Adventure of a Lifetime, hiking the AT - Not Horse Related - Not Horse Related - Horse Community, Horse Pictures, Horse Forum and Information

Posted : 11/26/2009 3:53:06 AM

What it says. I have had a lot going on here lately and have been really stressed. I got my degree in the Spring and went straight back to school but feel like I am losing motivation. There are a lot of things I need to think through and I need to figure out what i'm going to do with my life and am in a major transition right now with nowhere to go, my solution? Hike 2100 miles along the AT from Georgia to Maine. Unfortunately this means Twilight is back for sale. I need 2k out of her to help fund the trip and I also need to find a very cheap (but reliable) place for me to board Quest during the time I do my hike... hoping around 5 months.

When do I leave? Well, i'm hoping to leave around mid March and am considering driving the distance since I will have Kelly with me and am hoping that I may be able to meet some forumers along the way

I have a lot of planning to get done, and a lot of money to be saved in these next few months, but I think without school I can really get a lot more hours in at work. I'm gonna plan 2500 for the hike, not including travel expenses to get there. I need some equipment so if anyone has very light backpacking equipment such as tents, water filters, stoves, etc. they don't use and would be willing to sell, let me know, I may be interested. Anyways, thats my big lifetime adventure I am planning, feel free to ask questions or give advice! This is something I have considered for quite a while and decided recently to just go for it!

AppyLady

Posted : 11/27/2009 1:16:02 AM

Caveman's friends hiked the Appalachian Trail a couple years ago. I believe they started in February, but they started at Pensacola instead, and reached Georgia in March. They finished some time in early August, but didn't stop at Mt. Katahdin -- they went on to the Canadian border. They did have to take three weeks off in May because one of them got really sick. If you have any questions, I'm sure Caveman can answer them.

samsara

Posted : 11/28/2009 1:24:28 PM

[quote=questisthebest]

What it says. I have had a lot going on here lately and have been really stressed. I got my degree in the Spring and went straight back to school but feel like I am losing motivation. There are a lot of things I need to think through and I need to figure out what i'm going to do with my life and am in a major transition right now with nowhere to go

That's what happened to me! I was not creative enough to think of going on a hike though... I let my motivation for school peter out, quit, found a "real job" and now am stuck.
So, good for you! It will be a life changing experience for sure. Good luck, I hope you can make it all the way through.
How many pairs of shoes are you planning on burning through? [8D]

qh trail rider

Posted : 11/30/2009 10:20:10 PM

That does sound like quite an adventure. Are you planning on going alone or with someone? I hope you have someone to go with you. I know a lot of people hike alone, but I don't think it is a good idea. To many things could happen. Even a twisted ankle would be scarey if you were by yourself.

hunterseat

Posted : 12/5/2009 1:15:04 AM

Who's Kelly? [ ':)'

] (you see I zeroed right in on the important stuff... forget the life crisis, who's yer friend?)[ ':D'

]
Drag a trailer to Memphis and I can probably get you pasture board here for pretty much nothing. Well, you'd have to pay for food. I think this is a great market for Twilight, too, with the right... marketing! [ ':D'

] HEY! you can just come stay here while I'm playing in the desert for 7 months! Doing your part for your country! And my blind horse who will not be able to go stay with Steve the trimmer, I fear. I don't want to take him out of his pasture right now. He's not adjusting very well.
MK's ol' man was into rock climbing and was just telling me about his miniscule stove he packed. I bet he would have some GREAT ideas. He's Amazing! [ ':)'

]
Jill, this is really a great idea. I hope you go through with it! Last summer boywonder and I made a trek to NH via white water rafting, mom2rum's house, my home town, codyscorral's and KaliK's. PLUS we visited with TanyaC and son while in NH! You'll never regret it. Friends are so precious and so is life. Make the most! And don't be skeert!
OH almost forgot where I was going with that. When we got to the wwrafting place (where the cabin was $13/person/night) we were bussed to the starting place (Nolachucky gorge - sp) On the way the guide pointed out where the road crossed the A.Trail. There were people loading horses up right there.

hunterseat

Posted : 12/5/2009 1:18:07 AM

OH (again) I can send you an ALICE pack. All Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment. Ask someone if that would work okay for you. I'd be honored for it to hike the trail. It's new (but old, ya know? Unused) and has the aluminum frame.
Okay, I just googled it and you can see a bunch of stuff on it. Let me know, K?

AppyLady

Posted : 12/9/2009 3:49:39 PM

Get a SVEA stove. It's the only stove that will start no matter how cold it is or how high the elevation.

Oh wait, I guess you aren't planning to climb Mt. Everest.

questisthebest

Posted : 12/11/2009 5:33:05 PM

I will be traveling alone, however the AT is quite different than backcountry travel. There is a large community of hikers so although I may go alone, I may not end up alone.

hunterseat- Kelly is my new doggy ':)'

Border collie, for that reason i'm terrified of keeping her home for a month and a half! Unfortunately though the Smokeys don't allow dogs, so two weeks into my trip I would have to board her out for around a week and that would cost around $350 ':O'

So, my mom is gonna TRY and bring her after she gets out of school in May.

Are you saying your gonna leave for seven months ':O'

Does this mean I won't get to see you when I pass through Tennessee (probably early April)?

I'm hoping i'll be able to get a list together of forumers near the trail, hopefully I am able to meet a few!

As for a stove, my friend has a homemade alcohol stove he's giving me.
I'll look up the ALICE pack, this is the pack I think i'm gonna

go with though: http://www.sunnysports.com/prod/GOLQW.html?ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=GOLQW
I did find a place to board Quest (with a friend I trust), and if Twilight doesn't sell then it's cheap enough at $45 that I can manage her board as well. I'm hoping she'll sell though.

hunterseat

Posted : 12/12/2009 1:19:50 AM

I won't be gone by then. That would be really cool. We have a HUGE inspection in April - people are pinging already. If it's during that then there's just no way. If it's AFTER that then I'll be in DIRE need of a break!

Holy Cow you'll be right there at codyscorral's! We are SO there! (I'll drag her!) If I get there early and help her clean she may let you stay at her house! [ ':D'

] I'm so good and inviting people to other people's houses! [ ':)'

]