Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shoeboy]

Make sure you get good boots. Every pebble feels like a boulder after a while hiking.

I had a alot of fun when I went on the trail a few years back. Just got tired of noodles and oatmeal everyday. I grew up near the trail but never heard of anyone hiking it out of boredom. we had cable.

[jlb]

[shoeboy]

I dont cook much.

[ella]

[Keepongoing]

on food supply for the AT, do you have to have food drops/caches? Can you buy food along the way????

[No_hite_pls]

If you only have a short amount of time, I recommend the hut to hut
in NH. You will cross the highest most difficult parts of the AT
and stay in cabins. It's really nice not to have to carry a tent or food.
And in my opinion, it is the most scenic part of the trail too.
http://www.outdoors.org/lodging/huts/index.cfm

[ella]

Keepongoing - I did some prep ahead of time and had boxes ready to ship from home at pre-picked times and towns along the trail. Takes a bit of research and coordination - and someone at home you can rely on 100% - but it was worth it. I also resupplied a bit in towns, but that's hit and miss. Sometimes you only have a few (or one) shop to choose from. If a large group of hikers comes through just before you do, they'll clear the store of everything you need.

Also, I didn't want to take a chance on hiking 50+ miles on just Pop Tarts and water. I needed real food. I researched and shopped and dehydrated and practiced until I got it down to what I wanted and needed.

[jlb]

Forget the resupply boxes. Almost everyone I knew who did it seemed to regret it after about 500 miles. Reasons:

1. Too much work ahead of time.

2. You're stuck to a Post Office schedule that's only open at certain times. What if some of your friends are hiking on and you have to wait for your box. You certainly won't feel happy about it.

3. More expensive I think, when you factor in postage.

4. And the biggest reason: your tastes change. Most of the people would get sick of the crap they "thought" they would like and end up putting it in hiker boxes and going to the grocery store like everyone else. Yes, oatmeal will get disgusting, believe it or not.

I did maybe 3 boxes and was pretty happy about it.

[legalquestions]

I did the southern half of the AT (Georgia to Harpers Ferry, W.Va.) in '96. What a trip!! Do it!

A fellow long distance hiker had been teaching in Japan and told me all about teaching ESL. Sounded good, and 11 years later here I am!

I went back to AT Trail Daze festival (Damascus, Va) last spring and hooked up with some of the people I'd hiked with (a 10 year anniversary of sorts).

THinking about the CDT or PCT or Arizona Trail or a trans-USA bike ride for my next adventure.

[ella]

Thruhikes are as unique as people. I loved my boxes. Made my hike go smooth as glass. I never had a problem getting to the PO and loved to pick through the hiker boxes they set up. You can burn out on any food along the trail, purchased or mailed, make sure you have a variety. I left my boxes unsealed so my home person could swap out anything I wanted. What you get and don't want can always be traded or left for someone else; I burnt out on Snickers bars but they're like currency on the A.T. so I found good uses for them.