Why I’m Never Hiking The Appalachian Trail
Reading Time: 7 minutes “So when are you hiking the Appalachian Trail?” Probably one of the most frequent questions I get from other hikers.
My answer?
Never. I’m never going to hike the Appalachian Trail (AT). There’s literally nothing I find appealing about the AT.
Don’t get me wrong, this post is not meant to diminish the accomplishment of anyone out there who has hiked (all or part of) the AT. A thru-hike is an incredibly physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding endeavor. Whether you’re a one-time Appalachian Trail hiker or a Triple Crowner, that’s cool. Good for you (really), that’s awesome you did that. But is that something I want to do? No, no it’s not.
But why? Why does hiking the Appalachian Trail sound about as enjoyable as a swift kick in the nuts? A few reasons, I guess.
And before you go on, know that I have never hiked any portion of the AT. My experience hiking on the east coast is limited to Mount Monadnock and day hikes in the Adirondack Mountains (and that one time I parked my car on the AT in Maryland and walked for like two minutes before getting bored and turning around).
This is (mostly) speculation based on what I’ve been told by other hikers.
Here’s why (I’m fairly certain) I’m never hiking the AT:
- The green tunnel: The Appalachian Trail is nearly 2,200 mi / 3,500 km and spends the vast majority of this distance below treeline in what can only be described as a green tunnel. Sure, it’s nice to hang out in the trees occasionally, but high alpine environments are far more exciting. There are a few sections where the AT breaks above the treeline for significant stretches in the Franconia Range and the Presidential Range in the White Mountains (oh, and on Mount Katahdin, the northern terminus), but this is definitely not the norm. The idea of spending all day, every day in the trees while hoping the sun will be shining when I make it to the next viewpoint is no way to get me excited about a trail. And, for the record, “no”, having views only once in a while does not make them more special or rewarding; views all the time are objectively better.
- The humidity: The Appalachian Trail runs (nearly) the length of the East Coast of the United States. The East Coast of the United States is humid. Humidity is the absolute worst. Therefore the Appalachian Trail is the absolute worst. It’s the transitive property of equality, friends. Basic math. Have you ever walked outside on a humid day and thought, “Boy, this humidity sure is amazing.” No, of course, you haven’t. Neither have I. Humidity is terrible. Go home, humidity, nobody likes you.
- The rain: The East Coast of the United States is home to the wettest states in the country (outside Hawaii and the South). What’s worse than a humid green tunnel? A humid and rainy green tunnel, of course. I’m fine hiking in adverse weather, but electing to hike the Appalachian Trail when there are so many other (more enjoyable-sounding) trails out there just doesn’t make sense. Honestly, I would rather (and have) hike the Pacific Crest Trail a second time than hike the AT once.
- The ticks: On the Appalachian Trail, hikers can expect to encounter a wide variety of ticks. You know, the blood-sucking, disease-spreading, insects that are responsible for the spread of things like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The AT is home to lone star ticks, gulf coast ticks, brown dog ticks, black-legged ticks, and American dog ticks. Cool. Now all I need is a shirt that says, “I hiked the Appalachian Trail and all I got was Lyme”.
- The shelters: If you talk to an Appalachian Trail hiker long enough, chances are you’ll hear about the shelters. The AT has dozens of shelters dotting the trail where hikers can escape from the aforementioned rain. However, from my understanding, the shelters have mostly become overcrowded, rodent-infested messes where East Coast bums take up residence for the summer. Sharing a campsite, let alone a shelter, with a dozen other coughing, snoring, sleeping-pad-rolling-around-on people every night is not my idea of a good time.
- The crowds: Thousands of people attempt to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail every year. In addition to the thru-hikers, an estimated 2-3 million people hike some portion of the trail each year (whether this is a weekend backpacking trip or a day trip). Taking the lower limit of 2 million and assuming the same number of people are on the trail every day of the year, this works out to 5,579 people a day – that’s more than 2.5 people for each mile of the AT – and that’s our (very scientific) lower limit. Also, the country’s most visited national park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is on the trail with nearly double the use of the park in second place (Grand Canyon National Park).
- The towns: The East Coast of the US is dense and on the Appalachian Trail, hikers won’t find themselves deep in a remote backcountry for long (for the record, remote backcountry = good). The trail offers hikers constant access to town and it’s often joked that hikers can go to town almost every day of the trail if they want. Personally, I love town, but having it available on a near-daily basis really sucks the magic out of the idea of making it there.
- The East Coast: This isn’t a reason I don’t want to hike the Appalachian Trail, but rather, a reason people often give me for their having hiked the trail. “I’m from the East Coast.” That’s good for you. I’m not. Even if I was, I don’t know that I would consider this a legitimate motivation for hiking the AT (maybe so that your friends and family can come resupply you places?). If you’re trying to convince someone to hike the AT, leading with, “I’m from the East Coast” is not a step in the right direction.
“BUT WHAT ABOUT THE TRIPLE CROWN? WHAT ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SAY YOU HIKED THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL, THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL, AND THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL?!”
What about it? I don’t really care about being able to call myself a “Triple Crowner”. I can do that without hiking the AT. Watch. HEY EVERYONE! I’M A TRIPLE CROWNER! See, I just did it.
Still, I know a lot of you are yelling, “YOU’RE WRONG, THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL IS GREAT!” (and probably other, more insensitive, things as well). And guess what, that’s okay.
Whenever someone who has hiked the AT asks me about my plans (or lack thereof) to hike, I always invite them to share why it is I should change my mind. I would legitimately love to hear compelling reasons to do so. That said, if the reasons have to do with you being from the East Coast, the trail’s history, or all the friends you made on the trail, I’m not interested in hearing them.
So please, friends, tell me. Why should I hike the AT? Why should I seek to attain the title of “Triple Crowner” (the pursuit of this title does not count as a reason to hike the AT)?
I think of this article as less of a declaration and more of an invitation. An invitation to you to tell me why I’m wrong.
That said, if I’ve learned anything from my years of making grand statements on the internet, it’s that I’m usually wrong in doing so. Honestly, I don’t know if I would be surprised if I hiked the AT. Late-season southbound perhaps? We’ll see.
I hiked the AT in 1998. I went days without seeing people but I did a flip flop to avoid the crowds. I also tented because I hiked with my dog. I think except for the Smokies and Baxter having my dog along made it a special experience and it is a cherished memory. I do plan to do the PCT now that I am retired but not with my dog. Your reasons not to do the AT are all valid as someone who lives in PA and I hate the ankle twisting rocks and blood sucking ticks.
I appreciate your question, since I asked myself the same thing. After doing section hikes of different trails in Europe, and with limited time for each hike I ask the same thing for all trails. Firstly, I need geographic/ecologic variety. I have limited time off from work and I don’t want to see the same thing for the precious whole week and half to two weeks I take off for vacation. This does not mean that the trail has to have incredible scenery the whole time, but I want to be able to appreciate the wonder of creation in some way or form. Why people insist on going on these long hikes with neither diverse scenery, lots of asphalt or little beauty just because someone declared it to be “a way” or “trail” is beyond me? As for the Appalachian trail, I would simply pick the best bits and do away with the rest.
Secondly, I don’t want to suffer too harshly on the trail. If I wanted to this for its own sake, I can go the gym and lift weights, try to cut my sleep, eat nothing but straw or run along track fields endless circles – all for less vacation time. What this means practically, is that I don’t want to hike in unbearable heat or cold (I like areas that have 0 to 22 Degrees Celsius. Rain is fine and so is light snow, but walking in deep snow for long stretches or endless fields of large boulders is not only tiring but can become dangerous so also a no go. This does not mean I don’t physical/mental challenge (I actually do), but
Third in line is accessibility to and from the hike as well as price of the flight ticket. Who doesn’t dream of going to Greenland or New Zealand or Timbuktu, but let’s get real. Just getting there and back takes half of my vacation time and a huge budget.
Finally, if there is some accommodations and people on the trail to talk to here and there for remembering that I am still human helps makes the whole journey more memorable.
In short, extremely long hikes might be for me when I retire, but for now no point on even hearing and reading about these. And even when I do retire (PG), then would I want to spend 6 months on the trail? I doubt it, time is too precious for that.
You sound like a republican.
All of the reasons you stated, and also that there is such a party scene, make me not want to do the entire AT. The other reason for me is time because I’m old. I only have so many years left so prioritizing the best of the best is the goal now. Not being a competitive person, I don’t need to finish any through hike or get any kind of crown, so I can cherry pick the best trails. There are some really amazing stretches of the AT, so those are on my bucket list, ticks and humidity and all – Shenandoah, Smokies, New Hampshire, 100 mile wilderness. But the entire thing? No way. Like the CDT – why would anyone want to do all that road walking? I’d skip it and go for the sections that are really amazing. We hiked Benchmark to Canada last year on the CDT and that was phenomenal!
Kind of funny how there’s this elitism to backpacking of all things, with FKTs and Triple crowns. I get elitism for cycle racing or basketball, but … backpacking? Getting all grungy and dirty and sweaty with a pack on your back? Cmon people, it’s only about the experience you have while out there; there is no glory to be had back in civilization. There’s no World Cup. My family thinks it’s hilarious that there are whole YouTube channels dedicated to backpacking (and that I watch them). No one has even heard of these people except other weird grungy backpackers. Until you get lost anyway, or fall off a cliff. Something newsworthy.
So enjoy whatever you can, while you can for yourself. The little black train is coming…
Contrary to the angry ones, I actually share a lot of the same reasons for staying away from the AT for now. Who knew there were so many angry elves trekking the forests… Keep rockin!
Right? Thanks, Brian!
Start Oct 1st, Go SoBo, hike in a loin cloth & sandals! Two kg base weight! Drink the ground water! Post lots of videos! It will be awesome…
Totally Awesome!
GroundHog
I’m not too sure about drinking the ground water part.
Just too many people for me. I like to hike to remote areas where I know I won’t see anyone, or at least very few people. (More than 3 people in a day is too many). I also prefer places where I can disperse camp and not get corralled into a crowded camping area or shelter. Everything else would be fine, but part of the reason I hike to get away from people.
Tell us all your secret less-than-three-people hiking spots.
wichita mountains oklahoma.
Looks tough to get to – but worth it!?
I’m sorry this was stupid. I thru hiked in 2011. I don’t want to hear how you imagine the trial is therefore don’t want to hike it. I just wasted 5 mins of my life reading this shit.
I’m not sure how the title didn’t prepare you for precisely what the article said, but thanks for stopping by to check out the trial!
As a Triple Crowner who is currently doing the AT for the second time bc my partner is finishing his triple crown, I love this article. The AT was my first trail and it sparked my love for thruhiking. I adored the trail and her idiosyncrasies. I felt like I had found religion and wanted to proselytize to all who would listen. Upon returning to the AT after doing the PCT and CDT, I’ve developed a theory:
The AT is like an intense, toxic relationship. If it’s your first relationship, you defend it to onlookers and you think that’s what love is (“the absolute shit makes the moments of joy more special”). Then you get into a healthier relationship – the PCT and/or CDT – and you realize what a relationship could be (high rewards for your efforts, epic views, more remote terrain). And then you do the AT for a second time, and it’s hard to go back bc NOW YOU KNOW what a relationship can be and you just don’t want to be treated this way anymore dammit.
Incredible perspective, Sidequest/Firegoat! Best of luck on round two!
I hiked the AT in 1983-1985. It was different then, apparently.
We could go a day without seeing anyone.
From what I have heard (and also read in a few comments here) the AT is now plagued with: Crowds; Homeless; Trash; Crime.
A three-year-long thru-hike? Impressive!
I enjoyed reading this and I totally understand your writing humor. I think if you get offended then there are some questions about yourself you need to ask. I also believe if you are set on a destination, reading this will not change your mind. I think it is good you state the issue with ticks , humidity, the over crowded shelters, the consistent rain . These are things I avoid because I lived in a place with high humidity along with constant rain and know how unpleasant it is. Great article!
Happy to see you are one of the rare people who can consider someone else’s opinion and not be angry at it (especially in regard to something at benign as a hiking preference).
The answer to your question has already been answered. It is because you want to, but you are trying to find every answer possible to explain why you are not interested. The reality is you are curious, you opened your mouth now and everyone is going to goat you into seeing it for yourself.
You don’t know what the AT really is like and therefore the only answer now is you have to put your money where your mouth is and simply hike it for yourself.
You know you want to be a Triple Crowner but you just want to talk trash about the East first and get a bunch of folks from the older side of the Country all roused up first.
It is a Long Distance Trail that has plenty of opportunity to hike it the way you like it. Hike it in late winter to early summer NOBO, and you’ll have Temps, weather that will give it a better feel and much nicer views and long distance scenery. The flora and fauna are part of the experience the east offers that isn’t present in the west. You will want to see it for yourself, or else you’ll never be able to discredit it in the first person.
So c’mon, git that gear list together, clear your schedule, and get ready to hike these 480 million year old mounds while getting to see the 400+ year old history in the farms, lands, homes, hostels and towns of the other side of the country. You’ll may like it, you may not, but you’ll at least least be able to talk smack based on first person accounting rather than speculation and that is called credibility: Street Cred.
I’m not going to lie, I thought this comment would devolve into yelling but you kept things together. Thank you for the perspective.
All of the negatives you posted are why you should consider hiking the AT. You’ve mentioned learning what the human body is capable of is a huge benefit to thru-hiking. What about learning what your mind is capable of?
The green tunnel will have you turn inwards, because there’s nothing else to distract you. You will have to face and transcend all the negativity you’ve layered onto the AT, and touch that central place where you are just surviving for that day.
The entire thru-hiker superiority complex is founded on an ego – that the things you do make you better than those who don’t. We’re all made from the same universe, and we’re all going to return to the same one too. HYOH, and LYOL (love your own life).
As much as I appreciate your feedback, I don’t think you’ve made a very compelling case here, David.
Absolutely all of this. Grew up in NC, hiked all over western NC, TN, VA etc… as a multi-day or day-hiker type. It’s good. I still go to Montreat every summer with family and enjoy myself. It’s still mountains, still beautiful stuff. But now that I live in Texas, I’ve been going to Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, California and Washington. Haven’t even touched Montana. It’s like another planet out there, and a much better one than ANYTHING you can find on the east coast. Been hiking in Switzerland, Slovenia and Italy many times (younger days) and I don’t even really wanna go back there that bad (too much hassle and expense, the hiking is amazing). Maybe will try to see the Himalaya or more of Patagonia, maybe Peru, but so far the American West is the most amazing place on the planet. Canadian Rockies are a high priority as well.
Will I ever thru-hike for months at a time? We’ll see and I hope so. I think I could do it but I have kids now. More complicated these days. But if I do, I’m going straight to the PCT or PNT. Cascades and Sierras are fucking unreal. Maybe long stretches of the CDT. Why in the world would I ever do the AT at this point? My cherry has been popped, I can’t un-see Bryce and Yosemite and Zion and Desolation Peak and the Enchantments and the San Juans and… and… shit, you could spend your entire life in the American West and never run out of new things to see.
I’m giving you what you didn’t ask for: further confirmation of your current prejudice. I’ve done some AT sections and I think you’d be regretting it if you decided to do it. Go check out some top-tier sections, but for the love of jagged peaks, don’t do the whole thing.
Thanks for coming to my rambling TED talk.
I don’t know if the PNT should be near the top of your list. I haven’t done it, but I also haven’t heard the greatest things about it (not that it’s bad, just that it’s not spectacular?)
The Himalayas on the other hand, highly recommended.
Maybe not, but I haven’t been to Glacier and want to go badly. Plus, North Cascades area was one of the most amazing places I’ve ever been. Olympic was awesome, too. My main hesitation is the lack of established trail. I’m not the biggest bushwhacking fan you’ll ever find. Definitely recommend the youtube documentary “A Sense of Direction” if you haven’t seen it. That’s what piqued my interest in the PNT.
Let’s be real: if I’m doing a thru-hike for multiple months, it’s PCT first. I’ll figure things out from there.
Great site, BTW. Appreciate the humor and humility, together with the strong opinions. Staying humble while being opinionated is not an easy task, and I fail at it often. If we bump into each other on trail I bet we’d have some good laughs and stories. Keep it up!
Thank you, friend! Best of luck on whatever your next adventure is.
Boy it sounds like your Life SUCKS. Get outside and enjoy what you can while you can !!!
Not sure how you came to that conclusion based on this article, but otherwise excellent advice!
I probably have a different perspective on the AT than many. Nearly every reason listed weren’t issues because of the way I hiked the AT. I hiked the southern half of the AT going SOBO in the fall of 2015 and then the northern half SOBO in the fall of 2016.
I had plenty of solitude, but still made a few friends. Several days I didn’t see a single person. I got to follow the fall colors which turned the green tunnel into a vibrant red/orange/yellow tunnel. Afterwards the leaves fell and there were many more views. I encountered a few storms, but it was rare. There was also no noticeable humidity by the end of September. I only slept in shelters maybe four times over the entire AT. I set up my tent near them a bit more often. Given the time of year, I usually had these areas to myself or shared them with one or two other hikers. I don’t remember ever encountering a bum (admittedly it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between a hiker and bum).
Certain sections, particularly in the New England area, there are an abundance of towns.
From what I heard, the experience is very different if you start NOBO in peak season. The reasons you listed are probably much more applicable then. Either a fall SOBO or a fall flip flop are probably th. I hiked the southern half of the AT going SOBO in the fall of 2015 and then the northern half SOBO in the fall of 2016.
I had plenty of solitude, but still made a few friends. I got to follow the fall colors which turned the green tunnel into a vibrant red/orange/yellow tunnel. Afterwards the leaves fell and there were many more views. I encountered a few storms, but it was rare. There was also no noticeable humidity by the end of September. I only slept in shelters maybe four times over the entire AT. I set up my tent near them a bit more often. Given the time of year, I usually had these areas to myself or shared them with one or two other hikers. I don’t remember ever encountering a bum (admittedly it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between a hiker and bum).
Certain sections, particularly in the New England area, there are an abundance of towns.
From what I heard, the experience is very different if you start NOBO in peak season. The reasons you listed are certainly much more applicable then. My experience is also five years old. Maybe the numbers have exploded to such an extent even the fall is overcrowded. If you change your mind a fall SOBO or a fall flip flop are probably the best times to start. I don’t know how the PCT or CDT compares, but I’ll find out in a month when I start my SOBO PCT L.A.S.H.!
Fall SOBO is sounding more and more attractive :)
As a West Virginian, I resent that the AT barely goes through the edge of WV, even though the state is arguably the heart of Appalachia. Because of that and for all the reasons you mention, I’m not too interested in the AT.
For seeing WV, I recommend Dolly Sods Wilderness, Cranberry Wilderness, and New River Gorge National Park.
More places to check out – excellent!
While the entire state of West Virginia IS in the Appalachian Mountains, it’s hardly the “heart” of Appalachia. I’m an old school, Southern Appalachian, from much closer to what is both Geographically AND spiritually considered the TRUE heart of Appalachia. It’s not even MY area and that makes.me and everyone else Appalachian through and through envious but we all accept and know it’s true. In fact, MOST of Appalachia, particularly Southern Appalachia, does not consider West Virginia to be true Appalachians or true Southerners. I hate this, but it’s true. I’m not from West Virginia, but I LOVE it, so much I’m moving there in less than a month in fact, but it is in NO WAY the heart of Appalachia, as my part of Appalachia isn’t either. (Though my part is revered by Appalachians as a very beloved, very true to our Appalachian way of living, and respected part of Appalachia, the rest of them (most of them not all) put down WV, and if you’re from there, I know you already know the reasons why, although I do not personally agree with those reasons.)
Basically, my words are often hard to come out the way I intended, neither WV nor my area are the geographical OR spirit/heart of Appalachia as defined by our people and our culture. Look at the Southern and Westernmost part of Virginia right there where the top of the NC mountains and right beside the TN mountains come together. That’s what’s actually considered the actual heart of all of Appalachian.
Hike it. Don’t hike it. I agree with you on a lot of your comments concerning the AT. But none of them are reasons not to hike the AT. You can find a wilderness experience if you want to. You don’t have to camp at the official sites or stay in a shelter. Believe it or not, you can find solitude on the AT. Like you, I prefer a wilderness experience, but the AT is a combination of experiences. And you can take alternate routes in many place to get that experience, unless of course you are a purist and want to hike every inch of the white-blazed AT.
The AT is a very tough hike for all the reasons you mentioned. And more. There are very few switchbacks as there are in the west, which make climbing many of the western hills and mountains easier. The AT is all up and down in the rain and in the humidity and in the snow and in the good weather. Of course the best times to hike the AT is in the early spring and fall. But that is not ideal for everyone, particularly long-distance thru hikers.
There are similar reasons and different reasons not to hike any trail. One can be negative about anything. I can write an article about why I wouldn’t want to hike the PCT (actually I’ve hiked parts of it.)
You can put obstacles in your way about doing anything — whether it be hiking or getting up in the morning.
The one point I disagree with you on is about the views. I lived in the west for eight years and loved hiking above tree line. But there is something inspiring about hiking the AT through the green tunnel and climbing up to some of those incredible vistas on the east coast. You are rewarded for your hard work with a magnificent gift of an incredible view at the top of many mountains. These are the places where I stop to eat or rest or nap and enjoy. The sudden appearance of a breathtaking view after hiking through the trees is incredibly gratifying to spirit and the soul. And makes you actually appreciate the AT – and pushes you on to the next vista. The contrasts of walking in dense forests and then having the unanticipated beauty of a panorama hit your eyes is a marvelous experience. There are green tunnels that also occur in parts of the PCT. Zen masters, if you are into that and I am not but I respect their philosophy, would say that having a view all day long, though delightful, is not as fulfilling spiritually as having achieved the view after miles of intense hiking.
So, many of your reasons for not hiking the AT could actually be reasons for accepting the challenge. Ticks are everywhere. I’ve had deer ticks in me on the PCT in Oregon. I’ve fought humidity and incredible rain on the Coast Trail of British Columbia. And I fought loneliness on an incredible 35 day off-trail trek in the Alaskan Brooks Range with a heavy pack where I didn’t see a soul. The AT is unique in that the east coast has a much more diverse habitat and abundance of species than the west coast. Of course there are no deserts on the East Coast. And you can find solitude on the East Coast if you search and want it. Most of the hikers on the AT seem to like to group up into close-knit friends. Although I like people, hiking with a group is not for me. If I hike alone or with one other partner, I can hike the AT with as much solitude I crave. That is truly hiking my own hike. And as I said, if I want to take less-travelled alternative routes from Springer to Katahdin, that is possible in some places.
But again, you can put as many obstacles in your way, or you can choose to conquer those obstacles. It’s your choice. Good luck.
I appreciate the points you’ve made here and the thought that went into giving me another perspective. I’ll have to remember to stay out of Oregon – not trying to get that Lyme.
The ticks on PCT were in southern Oregon. I had to stop off in Ashland to get 2-day course of Doxycycline as a preventative. I didn’t have the ticks in me for more than 48 hours. Much less. But the doctor wanted to be sure. Horrid things. Much scarier than a bear salivating at your trail mix. Good luck if you do the AT, Good luck if you go elsewhere. I am intending to hike the AT – GA to ME – with my nephew from Kenya next year. Let’s see what happens with COVID….
Best of luck to you, friend!
My only real take away from this article, especially after reading the comments and noticing how intensely this author feels he needs to come back at people after every perceived slight, is that his guy has issues. And Appalachian trail, it’s not you it’s him. We still love you, minor flaws and all.
You probably don’t wear a mask, huh?
The west has some spectacular vistas and a lot to offer long distance backpackers, but your pompous attitude about the AT says more about you, than the trail. Most who have done it, view it as a great experience and adventure. A couple comments on your gripes. Shelters are pretty popular on rainy nights and great areas to meet and socialize with other hikers. The humidity is tough if you hike in July and August in the lower 2/3, but with a small bit of brain power you can plan a hike to avoid most of the humidity. Some really neat sections in Smokies, E. Tenn, VA triple crown, Shenandoah, Whites and ME.
You sound like a lot of fun to be around and very open minded. Most long distance hikers on the AT are great fun, good thing we didn’t have to rub shoulders with a “downer” like you. Different trails, different cultures. HYOH.
I’m not sure you have managed to grasp what HYOH means despite your choosing to signing off with it.
The PCT is an engineered trail through young mountains along switch-backed cattle paths. The AT follows old mountain bootlegger trails directly up old creek beds and brutal head walls with much more elevation gain and loss than the PCT. You have to use your knees. Maybe you’re just scared that it’s too hard for you?
Nah, pretty sure that’s not it, but excellent brainstorming – love the effort!
I met a number of PCT hikers on the AT who loved it, and I’ve enjoyed my time so far on it.
Looking to finish it in 2020 and considering the PCT after that.
Halfway Anywhere, I laughed through the entire article. I thru-hiked the AT last year and am glad I did. It was a wonderful and miserable experience. Wonderful in many ways, while nearly any amount of misery could be traced back to the relentless rain, fog and mud I encountered. Even though I would never trade my experience last year – even if I could – I have no plans to repeat the full AT. PCT 2020, here I come.
This makes me happy. Thanks for reading and for your feedback!
The AT was my first thru-hike. I think a lot of what you say is true, and some of what you think is not.
There is certainly a lot of humidity and lack of views. It can be a suffer fest with little reward. That just makes it more of a mental game than other thru hikes.
I don’t think it’s overcrowded or full of homeless people. I only met one guy who was living in the shelter on Trail the whole time. Georgia in spring is the only time I would consider the trail crowded.
I’ve hiked all over out west, did the GHT in Nepal, hiked in the Andes and Europe; and even I would consider doing the AT again. There’s just something special about it. It feels like home.
You could hike off season Sobo. Idc, do what you want. I do think you will miss out on a lot of the magic of the AT if you’re going against the current.
Thank you for your thoughts, Megan! It’s nice to hear what someone with as many miles as you thinks about the AT.
Seems its a matter of taste. I know a few guys from the local Mazamas climb / hike organization turn their thru-hiking adventures into penis measuring contests similar to peak bagging. It’s funny to hear from the sidelines. If I could choose only one, my personal choice would be whatever hike affords me as much alpine zone trekking possible. I enjoy the expansive views typical to alpine (or near) trekking, while many close friends prefer those dark, green tunnels. The latter isn’t my preferred. My only exception to preferring alpine hiking are the Olympics. Those old growth forests with giant trees, elk herds, and black bears are pretty cool. The presence of those few remaining old growth ecosystems with healthy populations of native animals (goats are not Olympic native) provides another dimension, and validates the signature of wild, as opposed to just pretty scenery.
Exactly right. I’m not trying to telling anyone what to do, just expressing an opinion. It sounds like you might enjoy the CDT (just skip New Mexico if you’re looking for high alpine).
A valuable asset to these discussions is rock-solid information with suggestions and advice. Specifically, the suggestion of CDT north of NM. I remember seeing some of your Wind River et al. related posts w/ images and thought, “that’s the type of turf I REALLY enjoy most.” My primary attraction to the PCT is the JMT, so I think I could do some cherry picking by combining that (if lottery lucky), then hustle out to Colorado and Wyoming for some of those awesome alpine treks. I hate to admit, part of the attraction to thru-xxx is thumping my chest with a thru merit badge. A lot of PCT I’ve already sampled and much wasn’t spectacular beyond the satisfaction of crunching miles. To be sure, I am not taking anything away from those who have done so; it’s a remarkable and admirable accomplishment by any measure — AT, CDT, PCT. Perhaps better I set ego aside and actually go out and enjoy myself in the high places, a little here, a little there. If all else fails, I’ll zip myself snug into my Alpenlite and try the reader’s fart suggestion right at home. Breathe deep and imagine some meandering path through craggy peaks and drifts of wildflowers.
But but the smell of those ponderosas in NNM!
I’ve never hiked the AT but I am a Western WA native currently residing in Nashville TN. The majority of my hiking has been in WA state in the Cascades. I’ve also hiked in the Olypmics. According to NOAA the Olympic Peninsula, Specifically, near Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National park in WA is the wettest place in the US. and it is unbelievably beautiful! The WA section of the PCT is notorious for wet ,soggy weather. It rains a lot in TN too but not as regularly as it does in WA. There are more sunny days here in the South east per year than in WA where it is overcast 9 out of 12 months.Not seeing the sun for 9 months can drain your soul.
I too am apprehensive to hike the AT for several of the same reasons you listed. But I haven’t ruled it out. There are several reasons I am still considering it.
TN is beautiful and the Smokies are amazing in both spring and fall. This past April I was visiting Gatlinburg with my family from WA and the trees were frozen. We were in awe over what the landscape looked like with ice covered limbs. Last fall visited them and the colors were amazing. It was like a kaleidoscope of colors. You won’t see that type of thing the the West.
The summer sounds. I had never heard the cicadas or bug sounds of summer until I moved to the South East. It is music to my ears and I love it. I’d also never seen firefly’s. On summer nights it looks like the forest is twinkling with little lights and it’s magical.
The Limsestone stream beds are different from those in the west. Sometimes the stream beds looks like steps or shelves and it is interesting.
Like you I am not excited about ticks, shelters, or crowds. I’ve learned to deal with the humidity. The green tunnel is a blessing in humid weather because hiking in direct sunlight in humidity intensifies the effects of the humidity. I would take direct sun light in the desert over direct sunlight in humidity any day.
I am currently planning a 2020 Thru hike of the PCT. I love desert hiking and am really excited about that section. If the permit situation doesn’t work out I may decide to hike the AT instead. I’m so close it would be easy logistically. I’m a west coaster and have been planning the PCT long before I moved to TN.
Not trying to convince you to hike the AT just sharing my observations as a west coast transplant living in Tn for the last year.
Happy to hear you’ll be out on the PCT in 2020. If you end up on the AT instead, I’m sure you’ll have an equally fantastic time :)
I’m from the east coast and that’s WHY I chose to hike the PCT. I’ve been messing around in the appalachians my whole life and while it’s a beautiful place to live and hike, it can’t compare with the sheer scale of the ranges out west. And if you know a rainstorm isn’t going to sneak up in the middle of the night, and you aren’t cursed with tree cover/clouds/light pollution, you get to experience the magic that is seeing stars all night, every night. But then again I’m a misanthrope who dislikes towns and company, so it’s definitely a matter of taste.
Cowboy camping in the Sierra is one of the greatest things ever (close second only to the ultra-rare clean-wipe poop).
The best.
I’ve hiked the AT, and it was my first trail, I’ve done several others since. Anyone telling you it’s great is full of shit.
What you’ve heard from former AT hikers is spot on. I can add more.
– Green Tunnel Yes, you wrote about this. Basically the worst parts of the PCT (Southern Oregon) and CDT (Idaho) trump the majority of the AT.
– Homeless people AT hikers don’t like to talk about it on other trails, but yes there’s a lot of bums. Bums suck.
– Trail Crime It’s pretty common and well documented. People have been murdered out there, and as a result lot of people are carrying.
– Trash I’d see trash everywhere. People treat firepits as if they were trashcans. On the PCT, occasionally you’d see a dropped jolly rancher wrapper or Chapstick, the AT I saw trash daily.
There’s other stuff I’m leaving out, I’m thankful I did it as it lead me to do the PCT/CDT/Hayduke but that’s the only reason why I’m happy I did it. Actually… I probably would have done those trails if I got off the first week of the AT.
Hiking the AT first seems like the most rewarding way to do it.
I am very much looking forward to hiking the Hayduke.
I’m sure this article was intended to come off as playful mockery, but it just came off as a genuinely unpleasant and bad taste attack.
I could use some of your own arguments from the PCT vs CDT article, about not getting mauled by bears, not having to drink out of cowshit piss buckets, having access to towns that aren’t dumps, having a continuous trail, getting affirmation from society at large.
My real argument wouldn’t be any of that because that comes down to taste. Maybe your tastes just align with the PCT instead. However, I think the most compelling argument I could make to you would be that it is different. Which isn’t the argument you think I’m making. It’s different because it’ll make you evaluate why you need validation, why you shit on gatekeeping jerks and then turn around and immediately act like a gatekeeping jerk. Why a walk through some of the most beautiful forests on the planet isn’t good enough for you. Why a rainstorm is apparently enough to make you not want to hike anymore. I think it is different because all the things you listed *shouldn’t* make you not want to do the AT. You’d need to be a couchsurfing pissbaby to say “im not going to do a thru-hike because muh humidity. Which means there is another reason. There is certainly another reason why the AT is beneath you. Why a thruhike of the PCT with its wealth of newbie hikers and trail towns is rad, but the AT is full of hobo trash. I think you should do it because you seem to think you’re too good for the AT, but you’re not. Maybe as you spend your first month thinking about how stupid it is, how overcrowded it is, how much better than everyone around you you are, and how much better the PCT is you’ll learn something about yourself. Like to appreciate things for once and not rail on about how things suck and you’re hot shit.
Though to be honest, I think you’d be doing the community of the AT a favor by not bringing your cloud of negativity with you and raining all over the already rainy parade.
This is amazing, thank you. Exactly what I was looking for in a comment. Pure gold.
I do admire your ability to go with the punches when it comes to the comments.
Comments are the true rewards of my writing.
Hiking guy discovers the woes of nature
The only thing I saw in this post that comes close to a validating reason was AT has some of the most beautiful forests on the planet. But what does that actually mean? Would any of the AT forests qualify as a top 10 or even top 100 in the world? I truly doubt that because when you’re talking about the world, the bar is very very high. You dislike elitism but the AT isn’t particularly scenic relative to other hikes is actually objective.
You, unlike many other people in these comments, make an excellent point, Bob.
“A rainy day…??? LOL I also think YOU come across as you described the other person. Funny how that works isn’t it? And now I’m thirding it, because for whatever reason this person wrote this article, YOU can give your experience and of course not agree, but you are a snotty sounding hypocrite yourself.
Next time you get high on your own farts, keep it to yourself.
I don’t believe I’ve mentioned getting high on farts, but if I’ve overlooked it, please let me know.
Long distance hiking is rewarding in the journey. Yes, it’s uncomfortable, but the payoff is huge. There are tons of views on the A.T., and the green tunnels are beautiful. There are thousands of hikers every year, but split those thousands across the 2.2k miles and you have plenty of privacy. As for the shelters: you don’t have to sleep in them, and most prefer not to. I slept in a shelter 4 nights out of 182. Yes, it rains, and it’s humid in the later months, but if I didn’t want to experience nature, I’d stay home and let those who truly appreciate nature take my place.
Thank you for providing another perspective on the AT for us.
Well, Bye.
Bye! See you next time!
The AT is my only thru hike, and I loved it. I won’t try to convince anybody to hike it if he or she has already formed an opinion admittedly based on speculation other people’s accounts. I definitely don’t want to come across as attacking anybody for their opinion, just pointing out what I am seeing in this article.
The Halfway Anywhere 1 second a day video from the PCT was probably the one single thing that I can look back at as the spark that lit the fire for my AT thru hike, so if anything, I owe you a debt of gratitude.
If you do end up changing your mind, a late season SOBO would be awesome. It would probably work out really well for you. The crowds will be almost non existent, the humidity won’t really matter with the cooler weather, and the green tunnel will have dropped most of its leaves by the time you get there.
Whatever you choose to do is up to you, and if you do hit the AT, I hope that you have a great time out there.
I very much appreciate your thoughtful and respectful comment. Happy to hear that my thoughts on a late-season SOBO aren’t completely wrong.
Im hopefully going to start it this year after all the Dr appointments. I’ve had three back surgery’s so I will have to take it easy but in time I will do it !!!! I use to do maintain on a two mile piece in NY for years . Now its time to walk it !!