Starting down the trail

Joined
Feb 18, 2018
Messages
18
The last time I was backpacking was when I was in scouts. I am now 45 so I have had several zeros along this trail of life. Maybe I will get there someday.

In my early twenties I listed to "A walk in the woods" on books on tape while I drove big truck. That was the first I had ever heard of the AT. Of course life came first and there was no chance of walking the trail.

Fast forward 20 some odd years and I am now married, and my wife is pushing me to follow my dreams of walking the AT. In 8 years I can retire, and that is when I will set out on my adventures. Until then, I am going to use the time to build up my stamina by doing hikes here in Arkansas.

A lot has changes since I was in scouts (I've gotten fatter LOL), so I'm sure I will have plenty of dumb rookie questions.
 
I would say to not look at the AT yet. I have known and known of a few people who have gone after the AT and broken down at some point. At least one of them still has mangled knees 6 months later. The thread amongst all of them is they had not significantly done ALL the prep work required. By prep I mean miles and miles of hiking, day after day.

With the preceding in mind, first order of business is to get out there. Do not sweat the gear too much. Here in NM, where a lot of folks are poor, I see kids with all kinds of gear strpped to the outside of their 70's era backpacks.

What does matter emphatically is learning and practicing zero impact camping skills. Now get out there! :twothumbs:
 
I would say to not look at the AT yet. I have known and known of a few people who have gone after the AT and broken down at some point. At least one of them still has mangled knees 6 months later. The thread amongst all of them is they had not significantly done ALL the prep work required. By prep I mean miles and miles of hiking, day after day.

With the preceding in mind, first order of business is to get out there. Do not sweat the gear too much. Here in NM, where a lot of folks are poor, I see kids with all kinds of gear strpped to the outside of their 70's era backpacks.

What does matter emphatically is learning and practicing zero impact camping skills. Now get out there! :twothumbs:

Oh, I plan on using the next 8 years to train for the AT. Once I get all my gear then its going to be multiple hikes a month.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
V four day backpacking trip in southern Utah starting this weekend Trip Planning 4
fossana Permit system for Angels Landing starting April 2022 General Discussion 30
kwc Adirondack Hiking - the colors are starting to pop! Hiking & Camping 5
Pianomover Starting a conversation Questions, Suggestions & Support 2
Scott Chandler Starting Out 2019 in Big Sur Hiking & Camping 10
O Starting fresh Noobs: Introduce yourself! 5
Mike Jones Starting to build my own Bivy Gear 11
Devin Ashby Coyote Gulch Loop Starting From Water Tanks Trip Planning 4
Upgrayedd Starting a fire in damp conditions in the Uintas General Discussion 14
Rockskipper @Bob or anyone know why they closed down part of the forest near W. Yellowstone? General Discussion 6
Dreamer Way, way Down East Backpacking 13
Rockskipper Yellowstone visitation down 34% over Memorial Day - maybe price of gas? Any predictions for the summer? General Discussion 17
Miya Down Gear Odor Help Gear 31
Bob Cut the Trees down ...... General Discussion 2
J Moving down to Southern San Rafael Reef Wilderness for two more loop hikes April 13-14 2021 Hiking & Camping 1
norwegianxplorer Summiting Mount Whitney from Guitar Lake, 6 Days backpacking the Sierra before the Creek Fire closed everything down. Backpacking 5
K Floating down South Fork of the Snake (ID) Trip Planning 1
balzaccom Down Under Everything Else 2
gnwatts Water Canyon (Cedar Mesa) top down General Discussion 11
Miya Water Resistant Down Sleeping Bags? Gear 36
Dave Bumping down Muddy Creek On The Water 1
gnwatts Mosey down the Colorado On The Water 5
CaptnKidd Solo Trek Down South, Advice? Trip Planning 8
WasatchWill A quick overnighter down to Cedar Mesa Backpacking 11
Joey Upper Death Hollow and the Old Bowington Road, From Hell's Backbone down to the Escalante River Backpacking 24
Tater Head down quilts or box bags Gear 4
Mike K Down Pad Problem? Gear 2
Jackson Down Jacket Care Gear 7
Nick Help me win a float trip down Cataract Canyon General Discussion 19
Tres Westbrook Down East Maine - Cutler Coast Preserve Trails Hiking & Camping 4
IntrepidXJ Hydrophobic Down Test Gear 17
Nick Time to tear down Glen Canyon Dam? General Discussion 61
Tres Westbrook The Virgin River Narrows in Zion National Park From The Top Down Hiking & Camping 20
Joey Backpacking the Escalante: The Gulch down to Choprock Backpacking 6
Laura Top Down Narrows for a first time backpack? Trip Planning 11
M Anyone been down around Cedar Mesa lately? Trip Planning 5
12trysomething VIDEO: Meandering Down The NPT...UhOh Where Are My Keys? Backpacking 1
Joey Backpacking Yellowstone's Heart Lake down to the Snake River Backpacking 12
605troutbum Down Jacket Recommendations Gear 21
uintahiker Chiricahua from the top down Hiking & Camping 6
steve Wanted: lightweight -10* down bag Gear 0
gnwatts Down the river again On The Water 6
Deadeye008 Marmot Zeus Zip Neck Down Jacket for $55 Gear 3
Nick Thermarest Down Blankets Gear 8
Deadeye008 Marmot Odin Down Jacket 800 fill??? Gear 3
IntrepidXJ Remains of a River: source to sea down the colorado General Discussion 2
IntrepidXJ 0 Degree Semi-Rectangular Down Sleeping Bag? Gear 15
gloo Gear Review Hommade down quilt Gear Reviews 9
Nick 50% off Mountain Hardwear Down Jackets Gear 0
Tyler Gear Review Kelty light trekker 20 degree down sleeping bag Gear Reviews 12

Similar threads

Back
Top