AT compare to PCT

imported
#1

my name is Dot , i’m plan to hike the AT on April 21 as northbounder , my goal is 4 months or less , i never done any hiking in the east coast before , but i did hike the JMT in 2001 in 15 days,2002 Alaskan Glacier in 17 days , and the PCT in 2005 in 4.5 months , my questions is since i’m on the budget and my boss only allow me take 3 months leave of absence plus my 2 weeks vacation , can i hike the AT less then 4 months , my goal is 8 to 9 hours a day or 20 to 25 miles !!! it possible for me to do 30plus !!! i did some 30miles day on the PCT in Oregon !!!my goal is stay on the trail mmuch as possible no hotel , may be the hostel and few restaurant, i have total of 20 food drop !!! and how do i get a cheap ride from Atlanta airport ??? please help !!!the poor thru hiker !!! thank you

D.O.T

#2

Your plans sound like a real hassle, rushed and very restricted. Where’s the fun in that?

got milf?

#3

Hey DOT - I never got to meet you in '05 on the PCT, but I heard about you! I’m sure you can hike the AT in less than 4 months. Overall, the AT is more rugged than the PCT in terms of steep ups & downs, but there are many sections of the AT where you can CRUISE - like from SNP (northern VA) all the way to New Hampshire. The mid-Atlantic states are comparable to Oregon in terms of difficulty, so you should be able to get a bunch of 30 plus mile days there.

The Whites, and the Mahoosics are very rugged, so you’re mileage will probably come down in those sections, but that’s not more than about 100 miles of trail. I hiked with a guy for a couple days in '96 on my 1st AT thru-hike and he did the AT in 99 days, without too much difficulty. He got up at dawn and walked all day…

Happy Trails DOT!

freebird

#4

The AT is not the PCT, nor is it the John Muir.

Both of those trails (PCT and JMT), I even did 30’s a couple of times, and averaged on good days…when I wasn’t loafing about 20s…14 on the JMT in late spring

The AT is MUCH MUCH MUCH more rugged.

remember those nice long switchbacks that took awhile and of course you could see forever as you were going down them but your feet and ankles felt great the whole time?

Forget that on the AT.
The At says “Screw you” to the low grades…there are points on the AT where you are going almost 90 degree angles down hill, swear to you, and your feet hurt WAY more on the At then they will anywhere on the PCT.

go for it and good luck, but be realistic as to what you are facing.

Lion King

#5

Met a hiker in 05 who was whacking out 30+ miles a day she was beautiful and had little tiny dog with her. (her husband would meet her so often and switch out her dog for her other dog. Both dogs were so cute and they actually ran with her at home and on the trail. Her trail name was “New Hampshire” and I was totally impressed!

You do not have to finish the A T to have a great experience. The challenge is on you and I honestly think that even if you only did 1/4 of the trail it would be so worth it!

If I was back home I would offer a hand, But I am tied up now.
You Go Dot and Go light and well!

1/4 of the way

#6

Hi DOT,

I think you can hike an enjoyable AT within your time frame. You already figured that you’ll minimize your town time. You’ll probably minimize time in shelters by hiking your days according to hours rather than shelter placement for your stops. There were times on the AT that I was surprised at the lower mile days but I compensated by hiking longer days. I took 7 zero days and could have hiked with fewer but I was in no rush.

IMHO, hiking the AT with your schedule will make your AT experience less of a social hike and give you more of a woods/wilderness experience (more like your other hikes but still you’ll see more people).

Have a great hike!

Marcia

#7

That is a BIG difference… there are lots of stops and some of them hard to pass up…:))) you are not gonna have 100 stretches inbetween towns…in fact the longest roadless area is 40 miles in the smokies…don’t let the towns suck you in…:)) and have a great hike…

yappy

#8

I had similar constraints on my 05 AT Thruhike. I made it in 4 months. As Yappy said I usually only spent enough time in town to pick up my mail drop. I got poision ivy really bad on the hike which ended up causing cellulitus and a staff infection for a total of about 10 days off in hospital and hotel. I was 63. I missed a lot of the social stuff but I really enjoyed the challenge. I am a distance runner, maybe that explains it. Just put the hammer down!! If an old man can do it you should have no problem. Good luck.

Steady On

#9

Hey DOT - looks like everyone else covered the hike. The only thing left is getting you to the trail from Atlanta.

Contact Josh & Leigh Saint at The Hiker Hostel (www.hikerhostel.com). You may have to catch the MARTA for a few miles, but Leigh will bring you up to the Hostel for $68. They run a great place (best on the trail) and shuttle you to Springer after breakfast.

Forest Grump