Benefits Of Hiking The Appalachian Trail

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Is hiking the Appalachian Trail right for you?
Taking on a journey stretching well over 2,100 miles, covering fourteen states (from Maine to Georgia) by foot is no simple stroll where at the end of the day a comfortable bed and hot meal would await you. Instead, hiking the Appalachian Trail can be an endless battle with all the elements of mother nature: whereas in one state spring would have sprung already with wildflowers dressing the forest floors and insects buzzing through crisp air, on other parts of the trail it [the weather conditions] would be smothering heat, but meanwhile a few states north the rain would fall endlessly with gusts of cold wind, and snow would blanket the pathways of the trail and more than likely blizzards would ensue. When hiking the Appalachian Trail you’ll want to be prepared in more ways than one, you will …show more content…

Be sure to do research through a few books or articles on the very subject of hiking the Appalachian Trail to give yourself some mental preparations. You will have to learn how to expect the unexpected and try to remain positive along the journey. It’s a good plan to know why you want to hike the Appalachian Trail, doing so may help you at the times that you become disheartened. The first hours of hiking are always the hardest, so be sure to pace yourself and try to set daily targets to accomplish, for example attempt walking a certain amount of miles or to reach checkpoints in a timely manner. Before hiking the AT get sufficient practice wearing approximately the same weight you would carry on the trail, get familiar with all your gear. Attempt to get yourself in the best shape you can and go on smaller hiking trips that can lead up to the big one [hiking expedition]. Please budget your money wisely before and during this trip, you will be buying expensive

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