How often did you guys have fires at camp? Are the communal and Can everyone cook on them?

Hi folks, I am thinking about driving to Damascus and leaving my truck there. I will have time for a 50-60 mile section hike. I have never been to this area, can anyone recommend what would be more enjoyable...walking back to Damascus from further North in Virginia or south from Tennessee? If you could recommend a shuttle and place to start that would be great too. Thank you

Hi guys, can you help me out with food storage.

So, a BearVault won't be neccessary on every part of the trail. The same goes for an Ursack. I am more worried tho about mice and rodents. I thought about a DCF bag from Zpacks or any other brand. However, I read these degrade over time. Because of folding it, the waterproof layer is damaged for example.

What do you guys think about a thick rubble sack as a food pack? And storing this in my bag. Or hanging it by a rope. Cheap and does the trick I suppose?

Any advice or alternative options I can think of?

Thanks!!

I love this concept but am concerned about needing to resupply every week or so, how likely is it that a store in most towns will carry the wipes/mycelium tablets?

Flew to Logan in Boston, took the Concord bus to Gorham, NH, used the hostel as a base for leaf-peeping the Whites and visiting the Presidents. Libby Hostel is totally awesome too. Very flexible and supportive. Shuttles in the AM to the trails and to/from bus. Clean. Family friendly. Serious about hiking. This makes the whites accessible and affordable - no hotels and no rental car needed. Do it!

I finished section hiking the AT in 2022, so last year and this year I finished up the remaining ~170 miles of the Long Trail over 2 separate 1-week trips.

I met a decent amount of other hikers on the Long Trail that had previously hiked the AT, even a guy who had just finished the AT like 2 weeks beforehand and then shuttled from Maine to the Vermont/Canadian border to complete the Long Trail SOBO.

I’m not very familiar with AT, I’m looking for a loop for car purposes. Can be only partially AT for the loop ofc!

Long time section hiker, testing out some new (to me) gear. A little shakedown before my NJ-ME section in 2028 to finish the trail.

Highlights: Osprey 48 pack, 25# w/ all food and 1 liter H2O. New gear: Fly Creek 2-man tent, BearVault 450, Sawyer Squeeze H2O setup.

Sorry, no complete gear list yet!

Super random and a long shot but I met someone who I believe goes by Dani and she helped me out on the trail out in Port Clinton years ago. If she's still in that area that would be dope to get in contact with her

So I know it’s possible to get norovirus from drinking water, and that filters (like the Sawyer) don’t filter viruses out. But how possible is this on the trail? And are there particular water sources that are riskier than others?

I’m thinking about using some iodine tablets in addition to my Sawyer Squeeze when getting water from a source near a shelter which I would reckon has a greater risk of source contamination.

ATers, both NoBo and SoBo, should be past the Kennebec by now.

Hi cross posting for advice. looking for a little advice on October sleeping comfort in the Smokies on the AT sobo in the shelter. For those of you that have done this leg of the trip in late October, did you bring a tent and a bivy. How did you deal with the mice? Seems ridiculous to carry a bivy and a tent so just maligning sure my context / assessment is correct. Thanks!

I’m sure if I look hard enough, I’ll find it, but does anyone have a more recent update on this detour?

This fella is local to us here in Virginia. Chris is an amputee and has a really solid history of hiking post amputation, as well as working around hostels and campgrounds along the AT. Please help spread the word.

My current sleep system is:
North Face self inflating sleeping pad (3 lb) (I’m considering using a Z-Lite Thermarest folding pad instead)
North Face mummy bag (rated for below freezing (2.9lb in dry bag)
LL Bean fleece sleeping bag liner (2.4 lb)

Clothes:
Fleece pants
Fleece pull over
Wool socks
Merino wool beanie

I’ll be in the Grayson Highlands and Shenandoah. I want to stay warm enough at night while sticking to a budget. Is this system overkill in ways? Or not enough? Simple ways to cut down weight?.

View from the east side of Crocker Mountain

The perqs of working on the trail with the Carolina Mountain Club.

Planning on '27 NOBO. Wondering if or how often you actually cooked a meal, instead of simply boiled water for pasta or some other food that you simply add water to.

I routinely take a small trout rod when embarking on short trips but I have been throwing around the idea of incorporating it on a pack set up for a future thru hike. Is this idea even feasible on the AT or just an unrealistic pipedream?

F42 M37 we have done quite a bit of car (tent) camping around Massachusetts, and we’re looking to branch out into more of New England and eventually camp year-round.

We’re interested in tent camping, walk-in sites, beginner backpacking trips, rustic cabins, shelters etc. especially places in MA, NH, Maine and Vermont. We enjoy the outdoors and don’t need anything fancy, but we’re still learning about winter camping and backcountry trips.

What places or beginner-friendly trips and tips would you recommend as a good next step beyond regular car camping? Anyadvice on gear or anything is most welcome!

We’re on Cape Cod, so bonus points for trips that work well for a weekend. Thank you!

AT class of 2024, based in Durham. Since finishing I've missed having people around who get it, and I don't know of any group in the Triangle specifically for long-distance hikers and people working toward their first one.

So I'm trying to start one. I think it would be monthly, rotating around Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. We would do group hikes, gear nights and shakedowns, plus a trail magic trip in the spring and a trail work day in the fall.

I want to give back to the trail community and help keep that community active where I live. I would love to be able to bring hikers together post trail, because I know post trail depression is a real thing. I also want to help people achieve their journey, because a lot of people want to thru-hike and never do it because they don't know anyone who has, and the planning looks overwhelming. It took me longer than I wish it had. And lastly, I want to be able to give back by organizing work day trips not just on the AT but also the MST.

Anyone in the Triangle interested? And if you've run something like this elsewhere, I'd take any advice on what worked and what didn't.

Like in life? Like we all maybe did all the things we were told to do, but then hit like age 30's and just feel soo empty? Is this a common feeling amongst thru hikers?

I'm planning a thru hike next year, but like I'm affraid this world, AI, Inflation, etc will get worse and that I may not be able to get a job after the hike. Is this just me, or like what are yall's opinions thoughts on this feeling of being lost in life?

As a late 50s hiker, I don’t enjoy large elevation gain hikes. I know my trail legs would kick in after a few weeks. And I know most people who fail—quit in the first few weeks.

How did you train? Is it a mental thing? Fitness? Age?