Appalachian Trail hikers

I'm with you man, huts suck, give me my tent any day, and while I often camp illegally, I'm really conscientious about doing it right, by da rules. I think it's better to distribute things than to concentrate it all at the huts, even if they've got solar toilets. I do break down once in a while and pay the fee, for a tent site, sometimes it's worth it.

 

You know what would be cool? There are enough of us along the AT to form a resupply chain to help other hip thru hikers. Pick up a hiker at a trailhead in your area, take him/her into town, get resupplied and a meal nd take them back to the trailhead.

Whiteblaze and other sites do this, but trail angels I know down in VA won't pick up longhair thru hikers because (in their words) they tend to smell worse and stain upholstery. LOL

 

LOL, thru hikers in general smell worse and stain upholstery, it kinda goes with the territory of getting sweaty for weeks on end without bathing and nothing to change into that's not stanky.

 

I had a system for that when I was planning to resup with mail drops. You use a black contractor trash bag as a pack liner, the night before you goin to town for resup you camp, toss your clothes into the bag with a few drops of Dr Bronners and some water, shake well, rinse thrice, hang to dry. While your clothes are drying, put 2-3 gallons of water in the bag hang it from a tree. Thesun will heat the water inthe black plastic. When your clothes are dry, poke a few holes in the bag. You have a 2-4 minute hot shower. Puton your clean clothesand hike into town fresh the next morning. And have a fresh trashbag in your resup box.

But since maildrops are very inefficient and expensive I won't be doing that again. But I can't be unclean for very long. I'm not that much a gram weenie that I won't pack a three gallon solar shower. If that makes me a wuss hiker I wear that scorn as a badge of honor.

 

I think that if we do set up a network of ride sharing it should be part of the protocol for the ride giver to provide a tarp, that way everyone avoids a potentially awkward situation.

A solar shower is key, particularly on the longer outings. I've never been a big stickler for weight, I figure extra weight is an opportunity to get a better workout, within reason, as long as you know your limits and you can stick to a schedule (if that's important).

I had a reputation as a pack mule in my mid twenties, though this old bod can't handle what it used to. My buddies used to make fun of me 'cause I would lug a twelve pack up the mountain. They'd be laughing till we got to the camp site, then I was real popular.

 

Yeah, you'd be my best friend...

I've worked out some systems where I don't carry more than 22 pounds including ten days food and one days water. It's more freeing than restrictive. I'm finishing my own homemade version of a Shires tarptent. When it's done I'm thinking I'll post picsof it all on a webpage. Then I'll be off to rock hop PA for a few days and shakedown.

 

Packing light does have it's merits, 'sounds like you've got it down to a science for the long haul. I'm more of a weekend warrior myself, not having been out for more than a week or so at a time. I have a friend who did the AT end to end back in the early '80's (y'know, before we got jobs and had families and obligations), he's got some stories to tell.

I'd like to see those pics when you're done. I should also get off my ass and get more pics up here. I've got quite a few of the New England area, not limited to the AT. There's so much to see if you're willing to hike off the "beaten track" and explore the tributaries of the AT. I used to take trips out west, Colorado, the Pacific Northwest. Then I realized there's enough in my back yard to keep me occupied for a life time.

 

I've known Jack for close to 10 years. He's been hiking since '95 but has slacked off quite a bit. He might be able to write something if he puts his Jim Beam down long enough.

 

Hehehe yeah he does love his sippin' whiskey. He's the reason I carry some.

 

Here's a couple pics of the AT in my neck o' the woods (the closest part, which is about two hours away in North Western Connecticut). I was on my way to Falcon Ridge, a folk festival in Upstate New York, when I decided to hit a couple sections of the AT on my way. There's the Housatonic River, which the AT runs along. The river bed is dry in this picture, but it's pretty crazy in a kayak when it's running big. Then there's mount (?), ok, I dunno know the name, but it's the highest peak in CT.

I USED to lug twelve packs of beer up the mountain. Now I bring whiskey...and wasabi peas as always...

 

YEsssssss wasabi peas...

 

Ah a fellow '98er. What was your Trailname? What was your start/summit dates? Mine were April 12(start) Oct. 13 (summit)

 

Yeah thats what were going to do in the spring, backpack the appalaichans ,can't wait!

 

i thru hiked sobo from maine to key west. if your gonna hike,do it all the way!! also all the pct from campo to canada. good luck

 

SOBO??? Check the elevations. It's downhill all the way

 

How did you get from the southern terminus of the AT to Key West? Nothing but swamps, gators, and snakes in that stretch, but it might not be too bad in the dead of winter, assuming a decent trail. Pretty damned flat though.

 

There are local trails from Springer to the Florida Panhandle where you can get on the Florida Trail. From the southern point of the FT you can walk down US1 to Key West.

EDITED: The George Pinhoti Trail is a two day road walk from Springer. That runs south to the Alabama Pinhoti Trail, which will EVENTUALLY connect to the Florida Trail. With the new trails under construction you will eventually be able to hike from Key West to Newfoundland (with a ferry ride, of course).

 

i've hiked Mass and i plan to do the rest, probly 1 state at time

 

i have hiked on the W And OD trail in norher Virgina , and it is nice in the summer espically heading towards hamilton VA . nice areas to just enjoy nature, i walk every were so really i hike were ever i go

 

I did that too! weren't the veiws amazing? It was a bit chillier than I had anticipated, but it was so much fun.