SuzukiSavage.com - AT thru hike

splash07

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AT thru hike
10/10/11 at 12:59:43

So recently I have gone through some drastic life changes which have caused me to re-evaluate my goals in life. It took me about a month but I now realize that thru hiking the Appalachian Trail is something I must do in life. My best friend and I are starting in March/April of 2013. I have already started a savings account for the trek and already have all my gear except a new ultralight tent. Any others out there that have taken this major hike on successfully, or unsuccessfully? I need all the advice and help I can get.

Side note the shortest time for completion of the trail is 46d11h10m
longest time for completion is 329 days. I plan to finish in around 200 days

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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28660 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: AT thru hike Reply #1 - 10/10/11 at 13:06:02 I'm pretty sure I could break that longest time to complete record by about 4 years... ...
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babyhog

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Re: AT thru hike
Reply #2 - 10/10/11 at 13:24:35

Wow, quite an undertaking. Since you don't already have the tent, I would suggest you wait until closer to time to go. They make vast improvements every year. We got a nice Eureka tent a year or so ago, folds up really small, so we could carry it on the bike, but it would be great for back-packing too.... but I'm sure you already know about tents, duh. lol

Best of luck. Take pics to share with us please.

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ALfromN.H. FSO

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Re: AT thru hike
Reply #3 - 10/11/11 at 04:43:25

Thats quite a hike. I've thought about doing it for years but can't really think about doing something like that until I retire. I've read alot of books about it. My favorite was "Walkin' on the happy side of misery" by Model T. Really informative, interesting, and funny. There's alot of info out there in books and internet. I think it's alot easier now than it was even 10 years ago with cell phones, debit cards, and other new technology. Good luck and keep us posted about your planning and prep.

AL

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splash07 Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 911 Charleston, SC Gender:	Re: AT thru hike Reply #4 - 10/11/11 at 12:09:10 I like to have my gear at least one season ahead of time so that I can get familiar with it and learn how to use it blindfolded. Too many nights of pitching tents in complete darkness i guess. I have about four tents as it stands right now but none are in the ultralight category.
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splash07

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Re: AT thru hike
Reply #5 - 10/11/11 at 12:10:11

ALfromN.H. FSO wrote on 10/11/11 at 04:43:25:

Thats quite a hike. I've thought about doing it for years but can't really think about doing something like that until I retire. I've read alot of books about it. My favorite was "Walkin' on the happy side of misery" by Model T. Really informative, interesting, and funny. There's alot of info out there in books and internet. I think it's alot easier now than it was even 10 years ago with cell phones, debit cards, and other new technology. Good luck and keep us posted about your planning and prep.

AL

Have not heard of that particular book, but I will look into it. One of my personal fav's is "a walk in the woods" by Bill Bryson

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MrBrownTX

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Re: AT thru hike
Reply #6 - 10/11/11 at 14:27:34

I bought a bunch of back packing gear about 2 years ago and have been only a couple of times. I am pretty lazy so I don't go too often but I really do enjoy the experience minus the heavy bag of crap you have to carry.

To save weight I take a cheap nylon net camping hammock from walmart ($8) and a cheap blue tarp ($8) to hang over it. To me the hammock is way comfier than the ground. The tarp keeps you dry. Together they weigh half what most cheap backpacking tents weigh. For $16 its a heck of a set up. In the winter I take one of those cheap blue sleeping pads from walmart and put it in the hammock to keep the wind off my back side and insulate a little.

I love it. If you know there will be trees around I say it's the way to go. You don't have to worry about finding level ground or dry ground. If it rains the water flows right under you and you stay dry.

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MrBrownTX Full Member Offline Posts: 242 Caddo Mills TX Gender:	Re: AT thru hike Reply #7 - 10/11/11 at 14:32:31 Also for an ultra light stove I have a small tuna can with some vent holes punched around it. Down in that I burn a solid fuel esbit cube. Put my canteen cup on top of the can and viola! That fuel takes a while (15 mins) to boil water but it weighs nothing compared to a propane/butane cannister and a metal stove.
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Built2Last Serious Thumper Offline Tempt Fate Posts: 1447 FTF Gender:	Re: AT thru hike Reply #8 - 10/11/11 at 15:53:57 You should be the first man of the 1900s to hike it without a tent.
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arteacher Serious Thumper Offline Ride as if your naked and invisable! Posts: 2581 London ontario Gender:	Re: AT thru hike Reply #9 - 10/11/11 at 16:50:58 I have gone on hikes and used Mr browns hammock and tarp system too. I always used a thin pad in the hammock so the skeeters wouldn't bite my a$$.
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splash07 Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 911 Charleston, SC Gender:	Re: AT thru hike Reply #10 - 10/11/11 at 17:15:30 The problem is that there wont always be trees. Some spots are open and some are rocky and you never know where you are going to have to stop and make camp.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: AT thru hike Reply #11 - 10/11/11 at 17:40:03 Piffle & Poppycock,,, Id be done in a day,, well,, most likely an hour,,
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Boule’tard Serious Thumper ModSquad Offline Master of the Obvious Posts: 1620 Austin TX Gender:	Re: AT thru hike Reply #12 - 10/11/11 at 18:03:46 Sounds awesome, go for it. Get ya one of those SPOTs http://www.findmespot.com/en/ REI has them.
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drums1

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Re: AT thru hike
Reply #13 - 10/12/11 at 05:25:59

I once watched a special on Discovery channel, I believe, about hiking the Appalachian trail. A group of 10 set out....only 3 or 4 finished. Most of them didn't look too happy at each campsite, but all said they were glad to have done it. I used to do a bit of hiking, but nothing of this magnitude. Best of luck to you, and by all means, lots of pictures.

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Fish Full Member Offline Who Shot Who In The What Now? Posts: 213 (near) Tampa, FL Gender:	Re: AT thru hike Reply #14 - 10/12/11 at 06:43:12 splash07 wrote on 10/11/11 at 12:09:10: Too many nights of pitching tents in complete darkness i guess. Bow chika bow wow.
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