I am wondering how much hiking experience others have had prior to a thru-hike? I have hiked for about 10 years, but the longest trip was about 12 days (no resupply points, it was a loop trail in a provincial park).
How much experience do you recommend? If you were to do it all over again would you have taken more short trips to prepare? If you are planning a first thru-hike, how much experience do you have?
Thanks!
Nunyet
My longest trip prior to '01 Ga>Me was about 30 miles over 3 days. 3 Days! The AT is really not much different as far as gear and logistics are concerned. It is just a long series of four or five day trips back to back over about four, five or six months. You will be fine. There is only so much you can prepare before you begin your hike. You can test your gear, attempt to get in shape physically but when the time comes a 3, 5, even 12 day trip seems like a drop in the bucket. Mentally and physically the AT will be something tottaly different than anything you have ever experienced. The only way to prepare fully for an AT thru-hike is to do an AT thru-hike. Have fun.
two.o.four
You’ll be fine. Many many AT hikers have little or no experience; compared to them, you’re an expert. You will find it different, being out for five or six months, but not that different. You know your equipment, you know how to set up camp and deal with the elements, you know you like hiking and camping – the rest is just doing it.
FWIW, prior to my first thruhike, I had never been out for more than four days at a time. I had only been backpacking for about three years and hiking for about four. I did a lot of training before I went, but because of work, time in the mountains was limited. After a month there is very little difference between those with prior experience and those with none. Starting out, the differences are mainly in comfort level and LNT understanding. Some very experienced backpackers can have trouble on the AT simply because they are expecting more of a wilderness experience than they get. It is a well marked, well maintained social trail through the Appalachians and rural areas of the East, not a wilderness trail through the mountains of Montana. Beautiful and challenging, but different.
Spirit Walker
Thank you Spirit Walker and two.o.four - ever since I discovered Trailjournals/trailforums I have been thinking of doing this hike almost every day. Your encouragement is tipping the balance from thinking about it— to --actually doing it.
Any recommended guidebooks?
Nunyet
Bill Bryson “A Walk in the Woods”, to start with. Hilarious! ISBN 0-552-99702-1
Happy Reading,
Regards,
Mitch:)
Mitch
There are seveal books available. The Appalachian Trail Conference and/or Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association can supply what is necessary.
I would recommend: The Appalachian Trail: A Visitor’s Companion by Leonard M. Adkins. It not only gives historical material about the Appalachian Trail but it describes the Plants and Animals found along the trail. In the back of the book there are addresses of important organizations. Also, in the appendix there is a list of recommended readings and field guides. The book is indexed well. The author has hiked the Appalachian Trail more than 4 times and knows whereof he writes.
Skylander
Hey Nunyet,
I just section hiked with my daughter from Neels Gap to Fontana Dam about a month ago and well over 50% of the thru hikers had minimal experience and many were first time hikers.
Most people did little or no training before their thru hike attempt. I am 53 and had no trouble putting in 12 to 16 miles a day. Wish I was still out there hiking…
Good luck, Papillon
papillon
When I started my thru-hike, I had never been backpacking. I had done some hiking and some car camping, but never an overnight.
Experience and physical ability mean surprisingly little when you start a thru-hike. It’s all about motivation and attitude. You learn as you go.
Good luck!
-Tank
Tank
Ray Jardine’s book “The Pacific Crest Trail Hiker’s Handbook” is so full of commen sense, good ideas, practical advice and hiking cheaply & make-your-own-gear advice that I think any hiker wanting to hike any trail should read it. Ignore the PCT resupply schedule in the back of the book and think about cutting pack weight and having fun on the trail.
Marcia
You’ll be searching forever for Rays PCT book. They’re out of print. You can get a new copy of his “all-trails” version, “Beyond Backpacking”. I suggest taking a class from him if you want to really boost your experience (after reading the book) -www.rayjardine.com.
Have fun
Tha Wookie
The levels of experiance for hikers varies so much its unreal. For me, back in 98, I had done no more then Car camp, or RV camped with family. Never hiked into the woods and pitched a tent, or carried a bigass pack for any distance.
The lessons you learn come quick, and although the mistakes you may make, regardless of the info you get and the planning you may do, will still teach you more in a very short time then any thing else.
Preperation varies as with each individual, you may think certian things are very very important, but once you carry them for 30 miles, you will find them useless annoyances, but again, it varies.
I have hiked a lot and each time, more or less, I find there is something new I learn with every step…whether it be about me or the people I come across…so your trip in of itself will be the best teacher and it will show you all your mistakes (Mentally speaking, past and present included, which to some is the best of it) so just get ready, do not be affraid and step lighly and love every second of it, as it will become as addictive as anything you have ever experianced. Pain included.
Lion King
Lion King
Several years ago there was a study done on this specific subject. The results? 40% of those who were starting at Springer had never (NEVER) carried their packs before the day they started their thruhike.
With 10 years and a 12-day trip under your boots, you’re way ahead of the pack.
Jim
But I wonder of those 40% who never carried their packs before, how many of them finished?
stabes
Hey Virginian: sounds like there’s a good story behind your statement. Did your thru hike burn you out, or you have been real busy or what? Just wondering; as so many writers in here sound like they’ll die with their hiking boots still on! 
Ms T
Aloha! Count me in as a few day hikes and one three day backpacking trip in a volcano to a cabin with basically everything but clothes and food provided. That was it. Experience not required. Definitely helpful, but not required. I remember spending my first several weeks staying away from folks so they couldn’t tell that I was really new at this backpacking thing. Turns out that so were the majority out there!
Books – read them all. Journals too. I may not have hiked the miles beforehand but I do believe I could talk gear and story with the best of them once out there!
Hiking since? Can’t wait to do my PCT thru in 05!
Aloha!
Aloha! Ann
Living within a day’s driving of the majority of the AT, I have had the opportunity to take several hikes on the trail. Spread over time, they have taught me a lot.
If my first section hike last year had been the beginning of a thru-hike, I would have dropped out like the majority. After 5 days, I had a large blister, lots of other wounds on my feet, and knee pain that would not quit. It took two weeks to get over that knee pain. :bawling
I made some changes, (poles and glucosamine), and was able to do a 3 day hike in much better comfort. A later 4 day hike helped to shape some opinions about equipment and shoes. 
This summer I plan a 2 week section to learn more lessons. I will also be doing a couple other week long sections. For me, this is the sort of confidence building and experience building that has helped me to understand long distance hiking’s effects on me and my equipment. (I also have lots of vacation time to burn this year.) :boy
The only downside (if it is one) is that I have begun to realize that my plan is no longer to do a thru-hike, but to just finish the long (~1500 mile) section next year. I have fallen in love with long distance hiking, not thru-hiking.
The potential upside, is that I may reach Katadin, wanting to hike more, not finished with long distance hiking, but just beginning. :tongue
risk
See for yourself.
Consider a 3-day hike from Springer to Neel’s Gap next spring during thru-hiker season. Those 30 miles will answer most of your AT questions. (Not to mention, probably altering the course of your future… heh).
Treat yourself then, immediately while the GA mt. experience is still excruciatingly fresh in your mind, to a pack-stripping session by the Outfitter at Neel’s Gap.
Mountain Crossings (and the other AT outfitters further ahead) are a wealth of info on lightening one’s load, which is the main distance between general backpacking and long-distance hiking. There’s an old saying - “the farther you go, the less you carry…”
Good luck resisting the subsequent urge to take a very long journey, heh heh…
Jan LiteShoe