youngest appalachian trail solo thru-hiker?
How old was the youngest, solo thru-hiker? I ask this because I'm planning to do a solo hike when I'm 18 and I'm curious as to wether or not that's an "extreme" age to do a solo hike...
though probally not a solo thru, I know that a 6yr old kid has thru hiker the AT
"Slap Happy" in 96 was 18.
"Kirby" last year...how old was he ?
What better time to do it...between high school and college, in your youth with teenager legs...some time to seriously think about what you want to do with your life and to carry with you for the rest of it the experience.
"Going to the woods is going home" - John Muir
"Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truely get into the heart of the wilderness" - John Muir
Kirby was 16 when he hiked. Worked it out with his high school. He may hold the record
"It was on the first of May, in the year 1769, that I resigned my domestic happiness for a time, and left my family and peaceable habitation on the Yadkin River, in North Carolina, to wander through the wilderness of America." - Daniel Boone
Kirby didn't solo his trip.Originally Posted by Lilred
He may have startred up the trail with a couple of other folks, but that lasted maybe to Neel Gap. I would call his hike a solo.
Don't know if he would be the youngest, but he would have to be close.
If people spent less time being offended and more time actually living, we'd all be a whole lot happier!
By solo I'd understand it to mean alone as in without a hiking partner for the duration of the trip.
Hiking as part of a group from time to time is going to happen and if that were the case there'd be room for arguing that no one ever actually hiked the entire trail solo.
"Going to the woods is going home" - John Muir
"Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truely get into the heart of the wilderness" - John Muir
Nah, 18 isn't that extreme. There was a 16 or 17 year old out this summer thru-hiking. His name was Ian. I never saw him after GSMNP. Still don't know if he ever made it. There's also Kirby.
what ever
In 2008, I saw several thru-hiker guys that were in the late teens. I do not think it is very common but certainly not rare.
Nor has anyone "thru hiked."
18 isnt a extreme age. im going to be doing it right when i get out of high shcool
Kirby turned 17 very early on in his hike (maybe in Franklin?). But he was definitely one of the younger dudes soloing it.
My son was 16, turned 17 in Maine, but we did it together - sort of.
I hiked a little with Kirby (17 when I met him in ME). His hike was as much a "solo" hike as anyone's. He took care of himself.
"Throw a loaf of bread and a pound of tea in an old sack and jump over the back fence." John Muir on expedition planning
In this context, shouldn't "solo" mean without supervision?
"It's fun to have fun, but you have to know how." ---Dr. Seuss
Yes, I would think so since we are talking about a minor child, under 18. Solo would indeed be without adult supervision.
"It was on the first of May, in the year 1769, that I resigned my domestic happiness for a time, and left my family and peaceable habitation on the Yadkin River, in North Carolina, to wander through the wilderness of America." - Daniel Boone
The last time I saw Ian was at the Wayne Henderson Festival at Grayson Highlands State Park. For awhile he had a little traveling concession where he sold snickers bars along the trail. Unfortunately a bear relieved him of his inventory at roaring fork shelter. A very nice and respectful young man.
Do yall remember Cascade? She thru hiked with the Odd Couple and her brother Mudslide a few years ago. I guess she was about 10 then. I think she's going to do a solo this year and she must be around 14 now. I saw one post she did on TJ about a month ago or so.
[COLOR="Blue"]Hokey Pokey [/COLOR]
Of course nobody had mentioned Baby Gregg (Smith) who walked the length of the trail in 1990 at just 6 and 1/2 years old.
There was a SoBo I think in 07 don't think she had a trail name. Introduced herself as Betsy when I met her I heard she was about 16 or 17. I am not a real good judge of age and the age that I was told I am not real sure was correct but she was pretty young. when I saw her she said she hadn't seen anyone in a few days and hadn't camped with anyone for over a week. :bliss:
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