Can you hike the appalachian trail alone

While hiking in groups is a safe option, you can keep a high level of safety alone if you plan wisely and keep your wits along the way. Realize that it is never completely safe and people do die on the trail and so this is certainly something not recommended for inexperienced hikers.

Although, bringing firearms is legal on the trial, you need to figure it out yourself whether it is safe or not because it can also be used against you. Many women have hiked the Appalachian Trail alone. According to them, hiking the Appalachian Trail as a woman is nothing that should be feared.

However, there are somethings that women need to be more cautious about than men. If you are a social type of a person and you like to post every activity, you can delay that until after you come back from the trip. Most of the time they will just pass by smiling and saying hello. An attacker would think twice if he gets the impression that you can handle yourself.

Camp far away from the road because attackers would probably come and leave via a car. It is always a good idea to register yourself and inform the people you trust and keep them updated with your current location so that they can help the authorities track you in the unfortunate event of you going missing.

Traveling with a dog is a good idea. Apart from the typical gear list, which includes a backpack, sleeping bags, tents, boots, etc, that you need for almost all hiking trips, every hike and trail have their own requirements which are specific to them and you must take those into consideration. So what to pack for an AT hike?

The answer depends on what kind of a hike you are going to go on, whether it will be a short hike or a thru-hike. Coming across rain is highly likely on the Appalachian Trail so it is recommended to have waterproof gear with you along with clothing to handle rain. They think they can handle it. No one can. Bug management is a serious issue and if you, unfortunately, get Lyme disease or malaria from ticks or mosquitoes, things can go south quite fast in the wild.

Make sure to bring insect repellent lotion and spray with you and check for ticks every night and after you wake up. Bring water filters with you. They have become contaminated over time due to a large number of visitors.

Sawyer Squeeze is a good idea to take with you. It is extremely lightweight and fixes onto water bottles and can also be used as an inline filter with a hose and a bladder hydration system. It also has a long life a thousand gallons! When hiking alone, safety items become the most important items along the way. Bring a knife, a GPS locator, a torch and an air horn with you for the hike.

Air horns make a lot of noise in case of trouble and also frighten away animals like bears and tigers, etc. A rare few might be working their way up towards solo hiking the entire trail for the first time. Oftentimes thru-hikers will encounter others who are hiking the same section as themselves at a similar pace and from this, friendships are born. You exchange trail names, you find yourselves at the same shelters, exchanging snacks, games, and stories.

These moments can become some of the best of the hike. You always have the choice to stick to yourself and revel in whatever degree of solitude you find but there is always the option to make friends and join others. In that sense, the AT is a little like a choose your own adventure book. It is up to you how rugged, how isolated, and how tested you want to feel. Even though it is difficult to really be alone on the Appalachian Trail for too long you can still tackle it solo.

As with any solo travel or adventure, the freedom and pride of accomplishment and self-reliance always stand out as the greatest benefits.

You start when you want, hike how and where you want, and stop when you like. Experiencing this degree of freedom can be very cathartic and eye-opening. You grow up accountable to your parents and teachers and then you move out and find yourself accountable to your boss. If you are in a relationship then your day to day actions always have some element of compromise or consideration for another built-in.

If you want to get up then great, if not then enjoy sleeping in. This is where the pride of accomplishment and self-reliance comes in. Because you can do what you want each day, including nothing, pushing yourself to finish something difficult is all the more satisfying. In that kind of situation, you are forced to confront yourself. Do you naturally just get up and go? Do you have to motivate yourself? What drives you? You start to figure those things out and more.

You also realize that that not only can you do, or not do, what you want each day but you can also be who you want.

When you are on the AT long enough you will eventually get a trail name, a sort of symbolic transformation of self. That transformation can happen from day one though. When you hike solo all the people you know, and who know you, are somewhere else. If you hike with a friend or loved one from back home you bring that part of yourself with you.

You continue to be that person with them and on the trail. When you are totally solo you can be anyone. If you were shy and introverted before you can try being gregarious on the trail.

No one will know the wiser. So glad I found this! I loved it! It made me feel alive again and was life changing. I want to go back next month alone but my friends and family members think that is crazy. Go for it! I loved this. I admire your courageous hiking travels. I used to be a princess, married, but now divorced, 2 adult children,,,so it is my turn.

Search Menu. Starting my hike on Springer solo. Appalachian Trail backpacker hitch-hike resupply solo hike solo hiking SPOT thru-hike trail safety women women hiking solo. Related posts. Dirtbag Lifestyle. Backpacking Tips. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. I would love to do the Camino one day. You should definitely go for it! Are you looking for a buddy?

Please email me if you are. Do it! I try to tell people how safe solo backpacking is, but folk have a difficult time believing me. It requires great physical and mental stamina and determination. The terrain is mountainous for its entire length, with an elevation gain and loss equivalent to hiking Mt. Everest from sea level and back 16 times. The treadway in many places is rocky or filled with roots or mud. Maine, and sometimes other states, requires fording of streams that can be hazardous after heavy rains.

Sections that could be described as flat or smooth seldom last long. Those who are physically fit may have an edge, especially in the beginning, but ultimately completing the A. The A. Walking the entire A. Thru-hiking enables you to immerse yourself deeply in the natural world and view some of the most beautiful, wild and pastoral landscapes in the United States.

Thru-hiking will also give you the opportunity to form friendships with people of all ages, from all walks of life, and from around the world.

A detailed day-by-day itinerary is not necessary for a successful thru-hike. In fact, it can set you up for a lot of discouragement and frustration. There are many things out of your control that can alter your plans on a thru-hike, such as weather or injury. Sometimes you may find an opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime experience that sets you back.

An outline of when you expect to reach specific milestones will be helpful to friends and family back home. It can help keep you on track, too. Be mindful that family members will worry if you do not check in on schedule. Make sure they know you cannot entirely predict your schedule and that cell phone reception is spotty. Also inform them that you may keep your phone turned off much of the time to save your batteries and protect your phone from inclement weather.

Northbound thru-hikers are advised to start out hiking only eight miles a day the first week, and very gradually increase mileage over the next several weeks. In the extremely rugged terrain of New Hampshire and Maine, northbound hikers can expect their mileage to drop as much as 30 per cent, even though considerably more effort is required. One in four thru-hikers report completions to ATC. The most common reasons for a hiker leaving the Trail sooner than planned is due to an injury, running out of money, family matters at home, or finding the experience was not what was anticipated.

The smartest thing you can do is to take a practice hike that includes at least two nights on terrain that approximates the part of the Trail you plan to start on. This will help you evaluate gear, physical conditioning, and mental readiness. Disciplined, frugal hikers willing to forego motels, restaurants, and other amenities can get away with less; those who like to stay in motels and eat at restaurants when they have the opportunity can easily spend much more.

Lightweight gear is usually more expensive, but many hikers ending up purchasing smaller packs and lighter gear along the Trail, replacing their initial purchases of heavier gear. Doing extensive research ahead of time can pay off. Aside from trail food, most of your money will be spent in town. Few thru-hikers can resist the temptation of restaurant food, motel beds, and hot showers after days of deprivation.