Appalachian Trail Hike Planning Workshop Presenter: Andy Captain Blue Niekamp
My Appalachian Trail Experience 9,500 Miles Four End-To-End Completions 30+ Section Hikes Length: 35 850 miles
The Buckeye Trail 1,444 Miles - 88 Days The Ohio To Erie Trail 325 Miles - 21 Days
The Colorado Trail 485 Miles - 39 Days Vermont s The Long Trail 272 Miles - 27 Days
Minnesota's Superior Hiking Trail 270 Miles - 21 Days Kentucky s Sheltowee Trace 305 Miles - 28 Days
Arkansas' Ozark Highlands Trail 270 Miles - 21 Days Bartram Trail 110 miles Foothills Trail 76 miles Art Loeb Trail 30 miles
Appalachian Trail 2,190.9 Miles Long 14 States 5 Million Footsteps Longest hiking-only footpath in the world
What is Long Distance Hiking? 100 miles of hiking? 2+ weeks of hiking? A hike needing resupply? It s Your Definition!
Where To Start Planning? Appalachian Trail Conservancy www.appalachiantrail.org Social Media www.facebook.com Online Discussion Boards www.whiteblaze.net Friends, Acquaintances & Presentations
What To Look For Trail Guides & Maps When To Hike - Weather Permits, Closures & Restrictions Recommended Equipment Shuttle Driver / Parking Lists Trail Towns & Resupply Points
www.appalachiantrail.org Explore / Multi Day Hiking
www.appalachiantrail.org Shop
www.appalachiantrail.org Explore / Trail Updates
www.appalachiantrail.org Explore / Transportation Options
Gear
Gear Considerations Think light, small & compressible Buy quality gear Think about what you don't need just as much about what you need Are you changing seasons? Less on is good More on is moron
Clothing Footwear
Low Cut Mid Cut High Top
Trail Running Shoe
Trail Guides
The A. T. Guide
Thru Hiker Companion
Where To Buy Available in print or PDF PDF is cheaper and can be downloaded immediately Available in northbound and southbound editions www.theatguide.com www.aldha.org
Data Book
Guide Books
Maps
Guthook Smartphone App
Guthook Smartphone App
Guthook App Available in sections or whole AT Operates in airplane mode Gives real time information www.atlasguides.com
Trail Guides Have two sources of guides Copy the pages that you need. Carry only what you need. Mail home when finished Have a mileage chart for the whole hike with you Consider Smartphone app
Route Selection & Mileage Planning
Route Selection Degree of difficulty Number of miles Scenery Solitude Availability of towns and resupply
State Difficulty Rating Georgia: 6 North Carolina: 3-6 Tennessee: 5-6 Virginia: 2-6 West Virginia: 2-3 Maryland: 2-3 Pennsylvania: 2-4 New Jersey: 2-5 New York: 2-5 Connecticut: 4-5 Massachusetts: 3-6 Vermont: 5-6 New Hampshire: 6-10 Maine: 3-10 Difficulty Ratings: On a scale of 1-10, 1 being the easiest/flattest hike, and 10 having the most difficult/roughest terrain.
Scenery Georgia North Carolina Tennessee Virginia Roan Highlands Grayson Highlands/ Mount Rogers Vermont New Hampshire Maine First 100 miles of VT White Mountains Anywhere in Maine
Mileage Planning 1. Pick my starting location & date 2. Determine my average number of miles to hike each day 3. Calculate the number of hiking days needed for a given distance 4. Factor in zero miles days Now I can plan the details!
Mileage Considerations Choose lower miles/day over higher Your starting average mileage will be lower than your ending Steeper terrain = less miles/day Northern 500 miles = 12.5 miles/day Southern 500 miles = 14.0 miles/day
Planning Spreadsheet
Planning Sheet
Planning Tip Resist the urge to plan your campsite for every night of your journey. Things don t always go as planned. Stay flexibility.
Resupply
Resupply Methods Resupply As You Go Or Resupply Boxes?
Resupply As You Go Less upfront planning Offers flexibility Great choice for non-picky eaters Limited to grocery offerings in town Might have to purchase more food than needed. Example: Box of 10
Resupply Boxes Requires lots of upfront planning Fixed resupply schedule Great choice for picky eaters Everything you need is in that box Shipping can be expensive
Resupply Box Contents Food Water treatment chemicals Maps, guides Sunscreen, Bug Spray, TP, Fuel First Aid & Toiletries
Sample Trail Daily Food Kaishi Cereal with NIDO and Protein Powder Instant Coffee Starbucks VIA Protein Bar Trail Mix Bar Dried Fruit figs 2 oz Trail Mix 2 oz Nuts variety 2 oz Turkey Jerky 1 oz Triscuits, Pita Chips, Pretzels, Crackers Mountain House Entrée Two Person
Resupply Box Tips Vary your food selections Pick the right sized box. Fill with newspaper to reduce shifting Tape securely Drive them near their destination
General Delivery Mail Andy Niekamp General Delivery Monson, ME 04464 Please Hold For A.T. Hiker Estimated Arrival: 8/21/2017 Consider Flat Rate Boxes
Resupply Box Tips Ship to post offices, motels, hostels, outfitters, visitor centers Check preferred shipping method Post offices have limited hours Put your name on all four sides of box Anything shipped to a post office must go USPS
Planning Tip Carry a list of resupply points, estimated arrival and box contents in your pack.
Planning Tip Exhaustion suppresses appetite for the first few days. You ll eventually develop an insatiable hiker appetite.
Shuttles
Arranging A Shuttle Park your car at your destination. Get a ride to the start of your hike Get shuttle recommendations from the trail association Uber is getting more popular
Arranging A Shuttle Call 2+ weeks in advance and ask for a fixed rate for the shuttle Call to confirm several days before and on your way to the trail Make sure your shuttle driver is familiar with your pick up and drop off location
Shuttle Costs The best shuttles are retired people. Many work for donation-only. Expect to pay $1-$2 per mile shuttled. Or more. Expect to pay higher amounts for a shuttle from a business. Examples: hostel, outfitter, taxi, etc.
Shuttles Make sure your shuttle driver is familiar with your pick up and drop off location. Ask to make a stop along the way to get fuel, coffee, restroom break, drop off a resupply box. When dropped off get pointed in the correct direction.
Planning Tip Keep the phone number of your shuttle driver and other shuttle drivers with you during your hike.
Long Term Parking Get parking recommendations from the trail association, hostels, outfitters and city officials. Avoid parking at remote trailhead dues to risk of vehicle theft or vandalism. Expect to pay a daily parking fee. Expect to park several miles away from where you end your hike.
Parking Locations Hotels, motels, B&Bs Hostels, Outfitters City parking lots Parking garages Rate is $1-$5/day
Other Options
Planning Tip - Flying Pack your gear in a sturdy cardboard and check it. No carry-on with trekking poles, knives and stoves. You can t fly with fuel.
Hitchhiking Almost all long distance hikers hitchhike. It s a common and acceptable practice. Trail To Town. Town To Trail.
Hiker Hostels Located all along the trail Range in price from donation only to $40/night Bunk rooms, private rooms Laundry, loaner clothes, TV, shuttles, meals, slackpacking Chance to interact with hikers
Bears Den Hostel $30 Hiker Special Bunk space for night, shower, laundry, pizza, ice cream, soda, internet access, free long distance calls.
ATC Hiker Safety Leave your hiking plans with someone at home and check in frequently Sharpen your situational awareness Use extra caution if hiking alone Be wary of strangers Use the Trail registers Eliminate opportunities for theft Avoid hitchhiking or accepting rides
More Hiker Safety Keep your phone charged Don t camp at or near road crossings Use your intuition. If you someone gives you bad vibes, move on If a solo hiker, lie and say you are with a group
Group Hiking
Group Hiking Define the goals of your hike in advance with group members. Miles? Scenery? Solitude? Experience Nature? Exercise? Group Gear: Share tent, stove, water filter? Prepare meals as group or individual? People have different hiking styles/
Group Dynamics
Voluntary AT Hiker Registration We now encourage all overnight trail users to participate in the volunteer registration systems, and have different categories for individuals/small groups, large groups (6-10 people), and thru-hikers. www.atcamp.org
It takes more head than heels to hike the Appalachian Trail
General Eisenhower
Appalachian Trail Trip Planning March 13, 2018 6:00 pm Cox Arboretum MetroPark Fee: $5 www.metroparks.org Have you ever thought about a section or thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail but aren t sure where to start? Come to our planning session where we'll walk through planning your long distance A.T. hike. You'll receive a planning booklet (optional) and have an opportunity to talk with past thru-hikers and local experts.
Upcoming Programs March 9, 2018 7:00 pm Thru-Hiking the Buckeye Trail: Things That Will Change the Way You See Ohio C.I. Beaver Hall - Beavercreek March 13, 2018 7:00 pm 9,500 Miles On A 2,200 Mile Trail. Lessons Learned From An Appalachian Trail Long Distance Hiker Springboro Public Library
Captain Blue on the Blue Blazes $15.00
The End www.outdooradventureconnection.com