How'd you do it?

imported
#1

have a rough idea how much it costs, now without getting too personal - anyone willing to share how you financed your hike?

hephzibah

#2

I saved a little bit out of my paycheck over two years. I got $2200 dollars. I’ve got $1000 left after getting all the “major” things

hippie hiker chic

#3

There are so many variables that it hard to put a accurate cost for a hike. If you do a lot of zero days and stay at hotels, you are going to spend a lot more money than a hiker who limits their stays in towns and rarely stay at a hotel. Conventional wisdom is it costs about $1.50 a mile. But it can be done for a lot less. This figure doesn’t take into account how long your thru hike is. A person who only takes four months to hike the trail is going to spend far less than a person who takes seven months. I think about $100 dollars a week is more accurate. My average cost for my thru hikes been about $2600 bucks. Thats not including any major gear purchases. I also have about 10-13 maildrops sent to me. I take about 20 zero days and stay at hotels about every other week. I also hike with my dog so I have to buy dog food and sometimes I am charged extra when I stay at a hotel. Just because a hiker spends a lot of money on their hike doesn’t mean they are going to have a good time. I have met plenty of miserable hikers who probably spent more time in hotels than out in the woods and I have seen hikers who have never spent a night in a hotel and their hikes cost less than a thousand dollars, have a excellent time.

Wyo Duo

#4

since its not a majour expense, i just added an extra line to my budget and forgoe that nice japanese dinner once a week. it soon adds up.

one of my friends saved to go to new york (from london), buy putting his beer money for two days a week into a jar. (he still drank the other 5!), so 8 pints of beer money into a jar each week.

take care of the pennies and the pounds soon add up!

-Stuball, Mad Aussie in London

Mad Aussie in London