Distance Trails - anyone here done them?
 

so a life goal of mine is to do a distance trail. the longest backpacking trip i've done so far was about 8 days, but i've done my far share of backpacking. i feel like i've could go the distance with the knowledge and experience i have thus far. i'm thinking about doing the Appalachian Trail on the US east coast next year. it takes 6 months and is about 2,500 miles. in the mean time, i'm going to do a couple small trips (a week or two) here in washington, to get a feel for distance hiking by myself.

has anyone here done any distance trails? stories? tips?

:o

thats hardcore.

i cant help you i will admit im well lazy and couldnt ever walk that far in 6 months. but good luck - sounds amazing!

You already know I don't have any experience with distance hiking, but I wanted to say you could always give the Pacific Crest Trail a try. :)

^yeah, i was reading about the PCT, but they say that you have to average 20 miles a day in order to beat the heat and snow in some areas. it also isn't marked very well in new mexico, so it's easy to loose the trail there. it's one of those trails you do after having some experience with distance trails already. the AT on the other hand is very easily marked with many good books written on where to resupply along the way and emergency shelters and contacts. and, you can average 8 to 14 miles a day instead.

yeah, i originally wanted to do the PCT since i'm living on this side of the country, but the AT looks like a better start. i've also hiked about 6 or 7 peaks on the AT including Mt Katahdin in maine, so i feel a bit aquainted with this terrain.

Oh Beth, I share your goal to complete one, if not all three US, distance hikes!! Right now I'm eyeing the 88 Temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage, which takes about 30 to 60 days to accomplish. I'd be more in it for the spiritual and cultural aspect rather than the hiking part -_-

Wiki on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shikoku_Pilgrimage

the longest i've ever done was a 5 day ski mountaineering tour through the austrian alps, it was awesome skinning during the day then skiing in the afternoon, def the best way to see the alps for the first time, also got an alpine peak on that trip so Bow Chikka wo waaa:afro:

fucken eh...6 months...I am definately not a girly girl but I really don't think i could hike for 6 months straight..Actually I know I couldn't.:o Good luck though. You have an intense passion for it so I'm sure you'll find that ideal trail.