the 'list' items or bonus ones 'needed' also since you've possibly been meaning to pick up that new pillowcase (pillows too...when have I last washed mine?).

[GreenJaint]

These tips are really useful. Thanks a lot.

[Gaiter]

1. Take less stuff: Before you leave, split your gear into three piles - Essential (sleeping bag, toothbrush), Might Want (camp chair, extra towel), and Nice To Have (radio, expresso mug). Get rid of the last two piles—you’ll never miss them. Less gear means less to buy, less to carry, less to keep dry, and less to repair.

I don't know if i completely agree w/ this one, i like the three piles thing. definitly get rid of the 'might want' pile. but have one or two things from your 'nice to have' pile, its the little things that make you happy when your hiking for a long time, and sometimes having that little thing that makes life a tiny bit easier really helps (expresso mug not included in that comment)

also i would add an 8th rule

8) HIKE YOUR OWN HIKE!!!! This rule can't be said enough, don't go any faster than your body and mind can handle, it doesn't matter that john doe can hike 20 mile days. My rule of thumb is to keep my legs moving at a steady pace, but adjust my stride to how far my legs can move my weight w/o hurting, so if i have to take baby steps to get up a mountain then i will take baby steps to get up a mountain. Find your own rule of thumb and be willing to change it for yourself and no one else.

also fiddlehead i like your rule goes along w/ the quote 'a thousand mile journey begins with one step'

[Grampie]

Another one:
Have enough time to complete your adventure. Folks who start a thru and have to be finished by a specific date are comming to the plate with one strike on them already.

[T-Dubs]

also fiddlehead i like your rule goes along w/ the quote 'a thousand mile journey begins with one step'

When I read that bit of motivation I am often reminded of this site:

http://www.despair.com/ambition.html

Tom

[Johnny Swank]

I agree with that Grampie. We were sort of under the gun on the Mississippi trip and I had that constantly on my mind in the beginning stages. I did the same thing on the AT, only it was more related to money issues.

Good point about deciding before the trip if you're going to finish. I always stress that in my slideshows, and think there's alot of validity in that. There's nothing wrong with 'I'm going to get as far as I get", but I don't think that that helps to actually complete the AT. Granted, sometimes that goal can be a burden as well. I've seen dozens of miserable hikers that would probably be better served by getting off the trail and going to the beach for a month.

[Gaiter]

lol, thats great!!

[dsg]

thanks. it's all helpful. going to start in march, tell everyone i'll be back in august, but really know, that don't know when. am closing my business, and will open it up when i damn well please when i get back. been working 32 years and i'm sick of it anyway. todays my first day on this site.

[Jack Tarlin]

I like your attitude.

Welcome to Whiteblaze!!

[freefall]

todays my first day on this site.

Lots of great info and wonderful people here!

[maxNcathy]

Starting north Mar 19th how NECESSARY is a stove?
Thanks, Sandalwood

[Johnny Swank]

Stoves aren't an absolute necessity, but I'd strongly encourage you to at least carry one for awhile till you're comfortable with the no-cook thing. You can go to Walmart and pick up a complete out for about $10. Pick up a Grease Pot and buy a can of cat food in an aluminium can to make a stove with. Go to the auto section and by a bottle of HEET in the yellow bottle (denatured alcohol). Make a windscreen from some aluminum foil from home. Boom-instant cook set.

Carry that set at least till you get through the Smokies if not beyond. Try the no-cook thing to see how you like it, but carry a lipton meal or 3 as a backup. You might find that you really like to be able to heat up some liquid without making a fire.

At the very least, carry the cookpot, but you really better have your firebuilding mojo in gear. That's a cold, wet time of year to not carry a stove.

There's a ton of info on alcohol stoves in the Homemade gear section. You can make a minimal setup for next to nothing if all you want to do is heat a couple of cups of water at a time.

[Footslogger]

Starting north Mar 19th how NECESSARY is a stove?
Thanks, Sandalwood

==================================

There's NO substitute for a warm meal on a cold night. I left Springer on 3/19 (2001 with my wife) and 3/29 on my own thru in 2003 and despite the weather changes from year to year ...you're gonna have some cold nights (and even some cool/cold days). After a full day of walking and then setting up camp, your body needs some quality rest and a good warm meal goes a long way toward getting a good nights sleep and staying warm.

Sure ...you can go it without a stove. But the benefit of a good warm meal outweighs the cost in ounces of carrying a stove.

But, like someone else said, you can always experiment by carrying one for a while and then leaving it behind.

Just my $ .02

'Slogger