If you had to choose only one answer, what is the worst part of hiking the Appalachian Trail?
If you had to choose only one answer, what is the worst part of hiking the Appalachian Trail?
the first two weeks until you get your trail legs and start getting into a rhythm
Having to resupply
Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread.
-Edward Abbey
Rain and cold.
the B. O.
...............
the mental game (you must play to win)
from someone who's not done a thru - it't the blasted waiting which means I start to over plan things ..... patience grasshopper .....
As far as I'm concerned. Leaving the trail is truly the worst part.
Just the rain. Everything else is fan-damn-tastic.
Looking down at your non-existent ankle bone (too swollen to see it), having Shoto look you in the eye and saying, "You're done for this year".
Old Hiker
AT Hike 2012 - 497 Miles of 2184
AT Thru Hiker - 29 FEB - 03 OCT 2016 2189.1 miles
Just because my teeth are showing, does NOT mean I'm smiling.
Hányszor lennél inkább máshol?
rain & rain. oops, just one answer. That would be rain.
Easy choice for me: Lyme Disease. It has been nearly 8 years since I became infected and I'm still dealing with it. Diagnosed late...
The Cost...
And I don't just mean the money needed for gear, transportation, resupply, etc. I'm also talking about being able to afford to take time off from work/career and time away from other family responsibilities, etc.
So as much as I would like to try to do an AT thru hike, I just don't see being able to afford it at this point in my life.
the boredom!
I'm so confused, I'm not sure if I lost my horse or found a rope.
Damp rainy humid weather in summer.
HST/JMT August 2016
TMB/Alps Sept 2015
PCT Mile 0-857 - Apr/May 2015
Foothills Trail Feb 2015
Colorado Trail Aug 2014
AT: Rockfish Gap to Boiling Springs 2014
John Muir Trail Aug/Sept 2013
how beat up my body felt at the end. I promised my knees I wouldn't run or hike for a month if they got me back down Katahdin.
The steepness. Some will disagree, but I'm convinced that the excessive steepness (switchbacks? not on the AT!) is the #1 reason for the huge failure rate for thru hikers. There are just too many stupidly, pointlessly steep sections.
There are too many people on it.