Cost of AT thru-hike minus equipment

imported
#1

I’d like to hear people’s thoughts about the cost of an Appalachian Trail though-hike, exclusive of the cost of equipment and transportation.

In other words, assuming my equipment is all purchased, and I’m standing on the edge of the trail at either end ready to start hiking, what amount of money will likely be required to get me to the other end, for trail food and fuel, and for town stops for occasional lodging and meals?

High and low figures, and the reasoning behind them, would be appreciated. I’m doing my planning now. Thanks.

Nunam

Nunam Iqua

#2

Cost range from $1000-5000+. Just depends on how much you want to spend during your hike.

TwoCan

#3

Theres really alot of factors that play into how much you spead.The bigest two in my opion are you going to be solo or with a group,and how fast your moving.Just remember for most people they eat everything in site when they get into town.Also weather plays a big part in how much you stay in hostles / hotels.All in all two can is right on the money for cost.Hope this helps and good luck

RESTSTOP

#4

50 cents per mile is very budget (in-and-out town days without hotels/hostels/campgrounds, hiker box “shopping” before grocery store shopping, minimal restaurant meals, no stove or stove fuel, hitching not shuttles/taxis, 1000+ miles on your sneakers, no batteries, one sleeing bag the whole way, lots of DIY gear repair, etc.).

$2 per mile is plush (lots of hotels, lots of restaurants, lots of beer, lots of stuff, lots of amenities, frequent gear replacement, summertime sleeping bag purchase, etc.).

There are many other things that you can do to minimize your on trail costs (mail drops with food/postcards/stamps/batteries/bugspray/DEET/soap/laundry detergent/Purell, travelers checks in mail drops, prepurchase replacement gear and sneakers). The only thing that might have trouble shipping is stove fuel. These changes wont eliminate the costs, or even reduce them, but it will make them more predictible from the get go.

The reason that I’m giving you confusing rates (that require multiplication products) rather than hard totals is because less than 10% of the people who are, “standing on the edge of the trail at either end ready to start hiking” actually complete the trail. More likely, less than 500 miles will be hiked. I hope this helps!

space monkey

#5

So far, I’ve gotten two responses, one person saying $1,000 to $5,000 will do it; another saying $1,080 to $4,320 will do it (using muliplication and division and not changing the factual scenario proposed).

If we assume the trail is 2,160 miles long; that a hiker walks 12 miles per day every day for six months (180 days); that comes out to $5.54 per day, or $38.78 per week; on a budget of $1,000 for the trip.

Have people actually done this?

Nunam iqua