Date: 2010-07-29
To: Questions??
Miles today: 0.0

As you sit on the hillside, or lie prone under the trees of the forest, or sprawl wet-legged by a mountain stream, the great door, that does not look like a door, opens. ~Stephen Graham, The Gentle Art of TrampingI have been asked a number of questions since deciding to thru-hike. I will try and address some of them here, and then some at a later date.1. Why do you want to hike the Appalachian Trail? I have dreamed of this since childhood. I always haved loved the outdoors, and spend a lot of time there. And I believe everyone should have at least one great adventure in their lifetime. The timing is about as right as it gets, with an early retirement offered last year.2. Are you going to take a gun? No. A gun is not needed on the A.T. Black bears are only dangerous if you get between a mother and cubs, or smear yourself with peanut butter! Most guns are heavy, so that's a deterent, and in some places on the trail, they are illegal.3. How will you supply, or resupply? I will mail approximately 20 mail drops, mainly with food, condiments, t.p., toiletries, etc. These drops are all within 7 miles of the trail. I will also supplement these with buying at stores along or close to the trail. Outfitters, supermarkets, etc.4. Where will you sleep, or spend the night? Tent mostly, but also some shelters. I will also stay at some hostels, and maybe a few cheaper motels for a break. 5. How long will it take you? Around 6 months. I orginally planned for 5 1/2, but I think and extra 2 weeks are needed for zero (no hiking, just rest), or nero (very short hiking day of under 5 miles) days.6. What are you going to take? How much weight? See gear list (not complete, but I am working on it). The gear list will have itemized weights also. My total base weight (everything but food and water, including pack) will 21-22 lbs in summer, and 24-25 lbs in colder weather. Total weight will depend on number of days between resupply (average planned around 5 days). My goal has been 35 lbs max from the beginning. This is a huge improvement from my weekend/weekly trip weight of 50-55 lbs.7. Will you hike all of the A.T.? My hiking style or philosophy is not to miss any of the trail. I want to see it all! When the ATC (Appalachian Trail Conservancy) asks me to sign a statement saying I hiked it all, I will be able to tell the truth. I don't like cheating, so I won't. It's every mile for me. This is not to down others on the trail, as everyone hikes different. Hike your own hike...right? Do your own thing.Well...that's it for now. More questions answered on a later entry. Here's a cool interactive map of the Trail which includes shelters and vistas from the ATC (if you're not a member you should be...insert pointing finger here) http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.mqLTIYOwGlF/b.4850633/k.9733/Interactive_Map.htmP.S. I had to edit this entry because I left out the most asked question. Am I going alone? Who am I going with? I will be hiking the trail solo. Appoximately 1500 hikers leave Springer Mtn. (the southern terminus) each year. This figure only represents those who register. There are others for unknown reasons who choose not to. So, on any given weekend in March, there are at least a dozen hikers starting out. So I will have lots of company each evening at a shelter, campsite, etc. Chosing a partner before hand is risky business at best. Hiking styles and speeds differ widely...i.e., some like to stop often for breaks and pictures, while others just like to keep churning out the miles to see what's around the next bend of the trail. I fall somewhere in between. By the way, of those approx. 1500 who leave yearly, around 50% make it to Harper's Ferry (halfway point), and only 25% go on to complete the trail in a single year (figures courtesy of the ATC). So, yes, I will eventually settle in with a hiking partner/partners, but for how long or far is anybody's guess.