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Who here has hiked the Appalachian Trail?

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mattytru
Posts: 2788 - Karma: 5,618
just finished reading a walk in the woods by bill bryson (an entertaining read, i recommend it), and naturally my first thought was, "i wonder which NSer has hiked the most miles on the AT?"

have any of you hiked any section of the AT? who has the most miles?
Feb 4 2015 3:29PM
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Drail
Posts: 14012 - Karma: 10,010
Over the past summer two friends of mine attempted the PCT but were unsuccessful. Being coastal British Columbians who are accustom to wetter climates they said fuck it and didn't want to deal with the desert in the far south so they started their trek at Tehachapi Pass and went north for Canada.

Unfortunately, by the time they got to Northern California near the Oregon border the forest fires that were raging there caused them to stop.

I've always wanted to do the PCT, but I know that if I ever did my mind would constantly be on the AT and CDT.
Feb 9 2015 3:19PM
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smallmtskier
Posts: 254 - Karma: 41
Now that Ive thru hiked the AT I am definitely looking towards the PCT. saving up now, hopefully in a few years. Each trail has their own amazing aspects, is there seriously an argument going on about them? All I know is that my AT thru hike was the best time of my life.
Feb 9 2015 5:43PM
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,029
smallmtskierEach trail has their own amazing aspects, is there seriously an argument going on about them?


No. This is a thread about the AT and some clueless dudes who live near the PCT feel the need to debate on which is better. I think the PCT dudes are mad at the lack of snow over there
Feb 10 2015 8:57AM
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Byron_tha_gr8
Posts: 4573 - Karma: 14,299
BombogenesisYou should probably google "the knife edge katahdin" or "presidential range", then watch a your IQ jumps from 37 to 38


Whoa!!!1!!1 Your limited rugged terrain instantly makes the AT as hardcore as... the average national park backpacking trail in the west.

Really special.
Feb 10 2015 9:02AM
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Byron_tha_gr8
Posts: 4573 - Karma: 14,299
killabeesNo guys! my dick is bigger!


only west coasters have naturally bigger genitals. As soon as you hike above 8,000 feet you gain 3 inches.
Feb 10 2015 9:06AM
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,029
Lord_ByronWhoa!!!1!!1 Your limited rugged terrain instantly makes the AT as hardcore as... the average national park backpacking trail in the west.

Really special.


Ya know, if you actually hiked them both fully and just didn't talk out of your ass while comparing them you would get respect. Instead, you just sound like a child who is getting ignored by their mother.
Feb 10 2015 9:16AM
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Stadtski
Posts: 972 - Karma: 3,349
iFlipConsidering the International Appalachian Trail runs through New Brunswick, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and then Labrador, I'm calling bullshit.


Yeah i didnt do much of the canadian section. Should have made that clearer
Feb 10 2015 9:22AM
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Byron_tha_gr8
Posts: 4573 - Karma: 14,299
louie.miragsYa know, if you actually hiked them both fully and just didn't talk out of your ass while comparing them you would get respect. Instead, you just sound like a child who is getting ignored by their mother.


( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Feb 10 2015 10:00AM
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B.Quincy
Posts: 1074 - Karma: 963
Ive hiked the mass, ny, and slight ct part of trail. Been a blast with varying terrian and difficulty in each place, but for sure would say one common theme is the pretty brutal uphill scrambling.
Feb 10 2015 10:04AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51615 - Karma: 162,020
Thinking about doing this. Would be starting late if I did. Depends on if I get a good job for the summer or not. Put in for a few jobs.

Idk, super super stressed and just need to get away. IF fixing my car puts me out of an international escape for this summer, I might be doing the trail.

If not maybe next year. Just need to get away from everything for a while. Keep moving around to escape but I just want to be somewhere simple for a long time. Just in nature. No bullshit. Sure it seems as though everyone and their mother hikes the AT but I'm sure if I want I can find plenty of long periods walking alone(at least I hope so)

Putting this is as a backup plan. If everything goes to shit, I can sell the car or whatever and disappear for a few months.
Mar 10 2015 1:31PM
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byubound
Posts: 1636 - Karma: 9,870
I'm going to hit the pct next summer. Any of you that have done this sort of thing got any advice?
Mar 10 2015 1:51PM
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9283 - Karma: 60,896
louie.miragsYa know, if you actually hiked them both fully and just didn't talk out of your ass while comparing them you would get respect. Instead, you just sound like a child who is getting ignored by their mother.


if he had spent any considerable amount of time on either he'd have more respect for both rather than this "lol trolling" stuff


ive only spent a lot of time around the presidentials on the AT. i really wanna do more this summer, especially the mt katahdin part.

awesome thread. take lots of pictures AT-AT
Mar 10 2015 2:02PM
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9283 - Karma: 60,896
Titsandwich11if he had spent any considerable amount of time on either he'd have more respect for both rather than this "lol trolling" stuff


ive only spent a lot of time around the presidentials on the AT. i really wanna do more this summer, especially the mt katahdin part.

awesome thread. take lots of pictures AT-AT


oh and i really enjoyed a walk in the woods. bryson is a bit condescending especially about Katz but definitely a fun read that got my even more hyped on hiking.

i also highly recommend bryson's book "a short history of nearly everything." it's exactly what it sounds like and he takes his accessible writing style to the task of going over the vast majority of what we know about our world. does a really great job of dumbing it all down enough to be easy reading, but not misrepresenting stuff.
Mar 10 2015 2:06PM
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PhilboydStudge
Posts: 3431 - Karma: 206
Lord_ByronWhoa!!!1!!1 Your limited rugged terrain instantly makes the AT as hardcore as... the average national park backpacking trail in the west.

Really special.


You clearly haven't hiked much on the east coast. For background, I grew up in Montana and live in Colorado now.

A couple summers ago I went to Vermont and Mass to visit some friends and we did a 30 mile loop in the Presidential Range, which is on the AT. It was probably the toughest terrain I've ever hiked with a pack. Trails would go straight up very steep faces, and there were parts you were almost rock climbing. Sure, the west has bigger mountains but most trails in the west (Rockies, at least) have lots of switchbacks and are more gradual.

I'd love to do the AT or the PCT at some point. CDT would be cool but not interested in the southern parts. I may hike the continental divide all the way up Montana this summer. AT-AT, please make a thread here with your trip! Even if it's just copied and pasted from your blog, I'd love to see your progress.
Mar 10 2015 2:57PM
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mike759
Posts: 879 - Karma: 1,971
hiked parts of it
Mar 10 2015 4:33PM
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Byron_tha_gr8
Posts: 4573 - Karma: 14,299
PhilboydStudgeYou clearly haven't hiked much on the east coast. For background, I grew up in Montana and live in Colorado now.

A couple summers ago I went to Vermont and Mass to visit some friends and we did a 30 mile loop in the Presidential Range, which is on the AT. It was probably the toughest terrain I've ever hiked with a pack. Trails would go straight up very steep faces, and there were parts you were almost rock climbing. Sure, the west has bigger mountains but most trails in the west (Rockies, at least) have lots of switchbacks and are more gradual.


so western trails are easier to hike and have better and more climactic views?

Really makes me ache to get out east and start hiking!

also fuck you east coasters for stealing our snow. Baker closed thanks to your greed.
Mar 10 2015 5:19PM
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dispatchQ_main
Posts: 2619 - Karma: 629
can someone explain to me why anybody hikes? i get it as a fitness thing but other than that it seems awful
Mar 10 2015 7:20PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51615 - Karma: 162,020
Bogezcan someone explain to me why anybody hikes? i get it as a fitness thing but other than that it seems awful


LEIK YOU TOLLZ SO HARD BRO!!!!!!
Mar 10 2015 7:24PM
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,029
Bogezcan someone explain to me why anybody hikes? i get it as a fitness thing but other than that it seems awful


If I could spend my life hiking I would.
Mar 11 2015 4:59PM
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AT-AT
Posts: 3281 - Karma: 3,256
theabortionatorThinking about doing this. Would be starting late if I did. Depends on if I get a good job for the summer or not. Put in for a few jobs.

Idk, super super stressed and just need to get away. IF fixing my car puts me out of an international escape for this summer, I might be doing the trail.

If not maybe next year. Just need to get away from everything for a while. Keep moving around to escape but I just want to be somewhere simple for a long time. Just in nature. No bullshit. Sure it seems as though everyone and their mother hikes the AT but I'm sure if I want I can find plenty of long periods walking alone(at least I hope so)

Putting this is as a backup plan. If everything goes to shit, I can sell the car or whatever and disappear for a few months.


T-minus 16 days.

Let me know if you have any questions. I'd be more than happy to assist. If you end up starting after April, a SOBO hike would come into play. If you are looking for a much more secluded trip a SOBO would be the way to go. Much fewer people do it in that direction.
Mar 11 2015 11:40PM
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robbinJAHood
Posts: 1202 - Karma: 3,075
louie.miragsIf I could spend my life hiking I would.


amen
Mar 12 2015 9:40AM
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Park.
Posts: 2480 - Karma: 4,582
a few my my buddies from school and some attractive lady friends are going to hike the appalachians in NH for 2 weeks for their senior project. Probably the best senior project I have ever heard of... besides mine (MAKING A PAIR OF SKIS SON!!)
Mar 12 2015 9:21PM
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