AHH the CT…
This summer was my first thru hike of the CT. With the help of the ever so friendly trailguy. I am in college and hiked the trail with my 21 year old girlfriend. We hiked from June 1 to August 3. We are both from Omaha, NE and with little physical training were able to thruhike the trail in 33 days. Before the hike i was like most others i see in this forum always trying to make things super complicated. We encountered all types of weather but managed to maintain a possitive attitude through it all. After two weeks what we learned (this will not work for everybody):
- goes without saying (LIGHTEN UP YOUR EQUIPEMENT)
-This means bring LESS stuff - Do not cook food (to complex) or bring a stove or Pot
- Do not send yourself resupply boxes
- Never ever camp above treeline
- Tarps are the best and easiest to setup and take down
- Walk for a long time not fast, and take breaks when necessary (This will help lighten up your first aid kit ~Duct tape)
- 1 trekking pole is plenty, 2 is too complicated
- Know how to setup camp in the dark and under bad weather
- MOST IMPORTANTLY… When town is close go and eateateat and while you are in town see what you are not using and send it home. Why have a rain coat when you have a tarp, etc. every little thing in your pack counts
- Mental stregth is much more important than physical strength when it comes to this trail the sights and sounds were one of a kind, and at the end of the day if you journal you did not walk long enough.
~boomer and banana
Boomer
