Planning a Thru-Hike in One Month or Less!
Many aspiring thru hikers spend years planning for their first thru-hike. I personally spent over 15 months planning for my 2017 PCT thru-hike. Unfortunately, an injury ended my trek after only 375 miles, which was devastating. After returning home and rehabbing my shoulder, I wasn’t ready to throw in the towel and chose to rescue my hiking season by attempting a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail instead.
The same information gathering strategies used to plan for the PCT were used to plan for a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail in less than one month! You, too, can shorten time spent planning for a thru hike with the following strategies. This, however, assumes that you’re an experienced hiker, know your strengths and weaknesses and have a gear list ready to go.
10 Strategies for Planning a Thru-Hike
1.Purchase the go-to guidebooks.
Pacific Crest Trail: Yogi’s Pacific Crest Trail Guidebook
Appalachian Trail: AWOL’s The AT Guide
2. Check out the thru-hiking association web pages.
Pacific Crest Trail: Pacific Crest Trail Association
Appalachian Trail: Appalachian Trail Conservancy
3. Learn about permits required.
Pacific Crest Trail: Permits
Appalachian Trail: Permits and Regulations
4. Join various Facebook pages.
Pacific Crest Trail:
- The Trek: Pacific Crest Trail,
- Pacific Crest Trail
- PCT Class of 2017
- PCT SOBO 2017
- PCT Class of 2018
- Women of the PCT
- PCT Water and Fire Update Group
Appalachian Trail:
- The Trek: Appalachian Trail
- Appalachian Trail
- Appalachian Trail Class of 2017
- Appalachian Trail SOBO 2017
- Appalachian Trail Class of 2018
- Appalachian Trail: Women’s Group
5. Check out Instagram accounts and hashtags to get a feel for life on trail.
Pacific Crest Trail:
- @pctaassociation
- @pacificcrest.trail (The Trek)
- #pacificcresttrail
- #pct2017
- #trekthepct
- #pacificcresttrials
Appalachian Trail:
- @AppalachianTrailConservancy
- @appalachian.trail (TheTrek)
- #appalachiantrail
- #at2017
- #trektheat
- #appalachiantrials
6. Watch videos from previous years.
Pacific Crest Trail:
- Only the Essential: Pacific Crest Trail Documentary
- As It Happens: Pacific Crest Trail
- The Pacific Crest Trail in Three Minutes
- The Pacific Crest Trail 2015 Feature Film
- Following Red Beard (Will Wood): Pacific Crest Trail Thru Hike (multiple videos)
Appalachian Trail:
- The Appalachian Trail (National Geographic)
- Following Red Beard (Will Wood): Appalachian Trail State by State (multiple videos)
- Homemade Wanderlust (multiple videos)
7. Download maps, GPS apps and trail notes.
Pacific Crest Trail:
- PCTA Maps
- Halfmile’s PCT Maps (free downloadable maps)
- Halfmile’s GPS Data (download to GPS unit)
- Halfmile’s PCT Trail Notes (PDF format)
- Guthook’s Guide to the Pacific Crest Trail (app)
Appalachian Trail:
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy Interactive Map
- Guthook’s Guide to the Appalachian Trail (app)
- National Park Service Appalachian Trail Map
- Appalachian Trail Map
8. Review resupply locations.
Pacific Crest Trail:
- PCTA Resupply Strategy
- Postholer.com PCT Resupply Points
- Craig’s PCT Planner
- Yogi’s Pacific Crest Trail Guidebook
- As the Crow Flies PCT Town Guide (PDF available)
- The Trek: PCT Resupply Guide
Appalachian Trail:
9. Become aware of the trail angel lists.
Pacific Crest Trail:
- TrailAngelList.org: PCT
- PCT Trail Angels (Facebook)
Appalachian Trail:
10. Become aware of websites providing weather and water reports.
Pacific Crest Trail:
- PCT Water Report (PDF format)
- Halfmile’s Weather Forecast Links (National Weather Service)
- mountain-forecast.com
- atweather.org
Appalachian Trail:
The links above are by no means an exhaustive list of the resources available for planning a thru hike of the Appalachian and/or Pacific Crest Trails. Please feel free to share your favorite resources in the comments box below. It is my hope that the above bits of information will save you time researching and allow you to pursue your dreams sooner than later. Good luck and happy trails!
Until next time…
Consider following my Instagram or Facebook feeds to see how my planning strategies play out!
**Unfortunately, I was also forced to end my 2017 AT thru hike attempt prematurely after 500 miles with a torn VMO muscle. **
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