Thru-Hiking 101: Your adventure starts now

Do you want to do something that will have you feeling great about yourself? Something that leaves you feeling accomplished? Maybe you just need to escape from the daily grind for a few days, weeks, or perhaps even months. Have you ever tried thru-hiking? Perhaps it is just what your soul needs.

But …

What is thru-hiking?

Thru-hiking is the process of hiking a long-distance trail continuously from one end to the other. Think the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, two of the most popular thru-hiking experiences in the U.S., but also among the longest.

You pack your backpack with all the gear and supplies you need to get from point A to point B, lace up your hiking shoes, throw your backpack over your shoulders, and hike.

However, before all of that happens you go through the process of planning and researching your intended trail.

How long is the trail? How long will you be gone from your normal life? How do you get to and from the trail?

In other words, you have homework to do before escaping the matrix. But before we get into the logistics, let us go over some reasons why you or other people may choose to conquer a long-distance trail by thru-hiking.

Reasons for thru-hiking

Everyone has their reason(s) for wanting to thru-hike. I know my own but I wanted to find out what other thru-hikers’ reasons were. So, I reached out within the thru-hiking community to see what they had to say regarding their own thru-hikes. The most common reasons for thru-hiking were:

• For solitude
• To escape from the daily grind
• For the thrill of nature
• Soul searching
• To conquer a physical challenge

A reason is not limited to just one item on or off this list. There’s a good chance that it is a combination of these. To be successful at thru-hiking, it helps to know your reasoning. This way, you can establish clear, realistic goals.

For different thru-hikes, your reasons may even be different. You may want to conquer the Appalachian Trail but are only seeking a day or two of solitude on another trail. Once you know your reason, it is easier to define your goal. As an example, ask yourself, “Do I need to thru-hike 2,000 miles if I am only looking for solitude?”

Solitude

According to my survey, the most common reason for thru-hiking was the desire for solitude. Majority of hikers are day hiking, meaning after a handful of miles they are turning back to their vehicles. Thru-hiking allows you to go beyond the heavily treaded trails into more secluded areas where you see more wildlife than you do people. You move away from the sounds of conversation and toward a place where the only sounds you hear are of the leaves rustling in the wind and your own footsteps.

Escaping the daily grind

Some people look at thru-hiking as a way to break away from society for a little while. To be able to forget about the stresses of everyday life, like a job, paying bills, or people’s expectations of one’s self, and only focus on what is around them. While escaping the daily grind can go hand-in-hand with solitude, it isn’t necessarily about being away from people. Some thru-hikers love meeting new people very much like themselves while on trail.

Conquering a challenge

Another reason people look to thru-hiking is to conquer a challenge. This challenge can be physical or mental. In my survey, some people chose to thru-hike as a way to get back in physical shape. Others chose to thru-hike to prove to themselves they could do something difficult.

The thrill of nature

If you love nature, then thru-hiking is an excellent way to experience it. You are treated to miles and miles of nature, potentially with view after view. Waterfalls, mountain outlooks, private lakes, etc. Thru-hiking can allow you to see a wide variety of flora and fauna, as well. From moose to wildflowers, your chances of seeing something you rarely (if ever) see in everyday life is greater on a thru-hike. The longer the hike, the more you can experience.

To find themselves (soul searching)

It might sound cliché, but many people embark on thru-hiking adventures for soul searching. Maybe someone needs a change in their life, or perhaps they are trying to figure out what is it they want to do after college. Maybe they have a hole that they are trying to fill. Many people are just seeking answers to questions they don’t even know they are asking.

How to prepare for thru-hiking

So, if you have decided to take on your own thru-hike, there are a few things you can do to help your chances in achieving your goal. Preparations vary based on the type of trail, but in general, you need to be prepared physically, mentally, and financially.

Physical Preparation

A lack of physical preparation can cut your thru-hike short. There will be ascents and descents that will leave you questioning why you are even doing this. By being more physically prepared, you will be able to handle these challenges, thus reducing the negative thoughts that can decimate your motivation. This also helps to reduce the risk of suffering a hike-ending injury.

With a proper fitting backpack, most of your body’s work is done by the legs and core. These should be your primary focus when it comes to strength-building exercises. I suggest reading REI’s article on how to train for hiking, or you can do your own research or even hire a trainer.

Working on your strength and endurance for a minimum of three months prior to your thru-hike is recommended. Hiking more, jogging, riding bikes, swimming, and climbing stairs are excellent activities to work on both your endurance and strength. It is a good idea to do more than just hiking, though. Additionally, it is helpful to mix up the activities to prevent being burnt out.

And one of the biggest keys to physically preparing for thru-hiking is having shakedown hikes. A shakedown hike is when you take all the gear you plan to take on your thru-hike. Not only is this great exercise, it helps you discover what gear works for you.

Mental Preparation

Many people who gave up on their thru-hikes did not do so for physical reasons. Mentally, they had just checked out for one reason or another. When this happens, the thru-hike is inevitably doomed.

We must make sure our mental game is on point. Here are three things you can do to help you stay focused and motivated.

1. Know your goal
2. Backpack more
3. Develop support network

As mentioned earlier, know your goal before attempting a thru-hike. It serves as a reminder to yourself what all the pain and suffering is for. If you cannot clearly define why you are doing this, it will be much easier to lose sight of the prize. I recommend reading “Appalachian Trials” by Zach Davis. While it refers to the Appalachian Trail, the guidelines the author lays out are applicable to any long-distance hike.

Also, it will serve you well to backpack as often as you can before your big thru-hike. It helps you become more accustomed to spending nights in the backcountry and lessens the feeling of being homesick. Spend consecutive nights on trail when possible. This will do wonders for your mental game.

Last, be sure to have a support network available. This network should consist of friends and family who have a positive view about what you are trying to accomplish. They should know why you are doing this so they can provide a motivational boost and offer encouragement. Whoever these people are, they are who you need to reach out to when you are down in the dumps and thinking about giving up.

Financial Preparation

Preparing financially may not be necessary if thru-hiking for a shorter time period. But if you plan on embarking on a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail, you need to have money set aside.

First, this money needs to help fund your thru-hike. Resupplies, gear replacements, lodging, dining. You need to have a plan to save money for these things during your hike. You also need enough money saved to cover your bills and other financial burdens while not working.

I wrote on article on how much it cost to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. While it is focused on the A.T., there are some financial tips that are beneficial for any long-distance thru-hike.

Gearing up for a thru-hike

Thru-hiking requires a lot of quality gear. Hopefully, you already have some of what you need. If not, here is a list of some of the basic items typically carried on a thru-hike:

• Backpack
• Tent or other type of shelter
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad
• Rain gear (jacket, pants, backpack cover, etc.)
• Stove for cooking
• Cookware and utensil(s)
• Warm jacket
• Bear bag or canister
• Headlamp
• Adequate clothing and footwear

These items are just some of the bigger items. There are many other little things to consider as well, so check out my basic overnight backpacking checklist to get more ideas for what you may need to carry.

Backpacking gear can be awfully expensive and even more so if you opt for ultralight gear. However, the benefits of minimizing your base weight with ultralight gear are great. You will have better agility, be able to move faster, and create less stress on your body.

Planning your thru-hike

Longer thru-hikes will require more research and planning. Think about the logistics of your trip and what is required to complete your goal. Let me break it down into two categories: Logistics and Research.

Logistics

Where is your thru-hike taking place? How are you going to get there and how are you going to get back when you finish?

These are questions you need to answer. You also need to have a plan for resupplying. Longer trails like the A.T. and P.C.T. will require many resupplies. Most will do this in towns every 3 to 5 days, but you can also receive care packages in drop boxes along the way.

Research

You need to do some homework if you want to thru-hike. Many locations require permits to camp in or hike through, so know these areas in advance to know when to fill out the paperwork.

Also research how much time is generally required to complete your thru-hike. This answers the question of how much time you will need off from work and how much money you need to save to sustain yourself during your hike. If you are planning an Appalachian Trail thru-hike, read my article on how long it takes.

Other things you should consider researching are what animals and plants you may expect to encounter on the trail, and what towns or hostels are accessible for breaking-away from the trail for resupplies or a cozy bed for a night.

Thru-Hiking Philosophy

Here are three common sayings on thru-hikes I believe can help you during the hard times. Remember and recognize the wisdom in these words. They may just save your hike.

1. Hike your own hike
2. Embrace the suck
3. Don’t quit on a bad day

What do they mean exactly?

Hike your own hike

This simply means to hike the way you want to hike. Do not worry about what those around you are doing. Do what makes you comfortable and brings you the most joy in your hike.

Embrace the suck

Eventually, your hike will suck. Whether that is climbing a ridiculously steep mountain or hiking in the rain. Acknowledge and accept it. Doing so improves your mental game and makes you better prepared to keep pushing forward when the going gets tough.

Don’t quit on a bad day

There are going to be bad days during your thru-hike. Don’t make a rash decision that you later regret just because you are having a bad day. If you do decide it is best to end your thru-hike early, do it when you have a positive mindset.

Popular trails for thru-hiking

Do you think you are ready to try your hand (er, feet) at thru-hiking? Here is a small list of trails in the U.S. that are popular thru-hiking destinations organized into short, intermediate, and long trails.

Under 100 miles

Under 1,000 miles

1,000+ miles

The listed mileage for these trails is approximate as many are still under development. Research the latest information on a trail you are interested in to get the most up-to-date information.

For additional long distance hiking trails, check out this article from hikingdude.com.

Conclusion

Some people jump straight into thru-hiking thousands of miles, but if you lack backpacking experience, start small. Slowly break yourself in to the wonderful world of long-distance hiking. Doing so better prepares you for the longer hikes and increases your likelihood of accomplishing your thru-hiking goals.