Ask crash about hiking the Appalachian Trail

[jstnrgrs]

Are there campsites along the way? Do you just walk until you are tired and then pitch your tent? Do you need to have some kind of camp site permit or can you just pitch your tent wherever you want?

[jstnrgrs]

when you decide you want to eat at a restraunt and sleep in a motel, how far off the trail do you usually have to walk?

[mjkidd]

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when you decide you want to eat at a restraunt and sleep in a motel, how far off the trail do you usually have to walk?

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You don't walk, you hitchike.

[crash]

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Are there campsites along the way? Do you just walk until you are tired and then pitch your tent? Do you need to have some kind of camp site permit or can you just pitch your tent wherever you want?

[/ QUOTE ]

They have many "shelters" along the way, most are small three-walled log-cabin type thingies. Three walls, wood floor, roof. There are (a guess) 200-300 of these things along the way. You can sleep in those if you want.

http://www.virginiaplaces.org/parkto...ingshelter.jpg

I just pitched a tent wherever I wanted, I hated sleeping in shelters. People snore and kick you and smell like [censored] and keep you up all night (not that I smelled like roses). I'm a sleeping nit.

Most parts of the trail you can pitch your tent (uh-huh, I said "pitch your tent") wherever you want. Some exceptions (national parks, for example).

[crash]

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when you decide you want to eat at a restraunt and sleep in a motel, how far off the trail do you usually have to walk?

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You don't walk, you hitchike.

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Yeah, some trails go right through town, but if they don't, just hitch. I wouldn't hitch if I were a woman alone, but o/w it's no big deal. People who live near the trail are used to hikers hitching.

[crash]

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how tall are you and what was your weight? can you estimate the weight of your pack? how much weight did you lose? would you consider doing it again, possible north to south? would you consider the rocky mt or pacific coast trails? do you still hike? did you have trouble getting acclimated back into society? did you want to?

edit: what was you mode of transportion to GA and from ME? i would be concered about arriving without my stuff. now what?

edit #2: do you list this on your resume?

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I had relatives in Atlanta. From there my mom drove me. For the way back I got a ride to NYC then rented a car to DC.

Hell yeah I put it on my resume. Every single interviewer asked about it.

[crash]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
how tall are you and what was your weight? can you estimate the weight of your pack? how much weight did you lose? would you consider doing it again, possible north to south? would you consider the rocky mt or pacific coast trails? do you still hike? did you have trouble getting acclimated back into society? did you want to?

edit: what was you mode of transportion to GA and from ME? i would be concered about arriving without my stuff. now what?

edit #2: do you list this on your resume?

[/ QUOTE ]

I had relatives in Atlanta. From there my mom drove me. For the way back I got a ride to NYC then rented a car to DC.

Hell yeah I put it on my resume. Every single interviewer asked about it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think to interviewers it shows you finish what you start, that you've got gumption, moxie, that you're tough as nails, that you're a closer.

[LondonBroil]

Did you ever run into any problems with bees? I really hate bees and I would probably end up walking over a huge hornets nest in the middle of the forest.

[mjkidd]

What does it take to hike the Appalachian Trail? It takes brass balls to hike the Appalachian Trail.

[Matt Williams]

When you start, I assume you need winter clothes. How do you get rid of it when it gets warm? Also, how do you get them back when you get up to Maine and it's starting to get colder again? Or do you just carry it with you the entire time. Doesn't hitchhiking and going to motels and restauarants kind of defeat the purpose of hiking the whole trail? Or is it standard among hikers? What about cleaning your clothes? How much clothes did you pack for the trip? Did you set a goal for the amount of miles you hike per week? Let's say your goal is to hike 100 miles a week. Did you try to hike 20 miles a day for 5 days so that you had 2 free days to relax at the end of the week?