Talk to Other Hikers
The Internet is a great place to connect with other hikers, both those who have completed the Trail in the past and can offer a wealth of “lessons learned,” or those who are planning a future trip. These Web sites are popular starting points for further explorations:
2,000-Miler correspondence lists
ATC maintains lists of people who have completed hiking the entire A.T. (or large portions of it) recently. They are willing to share their experience and give advice. The lists themselves are not currently available online, but you may e-mail info@appalachiantrail.org to request a copy. Available lists:
Alternative Hikes
Flip-flop, leapfrog and other non-traditional hikes.
Canadians
Hikers from Canada.
Couples
Couples that hiked the Trail together—including honeymoon hikers.
Diabetic Hikers
Includes insulin-dependent diabetics.
Disabilities and Injuries
Hikers with heart disease, food allergies, scoliosis, kidney transplants and other physical conditions requiring special attention.
Dogs
Hikers who hiked the Trail with their dogs.
Early Starters
Primarily northbound hikers who began in January and February.
General
Includes a selection of northbound, southbound, and flip-flop hikers.
International
Currently includes hikers from Australia, England, Finland, Germany, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, South Africa, Switzerland.
Lightweight
Hikers with pack weights ranging from 12 - 30 lbs.
Over 55
Current age range on list: 55 - 77.
Section Hikers
Most have hiked the entire Trail over a span of 10 - 20 years, some longer.
Winter
Hikers with winter backpacking experience; primarily southbound and alternative thru-hikers.
Southbound
Hikers traveling end-to-end from Maine to Georgia.
Vegetarian/Special Diet
Vegetarians, vegans, and hikers who dehydrated their own food.
Women
Current age range on list: 23-62.
Be considerate when choosing to call (early evening is usually the best time to try), and avoid using form letters if you write. Please remember that these folks are volunteering their own time. A note of thanks after you talk to them would make them feel the time and advice they gave to you was worthwhile. A few postcards or letters from the Trail mentioning how their advice helped, and a photo when you finish, would also be a great way of showing your appreciation.
Finding a partner
The Web sites mentioned at the top of the page are a great way to connect with other hikers planning a similar trip. There are so many people thru-hiking the A.T. in recent years that groups naturally form out on the Trail. This is particularly true if you start in Georgia between March 1 and April 15, and especially March 15 to April 1. If you want to hike in a group outside this time frame, or start at some other point, you may want to form your own group, but we ask that you keep the numbers small to reduce impact on the physical trail and help preserve a sense of isolation for other hikers. The recommended group size limit on the A.T. is ten for overnight camping (in some places this is mandatory), and we encourage groups to limit their numbers to 5 or 6.
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