Starting completely out of shape

imported
#1

I’d like to hear the stories of people who never worked out prior to attempting their through hike of the AT and who began their walk with no idea of what they were doing or getting into (or, at least, were completely out of shape).

Basic questions are:

(1)How long did it take you to acclimate (giving your age will help us understand better),

(2)What basic necessary things about hiking and living on the trail did you discover, and

3)At what point did you eventually begin to enjoy it?

Finally, how far did you get, and why did you stop?

Thanks, Canby

Canby

#2

Interesting topic. I have never paid much attention to being in hiking shape before my hikes. I’m 69 and in good condition cardiovascular wise. On my thru hike attempt in 2005: 1. It took me about two weeks to feel like I had my trail legs. 2. Important things I learned: nutrition: be sure you get enough calcium. I ended up with a dificiency, which led to a crushed knee and a knee replacement. This took about two months to develop. I worried too much about caloric intake and not enough about the other nutrients. 3. I hated the first 11 days, thought about going home, but didn’t and then it became fun and a great experience. 4. I stopped at mile 1053, because the knee pain got too severe.

In summary, the key is to start slow, get the pack weight down, and the trail will come to you. And it will be one hell of a great experience.

swamp fox

#3

Seems nutty to me not to do some hiking before you go. I did a lot of hikes to test my gear to make sure my shoes wouldn’t hurt, my pack wasn’t too heavy, my tent would work, my sleeping bag would keep me warm enough. I tested everything including myself. I didn’t want to be miserable right off the bat. But I suppose not doing this wouldn’t be ruinous. In the end, you really can’t train completely for something like this.

Piper

#4

Back in 2000, I had nothing to live for - I had buried my husband of twenty years. I just decided to go hiking, it was my way of handling my grief, I suppose.
I had hiked when I was quite a bit younger, but 30 years of nothing left me in poor shape - phyically and mentally. It gave me an opportunity to prepare with mental exercises of what I needed for my hike.
I started out hiking the strenuous Black Forest Trail in Pennsylvania without giving it any thought to the terrain. I started out at Slate Run, completing 5 hours of hiking and perhaps several miles with a complaint for every step I took. I settled in a campsite that wasn’t a campsite for the first night then hiked out the next day a whole lot wiser.
I drove home resolving to do better the next time, I returned nearly a month later with a renewed outlook and a better attitude towards the hike.
I had overhauled my gear, throwing aside a great amount of “junk” (prefectly good for car camping). I took 8 days to complete the 40 mile something trail.
When I got home, I started planning my next venture - I had lost weight during the hike, felt better mentally…

Pennsygal

#5

Very quick answer - I am 56, over 280# and not tall enough. I am trying to cope with a few diseases that have attacked my health with due to the “weight factor”.
My dirty orange tarp and I started out walking southbound along the trail in Tennessee, completing the walk in 50 days. I took numerous zero days to scale down my pack/gear and to re-organize.
I got my “sea legs” the second week on the trail, I suspect - I had some “pity parties” for myself. Some days I only moved a mile or two…

tappat