I have medication controlled epilepsy. Have been seizure free since 2020. I get my meds in three month quantities. Has anyone else with epilepsy through hiked? Or any other conditions in which medication is a necessity? How did you go about getting refills while on the trail? I’m an avid backpacker, usually 2-3 nighters. Would love to eventually through hike the AT.

Hi I (18F) am planning on section hiking the trail from about the end of June to the end August, before I go off to college. I've wanted to hike the trail for years, though I am admittedly new to backpacking (I am not disillusioned into thinking it's glamping ofc). I'm trying to figure out whether I should start my hike in Shenandoah behind the bubble or around Harrisburg in it. I've also heard VA is a lot less rocky then Pennsylvania.

Also, I'm still in the process of making my gear list. While I can afford this trip, I am a teenager and need to do it on a budget. I'm leaning towards an X-Mid tent and a Black Diamond pole, but I still need to figure out what pack and sleeping bag/stuff especially I'll need, so if you have any budget recommendations or literally any other advice in general I'd really appreciate it.

I've never been camping, never thought I wanted to go camping, but now I do. I'm trying to figure out the logistics of how to pack everything in (and out again ofc). I'll be going to the Woody Gap trailhead in Georgia and I think hiking in to either Jacob's Knob or Big Cedar mountain. My goal is to find a spot with open sky for star gazing at night so if anyone knows a better place please let me know.

But my big question is can I use a wagon to help carry my things? I'm mostly thinking of like a camp chair and food (and a couple of bottles of wine maybe). Will it work on the trail, and more importantly, when I go off trail to find a camp spot, will I be able to bring it? Worst case, I guess, I could make a second trip up to the trail and collapse it but I don't think I want to make to trips to the car.

I'm not really sure how to find a camp spot other than just wondering around off the trail, but from what I've read it's easy to find existing ones, or to just find my own secluded place.

I’m planning on purchasing a Tarptent StratoSpire 1, but have not decided on the mesh or solid interior. I am planning an AT NOBO starting in early March. Anyone have experience with either?

hey all, I'll be driving from Montreal down to Trail Days, planning to head out on Thursday the 16th and arrive in Damascus Friday evening. I'll be passing along much of the east coast and if anyone is interesting in joining to share the drive / split gas it would be great! Let me know. Trail name Kodak, 2023 section hiker

My hiking group does a section hike every year. We shoot for about 50 miles over 5 days. This last one we crushed it, basically doing it in 4 days and ending at the NOC. Looking at next year's hike has me a bit worried though. From what I can tell, it looks like the only two good places to jump off is either at 32ish miles or 65. 32 is way too short and 65 is probably doable if we get good weather and no incidents happen (we had terrible weather last year and some of us barely made it). This section has some pretty epic looking ascents as well.

NOC-Clingmans Dome Rd - 65.4 -Total Ascent - 19,475', Total Descent - 15,476'

Just wondering if anyone who is familiar with this trail knows of any other places along this portion of the trail that we can leave a vehicle at that may be more easily attainable at about the 50 miles mark.

I have a progressive lung disease and I'd really like to attempt a section hike while it's still feasible. I can still hike ok but I slow/struggle with any real elevation gain. I'd be content with just a few nights out, preferably in the northern half since I'm in ohio. Are there any recommended sections for someone like me?

I'm going to begin at Rockfish Gap for a section hike to Duncannon PA in June. Reading Awol's book about his thru, I'm getting the impression that you can carry minimal food through SNP, resupplying at campstores or eating at waysides and campground restaurants. Is this (still) accurate? And if so, how much food do I need until I get to Front Royal (my first of two mail drops)? I'm thinking seven dinners and lunches, supplemented with 10 clif bars might do the trick, but I'm happy to hear other thoughts.

Im bringing a bear canister with me for my AT thruhike, just for convenience. I’m trying to make more space in my pack to make it easier to load everyday though. I was thinking about not using my tents stuff sack to help. Would it be okay to just stuff the tent in kinda flat along the whole frame side of the pack? Is there any reason not to do this? I just want to make sure I don’t damage my shelter. I feel like this could save a fair bit of space though.

Thanks!

Doing this section SOBO, for 2 nights, 3 days. How’s the Cody Gap tent site, 10 miles S of Fontana? Easy water? Decent tent sites? For the 2nd but thinking about staying at Locust Cove Gap tent site or Sassafras Gap shelter. Any recommendations or suggestions on those 2?

I just googled what “LASH” meant (Long-ass Section Hiker) and burst out laughing when I saw it. 🤣🤣

My next thought was, I think I’d be a SASH!! 😉🤣

Hi all! I've been living in VA for a while and want to start hiking sections of the AT, but I'm having a hard time planning. Is there an easy way to determine different 'sections', like where I can park a car that is near access to the trail? So far I've been pulling it up on google maps and scrolling around to try and find parking near various parts but I feel like someone has probably done a better job of this than I am.

I'm starting clinicals next semester and this is the last chance I'll get for some trial time for a few years. Experienced hikers, would you go NOBO or SOBO?

Leaving this weekend for my first solo from Mountain Crossings. I have a bear canister so all good. I am hammock camping and unsure what to do with my pack while sleeping. You don't hang it, do you?

I posted last year about my groups 2nd Annual section hike and our progress into North Carolina.

We started where we left off, the Deep Gap Parking/ Standing Indian Shelter to the NOC.

What a fantastic part of the trail! The towers on Albert (although the NOBO climb was something) and Wyah. The sunset on Siler Bald.

Good luck to all the thru hikers we shared campsites, meals, and good conservation with during our brief stint on the trail!

Can't wait to come back next year and get into the Smokies!

My son is hiking north, last checkin was at 5:40pm maybe 3 miles south of Cable Gap Shelter. He usually checks in for the evening but didn’t tonight. Could be a dead battery, could be trouble, but wondered if there’s maybe just no signal there.

Not real worried - he’s smart and prepared and hiking with a friend. But feel free to make me feel better :).

EDIT: Thank you to those who responded. He made it to Fontana Dam and is on his way home.

A bit of a late start due to finishing grad school but I’m finally doing it after saving and dreaming. Any last minute advice or words of encouragement would be wonderful to fight the pre-hike jitters! What was/has been your favorite part of the experience, thru or otherwise, so far?

New to backpacking but not camping/hiking. Very active and capable so I am thinking it would be fun to do a week's worth (more or less) of the trail. I live in Washington D.C. so starting or ending in harpers ferry would be cool cause I can just take the amtrak home. I am in the ponderance phase... I am a good researcher so not looking for specific answers, but couple general questions while I think about this in the future.

1. If I start./end at harpers ferry, where would I start if I wanted to do a 6-9 day trip? Round trip?
2. Are there good options to get to places without leaving a car or making my wife drive me out a few hours?
3. I am a pretty capable dude in my late 30s and in good shape... any issue going alone?
4. do most people camp everynight or is there a good mix of camping/hostling?
5. What time of year is best for the VA/WV/PA region? Spring, fall?

I have a good amount of gear, but probably need to swap some out for some ultralights. Any other advice in the early stages are welcome.

Has anyone ever seen a forest service ranger on the trail in Tennessee or North Carolina? Not including park rangers in GSMNP.

This person has been hiking with me and staying at hostels with me for several days now. I'm trying to drop hints (honestly, probably bordering on rude a couple times) that I like to hike alone, but they keep altering their plans to stay with me or literally just tagging along to whatever I decide. We hike a similar pace so they're not slowing me down, but I just don't feel we mesh and I'd really like to get back to some solo hiking. I hate even minor confrontations, and I don't want to offend them or hurt their feelings, but I need space. Any advice?

Hello,

I am planning on starting a solo NoBo thru-hike on the AT next year. I will be starting late May - early June. I will be 19 years old next year and to this date I have never been on a backpacking trip before. I have been conditioning myself to walk up to 30 miles per day in different state parks in the Appalachian foothills. I have a backpack with 20 pounds of random stuff to simulate the weight I will be carrying. I have some questions:

1. Is 20 pounds the typical weight of a backpack equipped for the AT? If not, how much should I be practicing with?

2. I live in Ohio. Do you have any suggestions of state parks with terrain similar to the AT?

3. I also found a 538 page trail map on Amazon for $130? Is that a good investment? I found some other $20 maps but they were one state at a time which would add up to $260 for all 13 maps.

4. I am generally looking for any tips about a thru-hike on the AT and how to prepare.

5. Anything helps! Remember I'm new to this and can use basically any information you have.

I did the hundred-mile wilderness in 2018 and Verizon was a must to get any kind of coverage (and at times it was so good I could stream football games!)

I'm on AT&T now and headed out to do another 40-50 miles south of Monson. I know coverage can be spotty anywhere on the trail but I'm wondering if AT&T has improved!

Thanks in advance, happy trails.

Back in 2021 I was hiking the loop at laurel falls with some of my family, we came across this guy camped out with a sign saying something about a rat resort or something similar. Curious if anyone else saw this guy or knows anything about him.

I only started a few days ago and I feel like I’m not making the mileage I will need to cover the trail by the time Katahdin closes this October. I only started late due to school.

Would I be better off writing this off as just a section hike and starting earlier next year?

I’m 23 YO for reference, averaging 9.97 miles per day.

I've been planning to do my first solo long-distance section hike during the summer before college; thus, the hike will only last from early July to the beginning of August. Since I live in Northern New Jersey, is it recommended to go NOBO or SOBO, or should I start completely elsewhere given the heat in July?

Hiked Deep Gap to Chunky Gal out and back Sunday and found this stuck in a bush alongside the trail. If someone left it on purpose, cute and I’ll save it forever, but leave no trace please.