The price of the trip

imported
#1

Hello all. I am planning on doing the big thru hike in a couple years. How much does it typically cost to do the trail with some stops in town? (not counting gear and travel expenses?)

Dorkamungus

#2

Dorkamungus,
The price is going to depend on many factors that you really can’t plan ahead for. Many will say 1.50 a mile, but that figure is a little dated.

If it is a heavy rain year,you might find yourself going into town a lot more to dry yourself and your stuff out, driving the cost up. Find a group that you love to hike with and maybe send some more time at a local brew pub… up the price a little more.

Lots and lots of factors on this questions. I figure I spent about $4000.00 on my thru-hike. Some spent less, some spent more. Every penny well worth it.

Good luck, and enjoy every step.

SweetAss

SweetAss03

#3

Cool! Thanks a lot :slight_smile: I will probebly have about 8000 or more (less after buying gear and food) by the time I can hit the trail…so I should be safe then :girl

Dorkamungus

#4

$8000, less gear, would be plenty–even more than enough-- unless you stay at the most expensive hotel or motel you can find, in just about every town you can get to. I believe I also spent around $4000 on my hike, including gear. I already had some of what I needed–like a sleeping bag, water filter and clothing–so those things weren’t included. But don’t forget about things like buying new socks, postage for mailing stuff home (to change out gear, for one), calling cards perhaps, batteries, cooking fuel, money for laundry, possibly paying to camp in fee areas (like the Whites) unless you stealth, maybe even offering gas money to the nice people who pick you up and even go out of their way to give you rides (although only a couple of people accepted what I offered, out of many, many kind drivers). There are lots of little things that add up, in addition to food and lodging. But you have plenty to be “safe,” without having to be stingy.

Ramkitten

#5

Oh, I just noticed you posted this question under “PCT.” I was referring to my A.T. thru-hike, by mistake, and I haven’t done the PCT yet (a little less than one year and counting), so I guess my answer doesn’t count. I really don’t know yet how much of difference in cost there is (or can be) between the two trails, although there are fewer opportunities on the PCT, so I’ve read, to go into towns.

ramkitten

#6

Since Jeff is into all things math/data, he calculated out our costs for last years’ hike after we got home, and that data has just been waiting for someone to ask this question!!

Some info about our hiking style:
- we stay in hotels when we’re in town, if that’s an option
- we almost never share a room in town, so it’s lodging for 2
- we take a fair # of zero days
- we maildropped all our trail food, but eat fresh stuff in town
- we shipped our maildrops from NY to the West Coast

For 2383 miles hiked last year, we spent $2.73 per person per mile (pp/mile) during the trip.

This included EVERYTHING except travel to/from trail termini: all food for hiking, lodging, postage, cash spent in town, town food, town entertainment, haircuts, fuel, laundry, and SOME GEAR.

Gear means anything we changed out specifically for the PCT (ie. replaced with lighter versions) or that wore out during the trip. We already had all the basics from our AT hike, but we bought new packs, bear vaults, replacement Ti cook pot, sleeping pads and sleeping bags halfway through the trip. Replacement gear includes anything that wore out: footwear, socks (I go through A LOT of socks at $14 a pair - Yikes!), pole tips, filter cartridges, pants, raingear. Gear was a significant portion of our per mile cost.

Here’s how it works out on a more detailed basis:
$1.36 pp/mile trail expenses - lodging, town food, fuel, etc.
$0.66 pp/mile new and replacement gear for PCT
$0.49 pp/mile all maildropped food and misc. purchases
$0.22 pp/mile maildrop postage and supplies

Obviously, you can cut all kinds of expenses off our version, but the bottom line is that we had a pretty great summer for about $6500 per person.

Having about $8K set aside should cover just about everything, including health insurance and travel.

Enjoy your trip!! :wink:

Chipper

#7

What a great forum :smiley: Everyone is very helpful. I plan on keeping my town stays at a minimum as town stays are not the pourpose of my trip (only for resupply) as I am origianally a Californian as of a couple years ago, I have loads of friends and family that practically live on the trail that I can crash with (saving moolah on hotels and food that way) They are placed perfectly in that I will ship them my trade out gear ahead of time and when I need it I can meet up with them and trade what I need and don’t need. :cheers
I plan on jumping onto my husbands health insurance plan before I go and dropping mine at work. I will spend more on gear I think then anything else.

Dorkamungus

#8

Dorkamangus,
If you are careful with your cash, you can spend next to nothing on a thru-hike. With 3,000 grand you can have a decent hike. Some people spend around 1,500 relying on hiker boxes.

Bankrobber

#9

lol this from a bank robber LOL I am in need of a full upgrade in gear and wish to go as light weight as possible…I agree, 8’000 is a bit much but as i will be traveling from the midwest too I will need travel expenses. I will probebly do some mail drops and some town stores…and a little cusion of $$ for when I get back depending if I can get a leave of absence from work or have to quit.

Dorkamongus