Any Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest, or Continental Divide thru-hikers ?

[Marmot]

One of my life obsessions is to backpack across the country three times and complete the Triple Crown of hiking (AT-PCT-CDT) before I die. I’m presently 2/3 of the way there with the CDT (god willing) on my docket within the next couple of years. Are there any other thru-hikers / long distance hikers here ?

 

[The Penguin]

I have never done backpack hiking across the country. However, I do like going to federal and provincial. I would camp in a tent and do various trails during the day.

The longest trail I did was 22 KM round trip to the fire tower trail at Kejimkujik National Park. It is a trail all up hill. They had a little cabin at the top which I rested for an hour before I decided my decent down. On my way back, I saw a turtle that is 2 to 3 feet diameter.

All my hiking trips I like taking several photos and videos and post them online. I do all my own editing and cut many videos and merge it into one interesting video.

Some point I will try cross country hiking.

 

[Aspieistj]

No way do I have the ambition and stamina that you have. Good luck on you next leg.

 

[Naturalist]

I too have this as a goal someday, it just isn't a possibility at the moment. Maybe I should start planning it though, because I do have summers off at my job and if I'm going to be broke and jobless I might as well live in the woods...

One concern I have is that as a female I am a lot more vulnerable on the trails. I would like to have a dog because that would help deter ne'er-do-wells but my husband isn't in favor of any pets, especially a dog.

I live rather close to the AT and have hiked certain stretches multiple times, but none out-of-state (Virginia).

 

[Marmot]

I too have this as a goal someday, it just isn't a possibility at the moment. Maybe I should start planning it though, because I do have summers off at my job and if I'm going to be broke and jobless I might as well live in the woods...

One concern I have is that as a female I am a lot more vulnerable on the trails. I would like to have a dog because that would help deter ne'er-do-wells but my husband isn't in favor of any pets, especially a dog.

I live rather close to the AT and have hiked certain stretches multiple times, but none out-of-state (Virginia).

It sounds like you’re a teacher of some sort, so not only is this very do-able for you, it’s actually quite common. In fact, the day that I completed the AT, alongside me on Mt. Katahdin was a teacher who had been section hiking it (in 100-200 mile increments) every summer over the course of 18 years. It was an amazing experience to witness and be present to someone with that much drive & desire finally accomplishing their goal.

To your point about being a female and feeling vulnerable, I’ll tell you that the thru-hiking community / subculture that exists (particularly on the AT & PCT) is unlike anything that you have ever experienced and (assuming that you have some basic common sense) you have less to worry about on the trail than you ever would in your everyday life / wherever you might live…… I know and have met 100’s of single (solo) women who have hiked without incident as once you settle into a groove with other hikers, you will (literally) have 20 big brothers, several over protective fathers, a couple surrogate mothers and a sister or two constantly looking out for you. It’s the type of culture that will restore your faith in humanity (if yours has ever waned) and it’s one I long for in my everyday life, but alas here I am.

Taking a dog along: Please, don’t do it! It can be done / don’t get me wrong, but unless you have a degree in Animal Science, a lot of experience, and the discipline of a Zen Buddhist master, it almost always ends in disaster for the dog. I’ve seen far more (at least 50/1) miserable dogs than happy ones on the trail and it breaks my heart when people put their own needs first at the cost of a dogs soul (and the pads on their feet) just because their ‘person’ desires a companion………

 

[Naturalist]

It sounds like you’re a teacher of some sort, so not only is this very do-able for you, it’s actually quite common. In fact, the day that I completed the AT, alongside me on Mt. Katahdin was a teacher who had been section hiking it (in 100-200 mile increments) every summer over the course of 18 years. It was an amazing experience to witness and be present to someone with that much drive & desire finally accomplishing their goal.

To your point about being a female and feeling vulnerable, I’ll tell you that the thru-hiking community / subculture that exists (particularly on the AT & PCT) is unlike anything that you have ever experienced and (assuming that you have some basic common sense) you have less to worry about on the trail than you ever would in your everyday life / wherever you might live…… I know and have met 100’s of single (solo) women who have hiked without incident as once you settle into a groove with other hikers, you will (literally) have 20 big brothers, several over protective fathers, a couple surrogate mothers and a sister or two constantly looking out for you. It’s the type of culture that will restore your faith in humanity (if yours has ever waned) and it’s one I long for in my everyday life, but alas here I am.

Taking a dog along: Please, don’t do it! It can be done / don’t get me wrong, but unless you have a degree in Animal Science, a lot of experience, and the discipline of a Zen Buddhist master, it almost always ends in disaster for the dog. I’ve seen far more (at least 50/1) miserable dogs than happy ones on the trail and it breaks my heart when people put their own needs first at the cost of a dogs soul (and the pads on their feet) just because their ‘person’ desires a companion………

Thanks Marmot for the encouraging advice!

I used to go up on the Blue Ridge Parkway alone a lot and hike the sections of the AT that cross it, but I stopped doing that when there were three strange, random murders there several years ago. They were supposed to be unrelated, I think they only caught and convicted one of the perpetrators. What's bothersome about the history of violent incidents adjacent to the Parkway is that so many of them appear to have been committed by people unknown to the victims. Maybe that's why the AT hikers are so keen to look out for strangers?

I mostly see dogs with day hikers and those seem quite content, so I am glad you are able to provide the added insight about dogs not enjoying a thru hike.

What really appeals to me is the challenge inherent in setting a goal and finding a way to achieve it; and also, the fact that so many people place a high esteem on achieving something that doesn't have to do with money or "being a productive member of society" (my mother often regarded people who would take a summer off to travel as "lazy" even if hiking is hard work!).

 

[ASD_Geek]

It is a dream of mine to one day hike the AT throughout Tennessee. Then maybe state by state.

 

[Marmot]

I used to go up on the Blue Ridge Parkway alone a lot and hike the sections of the AT that cross it, but I stopped doing that when there were three strange, random murders there several years ago. They were supposed to be unrelated,

Please don't associate bad things that have happened 'around' the trail to things that have happened 'on' the trail. I'm aware of two (of the three) incidents that you're referring to, and I assure you that they did not happen on the trail, nor to actual thru-hikers...... The 3rd one, I'm not sure what you're referring to, but I would have caught word of it had it involved someone in the long distance hiking community, and I haven't. Again though with my original comment "assuming that you have some basic common sense", your risk level on the trail is extremely low, even as a female traveling solo in comparison to what you must probably have to deal with in everyday life......


>the fact that so many people place a high esteem on achieving something that doesn't have to do with money or "being a productive member of society" (my mother often regarded people who would take a summer off to travel as "lazy" even if hiking is hard work!).[/QUOTE]

I spoke of this (in a roundabout way) in a different post already:

https://www.aspiescentral.com/threa...to-feel-like-an-adult.9973/page-4#post-265401

And I'll add to it, that you'll hear the phrase: "Hike your own hike" commonly out there, and it means just that: For whatever reason or purpose you wish: Hike!

 

[BigTimber]

Never been on any of the hikes, but it's on my bucketlist to do the PCT. I have a long way to go before attempting it. I still need to do a lot of planning, need to get a lot of gear, and I also have some health issues, like regarding meds, that I need to sort out.

As a person with Aspergers, do you have trouble co-mingling with other hikers? I think the thing that makes me nervous the most is the overnight stops at places where there is a lot of hikers and the social network that develops every year.

 

[Ste11aeres]

Taking a dog along: Please, don’t do it! It can be done / don’t get me wrong, but unless you have a degree in Animal Science, a lot of experience, and the discipline of a Zen Buddhist master, it almost always ends in disaster for the dog. I’ve seen far more (at least 50/1) miserable dogs than happy ones on the trail and it breaks my heart when people put their own needs first at the cost of a dogs soul (and the pads on their feet) just because their ‘person’ desires a companion………

I mostly see dogs with day hikers and those seem quite content, so I am glad you are able to provide the added insight about dogs not enjoying a thru hike.

From what I've heard: humans have far more stamina for long distances than do dogs. This might be surprising to some (not to you, because you've observed it) because at first, dogs appear more athletic than us, since they're so much faster over short distances. Also, dogs need about 16 hours of sleep a day.

Dogs are a lot less flexible than humans when it comes to exercise. They need walks daily and go crazy without them, while a human will be fairly happy in such a situation. At the same time, a truly fit human can outlast a dog when it comes to long, long distances. At the same time, I wonder if a breed such as an Alaskan Malamute, which was specifically developed for long distances, might fare better than other dogs.

In summary, a short hike is the best thing in the world to a dog. But a long-distance one might just be too much for them.

 

[Marmot]

As a person with Aspergers, do you have trouble co-mingling with other hikers? I think the thing that makes me nervous the most is the overnight stops at places where there is a lot of hikers and the social network that develops every year.

As an aspie at 39 years old, I will tell you that the only community that I’ve ever felt comfortable in, like I truly belonged there is within the long distance / thru-hiking community. Now while the AT is somewhat more congested & therefore social due to the shelter system, the PCT is completely opposite in that there are no shelters, very few formal campsites and you just hike every day until you’re dead tired, run out of daylight and/or you find a nice place to bed down for the night. If there happens to be other hikers there when you arrive that you don’t want to socialize with, you merely scoop up some water, say hello and tell everyone you’re knocking out a couple more miles that day and you’re not ready to stop just yet. Or, (if you want to stay) you simply ask if there’s room for one more (and there always is, this is just being polite) and you set up camp and commune with your fellow brethren. It is entirely an: as-social-as-you'd-like experience, but with the hours, and sometimes days of absolute isolation that you get with just you & your thoughts, the communal campsite, a fire, and the conversation of fellow hikers is almost always wanted.

 

[Ste11aeres]

As an aspie at 39 years old, I will tell you that the only community that I’ve ever felt comfortable in, like I truly belonged there is within the long distance / thru-hiking community. Now while the AT is somewhat more congested & therefore social due to the shelter system, the PCT is completely opposite in that there are no shelters, very few formal campsites and you just hike every day until you’re dead tired, run out of daylight and/or you find a nice place to bed down for the night. If there happens to be other hikers there when you arrive that you don’t want to socialize with, you merely scoop up some water, say hello and tell everyone you’re knocking out a couple more miles that day and you’re not ready to stop just yet. Or, (if you want to stay) you simply ask if there’s room for one more (and there always is, this is just being polite) and you set up camp and commune with your fellow brethren. It is entirely an: as-social-as-you'd-like experience, but with the hours, and sometimes days of absolute isolation that you get with just you & your thoughts, the communal campsite, a fire, and the conversation of fellow hikers is almost always wanted.

You are making me want to hike so badly. Alas,-though devoid of spouse/children or job-my life is still such that I am tangled up in such a way as to make it impossible for me to leave to do any such thing.

 

[Marmot]

At the same time, I wonder if a breed such as an Alaskan Malamute, which was specifically developed for long distances, might fare better than other dogs.

Negating the fact that they probably wouldn’t be too happy crossing the Mojave desert, the biggest problem with Malamutes and/or any big dog is that they eat more, which means you have to carry more, which means you have to leave the trail more often for resupply and this equation ultimately works against you and dominates the logistics of your hike…… I personally don’t believe that a dog should carry anything as while the dog with a pack might look cute, no dog bread out there was designed as a beast of burden & their skeletal structures just can’t handle the extra weight. Noting that: Pulling a sled or cart is a completely different motion than adding additional vertical pounds to the spine, joints, legs and pads…..

Incidentally though, when my friend & I hiked the PCT, we did (quite successfully) take a 30lb. border collie with us that not only made it the entire way, but was happy, healthy, did not carry a pack and actually gained weight (from muscle mass gain) over the course of the 2,600 miles. He was fed (all he could eat) the super crazy high protein dog food that Iditarod mushers use, he wore thru countless pairs of dog booties (that he wore every day), he had his own dogie sleeping bag to sleep in at night and he had 2 scheduled vet visits along the way as sanity checks that we weren’t inadvertently stressing him. To my point earlier though: While it can be done, I still do not recommend taking a dog unless you’re very experienced (we had both done the AT prior), have a degree in Animal Science (my friend does) and have more patience and self-discipline than Yoda.....

 

[Naturalist]

I'm aware of two (of the three) incidents that you're referring to, and I assure you that they did not happen on the trail, nor to actual thru-hikers...... The 3rd one, I'm not sure what you're referring to, but I would have caught word of it had it involved someone in the long distance hiking community, and I haven't.

Two incidents, three murders (+1 attempted).

I have a track record of not being able to tell when a situation is dangerous, therefore must be overly cautious. But you are wearing me down! I really, really want to spend more time in the woods, it is the only place where I am truly happy. I hiked some of the bridleways in Great Britain alone before my son was born, and loved it.

There are small trail networks all across my town which are very beautiful but they tend to be overrun by annoying "getting my daily exercise" runners / bikers who act like they own the trails: very pushy, usually with headphones, running over anything in their paths. Or chatting loudly with their fellow power-walkers. I wish I could throw rocks at their silly heads. There is something appealing about a trail crowd that is dedicated over the long haul, who have reasons for being in the woods other than to lose weight / burn calories. The urban trail crowd never notice much around them. I've seen them walk right under large hawks, totally oblivious. I wish they would stay at the Y and leave the trails for people who want quiet and respite from urban life.

 

[Marmot]

To any who might read this,

In just two weeks time, I catch a ride to the Southern border and begin my third cross country walk: This one, up the Continental Divide Trail from the boot heel of New Mexico, to the Canadian border at Glacier National Park...... This will complete for me a 22 year odyssey and will quite possibly be the greatest accomplishment of my time on this planet.

Whatever your thing in life might be: Hold onto your dreams, and they'll eventually pull you in....

 

[Mia]

In just two weeks time

Good luck on the A.T.