I was wondering what some of the average time frames were for those that completed a thru hike. I am not really concerned about how long it takes and I certainly don’t want to rush the experience, but my family/friends are curious and I do need to have some sort of game plan for whe I get back to the “world”
Thanks and happy hiking.
Jimmy P
A rough estimate:
4 months: You are FLYING! 20+ mile everyday no breaks
5 months: Strong hiker. Not much lounging time.
6 months: Average hiker with the sole intention to hike (not extensive sight-seeing or visiting things along the way)
7 months: A relaxed hike. Easy to finish in this time. Sight-see in towns along the way.
8 months: You sleep until 10am. Hike for a couple hours. Go back to sleep.
Dave and Miranda
Cute, D+M, on the timeline descriptions…
I had planned on 4.5 months, but of course, injury hit early for me…
Next time, 10 years from now, I plan on a 6-7 month hike, taking time, relaxing, etc…
-xtn :boy
airferret
We started out so slow in the beginning it seemed like we were never going to finish on time. (We had promised to be back at work 6 months to the day.) After a month we were only 10% done. But by 2 months in we went from 10 mi days to 15 to 20. We finished just under 6 months, glad we started slow to give our bodies & minds a chance to adapt, and glad we sped up in the middle so we could dawdle with friends at the end.
camera1
According to a survey done by Roland Muesser in 1989, about 50% of thru-hikers take between 23 and 26 weeks.
Peaks
I spreadsheeted this twice (2002 and 2003) based on 20 or so journals a couple of years ago and the results I got say the average thru hike is 5.5 to 6 months including zero days.
Disco
Dear Jimmy P:
I don’t know what the average time to complete a through hike is, and absent full reporting by all finishers, no one does.
But, 2,160 miles (the length of the AT a few years ago and used as a number for its coincidental perfection)divided by 180 days (which is six months at thirty days per month) equal 12.0 miles per day. This is a good starting point for realizing what your timeframe might be, or planning your time frame.
As you can see if you consider this information along with the other posts in this thread, finishing the trail requires a certain dilegence, a certain steadiness of purpose and behaviour. Keeping off days low, and mileage steady (rather than gigantic), seems to be the key.
Good luck.
Sincerely–Conan.
Conan
Its interesting how your perception of miles on a long distance hike changes as the hike goes on. At first 12 miles a day seems like a lot and when you are just starting and getting your trail legs it is a lot. Also after a 10 to 12 mile day going a half mile down hill to get water seems like cruel and unusual punishment. I remember coming to that big poplar tree just before Franklin and thinking that there was no way I was going to hike even ten extra feet to see another freaking tree. Suddenly one day you will hike a 16 mile day and the half mile to water does not seem like a big deal. By the half way point you will pull a twenty mile day its late but a cheeseburger is only four miles away. Its not even a contest anymore, off you go.
Big B
you didnt go and see the big poplar? man you missed out. I mad everyone in our group go down 
we got some great pics.
might not get to see it again…
Bloody Cactus