FAQ

Here are the answers to some of the questions I’ve heard a lot already and others you might be wondering about.

Q: You aren’t doing this alone, are you? (Everyone’s first question)

A: Yes and no. I’m not starting the hike with anybody I know, but thousands of hikers attempt to thru-hike the AT every year and most of them also start alone. My plan is to walk with people who happen to hike at my pace and I seem to get along with socially. I also intend to meet up with friends and family at various points along the trail (see the “Join Me on the Trail” page on this blog).

Q: Are you carrying a gun? (Why is this everyone’s second question?)

A: I am not planning to carry a gun with me for protection against wildlife or people. I have a knife, which could be used for protection as a last resort, but that is not my reason for bringing it. (On a related note, the knife I’m bringing was handmade by my friend Justin. Check out his quality handiwork here: http://lumberjocks.com/projects/18135.) As the name of my blog implies, my plan to survive a bear attack is to walk with slower, tastier hikers and simply outrun them when a bear shows up.

Q: How long is the Appalachian Trail?

A: The southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail is Springer Mountain in Georgia (north of Atlanta). The northern end is Mt. Katahdin in Maine’s Baxter State Park. In total, the trail passes through 14 states and spans 2,184.2 miles.

Q: How long will it take you to hike the whole thing?

A: I am planning on walking for approximately five months. I’m starting on February 29, 2012, so I anticipate summiting Mt. Katahdin in early August. This means averaging roughly 15 miles per hiking day (and taking a week or two of non-hiking or “zero” (zero miles hiked) days). I already know I’ll be off the trail for a week (March 28 to April 3) to compete in a broomball tournament in Minnesota.

Q: How heavy is your pack?

A: My pack weighs about 19 pounds without food or water. Food for the first three days plus two liters of water push the total pack weight up to approximately 30 pounds. As the weather warms up, I can send home some warm weather clothing, so my base weight will likely go down over time. In addition, the number of days between resupply points will vary, so the food weight will change over time.

Q: How will you get food/charge your phone/update your blog/wash your clothes/etc.

A: Every few days, the trail runs through a town or intersects a major road leading to a town. I have a trail guide book detailing these locations, and I will plan to stop in a town once or twice a week to resupply. At a minimum, I will buy food for the next few days. I also have the option to rent a room for the night at a hostel/hotel where I can shower, charge my phone, connect to the internet, and update my blog. The guide also specifies the locations of laundromats, so I can wash my clothes there.

Q: How can I follow your progress on the trail?

A: Unfortunately, I couldn’t figure out how to upload my location to a map of the trail using the GPS on my phone. I will, however, post my daily mileage on this blog, so you can tell how far along the trail I am and where I’ve stayed each night. See the “Where Am I?” page on this blog.

Q: Can I meet you somewhere along the trail and hike with you for a while?

A: Please do! I’d love company from friends and family on my hike. It will be hard for me to know exactly when I’ll be passing through a certain area, so please be flexible with your plans. See the “Join Me on the Trail” page on this blog for more details.

Q: Can I send you a care package?

A: Any contact from home will be greatly appreciated. See the “Send a Package” page on this blog for more details. Thanks!