Money? - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

I will be doing a thru-hike on the AT next year and I am wondering how much money I should plan on having for the trail. I’ve got all my gear and everything, I just need to know an average cost for food, lodging, etc. while hiking.
-Gordy

Gordy

#2

I spent ten to fifteen thousand in 2000 and conseiderably less in 2001. What do you like? Are you staying in hostels or B&B’s?

aswah

#3

I’m a hostel kind of guy. Actually, I want to spend as little money as possible. I realize that the temptation to stay in a warm bed and get a hot meal will be huge once I’m out there, so I will probably indulge more than I think.

gordy

#4

300 bucks a month including town food and minor gear replacements. I did it for that. I did have some extra money here and there and would throw in a work a little when needed. That was gravy money. I believe the AT could be done all 150 dollars in high season if you eat out of hikers boxes. You GOTTA have a shower and some town food. the latter the most.

bono

#5

Agree with Bono. You can do it for practically nothing if you try. Just stay out of town and out of hotels. Hostels you can stay at (little charge or donation only). You can double or triple up or more up on hotel rooms and sometimes stay in one for less than 10 to 15 bucks a night.

How much does it cost to feed a person in one month, if say you eat beans, rice, some eggs-----i.e. no expensive cuts of meat. I believe you can eat really well for less than $100 a month, but no resterants, pizza huts and the like.

So it can be done cheap, very cheap, modestly, or very expensively-----depends on what you want to spend and how you want to spend it.

If Bono is Bono of 2003, when you going to finish your hike? Rocket rocket’ed off and left you. Course you had a good time with all the chicks. LOL. Your journals was I believe one of the most read journals on line.

See you out there. :cheers

Maintain

#6

Done for now…

anyhoo IMHO you gotta treat yourself to some Cali=zones (enter favorite hiking towne food here) once in awhile our you will be more at risk of “breaking” or quitting before your true time to finish quit or whatever your trip is about/

I was at Scicilys or whatever they call it now, in Damascus and the place was packed due to Trail Days and the help was weeded so I jumped up made me and Hydromagnts meal, oplus some cash, dinner and a meal the next time I got back. All for keeping an eye our for opportunity. There is Trail Magic then there is TRAIL MAGIC.

bono

#7

The first time I ate ramen was around Erwin. I spewed it thru the mesh on my clip. I never ate Ramen when I hiked before or after

I never seemed to tire of a liptons mixed with a stove top. Really strange, and oats and brownsuger was always just fine but NO wallpaper paste (instant oatmeal)

Truth be known, I enjoyed the flavored instant oatmeal dry as a hiking snack. ate lots of it. Since I started early the hikers boxes where shot mosttly and the Trail Majic was sparse compared to high season.

Little Debbies always tasted good, especially the swiss rolls (craving one now) mmmmmm! Once hiking you will burn thru a box of little debbies in a flash. snickers where always good, cliff bars (rare) and Fig newtons did the trick, packed well, where cheap and easy to get.

I also ate very little peanut butter. Another cheap high density food. blah ba dee blah blah blah/

bono

#8

How much money to budget depends in part on how much you enjoy town comforts. Those who get in and get out will spend less than those who take zeros.

Generally speaking people spend between $3000 and $6000. Some less, and some much more.

Peaks

#9

Aswah, my brother…where were you staying ??? That comes to about 700-800$ a week for 5 months or so…

Freakazoid

#10

money went towards gear, storage locker for three bedroom house worth of crap (temperature controlled), flying out there, staying in motels and hotels in single rooms, mostly… buying a 100 pig to cook for 35 thru hikers, buying seven kegs for 35 thru hikers… I’m not rich, but enjoy the warm glow of friendship and good times… oh yes, lots of fine greeneries (whatever that means to ya), going off trail for the occassional roller coaster and or concert and or harvest festival and or reggae concert (including car rental to get there), buying a lot of lighter weight gear along the way, getting home…

to ma it’s all part of the trip… in 2000, i had the money and wanted to enjoy that aspect… i did also spend a lot of time in the woods enjoying that… 2001 I spent considerably less… and in 2004 I will put a cap at 4 g’s

Aswah

aswah

#11

While I suppose a few folks have the leisure to spend 10-15,000 dollars on a thru, in my experience most folks spend way less. NOT counting gear expenses or getting to the trail head, most folks seem to spend between 2500-3500 dollars in the course of their trips. Older folks (i.e. older than 35-40) tend to spend more as they’re likelier to get their own motel rooms or frequent better restaurants, B&B’s, etc. Retired folks tend to spend the most as they tend to pamper themselves in town.

It can certainly be done for less money if you’re disciplined about your town stays, i.e keep 'em short, brief, and minimal. Other factors—do you smoke tobacco? Or other things? Do you drink? These are all factors to consider when planning your budget.

If you go to the articles section at www.whiteblaze.net, Weathercarrot has kindly published an excellent full-length article on town stays/resupply, as well as excellent advice on hiking on a budget.

BaltimoreJack

#12

Within reason, I plan on enjoying myself during the next six months. Although I already had almost all of my gear, I did spend around $800 upgrading my tent, bag and some other items.

I’m planning on an average of $15 per day for food and will normally be buying as I go. I’m adding to that amount enough cash to cover a hostel/motel/room once every 2-3 weeks. I think that is a well-earned respite.

Because I have a really moderate pace (average 12 miles per day for six days, then take a zero on the seventh day) I plan on being on the Trail for about 210 days - about a month longer than the “average.” That costs more money as a direct result, and requires more time away from “civilization” with all of the associated, indirect costs.

If the higher “costs” improve my chances for completing the Trail; and make for a more enjoyable time - then I consider it money well spent. But everyone has different priorities and capabilities.

Brutus