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On hiking the Appalachian Trail...
Apr. 13th, 2005 09:22 pmA few nights ago:
11:49:45PM nowalmart: My Appalachian Trail library is ever growing.
11:50:27PM Su: are you studying the trail like you studied aquariums?
11:50:41PM nowalmart: Of course. Would you expect anything else?
11:50:49PM Su: no
So I have been reading a bit about hiking the AT. A few thoughts so far:
* Going southbound is difficult. Only about 400 people have completed a southbound AT thru-hike. Of course, only about 10-15% of people ever start in Maine and work south. I cannot completely explain my desire to start in Maine, but it is certainly a strong desire. Of course, my current schedule works such that I will be starting in the middle of July, and that somewhat rules out starting in Georgia.
* The money situation is coming along nicely. I still need to do a little more organizing to get rid of all of my stuff, but it is progressing. Budgeting is coming along nicely. By the end of July I will should have more than enough money to do the Trail, and then hopefully some money to get myself settled somewhere else.
* Maine and New Hampshire are the hardest states on the Trail. This explains the low number of people that ever complete a SOBO hike. Starting off in Maine's infamous "100 Mile Wilderness" is quite an introduction to the Trail.
* From Logue & Logue's "The Appalachian Trail Backpacker" - "I started with the intention of finishing," explained Doug Davis. "I think a lot of the quitters only committed themselves to giving it a try. As I went along I would try to imagine finishing (my thru hike). It was hard. I also tried to imagine not finishing. It was impossible."
That sounds about like me. If I do this, I cannot imagine not finishing.
It is actually beginning to settle in that I am going to do this. Up until last week doing the AT was still a possibility, one of a few different options. Now, though, it is the default plan.
The Virgin Islands will come later.
11:49:45PM nowalmart: My Appalachian Trail library is ever growing.
11:50:27PM Su: are you studying the trail like you studied aquariums?
11:50:41PM nowalmart: Of course. Would you expect anything else?
11:50:49PM Su: no
So I have been reading a bit about hiking the AT. A few thoughts so far:
* Going southbound is difficult. Only about 400 people have completed a southbound AT thru-hike. Of course, only about 10-15% of people ever start in Maine and work south. I cannot completely explain my desire to start in Maine, but it is certainly a strong desire. Of course, my current schedule works such that I will be starting in the middle of July, and that somewhat rules out starting in Georgia.
* The money situation is coming along nicely. I still need to do a little more organizing to get rid of all of my stuff, but it is progressing. Budgeting is coming along nicely. By the end of July I will should have more than enough money to do the Trail, and then hopefully some money to get myself settled somewhere else.
* Maine and New Hampshire are the hardest states on the Trail. This explains the low number of people that ever complete a SOBO hike. Starting off in Maine's infamous "100 Mile Wilderness" is quite an introduction to the Trail.
* From Logue & Logue's "The Appalachian Trail Backpacker" - "I started with the intention of finishing," explained Doug Davis. "I think a lot of the quitters only committed themselves to giving it a try. As I went along I would try to imagine finishing (my thru hike). It was hard. I also tried to imagine not finishing. It was impossible."
That sounds about like me. If I do this, I cannot imagine not finishing.
It is actually beginning to settle in that I am going to do this. Up until last week doing the AT was still a possibility, one of a few different options. Now, though, it is the default plan.
The Virgin Islands will come later.
