I'm considering a thru hike but I struggle with heights. It's being close to the edge of a cliff that gets to me. For example, I couldn't negotiate Angel's Landing in Zion National Park but hiking the trails in the Grand Canyon is no problem. I saw a video of the Hunt Trail up Katahdin and I was wondering if it's as severe as Angel's Landing. If so, is there a less severe alternative? Are there any other parts of the trail that may cause a similar problem? I can easily handle the strenuous trails...It's narrow cliffs that get me.
_Dave_Katahdin cliffs
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#1
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#2
I am afraid of heights and could not hike Angel's Landing. Hiking the AT up Katahdin last summer was very difficult for me. There is about a mile and a half where you might wonder if you can make it, but it is not on a cliff, just steep climbs up boulders. I have always hated going down steep places more than going up, but surprisingly, getting down from the top of Katahdin was much easier than going up. Do not let that short distance keep you from your dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail.
_Turtle Walking_
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#3
Never been to Angels Landing but have hiked into the Grand Canyon and found that way more unnerving then anything on the AT including the Hunt Trail. Its very steep in some places but your butt is not hanging over any vertical drops. I have hiked Katahdin from several directions and have found them all steep.
_Big B_
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#4
It is surprising how many thru hikers are elevation challenged, like you and I. However, if you make it that far, you will handle the K. Years ago I did the chimney pond trail to the summit. It is easier and less frightening. I even did the Knife Edge, which I can't remotely imagine doing now. Hopefully you will have someone with you to give you some moral support. Going up was a hard physical task, more than scary. Going down, where you have to look at the steepness is worse. This is my honest assessment for those of us who are elevation challenged. You can't let a fright stop you from finishing your dream.
_swamp fox_
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#5
The day I summited Katahdin it was so foggy I couldn't see very far off the mountain. I got to about 100 feet before the Famous sign before I saw it. As Swamp Fox said by the time you get there you'll be so excited to be there you'll forget about your fear.
_Old Goat_
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#6
I've hiked Angel's Landing in Zion and loved it, because I love exposure and hanging over heights. They are not the same sort of exposure however. Hunt Trail is wide and open, not cliffy, but there are literally house sized boulders you are scrambling up using all four contact points, the areas near the rebar are steep, so if you don't like exposure on rock you may not be comfortable but that doesn't mean you can't overcome it. Having said that I know a woman who tried for years to thru-hike - got as far as treeline on the Hunt and couldn't do it, she finally go to the top of Baxter Peak a few years ago and can call herself a thru-hiker (her qualifier, not mine). But don't worry about that ahead of time too much, things I thought I wouldn't be able to do w/o help (I'm short) I managed just fine on my thru.
_Bluebearee_