Hi everyone, we are new to the forum and want your input. We are a young couple (F 26, M 35) and we are hiking the A.T. in 3rd’s, 1/3 a month per year. We are in great shape and very healthy, exercise 5 times a week, how many miles a day do you think we should expect to be hiking?
Thanks A lot!!
Jillian Whitten
You can easily do the math and figure you that you need to average a bit over 20 miles per day. I guess the question is about the reality of actually doing that on the AT.
I thru hiked the AT in 3.5 months a couple years ago. I was 51 at the time and my partner was 63. We had a great time. Your plan is ambitious and difficult, but it is possible if you do everything right and stay whole and healthy.
Experience was as much an issue for us as fitness was. The AT was not our first 2000+ mile hike. In addition to being able to hike 25+ mile days consecutively, you have to be able to stay healthy and keep up the pace week after week. What helps the most is really enjoying the hike–the mental aspect. If you’re having a good time, the rest comes easy.
When you start long distance hiking, there’s a tendency to pace too fast and end up with skin problems like blisters, rashes or boils, and that could take days to recover from.
You also need to minimize your time spent on logistics. You need to be able to get into town, buy groceries and do laundry, and get back out–no futzing around waiting for the PO to open the next day, exchanging gear that doesn’t quite fit or work right, etc. You’ll be real lucky if you get all that right on your first try. For example, it took me 2000 somewhat painful miles to find the right shoes.
And being out for a month you’ll need to be able to eat and hydrate right for the long term. That often takes some experience to figure out. That will go a long way to keeping you healthy, happy, and out on the trail.
Have you ever hiked these kind of miles? I’d really recommend you try at least one 100 mile hike in four days (or similar) as a shake-down before you head off. If you’re to be successful in your AT plans, you’ll need to be doing that routinely.
By the way, parts of the AT are simple compared to others. I’m sure you can look at a trail profile and figure that out. I was averaging nearly 30 miles per day in the mid-Atlantic (strolling into a restaurant or ice cream shop every day), but more like 15 in rugged wilderness NH and ME.
Good luck and have fun!
Garlic
Jill, What will happen to you is that for the first month your average will be about a dozen miles per day. This low average does not have much to do with how well conditioned you are. During that first month you learn how to operate. During the second month your average will shoot up to 18 or 20.
good luk
Frank the Tank
90 days is definitely do-able. Minimize your time in town and zero’s obviously. I’d also recommend getting your base weights UL–sub 10 lbs.
Matt Zion
Thank you for the advice but I don’t want to race thru the AT trail. I would prefer to take 6 months to complete the trail. However, your advice on shoes and getting in and out of town is greatly appreciated.
Andrew Villegan
Thanks to all, your advice is great. Hopefully we will find ourselves feeling good!!
Jillian Whittn
You didn’t mention what time of year you’ll be hiking each year, that makes a difference too. The summer months have more daylight so you can start early in the morning an hike later in the evening. Also with warmer weather you can wear and carry lighter clothing so your pack weight will be less. And as the others have mentioned a lot depends on your experience and comfort level.
Taking shakedown hikes is a great idea it will give you a feel for your equipment, shoes, and abilities. Also you will observe other hikers from which you can see their techniques. From these observations you can use the things you like or think will work for you.
You can talk to ten former thru hikers and get ten different ways to hike the trail. Everyone’s style and comfort level are different.
Good luck and enjoy your hikes.
Old Goat
I did the AT in 130 days with at least 21 of those days being zero’s and additional days as neros (under 10 miles). I was inexperienced to start and went through the usual new hiker issues. If you’re already in shape, you can do it in less time (as well as enjoy it).
Some general tips:
Start off slow and low (slow pace and low miles). Do that for maybe a week–you may feel fine, but give yourself that week for your body to get used to the pack and hiking. You can make up the mileage later. I always fail at this and get a blister on the first day…
Start hiking early in the day. I am often on trail just before sunrise–or at least awake and getting ready. Hike until just before sunset.
Carry a light weight load.
Don’t gets stuck in towns…try to plan own arrivals for the morning, then eat, clean up, resupply and boogie on out…sounds easy, but for me, it’s hard. I love me my hotels.
Expect your hardest hurdles to be mental. Anything can happen, ya, but the mind is the killer.
Don’t grow a man-beard, it creates drag in high winds and slows your pace.
:boy <---- :lol
Jason
