Financial Aid - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

I post this with some apprehension as I have always been self dependent and one who has helped others in times of need. I awoke this morning with somewhat of a vision and after pondering this idea for some time have decided to “feel the waters” in the hiking community. I had planned a “thru” on the AT this year, have all needed gear, and had saved for the Trek. Unfortunately, the economic climate has taken the majority of my savings. I am a Real Estate Appraiser by profession(15 years) or should say “was”. All work has dried up. I am 60 years old and no real prospects for job opportunities in the near future. I do have a small pension that will take care of expenses at home, while hiking, just don’t have enough to sustain the hike. My window of opportunity is rapidly closing(Katadyn by October). Of course, my thoughts have been to just forgo the hike and replan for another year and am sure advice given on this site will be slanted towards that, but,physically and mentally I am on go and am just looking for ways to fulfill this dream. I’ve lost ALL that I have worked for, family, real estate, etc. and have nothing to fall back on. So, for me, now is the time. What, exactly, I am seeking is a way to be able to continue with my dream: a sponser?, donors?, Grants?, Magic?. I am not a “will work for food” kind of guy so am just throwing out to the community for any ideas, thoughts, or solutions. Have a PayPal account(dappraiser@msn.com) if the spirit moves you to help.

BadBeat

#2

Don’t wait, go for it! If you have all your gear, what else do you need? Eat from hiker boxes and don’t stay in hostels or hotels. The rest of the experience is free. You could also pick up some odd jobs as you go through town. It’s a quick easy way to pick up some extra cash.

Gusty

#3

Don’t wait, go for it! If you have all your gear, what else do you need? Eat from hiker boxes and don’t stay in hostels or hotels. The rest of the experience is free. You could also pick up some odd jobs as you go through town. It’s a quick easy way to pick up some extra cash.

Gusty

#4

Come on BadBeat you’re a little long in the tooth to be asking for handout’s. Instead, sit down figure out your finances and appraise your situation. I bet you’ll find that you could do it soon, and hey you’re not getting any younger. If you focus on the trail and stay out of towns as Poppie mentioned you can do it, especially if you move just a couple of weeks behind the first crowds. You’d be amazed how much good food and decent great makes its way into hikers boxes. You’ll also be sure to find lots of trail magic along the way…just don’t be expecting us young ones to be giving too much, we are already paying for your generations social security ponzi scheme :tongue . Joking aside, you can do it and you can do it cheap, if you have the gear you could probably do it for a couple of grand should you really want to. Best of luck dude.

Just Do It

#5

Thank you all for the kind words and I agree with all especially the SS Ponzi Scheme. Not really asking for handouts, per se, just wondering if there are ways to supplement the hiking piggy bank. I am, also, in process of selling “things” so…with all said I agree and will just go for it. Poppie…I will finalize a schedule and let you know soon. Thanks for the offer and, truely, that’s all I was looking for, just a bit of assistance.

BadBeat

#6

You’d be very hard pressed to find sponsors to support your hike in my estimation…even people who consider themselves “professional” hikers (if that really exists) may be lucky to get some minimal gear donations…but nothing in the way of financial assistance. I can’t think of a single grant that exists out there. Your best bet is to pick up on trail magic along the way; but never come to expect it…it is better that way. I don’t know if you’re renting a place now or not, if you are a storage locker is a lot cheaper and if you take 6 months of hiking you could imagine the savings. Minus out the rent, utilities, tv, maybe even auto insurance you’d be paying otherwise. If you’re prepared to make the leap and live with a touch of uncertainity you could find the trail exceedingly affordable. Again, cities are killer on the trail…money pits they are. Make every attempt to stay at hostels and browse the hiker boxes…you can do it. It is often the anticipation of a journey like this that is the most difficult not the act. Make the leap, it’s seldom things we have done we regret more so the things we haven’t.:wink:

Just Do It

#7

I hiked the trail in 2004 with very little money. Had the help of a friend so with that being said I would be more than happy to “give back” to the trail to help someone along the way. Send me your email and I will gladly help out with mail drops along the way. I live in NC/VA border and hike 3 weeks in the summer so maybe we will see you on the trail. Emai me.

Nancy

#8

I know a young man that did the entire AT in 2005 ONLY eating out of hiker boxes. He spent less than $500 for the entire journey. He then got a job at a Hostle afterwards!
Journey on and enjoy.

Bare Bear

#9

I hope you keep a journal on TJ so that we can follow your adventure and possibly we will be able to anticipate you coming through different areas and be of help.

Sleeveless

#10

I am in Smithsburg MD right now with a sore knee,heading north,dude I have too much food dried and ready to go,when I get to my first PA stop I will be tossing at least 5 lbs of food.

That will be on Friday the 23rd.I wish there was some way to hook up but my resupply comes from Minnesota,so it’s about $15 a box to send 3rd class mail.

Tell you what,email me a date and town along the way that you will be at with out fail and I will have my girl mail you 10 lbs of food.Need your full name to put on the box,if you miss it you are out of luck.

safn1949@gmail.com I will be here for 2 days…after that good luck.

safn1949