Four years ago today Jackson set foot on the AT so I thought it only fitting to share a post he wrote upon his return outlining a typical day of thru-hiking on the Appalachian Trail.
Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail was one of the biggest journeys of my life. Stretching 2,189 miles from Georgia to Maine, it was quite literally the longest distance I have ever traveled by foot, and taking approximately three months to complete, the longest amount of time I have spent away from home.
Taking a long walk can simply best be described as a vacation for the mind. Your body is pushed to its physical boundaries every day, but your mind is completely free to wonder. No distractions, no stress, no worries; the only real decisions you have to make are where you want to sleep, where you want to eat, and where you want to dip into a town and resupply.
So what is a typical day like thru-hiking on the Appalachian Trail?
I can describe one day and you will have an idea of what every day is like. The only thing that changes are the occasional view and the people you meet.
The birds are up and singing by 5:30 every morning. They make for an excellent alarm clock. As much as it pains me, I unzip my sleeping bag and sit up. I drag my clothes on and lace up my boots. Once outside my tent, I find the perfect tree to relieve myself. Breakfast is calling my name but I resist. No coffee and oatmeal until everything is packed and ready to go. Once I finish my morning chores, eat my breakfast, and do my stretches, I set off on the trail.
Being the first one out in the mornings puts me on spider web duty. I clear the trail for the other hikers … it’s a thankless job but somebody has to do it. It’s the small price I pay to have peace and quiet all to myself on the trail. I prefer starting early because I can really log some miles. The cool weather and relative freshness of my body allows me to cruise for the first few hours.
Once on the trail, my mind starts to wander. It usually starts by calculating how much farther it is to Maine. I quickly put that aside. Thinking about how far you have left can be dangerous. At this point, the trail is a mental game and it can easily be lost. Once I put that to rest it is time for some positive motivation. I usually do this aloud for reasons still unknown …
After I get my mind right I dive into deeper thoughts. I think about what I’m going to do when I get home. Many things pass though my mind and it’s exciting to think of all the possibilities. Sometimes my thoughts are productive and other times it’s just plain nonsense. I tell myself a lot of stories and revisit plots of movies I have seen. I have conversations with myself in Spanish and I sing all the time. One song in particular that I can’t get out of my head when I’m hiking up a big hill is, “The Climb,” by Miley Cyrus … it is just annoying!
Besides being lost in thought, I must pay attention to the trail. It can be very treacherous with the rocks, roots and mud. My head is always down, watching my steps and working my trekking poles. You may think I’m missing all these great views but 95% of the time I am surrounded by woods with nothing too look at except the trees and trail. It is when I get to the top of a big climb that I look up. After spending a couple of hours climbing 4,000 feet, it’s wonderful to be rewarded with such an amazing view. This is where I take it all in, this is what makes it worth it.
Unfortunately, after a big climb my body tells me it’s time. All of a sudden it comes out of nowhere. I grab my toilet paper and baby wipes (yes baby wipes; they are a necessity) and scurry off the trail. If you were to ask me the number one convenience I miss the most, I would say a toilet. There is nothing more uncomfortable than taking a poop in the woods with sore legs after walking all day!
Food breaks are a big highlight of the day. I can burn anywhere from 4,000 – 7,000 calories a day so it’s very important I rest and refuel often. This means food high in calories and/or protein. We’re talking energy bars, protein bars, candy bars, snake cakes, honey buns, tuna, instant mash potatoes, trail mix, crackers, peanut butter, pop tarts … the list goes on. It is not a healthy diet, but my body needs the energy.
Besides food, water is the most important thing. Thankfully there are plenty of water sources on the trail. Water determines my breaks and where I camp. I need it to drink, cook and clean up. It is the only factor that had any real control on my freedom out here.
After I have arrived at my destination, I set up my camp and collect water for the evening and next morning. I cook my dinner and devour it like a dog. (It’s amazing how easily I have de-evolved on the trail. I have literally caught myself sucking on a Little Debbie wrapper trying to get the last bit of chocolate like a filthy animal!) Usually, there are other hikers camped nearby since we are confined to the same water sources. We chew the fat a little then head to our tents. I check the elevation and plan for the day ahead. I check my watch … 8:27 p.m., a little past my bedtime. I put my things away and snuggle up in my sleeping bag and prepare to clock out. Before I close my eyes I whisper to myself, “Just another day in paradise.”
Have you ever thought of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail? Or perhaps a different thru-hike? Drop us some questions, comments, concerns below!