Posted on 11/26/2011 9:10:55 PM PST by An American in Turkiye
My brother and I are taking our first steps on the Appalachian Trail in 2015. We will start in Georgia and complete the trail in Maine. Any Freepers ever done a thru-hike? Would like any advice/stories anyone may have.
By all means, read Bill Bryson’s book “A Walk in the Woods”
Go packin’ (with gun), lots of death and destruction along that trail by a multitude of killers and perverts. Of course it you do pack a gun, make sure that all the states you pass through respect your right to carry a gun.
Well, I can tell you, having climbed Mt. Katahdin 27 years ago, the Maine portion is incredibly beautiful.
Don’t eat the yellow snow.
Always wanted to thru hike it. Have done plenty of research, planning and prep but circumstances and life have always interceded. I may do section hiking in the future as an alternative. Go to the White Blaze forum for a wealth of information, experience and knowledge. Lots of lefty hippies there, so be prepared for that unpleasantry.
Years ago, I looked into the idea, and found enough commentary to decide it wasn’t something I wanted to do. You need to travel in a group of at least two, preferably more. There are a number of nuts who frequent the trail and probably aren’t completely sane.
Bring toilet paper... and bullets... and air fare.
I want to take my handgun but am afraid of the extra weight. I have an XD .40 cal. Would stop any hippie in their tracks!
I’ll check it out, thanks!
I’ve hiked the Mayland area with my boys - it was neat to see two thru-hikers walking by. They each had two walking sticks, looked like cross-country skiers but just hiking boots. After a couple hundred yards, you can see why - the rocks keep tripping you and the TWO sticks keep you on balance and take the arm load off the shoulders.
At dusk, a ranger came by as we were getting into our car to see that we were headed out for the evening as they would lock the gates shortly. Cars were there for overnight. Seemed like a caring fellow.
You don’t need reasons to NOT go, you need reasons and tidbits to say YES.
I remember one time cooking breakfast in the morning at an empty campground in the early winter. We had to physically push the deer away from our hot pans of food as we we sitting to eat on a log. Nothing like being in the WILD with deer too tame to intimidate. That was 15 years ago!
You are heading north? Be careful. Winter will be arriving very soon in Pennsylvania. Good luck to you.
XDM 40 isn’t too heavy and powerful enough for anything you may encounter.
Yes “A Walk In The Woods” is a must read. Even though you are not supposed to take weapons on the AT do it anyway. I would not even day hike up there without at least a handgun in my back pack and pepper spray. There are a lot of critters up in the N GA mountains. Coyotes, Bears, Black Panthers, and even a few wolves. Not to mention 2 legged types. It probably would not happen but you never know. There have been a few murders (very few) on the AT. I’m sure you will have a great time.
Yeah, we’re starting in April. Most hikers go the northern route. Should complete it in late September.
Here’s a trailer from a documentary I recently watched on AT. Ambitious hike. Stay safe, keep a journal and share with us!
http://thebackpacker.tv/2009/11/appalachian-trail-by-national-geographic/
p.s. That docu is available on Netflix for streaming.
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