appalachian trail difficulty

im an active duty marine, and my contract ends next january. im interested in thru-hiking the AT beginning in february northbound from springer mountain as soon as i can. after some research about the community's knowledge surrounding the trail, it struck me that this crowd is a bit "gen-pop" compared to what im used to, and the standards and expectations they provide in their youtube vlogs and blogs seems underwhelming. 2,190 miles at the shortest average time of 5 months to complete is roughly 14 miles a day with the obvious elevation changes along the way. is this just because it's soccer moms and social workers out there walking at a leisurely pace?

we sometimes ruck 20-something odd miles during company events, and that's with loads equivalent to roughly 50% body weight most of the time. it doesn't take a year to get it done. can i realistically expect to out-perform these mild expectations, or am i just being egotistical about this? is it really that difficult? with my physical fitness where it's at, i believe i can comfortably hike the trail shorter than five months if i carry as little as these folks do and still enjoy the wilderness.

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  1. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Marines are pussies. Since you are getting out you are an extra pussy. Oh wow you hike 20 miles for a single day once a quarter. Does it hurt the next day? You ready to hike another 20? Maybe you should re up and go suck some more dudes off on your gay little amphibious ships.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      im not staying in this zog-hellscape any longer, ive gotten my credentials and skills and my bags are packed full of stolen government property. im ready to take on some wilderness and ive got good reason to believe rucking dozens of miles under extreme weight combined with physically demanding field exercises equate to something approximately better than Ethan and Janet's Big Appalachian Summer Trip that takes 8 grand and 7 months to finish

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        Based, but be aware they monitor this board and if you keep bragging they could potentially get you.
        t. fellow zogbot

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      >t.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        what the frick? i look just like this. are you gangstalking me? this is crazy f'd up rn. please stop

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      >t. Ultralite gay.

  2. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    That's a lot of text just to ask a moronic question but yes, if your goal is just walking the trail as quickly as possible to flex your "clear time" on someone or whatever then yeah you can easily do it in less than 5 months. The elevation changes are mild enough that people even run the trail like it's a marathon.

  3. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    The AT has the most elevation change of all big 3 thru hikes thlugh asz a it’s not as hard as the CDT. But it’s shit, the trail shouldn’t have gone along the Blue Ridge. Too many morons. You’re exactly the type of person who should hike the AT, stay off the better trails.

  4. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    >14m/day
    >is this just because it's soccer moms and social workers out there walking at a leisurely pace?
    A lot of nobo hikers usually start out around something like 8-10m/day and end up pushing 20-30 by VA. With that said, your big mile days will be complicated by a few things:
    >Terrain
    Georgia and North Carolina will surprise the hell out of you with just how many steep puds they have. If you're not used to hiking constant elevation change then the hills their will definitely hand out some whoop ass. Pennsylvania is a big one that slows everyone down. The rocks there are a real pita to hike on and there's nothing you can do about it. Even after 900+ miles of conditioning it'll put the brakes on.
    >Weather
    Depending on what your start date is, you could run into a lot of snow in NC and TN. And if it's a wet year you're likely to hit a stretch of trail where the rain just won't let up. The trail will be completely flooded in sections and this will also slow you down. I personally spent 6 days in the smokies (5 on trail) and it rained p much the whole time.
    Crushing big miles day in and day out in spite of those factors seems easy enough until you're actually out there doing it. You're also going to deal with some type of injury along the way that will knock down your projected average. Hell sometimes a campsite is too nice to pass up, even if it's only 5 miles in. Or you just want an extra day in town. Or you end up in a group of people who are taking it a little slower. A lot of things play into that 14m/day average.

    Sub-5 months is absolutely doable though. If you're serious about getting it done quicker than the average bear then start conditioning asap and also go look into the videos and journals of 100 day thru hikes. Lots of good info from them and you can get a better idea of what to expect. Most of those guys, the first time thru hikers at least, say the same thing at the end and it's something like "I wish I'd spent more time taking it all in"

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Don’t forget the time and sometimes distance getting to town, resupplying, and getting back to the trail. I’ve never done the AT but this was a pretty big pain in the ass on the Pinhoti.

  5. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Thank you for your service

  6. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    I was surprised by how hard it was. Even if you think your the best, take it slow at the start.

    Your first day should be from Springer to Hawk Mtn shelter. Next day you make it to either Gooch shelter or gooch gap. Up to you after that. BUt don't push too hard until you make it out of Georgia.

    Once you get to NC you can start pushing the miles a bit and by the time you're done with the Smokies you'll have your trail legs.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      >Gooch Gap
      HHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  7. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Dude- just enjoy hiking the AT. No one will give a frick if you hiked it 20% faster than everyone else.
    Narrator voice - " He won't hike it faster than the 110 pound blonde with pink trail shoes".

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      This is a good point.

      "Last one to Katahdin wins."

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        Yeah OP here that's a very valid point. I'm scheduled to get hired for my next career that next September, I may just linger around til then.

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          Yeah with that time frame just take your time and enjoy yourself. You'll be more free during those months than you'll be saddled with your career. Might as well enjoy yourself to the fullest. Maybe you get a kick out of autistically minimizing your trail time. Maybe you only asked that question because you want to stroke your ego a bit, like you said. Either way that rucking you did in the service is shit for your body. No reason to be that hard on your joints when it's not necessary.

  8. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    >enjoy the wilderness
    >Appalachian Trail
    >wilderness

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      I too have noticed that nu-PrepHole thinks blazed, established, and hugely popular trails are "the wilderness," but it's understandable from the viewpoint of human vermin living out their entire lives in concrete hellscape rat warrens.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      we can't all get airdropped into central idaho, cum bubble

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      https://i.imgur.com/pFZ1Ye7.jpg

      I too have noticed that nu-PrepHole thinks blazed, established, and hugely popular trails are "the wilderness," but it's understandable from the viewpoint of human vermin living out their entire lives in concrete hellscape rat warrens.

      I still haven't figured out what compels these kinds of homosexuals to chime in with their self suck posts in literally every fricking thread. We get it, you're a REAL outdoorsman in the REAL outdoors. You can carry 50lbs of surplus gear for up to 2 miles at a time and spend up to 1(one) night in TRUE wilderness that would shake lesser men to their CORE. Sooo cooooool!!! shut the frick up.

  9. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    >really big weather window
    >ample chances to get to town/easy resupply
    >water everywhere
    >shelters
    the AT is tough, but you can take it slow, the food carries are small and the weather is ok. start slow and build up. have fun, it's a great hike

  10. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    watch out for AT schizos OP

  11. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Don't be a pussy meathead, slow down and enjoy it with us, you won't see more beautiful life this side ole' miss

  12. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Who is this? Reverse image search says this is Chuck Mawhinney but it doesn't look like the other photos of him.

  13. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Chill and enjoy nature, mac. It's more fun that way

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