How to Plan an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike

Hiking from Georgia to Maine Takes Planning, Endurance, Gear

Feb 27, 2009 Karen Berger

Thru-hiking the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail is a life-list dream trip. It requires planning, fitness, the right gear, a positive attitude, and a love of backpacking.

Every spring, some 2,000 people from all walks of life converge at Springer Mountain, the Appalachian Trail's southern terminus in northwest Georgia. A couple of hundred more start later in the season, going southbound from Mt. Katahdin, the Appalachian Trail's northern terminus in Maine.

Historically, the drop-out rate has been enormous, with some 90 percent of those who start failing to finish. More recently, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the completion rate has been higher - as much as 25 or 30 percent - perhaps due to the amount of information now available.

How to Prepare for Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Get some hiking experience! Unbelievably, some people show up at the trail having never backpacked before. Perhaps they were inspired by a slide show or a book, but it takes more than a dream to hike 2,200 miles Long-distance backpacking involves aches and pains, smelly socks, smellier tent mates, foul weather (including mud, rain, snow, heat, and humidity), insects, rodents, roots, rocks, and sheer exhaustion. There are plenty of wonderful rewards - but not everyone is cut out to be a long-distance hiker. It's better to find out first, before quitting a job and taking six months off!
Read about it. Couples, old men, young women, a blind hiker, a family: it seems that everyone has penned his or her story of an Appalachian Trail thru-hike. What's especially interesting is that these books and Internet accounts have so much in common. Everyone, it seems, starts with a too-heavy pack.
Fitness. It's certainly true that the only way to truly get ready to put on a pack and walk up a mountain is to put on a pack and walk up a mountain. But hikers who are fit at the start are going to be a whole lot happier than hikers who aren't. Anything aerobic will help.
Equipment: One rule is constant. Packs should be as light as possible. Most experienced long-distance backpackers use the lightest gear available. Or modify gear to cut weight.
Foot preparation: Be sure shoes fit properly. Thru-hikers use either trekking shoe or hiking boots; the decision depends on pack-weight, ankle strength, and fitness.

Appalachian Trail Planning Resources for Itineraries and Resupply

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has a long list of books, guides, maps, and resources on every aspect of the Appalachian Trail.

The A.T Data Book is a pocket-sized book containing information about trail mileages between water sources, campsites, mountain summits, road crossings, towns, and other features.
Guidebooks and maps are available for each region of the trail from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Each pack contains a series of topographic maps, profile maps (showing elevation change along with major landmarks), and a guidebook for that section.
The Thru-Hiker's Companion, published by the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association, contains information about major trail landmarks , but is most useful for its information about towns where hikers can resupply, do laundry, find cheap accommodations, and get meals.
Resupply: Most hikers pre-pack food and supplies that they have bought in advance. Then someone at home mails the boxes to general delivery at post offices along the Appalachian Trail. Zip codes can be found in the Thru-Hikers Companion or the Data Book. It is possible to buy supplies en route, although small towns may have only a tiny convenience store with limited supplies. Most hikers send boxes to the tiny towns, and do a combination of mail drops and en-route shopping in larger towns.

With thorough planning, a positive attitude, and a sense of adventure, an A.T thru-hike is just five million steps away.

More Resources on Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Article index on hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Checklist for Planning Finances, Communications, and Home Security While Traveling.

The copyright of the article How to Plan an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike in Backpacking, Hiking & Camping is owned by Karen Berger. Permission to republish How to Plan an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Appalachian Trail Thru-hiker