How much $$? - Appalachian Trail

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#1

I’m planning a SOBO thru hike starting in June or July of this year. The biggest uncertainty left is available funds at the beginning of (and throughout) my hike. I am in the process of saving right now and already have (or am awaiting the arrival of) all the gear I will need for the trail, I just need to worry about food, maybe a couple pairs of shoes, and random junk along the way. I hope to save at least $2000 but I really just want to get hiking ASAP even if it means no hotels and cheap whiskey (I had kind of planned on that approach anyways).

How much money did people start their thru-hikes with and was it enough?

Would you spend more or less next time, and did anyone go broke and manage to finish anyways?

I’m just trying to get an idea of what people actually spent.

     thanks,
         doyle

Doyle

#2

I have heard you avr about a dollar a mile.I do know thru hikers that have finished and spent about 2000 I dont know how they do it because you never know when you are going to need something out there.I always travel with a little pocket money but you might want to have a reserve stash…Tambourine Good luck and GOd speed

Tambourine

#3

Search for Weathercarrot’s guide to hiking on a smaller budget. That dollar per mile is a very old figure and we spent more than that for each of us.

Marcia

#4

I think $2 per mile is more typical. I spent about $4,000 in '05. This puts you in the comfortable range… neith lavish nor homeless.

I was also buying all my food for the hike off this budget.

Loki

#5

That is so dependent on you and what you consider money spent on trail. I spent about 10,000 in 2,000 when I hiked… but I included airplane ticket, storage locker for my worldly goods and gear changes… oh yes, and a real good time travelling north. Oh yes, part deux, I also took Fix It and Gorilla Pete and rented a plane in Rangeley and flew from Rangeley to Katahdin circled the sign and went back to Rangeley. After walking so far we wanted to make there really was a Mount Katahdin. I think we were the first to airoblaze. I tried to pay the pilot to land his pantoon plane in a pond up the first climb out of town. He laughed… I knew people who spent far less. I would suggest having in reserve more money than you think you might need. Most people only get one shot at the AT. Right now you are sitting at home and thinking I am going to be hardcore and never stay at a hotel or eat a good meal or no, I’m not going to see a concert along route… Hell, I thought I would only take ten hero days… instead I went to a few concerts, stayed at a lot of hotels (they feel good after really hot days on trail or even when you feel sick) and food is a strong pull when you are tired of oatmeal and ramen noodles…

I also saw people in 2004 who were on a tight budget… I remember one couple that when they got to Hot Springs were really aching for a town day but their wallets said NO, so while every other hiker was feeding at a restaurant and downing a few pints they had just enough money to wash their laundry and share a burger then head back into the rain and keep walking… I saw them again in Vermont and they were still miserable and feeling much like the moth that needs to fly towards the light…

Well, to sum it all up… in 2000 I spent a lot… in 2001 I spent half of that and in 2004 I spent a lot again. I did go kind of broke towards the end in 2000… I remember I started trying to eat out of hiker boxes… That’s where I became acquaited with a dish that still haunts me called “Old Jamaican Man’s Hair” some bizarre macaroni and bean dish someone had dropped at White House Landing in the wilderness.

With all that being said, you can live in the woods mostly and eat out of hiker boxes… people drop a lot of good food in those things… peace and have fun

aswah

#6

STOP RIGHT THERE!
First ask who are you?
Are you young, old, fat, lean, in a hurry, want pain, want ease?

I am fat and slow so I needed more money and I was having a vacation and did not want to “bite” the bullet every town.
ARE you experienced? are you lame are you an office person?

I am a construction dude so I really could handle rougher time but I am also not stupid.
When someone askes a question I like to hear you guys answer honestly. I hate seeing these kids suffer because “somebody” else can hike on a shoestring and a tin whistle.

I surmise $2k is getting weak nowadays ( go ahead and blame G Bush ya whiners) $2k was a good idea for an average kid out of college in the 80’s and 90’s but lets use the inflation table and surmise maybe $3k would be more appropriate (or more)

Too many people are actually risking their lives because of bad advice ie; under prepared by going light and not having appropriate gear for winter survival.
Lets become a little more resposible for our fellow man/woman by addressing these issues !

I left Damascas in 60degree weather and by the time I got up the mountain we had blowing snow and temps down into the 20’s/ those poor kids that day were suffering from hypothermia.

1/4 of the way

#7

That $2,000 figure is at least 10 or 15 years old. Adjusted for inflation, $2,000 in 1991 would cost $2,975 in 2006.

http://www.westegg.com/inflation

Dude, you don’t wanna be poor on the trail. Trust me, the last thing you want is to be staring with disappointed eyes at the motel on your way into town, that you can’t afford to stay at, or not be able to pig out at the Dairy King or whatever. Mow lawns, run drugs, work another job at night, just make sure to have at least $3-4K when you shove off.

Crunch