How much time do people normally take off of work/school to complete a thru hike, And does a SOBO hike normally take less time than a NOBO.
hik it up, clong
clong
Time needed? - Appalachian Trail
system
#2
I hiked over a period of almost 6 months. I told work I’d be back sometime in the Fall, they didn’t press for a date, good thing. They knew where I was, they were on my email list. I took another 2.5 weeks after I got back til I went back to work. THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME!!! Hell, I’m not sure 2.5 months would have been enough time. They thought those few weeks were generous and then ‘let’ me start in for a month @ 30 hours (just enough to be eligible for health insurance benefits again). That whole post-trail time was a blur for me, not because it was busy, just because of where your head is at. It’s a real strange time. Take as much as you can afford…take my advice. Unless you LOVE your job and can’t wait to get back to it. I think 5-6.5 months is an average hike. As with everything else said on here…
YMMV
Bluebearee
system
#3
I agree with Bluebearee - take off more time than you think you will actually need. I knew teachers who had the difficult choice - skip Katahdin or start school on time. If you have a little cushion, you won’t get upset if weather holds you up a few days, or if you need to take time off to let tendons heal, or just to enjoy a concert in a nearby town or a spur of the moment rafting trip. It is not difficult to do the AT in five months, and a fair number have done it in three or four, but if you can take the time, relax and enjoy the experience. You will only have one first long hike, why rush? And take some time afterwards to ‘decompress’ – dealing with the workaday world can be really hard after knowing the freedom of the trail.
Spirit Walker
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#4
I haven’t done a study on this or anything but I’d say an average sobo hike takes less time than NOBO. Most SOBO’s seem to take between 4-6 months. NOBO’s seem to take longer, with more of a social aspect taking anywhere from 4 to 8 months. Seems like a lot of NOBO’s especially towards the end of the pack take 6 or 7 months, way more time than you probably will need.
SOBO’s take less time not only because of less social scene but also because of conditioning. Its fairly obvious that your slowest time/least conditioning is in the beginning of the hike. SOBO’s can hike their slowest pace coinciding with the hardest part (which is the beginning ie maine and NH). By time they get to Glencliff or Gorham they can virtually fly the rest of the way, supposing they want to. Sobo’s seem more driven and of the loner type who is more business than party. Its something I saw in a lot of the early fast NOBO’s. I can’t really explain it. Its not that they don;t enjoy it, just that goals are different. One school semester is plenty combined with a college summer either for a SOBO or NOBO hike. Its more up to which semester is more convenient to take off
A-Train
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#5
I certainly lived up to my trail name,taking many “detours” along the way.I recently finished my flip flop hike at D. Water Gap,PA.I say,take as much time as you can,and enjoy it all.Of course,nobody back where I was living wants to help me out,so I’m homeless and hanging out in Erwin for the moment.But I wouldn’t change a thing,I’d still do it all again,even if I knew going into that I was going to have this problem.
Detour
system
#7
Time restraints are bad on your constitution man! Don’t have any. No but really…6-7 months is probably a good amount of time to take off but also keep in mind that after you get to Katahdin or Springer, which ever the case may be, you’re still going to be on the trail in your head and you’re not going to want to jump back into anything anytime soon. I summitted Katahdin this year on October 6th and I still don’t have a job yet. I’m looking for one but I’ve been traveling around and living. So keep that in mind. Good luck.
T-Bird
system
#8
thankfully time doesnt exist on the trail
unfortunately; when you get into towns; you warp into the reality dimension and everything gets messed up. all the sudden your without a wristwatch and have to figure out if the post office is just closing for lunch or opening or if its sunday or if its memorial day so thats why banks are closed. then u go back through the portal onto the trail and things are good again. you have dark; somewhat light; light; somewhat dark; and dark. most people wake when its around somewhat light; eat; hike in the light; eat ; then make camp when its somewhat dark and sleep in the dark. Occasionally words like “i think its noon” are used but with inaccuracies. Sunset becomes a thing; not a time. Sunset is pretty tonight; not- well; its sunset; guess its time to stop. same with sunrise.
Before u enter trail warp for the 1st time; try to allow yourself the largest block of time u can to complete your hike. if u finish earlier; turn around and hike south some. or go fishing. or live on a beach. or go back to work early. or write a book.
If you finish late; by then; you will realize it doesnt really matter; unless you are from a foreign country hiking on an expired visa. then its bad.
Cause one morning we all wake up and realize “that was my last sunrise” like something from a stephen king book; the time warp caught us; right out on the trail. I was in tears when i realized it out on Siler bald. It’s what drags me back. One more sunrise. One more sunset. The feeling i have when i can say what a beautiful day; not i really enjoyed my 3rd day out. when i can say this was a good day. and not remember what day it is without counting my journal.
Big Boy
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#10
Hey girl! I just referred someone to you on another thread about dreads. Are you back in Maine? What’s shaking?
Bluebearee
I walk way too fast.