FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Some facts, but mostly opinions.  If you have any burning questions, leave a comment and I'll try to add to the list:

How long does it take?
A typical thru hike will take 4-7 months.  In 2011, Jennifer Pharr Davis, a former resident of Charlottesville Va, set the speed record with a hike of 46 days, 11 hours, and 20 minutes.  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 as they travel.  Hikers like to carry lightweight instant foods that you only have to add water to such as oatmeal, mashed potatoes, rice, and pasta.  For protein and energy, they like 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.

What do you drink?
Hikers find water from streams, ponds, and some public sources at campgrounds or picnic areas along the way.  It is important to filter and/or purify your water, so hikers will boil, pump through a lightweight filter, or chemically treat any water they find to decrease risk of illness from drinking contaminated water.  Hikers also like to 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.  All hikers should carry their own lightweight tent, tarp, or hammock with rain protection so that they will be 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 out house, or privy, that hikers use.  If this isn’t an option, then 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, and most will hear you coming before you get close enough to see them, and they will run away.  Snakes and bears tend to cause the most fear in people, but as long as you stay alert to your surroundings and leave wild animals alone, you should be fine.  My biggest critter concern are ticks (see "Talk Like a Hiker" for Lyme Disease and DEET).  As for crazy people, I'm not too concerned about that.  The people on the trail are generally very friendly and look out for each other.  You are much safer on the trail than you are when you are in town walking down the street.  A good way to look at it, is that from someone else's perspective....I AM the crazy person, HA!  One of the biggest things about the trail that I am looking forward to are the people.

What do you do if it rains or snows?
Basically, you just keep hiking.  Hikers wear clothes that wick away moisture and dry quickly such as wool, or some synthetic materials. They will layer an insulating jacket when its cold, and a rain jacket when its precipitating.  In extreme cases, sometimes 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 as well, so you will never go too long with out seeing someone.  Everyone hikes at different speeds, so 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, to allow them to connect with nature and have their thoughts to themselves.  Some hikers, typically younger ones, enjoy hiking with other friends in a group, which attributes to more of a party atmosphere along the way.

How much does it cost?
Typically a hike of 6 months will cost $3000-$7000, or 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, so a lot of their money is spent that way.  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 always have to remember that they 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, while some others enjoy shouldering their trusty old 95 liter pack, stuffed to the gills at 70lbs or more.  To each their own.

You're bringing a gun, right?
Nope.  Just a small pocket knife for slicing off a piece of cheese or cutting up an apple for lunch.  Personally, I don't like guns.  Realistically, you'll never use it but if you want to carry around an extra ten pounds of metal be my guest.  If the rare chance came up that you felt the need to use it on an attacking animal or human (see above about animals and crazy people), A: it better not be buried in your pack, and B: you'd better be prepared to use it, and deal with the consequences of using it (with great power comes great responsibility).  Legally, you would need to make sure you have the correct documents to carry the gun in each of the 14 states you are traveling through, and across each of those state lines, familiarize yourself with the gun laws in each of those states, not to mention having permits for carrying a gun on federal land, since the trail does pass through 2 national parks where firearms are not permitted.  I figure if I can't fend something off with my little knife, my hiking poles, or my body stench....well at least I know when my time was up, I was having the time of my life.

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 themselves, 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, usually based on a 'real life' nick name or to avoid picking up an unflattering one on the trail (usually due to some bodily function).

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.