How do you prepare?

imported
#1

Hi everyone…I’m a newbie here and somewhat a newbie to hiking. I’ve done a couple of short trips and plan to do some more extended ones over the next 9 months or so. My brother and I have always dreamed of hiking the AT and we are finally in the talking stages of actually doing it. Woohoo!! But I’m also scared, worried, nervous. We are talking either 2004 or 2005. A few things I want to consider.

  1. My daughter want’s me to take a trip with her to Ireland next year so I’m wondering if I should put the AT trip off until 2005 or if I should just take a break and fly to Ireland with her, come back and finish the trail.

  2. Any suggestions on the best way to physically prepare myself? I live in Florida so hiking mountainous terrain is not something I can do often. I do walk…but wonder if I should do more. Join a gym? Not sure if I’d utilize it…I’d rather be outdoors.

  3. Being away from those you love! My hubby is very supportive of my adventure…how do you handle being away from those you care about so long? Of course I’m sure we will will arrange to see each other during the 5-6 months :slight_smile:

  4. Being away from the pets who are so attached to you :slight_smile:

Otherwise things are pretty cut and dry for me. My boss knows I am taking time off and is supportive…I don’t have to sell my house or store my stuff since I am married. I do plan on reading some books on the subject…any suggestions? I also enjoy reading journals online…they inspire me a great deal.

That’s it for now!

Tina

lady-eowyn

#2

The best way to get in shape for hiking is hiking. No other single exercise or set of exercises can even come close to what your body will be forced to endure in the course of a thru hike. I’m out here now and did some regular gym work before hitting the trail on 3/29. My first 2 - 3 weeks on the trail were the best “conditioning” I ever got. Just start off slow. Set reasonable mileage goals and listen to your body. Make adjustments to gear and clothing as dictated by your experience. You’ll do fine. I’m 53 (54 in less than a month). There is an 81 year old man out here doing the trail this year. Once you’re out here and go through the first few weeks of ups/downs the process becomes a lot more mental than physical. Hope that helps

Footslogger

#3

Reading your post, I think that you need to write down your goals and priorities.

Hike in 2004 or 2005? It’s up to you. The trail will still be there.

Worried about being away for 6 months at a time? Then break the trail up into big sections. Do 1/2 each year, or 1/3, or 1/4. Myself, I did the trail in 2 big sections over 2 years. I’m glad that I did it that way.

Pets? Except in the Smokies and Baxter, people do bring along dogs and occasionally some other pet. But, that’s the subject of other debates, so I will stop right there.

Take time off to go to Ireland? how long are we talking about? People take time off the trail all the time for various reasons. No problem. Just plan accordingly.

Peaks

#4

footslogger…that is what I was thinking…hiking in Florida in the summer though…whew!!!

Peaks…the Ireland trip would only be about a week. Only reason she wants to go next year is because she wants to do it in between undergrad school and grad school or career.

I wouldn’t even think about bringing any of my pets with me…they are cats…and cats, well they don’t do what humans want them to do :slight_smile: It’s just one of my concerns I was voicing…I’m working lots of it out in my head right now…haven’t put anything on paper…yet. I have thought about breaking the trail up, but my brother and I haven’t talked about doing it that way yet…I think he really wants to do a complete thru-hike. But the option is still there.

lady-eowyn

#5

Being away from loved ones is in my opinion the single most difficult thing about a thruhike. On the other hand, coming back to the money society is the second most difficult thing about a thruhike. Loved ones being there when you get back makes it much easier.

Blue Jay

#6

OK, so you want to take a week or two off the trail at some point. That’s not unheard of. Even Ed Garvey took some time off the trail to go to a wedding. The question becomes to you get back on the trail where you left off, or skip a section to catch up with your pod of hikers that you were with.

I think the point is that very few hike straight though without doing some diversions. Maybe it’s time in DC or the Big Apple. Maybe it’s a week at Trail Days.

Family concerns? Plan some rendevous along the way, and spend the day exploring the area with them if they don’t hike.

Got a cat? Cat’s have thru-hiked, although the smart ones ride in the backpack. Plenty of mice to catch, so you shouldn’t need cat food.

Bottom line, the list of possiblities of ways to do a thru-hike are limitless. Enjoy, it’s the trip of a lifetime.

Peaks

#7

Peaks, I think/hope you’re joking about the cats; domestic cats do not belong outdoors…they are responsible for the unnatural deaths of millions of birds and other small animals. I used to have outdoor cats…until I saw what they are capable of (the slaughter of countless birds, frogs, toads, and small mammals, not to eat–just for the fun of it)! My god, these creatures are natural born killers, but they are not part of the natural food chain! Keep 'em indoors.

m

#8

Read alot of journals on this web site. Big Red completed his thru hike last year. He tells everyone he had never had a backpack on before. He has been hiking only once in his life and it was from GA to ME. Sunrise and Sunset finished their hike. They had never even put their packs on until the day they left GA. Flame and I had considerable experience backpacking so we did do some conditioning and new equipment testing before our hike. At Neals Gap (30+ miles into you hike from the south) we didn’t have to send anything back. But we saw tons (really tons) of gear mailed back. And just as many as those hikers finished as the ones that were better prepared. We saw one hiker with his first mail drop that weighted 80lbs!!!. Having said all of this, baring an injury that stops you, we believe those that finish do so because of desire. No Rain, NO pain, No Maine!! But it is a great experience! Happy Trails from an old man who turns BLUE on the uphills!

Papa Smurf

#9

Is that why they call you Papa Smurf??!!

Gargomel

#10

I couldn’t imagine taking my cats…can you imagine the damage they could do to a tent, sleepingbag, pack?:lol Although my cat Willow does walk on a harness and leash…hmmmmm…:tongue Nope, I’d never take them. I’m leaving them with some recordings of my voice, a smelly pair of shoes and t-shirt and might send home a sweaty bandana every so often…that way they don’t forget me :smiley:

I have been reading the journals and have thoroughly enjoyed them. I already feel like I know some of the hikers personally. I can’t wait to get out there!!

lady-eowyn

#11

I’m glad to hear that Sunrise and Sunset made it… I met them in the Smokies last April while I was on my spring break hike… VERY pleasant people…

Lady-eowyn, you should consider section hiking… I think you’d enjoy it more, especially if leaving behind your family/pets bothers you. Just take little chunks at a time.

JeffersonB

#12

Read about Ziggy in Larry Luxenberg’s book “Walking the Appalachain Trail.”

People do carry the dammest things.

Peaks

#13

There’s a cat on the trail right now, thru-hiking. His record at a shelter is 12 mice, as of Trail Days. He’s carried on top of his owner’s pack.

Bluebearee

#14

The one thing that helped me was using a Stair Master machine at my local gym with my full backpack. The first 2-3 days of using it, I could barely walk the next day but after that the soreness went away. I used it for about 10 days, up to the day I went to Springer and I didn’t have sore legs on the first few days since I had already gotten them used to working harder than usual. I was sore everywhere else but at least I didn’t have any problems with my legs!

Nooga

#15

What Part of Florida do you live in?

Bucky

#16

tampa bay area

lady-eowyn