I have always been a goal setter. I look for challenges- things to accomplish both physically and mentally. Once I turned 50, I struggled with my next goal. Working on my podcast Energize and Revitalize with Dr. Amy has allowed me to pursue knowledge and explore various topics. However, I still needed a physical challenge. I finally found one: I will day hike the Appalachian Trail!
I developed an interest in the Appalachian Trail a couple of years ago, when I discovered Amicalola Falls, a beautiful hike to a waterfall near Elijay, Georgia. This was also the welcome center for hikers to register when they intended to hike the Appalachian trail.
The Appalachian Trail, often called the AT, is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, stretching over 2,190 miles from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. The trail was built through the 1920s and 1930s by volunteers and the Civilian Conservation Corps. It was officially completed in 1937 and today is maintained by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy along with thousands of dedicated volunteers. What began as a visionary idea has become an American icon, drawing millions of hikers each year.
Day Hiking
I read books written by hikers. Most had hiked the entire trail. This usually takes several months and is very challenging. A hiker will usually start in Georgia and camp out most nights. They finish the hike in Maine. Other people hike the trails in sections. They may camp out for a long weekend or up to a month. They eventually complete the entire trail. Because I was in the Army for the first 11 years of my adult life, I did not want to sleep outside voluntarily. I read about day hiking- hiking for the day and staying in a hotel or an air bnb. This sounded appealing.
Benefits of day hiking
When you day hike, you sleep in a bed every night. You have access to showers and sometimes a kitchen. When you go out for your hike for the day you only need a small amount of food and water. You need to bring some emergency supplies as well. Conversely, through or section hikers need to bring several days worth of food and water as well as a plethora of camping supplies. The extra weight of carrying all the supplies makes the hike much more taxing on the body.
I continued reading books written by day hikers. During visits to the Georgia mountains, my husband and I took several hikes where we hiked the AT for 3-4 miles then turned around. I knew that to complete the entire trail, we would need a better plan.
Shuttle Services and Transportation
There are 3 ways to day hike the trail. The first, I already described. You drive your vehicle to a trail head; hike a portion of the trail, then turn around. This is a good way to begin exploring, but you would ultimately hike double the distance of the trail. The second way is to bring 2 vehicles. You would drive to the end point- where you planned on finishing for the day. You would leave 1 car there and drive the other to the beginning. You would leave that car there; hike to the end, then drive back to the beginning and get your other car. You obviously need at least 2 people and 2 cars to use this strategy. The third, and most attractive option, is to hire a shuttle service. The shuttle driver meets you at the end point where you leave your car. The driver brings you to your starting point. You hike to your car then return to your lodging. We decided to use the shuttle service.
Conclusion
We have picked a week to do a trial run. We will plan our hikes and arrange for transportation. We also need to get some basic supplies and make sure we are physically prepared for the challenge. We can’t wait to share our experience. Stay tuned for part 2 of this series on preparing to hike the Appalachian Trail.
Check out our podcast Energize and Revitalize with Dr. Amy for AT specific episodes.