Second Edition (2023): More advice and tips; Paperback finally available.
You may have read that only 25% successfully finish a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. There is no foolproof way to make sure you will succeed where others fail but this book can help improve the odds.
Author Jeff Blum was new to long-distance hiking before he successfully thru-hiked the A.T. in 2019 (he also successfully hiked the PCT in 2022). This book is his attempt to give back to the hiking community that he loves so much by organizing and presenting all of the useful things learned as part of his research for those hikes. You'll also find tips and advice from his and fellow hikers' personal experiences.
Blogs, forums, Facebook groups, and YouTube can be fun, informative, and inspirational sources for your pre-hike preparation, but the information you glean will be spotty at best and wrong or even dangerous at worst. This book, in contrast, can serve as your one-source, complete guide for hiking the Appalachian Trail or any other long-distance hike. Topics covered include:
Details of the trail (history, overview and stats, weather, direction and timing, navigation, permits, trail towns, and hiker terminology)Pre-hike preparation (at-home support, budget, motivation and other mental considerations, transportation, fitness and training, mobile and satellite service, and a full pre-hike checklist)An objective guide to all the gear you may or may not need, including weight considerations, how to choose between so many available options, and everything you need to know about keeping your electronics charged on trailHow to pack, protect, and fly with all that gear you are bringingEverything you need to know about food (how much you need, how to resupply, how to organize, recipes, and nutrition basics)On-trail tips and advice, including: planning and conditions assessment, how to choose a good campsite, how to protect your food, common trail hazards and safety advice, Leave No Trace (LNT) principles, hiking etiquette, hitchhiking, making fires, social considerations, and popular townsHealth and hygiene tips (including for female hikers)A detailed look at the importance of layering your clothingAdvice for after your hike is overTips for international hikersA detailed look at the author's 2019 hike, including hiking statistics and budget breakdownSpreadsheets to help track your own hiking stats, resupply with good nutritional balance, improve your daily planningOther useful online resources, including a long list of popular YouTube videos and trail-related books
And much more. Even experienced long-distance hikers will find some new and helpful information in this book!
Thru-Hiking The Appalachian Trail is a great place to start your preparation for an epic long-distance hike.
