If you don’t mind me asking, how much did the trail itself cost.
Only what you spent on the trail, such as town food and hotels, resupplies, and I suppose the cost of your maildrops would fit into that as well.
Looking for averages!
Thanks
~peter
svgklingon
Please clarify your question. For the most part, the trail itself is free. There are a few places where shelters and tent sites have a caretaker, and there is usually a fee there. Mostly in Vermont, the White Mountains, and Baxter State Park. Other than that, the money is spent in towns along the way.
Generally speaking, a thru-hike costs between $3000 and $4000 for most people. Many spend less (I did), some spend more. It largely depends on how well you want to live while in town, and how much time you spend in towns.
Peaks
Yes my question was not very specific.
I am trying to get an idea of how much it costs once you’ve started your hike. So costs not including gear,(although gear replaced on the trail would count but I imagine this would vary a great deal as different things break down for different people.) In theory I’d like to spend very little time in town but that is easy for me to say now. My fiancee and I will be hiking together and figure $2000 apiece should be enough for us to make it to Maine. This is after all gear has been bought and food has been a least bought and packaged in our maildrops, althought shipping costs would still be added.
svgklingon
We spent about 4 grand between us including several hotels, new gear and feel good stuff…and beer.
Bushwhack and Bramble '01
I spent carelessly on the first half of my hike and spent 1250 to 1750. Then decided to put myself on a budget in PA of 750. I didn’t think it would be possible but I ended up spending only 650. 4000 for both of you is possible for on trail expences. If you still need to buy gear before the trail starts then add that to the total. My parents paid for the postage so I’m not sure how much it came to but my dad did say that UPS is cheaper than USPS.
Good luck
TB
TurkeyBacon
I met a guy in MD that spent $300 for the first 1/2 of the trail.
He tented out for 70 straight nights, and ate out of hiker boxes.
I was going to buy him a meal in town, near Penn-Mar, but he
left camp before I woke and I never saw him again.
My budget was busted when I had to go home twice. Once for a
sprained ankle, the next time for Lyme disease. Plan to do
more this year, but maybe not finish until next year.
Mailing expenses weren’t too bad, but postage just went up.I had 12 mail drops. Didn’t use them all, yet.
Scamp
Scamp
I actually spent about $1900 while hiking the trail. I was able to keep my expenses down by minimizing time in towns. The only days off I took were 2 days to go to Trail Days. I also minimized by beer drinking.
So, if you want to hike the trail for $2000 apiece, then avoid the budget busters. This includes hotels, beer, and zero days.
Peaks
I can only speak from the perspective of having used only one maildrop myself–at Neel’s Gap/Walasi-Yi–but I noticed many people discarding food from their drops, because of food “fatigue” and pre-packaging too much food, and then often buying food in towns ANYWAY. (Not to mention the fact that many people got “stuck” in towns, waiting for the post offices to open to pick up those drops. Non-P.O. drop sites are a good idea, if you check with them in advance to confirm addresses and if they’re still holding packages.) My point, though, is that I’m not sure how much money maildrops really save people. Again, I didn’t use them and found, in many places (if not most) I could bargain shop pretty well if I tried. Just a thought.
Ramkitten
My husband and I spent just shy of $4000 between the two of us on our sobo thru hike last year. We didn’t splurge too much in towns and limited our stays at hotels. About half way through the hike we decided that we no longer wanted our food maildrops sent so started buying our food in stores along the way. That is what boosted our costs the most I think but it was more convenient and pleasing to the palate.
Budder Ball