Pulling out - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

Howdy y’all. I’ve been reading this here forum for a while now but never posted anything. On June 23rd I started my AT thru-hike (well, actually sectional hike, gotta go to college in August) Southbound…and now here I am at a computer…obviously not on the trail. I don’t want to say that the 100-mile wilderness kicked my butt, but well I didn’t get out of it unscathed, and now it’s hard to walk, let alone hike. I was just curious, I know that there is no real dishonor or disgrace in pulling out if injured, but how do you deal with it, mentally? I’m having a pretty rough time with it, not being on the trail and all. Thanks.

squeaky quail

#2

Well, don’t be too hard on yourself.

Statistically, around 90% of those who plan to thru-hike do drop out. So, you are not the only one. If 9 out of 10 people do drop out then that’s an overwhelming majority of those who start. But, look at the bright side, at least you did 100 miles or so. That’s way more than the average American does. And when you talk with most people about the AT, they frequently comment that they always dreamed about doing it. So, at least you have done some of it.

You didn’t elaborate on why the 100 miles kicked your butt. (I hesitate to call it a wilderness when there are so many gravel roads crossing it and nearby). I suspect that most people don’t fully realize the work and effort required to do a long distance hike. They lack backpacking experience, and don’t have the mental attitude needed for a long distance hike. Hopefully it was a learning experience for you, and now that you know more, you can be better prepared should you decide to go back and continue.

So, how to deal with it? Well, someone once wrote or said never quit the AT when you are tired, grubby, and hungry. Get cleaned up, rested, and have a good meal. Then, think about all your reasons for wanting to do a thru-hike, and figure out if the reasons are still valid.

But, you are off the trail for now. If you still have the desire and interest to continue, then start planning how you are going to make the next hike better. And, if you enjoy hiking, then go out and hike something less grand, either on a day hike basis, or shorter section hikes.

But if you at totally burned out on backpacking, and think that backpacking isn’t your thing, then turn your gear into cash, and find another interest.

Don’t know if I made sense or not. Hopefully you aren’t too hard on yourself.

Peaks

#3

Hey get over it bro, I started a thru-hike and made it 203 miles before I decided this is ridiculous to continue on a thru-hike attempt … living days with out cigarrettes, booze (past/ 7 days sober this time)and so on.

Im not young anymore and have nothing to prove. I enjoy my time on the trail and am looking forward to going back to it this fall for about another 100. Yes it sounds cool that you can say that you really hiked the whole thing, and to tell people your a thru-hiker … however how what you feel is what matters most, not doing something for the amusement of others.
( I guess I shouldn’t say that since I like getting a rise out of others … but you know what I mean)

I was hiking the trail for myself and planned to go all the way. I should have just started off by saying …i’ll see how far I can go. Now I realize if I don’t feel like hiking I won’t, i don’t have this specific time period I can only hike it in either. I understand that folks just out of college have just that summer, but if your not one of them don’t worry about it.

-Easyhiker-
Enjoy every moment on the trail-Your WaY-

Easyhiker

#4

Ah yes…I quit once. Or rather, “finished the trail 300 miles shy of the end” but I’m not about to argue semantics. That was in 1999. Two years later I went from end to end. Comparitively speaking it was harder mentally after the 2001 hike than it was after 1999.

I guess it’s just a matter of being ready for the hike to be over. I was ready in '99, but I doubt that any distance would have been enough in '01. How did I deal last autumn? Simple - sitting on the couch watching The Price is Right and sipping cold Frescas.

But seriously, I don’t know if I can “recover” from Thru-hiking (mentally I mean. I did all right on the physical aspect). And ya know, I don’t think I want to. It’s a good thing to have the all-encompassing notion/concept/sense of Thru-Hiking bumping around in the head, no matter how much you do or don’t do.

Sleepy the Arab

#5

Sleepy … get out of my way im a through-hiker, Im through for right now, as I have to go take a Bath and I think I’ll go hike Maine this fall, but i’ll just be passing thru so I quess i’ll be a thru - hiker after all.

easyhiker

#6

Squeaky Quail - best idea right now is to try to figure out why you left the trail. It sounds like you had expectations of what thruhiking would be – and the trail didn’t meet those expectations. So the choice is to either accept that, or change your expectations and try again, without the preconceptions. I’ve known people who were unable to finish the trail the first time who came back a year or two later and had a terrific hike. Or they went out west to find a trail that was closer to what they wanted. Or they just ended up figuring out that long distance hiking really isn’t worthwhile for them, and they find something better to do with their time. Thruhiking is a lot more difficult than most people understand. It can hurt - both physically and emotionally - way more than expected. Unless it’s something you really want to do, it gets harder with every mile, instead of easier. Some people fall for the ‘romance’ of it - the adventure, the ‘coolness’ of being a thruhiker – but reality is you have to hike all day every day for month after month, in rain and heat and dirt. Some folks don’t seem to realize that unless you love walking, you won’t like thruhiking.

Ginny