Anyone ever tru-hiked the Appalachian Trail?

[Yellow Bastard]

I'm really thinking about doing this and wondering if anyone here has done it or knows anything about it.

I got out of the Marines (0311) earlier this year and school isn't really cutting it for me. Always been a goal to thru hike the AT. The only thing holding me back is the fact that I've never done long distance hiking of this nature, the AT is almost 2200 miles and takes roughly 5-6 months to complete.

 

[x SF med]

I'm really thinking about doing this and wondering if anyone here has done it or knows anything about it.

I got out of the Marines (0311) earlier this year and school isn't really cutting it for me. Always been a goal to thru hike the AT. The only thing holding me back is the fact that I've never done long distance hiking of this nature, the AT is almost 2200 miles and takes roughly 5-6 months to complete.

I did about 2 weeks on the AT when I was 12... you have a couple of areas where it's best to be armed while passing through, but you have to go through NY and NJ...

 

[Yellow Bastard]

I did about 2 weeks on the AT when I was 12... you have a couple of areas where it's best to be armed while passing through, but you have to go through NY and NJ...

What parts? I'm guessing the south. Don't think I'd carry a handgun but defiantly a knife

 

[x SF med]

there are HUGE bears from Maine to NC ... and NY/NJ is in that area...

Feel free to take on a 300lb Brown bear with your knife....

 

[BloodStripe]

One of my buddies did the exact same thing, grunt531. He was an 0311, tried school for a while after he got out and then he thru hiked the AT. If you get yourself verified, I'll see if I can put you in touch with him. He's also thru hiked the CDT last year.

 

[Yellow Bastard]

there are HUGE bears from Maine to NC ... and NY/NJ is in that area...

Feel free to take on a 300lb Brown bear with your knife....

I was born and raised in Maine and never saw a bear up there, but I know they're around. I've read you won't see many bears around the AT trail because it's so populated, bears will just stay away.

And a handgun wouldn't do much against a bear either.

One of my buddies did the exact same thing, grunt531. He was an 0311, tried school for a while after he got out and then he thru hiked the AT. If you get yourself verified, I'll see if I can put you in touch with him. He's also thru hiked the CDT last year.

How do I get verified?

 

[Totentanz]

I was born and raised in Maine and never saw a bear up there, but I know they're around. I've read you won't see many bears around the AT trail because it's so populated, bears will just stay away.

And a handgun wouldn't do much against a bear either.

I'll take a 454 Casull (or similar) over a sharp stick and a prayer... I don't know the AT specifically, but in the Adirondacks of upstate NY, if you leave any sort of food out, you're inviting a bear, even in high-traffic campsites.

How do I get verified?

Up top you'll see a tab called "Vetting and Requests" - follow that link to submit a vetting request.

 

[medicchick]

And a handgun wouldn't do much against a bear either.

Tell that to the people who every year in Alaska kills bears with pistols in self defense...and they are much larger than 300 pounds (that would be the size of some black bears there). Personally I prefer my 454 Casull lever action and a shotgun with slug/sabot/hollow points as backup.

 

[Yellow Bastard]

Up top you'll see a tab called "Vetting and Requests" - follow that link to submit a vetting request.

What kind of document is normally used? All I have is my CAC card.

 

[medicchick]

What kind of document is normally used? All I have is my CAC card.

https://shadowspear.com/vb/pages/info/

Partway down the screen.

The vetting process is straight-forward. You are welcome to contact vetted site members if you have any questions regarding the process. Here are some examples of resources you can use to get vetted:

DD214/discharge papers (black out your social security number!).

AARTS/SMARTS/military education transcript.

Email from AKO or military email account.

Official military orders.

ERB/ORB (US members)

A current vetted ShadowSpear member that is willing to vouch for you.

Black out your PERSEC (ie, SSN)! Your name must remain.

 

[policemedic]

And a handgun wouldn't do much against a bear either.

I see your doubt and raise you the Smith and Wesson 500 Magnum.

 

[Yellow Bastard]

I see your doubt and raise you the Smith and Wesson 500 Magnum.

I have two ARs but no handguns. I was planning on getting a Glock sometime

 

[Brill]

I've read you won't see many bears around the AT trail because it's so populated, bears will just stay away.

I section hike and trail run the AT through the Shenandoah and have seen two bears in the last years: both right off the trail but the quickly hightailed it (had to have been my trail shoes). Hang your food at night and you'll be fine. The shelters are FULL of mice by the way.

 

[Yellow Bastard]

I section hike and trail run the AT through the Shenandoah and have seen two bears in the last years: both right off the trail but the quickly hightailed it (had to have been my trail shoes). Hang your food at night and you'll be fine. The shelters are FULL of mice by the way.

Most bears are afraid of people so they usually will just run away. Unless a mother feels her cubs are in danger, then your screwed.

Only stayed in one AT shelter up in the White Mountains a while back and had to mice encounters. I never leave any food out so it won't be a problem

 

[busdriver]

Thru hiking the AT has been a life dream for me for a long time, but since I'm still in, it'll have to remain a dream for the time being. I don't think you'll need anything to protect yourself from the four legged critters, they're all black bears and shouldn't bother you unless you're stupid. Honestly, plan your hike and take advantage of every bed and breakfast you can along the way. The cool part of the AT is all the little towns along the way, take your time and have fun this trek isn't an extreme sports challenge it's an exploration of a unique part of our country.

 

[x SF med]

Most bears are afraid of people so they usually will just run away. Unless a mother feels her cubs are in danger, then your screwed.

Only stayed in one AT shelter up in the White Mountains a while back and had to mice encounters. I never leave any food out so it won't be a problem

As to point one.... along the AT, the bears are so innured to people that encounters are not uncommon, they see people as their food bearers. and don't forget the coyotes/wolves/wild dogs along the way too...

I tend to tent whenever I hike/backpack/camp... if I'm way out, I hang everything except what I'm using at the moment or in the very near future.

 

[pardus]

Carry a sturdy walking stick, you can fend off animals with that, as well as walk with it. Better than a knife, though you should also have two knives with you as well.

 

[medicchick]

Heck don't forget something as simple as bear bells.

 

[Yellow Bastard]

Carry a sturdy walking stick, you can fend off animals with that, as well as walk with it. Better than a knife, though you should also have two knives with you as well.

Well just spent over half a grand today on gear. Didn't get a knife though. I'll probably carry a gerber on my belt and I'll purchase a cold steal blade later on. Used one in Afghanistan and it was great. Never hiked with a walking stick before.

Right now I'm 70/30 in favor of doing. I see no reason not to, just wish I had more experience.

 

[pardus]

Well just spent over half a grand today on gear. Didn't get a knife though. I'll probably carry a gerber on my belt and I'll purchase a cold steal blade later on. Used one in Afghanistan and it was great. Never hiked with a walking stick before.

Right now I'm 70/30 in favor of doing. I see no reason not to, just wish I had more experience.

I carried a gerber mutiltool in Afghanistan, piece of cheap shit. If i were to do this trip, i'd carry a decent multitool, leatherman/swiss tool, as well as a good multipurpose sheath knife. Walking stick/poles are invaluable, particularly when river crossing/animal encounters etc...
You can spend a ton of money doing this, but you really dont need too.