Two 17 year olds thru hike in around 60 days. Is it possible?

[k.boone88]

My friend and I want to thru-hike the AT in the summer of 2017. We have plenty of time to train, but we have to finish in around 60 days, so we can get back to school. We have light packweights, are very passionate, and are pretty fit soccer players. Any chance we can do it?

[Kaptainkriz]

37 miles a day, every day, can you?

[One Half]

37 miles a day, every day, can you?

like he said ^^^

It's possible. Will it be a supported or self supported thru hike? Realize the speed records are about 54 days?

[Woodturner]

It's been done, but very few could get away with it. It would probably take away a lot of the enjoyment you would get with a saner pace.
IMO you would be better off to try getting an extra month at each end. Ask the school administrators. If you can make a case for education gained by walking it might surprise you. This too has been done.

The best alternative might be waiting one more year. The school concern won't be there and your bodies might be a little better to handle the stresses of hiking every day.

[MuddyWaters]

probably not.
And Im being polite.

Nothing wrong with hiking as far as you can get though.

[DavidNH]

Yes it's possible. Is it desirable? worth it? would it be any fun? I highly doubt it. Why not just do half the trail and actually enjoy the experience. I don't get these speed hiking yahoos who think life is all about competition.

[Lone Wolf]

My friend and I want to thru-hike the AT in the summer of 2017. We have plenty of time to train, but we have to finish in around 60 days, so we can get back to school. We have light packweights, are very passionate, and are pretty fit soccer players. Any chance we can do it?

heck yeah. go for it

[rafe]

Odds are about 1 in 1000, I'd say. Why not just hike as far as you can in that time? The trail's not going anywhere.

[4eyedbuzzard]

60 days? That's actually hiking (feet moving northbound on the trail - not camping, eating, taking breaks, resupplying in town, etc) 12+ hours per day at an average 3 miles per hour. Every day, every possible daylight hour. That's really, really, hard to do.

Less than a handful of very experienced long distance hikers have ever completed the AT that quickly.

I doubt 1% of those who complete the trail do so in under 90 days, never mind 60.

So, go for it! But even if you are in top shape, you need to have a back-up plan to get back home if you don't make it.

[illabelle]

Y'all are so pessimistic. Pay attention, there's two of 'em. One can hike the northern half while the other hikes the southern half.

[Heliotrope]

Half the trail is a great goal. Enjoy it whatever you do.! If it's only half come back the following summer for the rest of it.


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[AO2134]

Possible, but statistically unlikely. But heck man, just because most can't do it, doesn't mean you can't. Don't limit yourself by the limitations of others. I don't think I could ever keep that pace.

What is your backpacking experience? Don't underestimate the collective toll on your body of doing tough miles day in and day out.

[Water Rat]

My friend and I want to thru-hike the AT in the summer of 2017. We have plenty of time to train, but we have to finish in around 60 days, so we can get back to school. We have light packweights, are very passionate, and are pretty fit soccer players. Any chance we can do it?

to White Blaze! It's pretty rare for anyone to finish the trail in 60 days, but that does not mean it cannot be done. You and your friend will have to decide how bad you want to attain that goal and then go for it.

You have plenty of time to train and plan for your trek. Do know that while general fitness is great and extremely helpful, the only thing that truly prepares you for backpacking is actual backpacking. Do you and your friend have spring break free? Time during this summer? Getting in some practice trips will help you to decide what gear works (and what gear needs to change for a longer trek), what you might need to do differently (if anything) in your daily conditioning, and can get some of the questions answered in advance of your hike.

Even if you ultimately decide not to go for the whole trail in one attempt - Get out there and have fun! Best of luck and I wish you a safe & happy hike!

[iAmKrzys]

I rarely achieve all my goals but if I don't set them I achieve much less. Good luck!

[Sarcasm the elf]

My friend and I want to thru-hike the AT in the summer of 2017. We have plenty of time to train, but we have to finish in around 60 days, so we can get back to school. We have light packweights, are very passionate, and are pretty fit soccer players. Any chance we can do it?

The current Men's record for a traditional thru hike on the trail 58 days 9 hours*, prior to that the record of 60.5 days held for nearly two decades. So the short answer is no, you can't reasonably expect to hop on trail and complete it in 60 days.

The good news is that if you have 60 days to be on the trail, then you can be on the trail for 60 days. So go for it, knock out a thousand or so miles in those two months and have the time of your lives. You won't regret it.




*There are no official record of fastest hike times. The accepted fastest known times are done on the honor system and kept track of at the FKT site http://fastestknowntime.proboards.com/thread/6

[k.boone88]

Thanks for all the feedback! Excited to try no matter what. Any speed and/or training tips

[cmoulder]

Do some week-long "shakedown cruises" to hone your hiking technique, to find out if your gear is comfortable and adequate, and that your shoes fit well. And practice making and striking your camp quickly. After consecutive 40-mile days you're going to want your kit really dialed in so that you can eat dinner and get to sleep quickly.

[4eyedbuzzard]

Here's the quick test: Start training and building up by running distances, and running stairs and hills, and anything else you can, with a loaded pack. This spring or summer, once in shape, go to Amicalola Falls State Park in GA. Start at the crack of dawn on the Approach Trail and hike as fast as you can northbound continuing onto the AT at its beginning on Springer Mtn. If you don't make Neel Gap by sunset, you aren't going to make it.

[Woodturner]

Here's the quick test: Start training and building up by running distances, and running stairs and hills, and anything else you can, with a loaded pack. This spring or summer, once in shape, go to Amicalola Falls State Park in GA. Start at the crack of dawn on the Approach Trail and hike as fast as you can northbound continuing onto the AT at its beginning on Springer Mtn. If you don't make Neel Gap by sunset, you aren't going to make it.

You should have added:
And then ask yourself if you can do it every day for sixty days in a row.

[FatMan]

Go for it!

It doesn't matter if you don't get all the way in 60 days. In fact once you get out there you may very well decide that a slower pace will be more to your liking. The trail will always be waiting when time permits for you to finish up.