Walking the Appalachian trail

[weisan]

My son is 13. I want to take him with me to walk the Appalachian trail this summer. We have never done it before. What's your recommendations?

[mhespenheide]

I assume you don't mean the entire trail, but rather a section?

Go here for the Paceline-equivalent: https://whiteblaze.net/

[ultraman6970]

Be really careful with the bears and the ticks, looks like the winter is gone and that will bring tons of tons of ticks around.

[gdw]

mhespenheide is right, Whiteblaze is the best website for info on the trail. Since you're planning a summer trip I'd recommend hiking a northern section of the trail to avoid the heat and bugs. New Hampshire would be a good starting point. The trail passes through Mattuck's stomping grounds and he probably could be coerced into putting you up for a night while you recover from the flight east.

[Tony T]

Bring a Sat GPS (like a Garmin eTrex), don't reply on a cellphone GPS.

[Dale Alan]

Originally Posted by mhespenheide

I assume you don't mean the entire trail, but rather a section?

Go here for the Paceline-equivalent: https://whiteblaze.net/

+1 on Whiteblaze...many helpful folks on there . Good luck with your journey.

[zmudshark]

I walked a portion in the early 1970's. At that time you could send food ahead to the local PO. I don't know if you can still do that, but if you can, do.

That's all I got, other than it's a nice way to spend a month or two, and I envied the guy I hiked with for a week or so that was living off what he could forage, and I had a very heavy pack. Technology has changed since 1972, I assume.

[sparky33]

Originally Posted by weisan

My son is 13. I want to take him with me to walk the Appalachian trail this summer. We have never done it before. What's your recommendations?

Cool idea Weisan! Maybe do a test overnight hike to see how you two do packing big packs and to refine your packing list.

[Louis]

Whatever you do, be sure that his boots and yours are well broken-in before you start.

(not my feet)

[bironi]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzx3ZvxK1Ro

[schwa86]

I've done most of the NE stretches, not much of the rest.

My general two cents -- don't underestimate difficulty just b/c mts are lower. It's a lot of granite boulders, downed trees etc. I frequently feel that western hiking is easier.

The AT itself can feel like a superhiway sometimes. You either enjoy the crowds or not. There are plenty of side trails if doing the actual route is not so important.

The huts are a little pricy but can be really fun for kids -- I really like Madison hut should you go that route -- it nestles between two good peaks (Madison and Adams).

My personal favorite section up this way is saddleback/sugarloaf area in ME. Really nice long ridge walk, a bit less crowded than NH.

[schwa86]

Also where did Louis get a picture of my heels? Duct tape can fix that!

[Schmed]

OMG - you have to read Bill Bryson's book ASAP. Funny stuff.

[clyde the point]

http://www.limmerboot.com/Midweight.html

[rounder]

We visited Mt. Katahdin years ago and were at the end of the trail, and there was a message board for folks who had finished. The messages were cool and appropriate for those who had finished.

It is a long walk from Georgia to Maine. Not everyone who walks the trail walks from beginning to end. I think our niece did. She was on a cross country scholarship at Boston University at the time.