Hi
I am planning to hike about 200 miles or less in August, starting on Springer.
I wonder if someone could tell me what daily mileage should I plan for. I thought I would do about 20 but after reading others’ journals I am no longer so sure.
Repeciara
Well it depends on your conditioning and weight your carrying. Have you been hiking for a long time? Will you already have your trail legs? I couldn’t begin to tell you how well you’ll hike without knowing you.
On the other hand, are you some sort of speed demon? Why not plan lower mileage? Last summer I did that section, but I started north and went south. I started with 6 miles (1/2 day), then 12 miles, then 14 miles, then 16 miles which I averaged (including off trail miles) until I met a partner at Neels gap and slowed back down to 10-12 miles per day. I found about 14-16 mile days a comfortable daily milage, but I had a 38 pound starting weight and had good trail legs before I started (notice I didn’t say great) which made the trip feel about right - never like I was pushing myself.
SGT Rock
I was surprised at how rough Georgia was. There is a lot of ups and downs, but not near as much as the North Carolina/Tennassee. Certainly, I think that the first 160 miles are some of the toughest miles on the AT.
200 miles will take you about 1/2 way through the Smokies to Newfound Gap. If you hike my pace, it will take you 15 days to get there (My overall average was just under 14 miles per day at that time). However, I hiked much faster than most, and didn’t take any days off, and skipped a few towns. What does the average hiker do? Well, maybe 10 miles per day average overall. If so, then you will get to Newfound Gap in 20 days.
So, like Rock says, what shape are you in? Like Rock, I think that I was in reasonable shape, certainly much better than the typical hiker starting out, so I could average 14 miles per day. And, if Rock is certainly in better shape also than the typical, so don’t plan your trip based soley on our progress.
Peaks
screw mileage. if you’re hiking the month of Aug., just hike. don’t fall into the “thru-hiker” mentality. if you wake up in the morning and hike 5 miles to a spot you think is wonderful and you’d like to stop and camp; do it. so what if it’s only 11:00a.m. you’ll never see a thru-hiker type do it. they never take “0” days in the woods. section hiking is THE ultimate way to see the AT.
Lone Wolf
Thanks for all advice
I guess i will have to adopt the “screw the mileage” attitude after all.
One more question: Is there any sense to take a sleeping bag ( I’ve got a North Face 20 degrees bag) if it is ( as the average weather records say - 60-70 degrees at night) so hot in August there?
And one more : Would anyone recommend taking a 3 lbs. bearproof container instead of a food bag to hang every night( I got no experierience in doing it whatsoever)?
And actually one more question: How much water do I need to carry between water sources(which might be scarce in the dead of a summer I’ve been told)? Is 4 liter water bag enough or too much perhaps?
Thanks again.
R.
Repeciara
Well, I’m a thru-hiker, but Lone Wolf certainly makes a valid point. Everyone should hike their own hike. And there should be more to an adventure on the Appalachaian Trail other than cranking out the miles. Stop and smell the roses.
And there is room for both. As I thru-hiker, I did a lot of miles. I didn’t have much use for towns, so I didn’t linger there. But, on occassions, I did linger at senic places along the trail. Overview Mountain is comes to mind immediately, but there were others. If you make an effort to get an early start in the morning, then there is time during the day to get some miles done, and to linger and enjoy the senery where you want to in route. The other thing that keeps your average up is to hike every day, and not get caught in the town suck. I never hiked big miles, but I hiked consecutive days, and that resulted in an overall average that was much better than most.
But, back to the inital question. It asked about daily milage, I answered it. Anyone who goes on a backpacking trip should have some kind of a plan and idea of how long they intend to spend in the woods, or between resupply points.
Sleeping Bag? Average weather records are from lower elevations. The AT is high, so you need to deduct say 15 degrees from published records. So, average low temperature is probably 45 degrees. Could get colder than that. I suggest a summer weight bag, say 40 degree, or a fleece blanket. I think that you will sweat in a 20 degree bag.
Bear bag? Just hang a regular stuff sack, at least 10 feet off the ground, and at least 4 feet from a tree trunk. Most of the bad bears are in Georgia, and there are bear lines at nearly all of the shelters. Didn’t hear of bear problems in NC/TN. Most of the bad bears have been chased out of the Smokies.
4 liters sounds like a lot of water. The ranger at Amicolola Falls State Park can update you with the water sources when you get there, but I’d probably carry 2 liters and count on filling up at least once during the day and in the evening.
Peaks
Lone Wolf is absolutly right about the mileage. If I find a nice spot I like to stay at, then I do. I had a zero day at Dismal Falls in Virginia on one section hike because I hit it just the right time and had the whole place to myself, fortunatelty I had a ride that was available to call anc change pick up location. I would suggest you develope options to bail out at a different place if your stuck with a time scheduel like most of us are. That way if you have 10 days to hike, and only make it 100 miles, you have a way to get out of the woods without feeling like you need to go another 100 miles.
Canister, I don’t think you need it. I have always just used a stuff sack and some 550 cord. There are cables at almost every Georgia shelter, and really you will worry more about mice than bears if you use shelters. I also wouldn’t limit myself to shelters, there are some great places to camp like the Blackwell Creek, or the bluffs near Muskrat Creek shelter.
I would bring a sleeping bag because the weather can be funny. I once had 36 degree weather on July 4th in the North Carolina Mountains. If it isn’t cold, just leave it unzipped and use it as a blanket.
As for water, it depends on the recent weather and water availability. In that section I usually only force feed myself about 2 liters at each meal, then walk with a liter, maybe 2.
SGT Rock