Announcement, I’m going hiking for a few months! On the Appalachian Trail. Hopefully the whole Appalachian Trail, or what’s called a thru-hike of the A.T. If you’re looking for a little more info on my A.T. thru-hike attempt you’ve come to the right place.
What is the Appalachian Trail? Currently it’s a 2,198.4 mile (or 39,691 football fields) trail that runs through 14 different states, from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Main. Elevation gained and lost along the way is the equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest from sea level and back 16 times. And there’s rocks. Plenty of rocks.
The route was established in 1937 and has been continually adjusted ever since, with this year’s version being 4.1 miles longer than last year’s. Although humans have lived around Appalachia for only about 12,000 years, the mountains themselves have been there for hundreds of millions of years.
A few thousand people attempt to thru-hike the entire trail each year and estimates are about 25% complete it in one calendar year. Most people that do complete it finish somewhere between 4 to 7 months. I plan to do it in three months. And on roller skates. While only eating food cooked by Gwyneth Paltrow. Actually, the only plan is to just not die.
How can we follow your progress? Great question. For pics and vids, follow me @timcroston on Instagram. And hopefully I’ll post on here also. (Actually just on Instagram and Facebook)
Wait, I have so many more questions? Good, because I will have many months to answer them while I walk mostly alone in the woods. So put them in the comments on the Insta and I’ll try to answer them as I go. I will eventually have all the gear I’m bringing listed on another tab here so you’ll be able to see what I’m starting with and what changes I make as I go.
That’s it, your actually leaving now? Oh, I’ve left already. I’m actually on the trail right now. Possibly in a tent, maybe in a hostel, or if I’m somewhere between privies then maybe I’m digging a cat hole… to poop in.
Sorry I didn’t tell you I was doing this earlier but I’ve kept it under wraps since secrets are more exciting and I didn’t want to announce anything until I had some miles under my belt.
Thanks for checking this out and following my journey. See you on the trail!
Wait, just one more question. Are you prepared for this? Doesn’t it take months of training? Uh, no, I am not nearly as “prepared” as I’d like to be since it’s in a way a last minute thing BUT that’s why it might be fun for you to follow my journey since you can watch as I slowly fall into ruin. As for my preparation, and gear, and goals, that will all be discussed in more detail as I go…