Thru-Hiker Alums - What aspect of thru-hiking knowledge do you think most AT newbies need but lack when starting out at Springer?
_Matt_Inexperience at Springer
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#1
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#3
I agree, Pack to heavy, to much food ,trying to do to many miles to soon and not drinking enough water.
_cowboy nichols_
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#4
I dunno about the lack of backcountry experience being a problem on the AT - I've run into a few thru-hikers who had never backpacked before & had no real problems hiking the trail (they learned a lot as they hiked.
I would say the biggest issue is starting too fast & having the mentality that “I’ve got to make X number of miles every day” - not realizing that they have plenty of time to make up ground through the relatively flat mid-Atlantic states.
_freebird_
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#5
I know hikers have their own peference about footwear, but when I hiked in 2000 I saw so many start off with these heavy hiking boots and tearing up their feet, and then swith to a much more comfortable cross coutry type shoe. or even tevas.
_barfly_
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#6
the whole saying hike your own hike really applies. keep an open mind, take it easy, don't worry about what other people are doing. the miles will come when you get into shape.you'll settle into a routine and you'll get to know the people that hike the same pace as you and you'll stick with them. don't worry about the guys that hike super fast you won't keep up with them. the pack too heavy thing can be a downer, if you have a local outfitter with experienced hikers, take your whole kit in and let them tear it apart. trust there judgment to an extent that you feel comfortable, those little things you think you absolutely need will get sent home at neels gap, and you'll think the guys back home were right.
_hitman_
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#7
I haven't done a thru of the AT, but have done some long-distance hiking. Gear can be refined, pack weight adjusted, lessons learned - all in short order. The one thing that a person MUST bring with them, and hold onto if they hope to be successful, is a sense of adventure and flexibility. If someone has a set idea of what the hike will be like, and aren't willing to change that idea, then my prediction is that they will fail.
Remember to have fun, no matter what you have to deal with.
_lyle_
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#8
I don't think most people contact other thru hikers before they start to learn from their mistakes when it comes to gear, training or not, what to eat, injuries one might face....stuff like that. I know I did some pretty extensive research before I started and collected as many good ideas as I could. I felt very prepared and didn't change anything from the time I started to the time I stopped with the exception of getting rid of a water filter for bleach (which I actually new I should do before I started from a thru hiker) Newbies lack preparation in other words...
_hoof_
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#9
I've been backpacking for many years and this summer I am starting my first "long hike" along the AT. My pard and I usually go out for 7-10 days every summer and hike mountain trails and we consider ourselves to be "experienced" backpackers. However, over the Memorial Day weekend we decided to hike the AT from Thorton Gap, VA through to US 522, a tad under 30 miles, in 2 days as a training run. We've done 15-16 milers before and figured that this would be a fairly easy hike, and the hiking wasn't that bad.
My pack weight was about 41-lb w/food & water and my pard’s was about the same. We were carrying everything that we intended to carry from Springer on our hike this summer to include food through our first drop box.
When we got into Gravel Springs we ran into a group of thru’s and had a chance to talk with them and listen to their advice regarding weight and gear. Since then I’ve dropped almost 9-lb of gear and re-thought a lot of equipment issues. Our local Ridgerunner, “Auggie” also gave us some great tips.
So my advice is link up with some of these folks on the trail before you go on the “big one”, they’ve learned from experience. And to the Thru’s we met, have a Great Hike and Thanks from a couple of ORF’s (Old Retired Farts!) who are willing to listen and learn from some wonderful young people.
IMHO
Hardcharger
_Hardcharger_