FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Some facts, but mostly opinions :

How long does it take?
A typical thru hike will take 4-7 months.  In 2011, Jennifer Pharr Davis, a former resident of Charlottesville, Virginia, set the speed record with a hike of 46 days, 11 hours, and 20 minutes.
To learn more about her click here  Jennifer Pharr-Davis.  Bill Irwin and his guide dog, Orient, completed the trail in 9 months. Other hikers spend a lifetime hiking small sections of trail to complete it in its entirety.

What do you eat?
Hikers carry their food with them.  They prefer lightweight instant foods only requiring the addition of hot water to reconstitute - oatmeal, mashed potatoes, rice, and pasta.  For protein and energy -peanut butter, candy bars, pouches of dried or dehydrated meats, and of course trail mix.  Hikers usually carry a small lightweight stove and fuel to cook any hot meals or beverages. Some hikers prepare their own dehydrated meals.

What do you drink?
Water from streams, ponds, and some public sources at campgrounds or picnic areas along the way.  It is important to filter and/or purify water so hikers will boil, pump through a lightweight filter, chemically treat any water they find to decrease risk of illness from drinking contaminated water.  I'll be using a Steri-Pen Adventurer. As a backup, I'll carry Aqua Mira drops for water purification. Hikers carry instant flavored drink mixes, coffee, or tea to add variety.

Where do you sleep?
There are over 250 rustic shelters along the trail for hikers to use on a first come first served basis.  Some hikers prefer to find their own campsites along the way.  When stopping in a town, they may choose to stay at a hotel or hostel.  Most hikers  carry their own lightweight tent, tarp, or hammock with rain protection and are prepared to camp in any conditions.  Hikers also carry a sleeping bag usually rated to 20 degrees and a small mat to sleep on.

What if you have to go to the bathroom?
At most shelter areas there is an outhouse, or privy or you just walk into the woods, dig a small hole, do your business, and cover it up with dirt and debris.

Aren’t you scared of animals or crazy people?
The general rule with animals is that they are more scared of you than you are of them. Most will hear you coming before you get close enough to see them and they run away.  Snakes and bears tend to cause the most fear in people.  My biggest critter concern are ticks because of Lyme disease or possibly mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus.  As for crazy people, I'm not too concerned.  Hikers on the trail are generally very friendly and look out for each other. I'm looking forward to meeting interesting people on the trail.

What do you do if it rains or snows?
Keep hiking.  Hikers wear clothes that wick away moisture and dry quickly such as wool or synthetic materials. They dress in layers and put on an insulating jacket when its cold and a rain jacket.  In extreme cases, hikers will wait out the weather in a shelter or get off the trail entirely and stay in a town.

Will you be alone?
Most hikers start off alone but quickly find that the trail is like a super highway.  Tourists, day hikers, and section hikers will be on the trail so usually you never go too long with out seeing someone.  Everyone hikes at different speeds; most hikers hike alone but they tend to meet up with other people at water sources, at nice views, at camping spots in the late afternoon, or when they stop in town.  Many hikers actually enjoy the solitude that comes with being alone allowing them to connect with nature.  Some hikers, typically younger ones, enjoy hiking with friends in a group, which is conducive to more of a party atmosphere.

How much does it cost?
Typically a hike of 6 months will cost about $2 a mile but that is a very general estimate.  You also have to consider any costs for buying gear for your hike ahead of time.  Hikers must also consider any financial obligations they may have while they are gone such as mortgages, car payments, medical insurance, phone bills, etc. as well as the cost of not having an income for the time they are hiking.

Where does all that money go?
Hikers have to buy food and fuel along the way, replace or repair broken gear, or buy new clothes or shoes.  A lot of hikers can’t resist pizza, beer, and the comfort of a hotel room when they get to a town.  Also, in some sections of the trail, certain campsites or campgrounds may charge small fees to use their sites or facilities.

What do you bring?
What you bring is very much a personal choice.  Hikers have to carry every item in their pack up and down mountains and over long distances so much care is taken to only bring the absolute necessities.  Most hikers carry food, clothes, water, shelter and sleeping gear, first aid and toiletries, maps or guidebooks, a light source, stove, water treatment, and an ID/bank card/money, at the very least.  All together, hikers try to have their gear weigh in at 20-40 lbs.  "Ultralight" hikers are constantly striving to push their pack weights into the teens or even single digits and some carry their trusty old 95 liter pack stuffed to the gills at 70lbs or more.  To each their own.

What are “trail names”?
Trail names are nick names that hikers tend to use while they are on their hike.  These can be chosen by the hiker or given to them by other hikers.  Some hikers prefer to "let the trail" decide their name; others choose one themselves before going into the hike based on a 'real life' nick name or to avoid picking up an unflattering one on the trail.

What is “trail magic”?
Trail magic is a small, unexpected but remarkable event that lifts a hiker’s spirits and inspires awe or gratitude.  Trail magic can come from nature, random luck or serendipity, or from the kindness of strangers.  Sometimes these kind strangers are called “trail angels”.  Trail angels have been known to leave stashes of water or snacks along the trail, host a cookout for hikers in a parking area, offer rides into town, or even offer a place to stay in their homes.