Why I’m Attempting a SOBO AT Thru Hike

Hi! This is my introduction to the Trek and my first blog ever! My name is Kayla, and I am a recent graduate who’s about to begin her first thru hike attempt ever!

I’m currently writing this as me and my dad are mulling over the last few important gear decisions that we need to make before our thru hike begins in about a week. We can’t decide whether to pack camp shoes or not, or whether to do bear hangs or pack a canister. Should these decisions have been made two months ago? Yes! Are we going to regret procrastinating? Probably! But, we are excited to get to Maine and start hiking!

What am I doing?

I’m attempting a 2025 SOBO thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. I’m going with my dad, who I’m dragging along (technically not against his will because Hike Your Own Hike), and I’ll be documenting our adventures here! We are somewhat textbook experienced backpackers, with lots of research and some practical experience under our belts. Since we couldn’t start until I graduated college, we chose to experience the extra challenge that comes with going southbound on the AT. This includes the most difficult sections first (Mt. Katahdin, The Whites, etc.), high water, black flies, as well as a shorter window to complete the thru hike. While we are nervous about the challenge and especially anxious about Katahdin and the 100 mile wilderness, we are eager to start.

Other than our timeline, you might ask why I would try to hike SOBO? It sounds harder than normal, right? Well, truth is that we picked it and just ran with it. Maybe we would have fared better trying a Flip-Flop, going North half-way and then going back to complete the South part. The challenge is certainly appealing, and we will make our best attempt to make it to Georgia!

Why am I writing for the Trek?

I am writing for the Trek so I can share the perspective of an AT thru hiker who is not an expert! I’ve been backpacking for about two years, consisting mainly of weekend trips around the Midwest. I also don’t have any family or friends who backpacked before me, and there aren’t very many opportunities to camp overnight near my hometown. So if you’re reading this, aspiring to be a thru hiker one day but not knowing how to start, just know that I was not long ago in your shoes and very lost. All I did was purchase a used backpack, and it led me to the beginning of my thru hike now! And if you follow along, I hope you’ll be able to learn from my experiences and maybe even be inspired.

So, my blogs are for anyone interested to hear my perspective on the trail! I’m also blogging for all of my friends and family back home and at school, who I promised I would write so you can hear about my journeys and follow along. You know who you are :). I’ll be mainly writing with my loved ones in mind, and using that as inspiration to continue posting regular updates.

How have we been preparing?

Mainly planning efforts have gone into dialing in our gear setups and preparing for the first few weeks on trail. Official gear planning has been going on for almost a year, but we have been collecting and testing for closer to two years. Other than obsessing over exactly what to take, we have also been researching some parts of the trail and things we may encounter. Logistically, we are trying to plan out only the 100 mile wilderness and the first resupply, as many who’ve hiked before recommended to not over-plan mileage and resupplies. Physically, we have been getting out and doing as many weekend trips as we can. Recently, we made a haul over to the grand canyon and spent a few nights down in the canyon. Despite the very different climate from the AT, this was a great place to test out some gear and elevation changes.

Why are we hiking?

It has been a dream of mine to hike the Appalachian Trail ever since I discovered The Triple Crown as a kid. I had my sights set pretty high back then, so since then I’ve decided to start slow. Now, I want to hike the AT for the accomplishment and growth that I will experience. I love backpacking (and hopefully will still by Georgia lol), and I can’t think of anything I’d rather do. This is my break after college before getting a job and starting the real world, and I want to experience something life changing before I lose the chance. I am expecting this to be the hardest thing I have ever done. I’m excited to take it on and see what I can accomplish!