Back in 2013 I took the plunge; I quit my job, packed up my belongings, and bought a flight to Atlanta, Georgia. Why Atlanta, you ask? It is the closest international airport to Springer Mountain...the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail (AT). 

After a rough day at work I decided that I would embark on a solo journey and hike the AT. Throughout the months of planning I found myself with so many questions...where will I stop each night? Is it easy to access food on the Appalachian Trail? What hostels are hiker friendly? Is it better to make my own food and ship it?

​I scoured the internet for information, read blogs, and wrote to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. In the end I did make my own food. In fact I dehydrated 6 months of food and packaged it into individual portion sizes. Now 3 years later, I receive random e-mails from people who are willing to take the risk, quit their job, pack up their stuff, and hike the trail. 

To give back to this amazingly supportive community I wanted to post some advice and information. 

Water sources: The year I hiked, water was not an issue. I started off using pristine drops and later switched to bleach. I would however, recommend the sawyer squeeze. It is lightweight and didn't require a large amount of time waiting for chemical reactions to occur. And no...I have not noticed any long term consequences of drinking straight bleach :)

Food: I did in fact ship my own food, 12 drop boxes in total. I wanted the experience of preparing for such a long trip. In retrospect, I don't feel this was necessary. On average, one is able to access a town with a good grocery store every four days. With regards to shipping the food across the border I did not have any issues. I stated that the contents of my boxes were dehydrated food. Only two of my boxes were opened and inspected, but none of the items were removed.

Recipes: If you are keen on making your own meals here is the spreadsheet I used to plan out the 14 different meals I made. The recipes were taken from Lip Smackin' Backpackin'

Schedule: My only advice, is try not to have a schedule. It is true what they say..."Hike your own hike." This is an opportunity that most people won't have the chance to experience again (and by the end of the trail, I didn't think I would even consider hiking this length again!). However, that being said, planning is second nature for humans. So, here is the spreadsheet I used to plan out where to ship my drop boxes and I modified it to show what my actual mileage was in the end.

Guide book: I bought both the AT conservancies books and AWOLs book. I HIGHLY recommend the latter of the two options. Luckily, I was able to purchase mine at the Hiker Hostel.

Where to stay: Having the first night planned was key for me. Originally, I had arranged to have someone pick me up at the Atlanta airport and drive me to Springer Mountain. The night before I left Calgary the Hiker Hostel called saying they had a cancellation (I was on their waitlist). This was the best thing that could have happened. The hostel has an amazing service. They pick you up at the end of the MARTA rail line, drive you to Walmart so that you can pick up supplies, feed you this amazingly delicious breakfast, and then drop you off at the trailhead. I really can't say enough positive things about this establishment. They truly were wonderful! They even mailed one of my drop boxes for me!!!!

Shoes: By the end of the trail I went through 3 pairs of trail runners. I preferred the trail runners instead of proper hiking boots because of the weight and  comfort. 

Gear: Here is a list of the majority of the items I carried in my pack. With one liter of water and two weeks of food my pack weighed 30lbs! Keeping my bag light was a priority for me so I invested in newer gear. To help me decide what items to replace I looked at the cost to oz saved ratio.

Camping vs. Shelters: My view on this topic was simply to avoid shelters at all costs. A lot of people got sick the year I hiked the AT. Poor hygiene was a leading cause of this. The shelters get a lot of use and are not very clean (this improves the further north you go) therefore, I tired my best to camp in the surrounding area or 'stealth camp' a km out from the shelters, or close to a water source. I believe this helped me stay healthy for the entire trip.


Are you a Thru hiker? Do you have any other advice? Feel free to post advice in the comments! 

It's hard to believe it's almost been two years already. In 2013 I left snowflakes, solid ice, and freezing temperatures in anticipation of warm weather and green grass. Instead, I was greeted by unusually cold temperatures; the snow had followed me east. 

At first light, I was dropped off in the backwoods of Georgia; all that I could hear was my own nervous laughter; all that I could feel was my body trembling with anticipation; all that I could see was 3500km of trail before me.  

After months of preparation...I had finally arrived at the at the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. 

Backpack on and trail runners tied tight, with my first step I committed myself to 5 months of dehydrated food, sleeping in a tent, and the adventure of a lifetime. I knew I was going to learn a lot while on the trail. What I didn't expect to learn was gratitude, patience, and trust. 

I had purposefully chosen this trail because only 20% of the people who start it, finish it. The thought of pushing myself to complete something that very few people have appealed to my personality. From a very young age I learned to push my body and stopped listening when it said, enough is enough. The first four months of the trail was the most physically rested I had felt in a very long time. I even managed to gain 10lbs while hiking 27km days carrying a 30lbs pack. Eventually however, my body started to break down. 

Ankles were rolled and tears were shed while collapsed in the middle of the trail. A lesson was learned; I had to ask for help. Shin splints crippled me. Daily mileage dropped from 48km to 16km; wincing with every step. Two amazing individuals drove out of their way to pick me up and let me stay at their house. They fed me. They did my laundry. They gave me a bed to sleep in. My mind was blown. 

A week prior I had never met these individuals, but yet they welcomed me into their home. Living in the woods I hadn't showered in two weeks or done laundry in four. Now, I found myself being able to flick a switch and there would be light. I could lift a leaver and COLD water would come gushing out. I could open a magical door and find fresh food. I wasn't hallucinating, it was all real. These people had opened their hearts and welcomed me. It was one of the many selfless acts I would experience along this trail.

People didn't care what your socioeconomic status was, what clothes you wore, or the fact that you had been wearing those same clothes everyday for the past month. They simply wanted you to succeed. Everyone lived in the elements together and faced the same soul crushing trail. If you were hungry and someone had extra food, they gave it to you. If you needed a place to sleep, people made room for you. It was the most supportive environment I had ever been apart of. It was a family. 

Travelling by foot, time slowed, and watches were tucked away. Excitement was expressed when only and hour of hiking was left in a day. Sunset and sunrises were the new entertainment and aggressive hawks were the annoying neighbours. New appreciation was held for the small things in life, realizing I need quite little to live. Eye contact was the new norm and it was considered rude not to stop and chat to new faces met along the way. A connection was felt with beautiful mother nature. My nervous systems calmed and gratefulness emanated from within me. It was the most content I have ever felt. 

Spending 5 months living in a tent was the greatest thing I could have ever have done. I don't regret a single day or a single dollar I missed earning from taking 7 months off work. Was I reminded of my core values? 100%. Would I do it again? YOU BET! 

My advice to you? Get outside and see what there is to been seen. It might just surprise you.

FUN FACTS

• The Trail is roughly 3,500 km long, passing through 14 states.

• Thousands of volunteers maintain the trail.
• More than 250 three-sided shelters exist along the Trail.
• Virginia is home to the most miles of the Trail (about 550), while West Virginia is home to the least (about 4).
• The total elevation gain of hiking the entire A.T. is equivalent to climbing Mt. Everest 16 times.
• 2 in 10 who attempt a thru-hike successfully completes the journey
• Hikers usually adopt “trail names” while hiking the Trail. They are often descriptive or humorous. Examples are “Eternal Optimist,” “Thunder Chicken,” and “Crumb-snatcher".(Message me to find out my trail name)