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 New Jersey: 2-5 North Carolina: 3-6 New York: 2-5 Tennessee: 5-6 Connecticut: 4-5 Virginia: 2-6 Massachusetts: 3-6 West Virginia: 2-3 Vermont: 5-6 Maryland: 2-3 New Hampshire: 6-10 Pennsylvania: 2-4 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 Vermont North Carolina New Hampshire Tennessee Maine Virginia
Roan Highlands First 100 miles of VT Grayson Highlands/ White Mountains Mount Rogers 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