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Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2024

Fine de na Faolchu
PhoenixFyre
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  • GW2: Phoenix.1746
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Posted On: 03/26/2023 at 05:35 PM
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I've finally been granted the opportunity to attempt a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail next year - 2024. I have been wanting to do this for decades and then some. Life just never worked out this way, but I am able to now. Has anyone else gone on this adventure or this type of adventure before? I'm hoping to just gather some much-needed advice on trail life, trail towns, and everything in between! 

 

There are so many things to prepare and organize and plan for such a lengthy adventure, and it is super intimidating!! However, I have the most supportive wife who is beyond amazing, and I am so looking forward to this!

 

-Phoenix

Last Edited on: 03/26/2023 at 05:35 PM
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Curadh de na Capall
LuckyHamster
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Replied On: 03/27/2023 at 03:50 PM PDT
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PhoenixFyre,

That is awesome! While I haven't done any thru hiking I have hiked many hundreds of miles in The Sierra's. Mostly on and around the John Muir Trail. My dream is to one day complete the JMT as a thru hike. I certainly have a lot of backpacking experience, maybe a bit rusty as it has been a few years since I've been out, but I would not mind a bit if you needed someone to bounce ideas off of.

LuckyHamster

Last Edited on: 03/27/2023 at 03:50 PM
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Fine de na Faolchu
PhoenixFyre
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Replied On: 04/02/2023 at 02:02 AM PDT
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The Sierras are absolutely so gorgeous, and (from what I have read/heard) quite a challenging area to hike in!! I am so jealous of the wonderful and beautiful places you have to hike through within that region! The terrain I face is mainly rocks and roots - the end. It looks absolutely amazing and is quite a fantastic opportunity. I've looked into it also, but being as I am on the other entire side of the US on the east coast it would prove to be quite a challenge. It is certainly not unheard of, but one would need more dedication than I was at the time when researching it.

What's stopping you from attempting a thru-hike of the JMT, if I may ask? 

I do totally get life happens whether financial reasons or just life responsibilities will not allow much time to be taken and dedicated to a thru-hike. I can say for years I was unable to financially support a long-distance hike of this nature - who has (at least) over six grand sitting around for giggles and funsies? Once I was able to do that or had saved up enough to do so, I chose a poor life decision on what to use this money towards other than to dedicate to a thru-hike. So, back to saving for a couple of years, and I soon had a ton of life changes all at once during the pandemic (since why not? it's only the entire world falling apart right?). While the world fell apart for a few years there, I got married, moved in with my now wife, and took on a new job at a new company leaving an over a decade-long role behind. I figured I am going to make changes eventually with all of these things, get it over with and all out of the way at once (not quite true; but it is rather amusing how it all happened at once). The last and most recent hurdle was my beloved pups. She was older with severe separation anxiety, and I was not willing to leave her whatsoever. However, I, unfortunately, had to say farewell to the pups this past year - 14 years of amazingness together finally came to an end leaving me quite broken.

Now, six months later, I have made the conscious decision to go for the adventure! I know I wouldn't be able to without the support of my wife either. So, she is my 'at home' supplies sender along with logistics planning assistance and organizing things - quite frankly my partner in crime without actually hiking the entire thing since she would prefer to opt out of this version.  She does enjoy the outdoors and hiking, but this is quite a bit beyond anything she would wish to dedicate time to at this time.

I also greatly appreciate your offer of idea discussion! May I ask for any meals/recipes or just food items you commonly prefer? 

 

-Phoenix

Last Edited on: 04/02/2023 at 02:02 AM
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Curadh de na Capall
LuckyHamster
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Replied On: 04/15/2023 at 11:38 PM PDT
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Congrats on getting married. Been-there-done-that for 42 wonderful years. Sorry to hear about your pups. We had a yellow lab when my son was little and when she passed we couldn't bring ourselves to get another knowing we would have to go through that again. I feel for you. 

 

Totally agree with you on the Sierra's being gorgeous. I get such a grand feeling hiking the high passes. To look around and know that you are within a few thousand feet of 10,000+ foot peaks is just awesome. It's a lot of up and down. One section of the JMT (which I have not done yet, and that's another story!) has five 9,000+ passes. And Forester Pass (which I have done) at 13,000 feet, is spectacular!

 

You asked what is stopping me from thru hiking the JMT - mostly the time off. I have a small IT consulting business with no other techs' so when I am not there business stops. Not good for client's depending on my help and not good for cash flow - LOL. I will most likely do it when I retire, which isn't too far off.

 

Meals were usually oatmeal and tang/coffee for breakfast, granola/trail mix and payday's for lunch, and soup, a freeze dried entree and a freeze dried dessert. We kept it pretty simple, but then it was only for a week or 10 days. We did all our cooking with a Jetboil. At altitude it's just easier to only have to boil water for a hot meal. At lower altitudes you can probably do some real cooking. I don't know how it is where you are, but here in California, we can't make campfires, so no cooking over an open fire.

 

Sounds like you have a good partnership. The "logistics" person is pretty important on a long thru hike! Glad to hear you are moving forward and hopefully I can be of some help.

 

LuckyHamster

Last Edited on: 04/15/2023 at 11:38 PM
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Fine de na Faolchu
PhoenixFyre
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Replied On: 05/20/2023 at 12:22 PM PDT
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Wow! I can't even imagine running my own business! That's awesome. I imagine that's difficult too. I know I couldn't do it1 LOL

I am so grateful to have a wonderful partner who supports me on this journey. They are of such great help mentally and in so many other ways. 

The ascents and descents for the AT are not as drastic as the JMT from what I remember when I was looking at their maps previously. However, still a challenge. Are you a trekking pole user? What do you go with?

I've never actually went with them, but I would like to keep an opened mind toward it. I understand they are very helpful with ups/downs and stabilizing yourself. My preference always ends up being a trusty hiking stick for any help needed. I've been trying to work on my ankle strength and balance lately. I'm hoping that helps too!

Also, the freeze dried meals and such, did you make them yourself or more like Mountain House and such? Have a favorite of those? My menu is pretty opened to variety! I need to find and fill up six months worth of food! So, I have been making meals and dehyating if I enjoy them. I've also been trying to find the best sites for stuff such as packitgourmet.com - they have such amazing meals and all kinds of helpdul stuff! 

 

Hope all is well,

- Phoenix

 

Last Edited on: 05/20/2023 at 12:22 PM
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Curadh de na Capall
LuckyHamster
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Replied On: 05/23/2023 at 08:37 PM PDT
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I guess I am just an entrepreneur at heart because I was either fired or asked to leave at every job I ever had because I butted heads with the boss. LOL It can be difficult at times, the hours are long, but it is very rewarding. 

I do use trekking poles. I'm tall so the extra stability helps and I find that having my hands not hanging down prevents the blood from making them fat. I like the rhythm they add to the hiking, kinda' like cross country skiing. I have some REI poles from way back that have lots of battle, I mean trail scars on them. LOL. They are adjustable and pretty lightweight, although I bet they are heavy by today's standards. My wife and I were talking about getting her some poles since we are doing more off the path hiking together these days

I have never tried drying my own food, that sounds awesome. Probably a lot better tasting than the store bought packaged stuff. We used to buy Mountain House and Backpackers Pantry if I recall (been a long time)  I heard something on a podcast the other day that made me think back to eating backpack food. He said "hunger makes the best sauce" talking about how good meals are when you are really hungry and I laughed out loud because I remember eating freeze dried food and marveling at how good that crap tasted! I think my favorites were Mac and Cheese, Beef Stew and an Asian Chicken dinner, was it Kung Pao? I don't remember, but it was spicy and tasty. Packit Gourmet looks delicious! I'll have to try their stuff someday.

Great to chat with youl.

Take Care and Happy Trails! LOL

LuckyHamster

Last Edited on: 05/23/2023 at 08:37 PM
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