[at-l] Hiking the AT using a car

[Carla & Dave Hicks]

Curtis

I've never heard of a way to do it solo with ONE vehicle.

The Old RidgeRunner describes the classic "actually walking in one direction 
while moving in the other direction" -- using TWO vehicles.  I've did it once 
solo for a moderate section -- Pennsylvania.  Made resuply a breeze.  You are 
independent of others' time-lines and schedules. This was pre-cell phone, so 
there was no pressure to keep a schedule, myself, because a shuttle would be 
waiting, etc. If you do it, make a game out of not explaining what you are 
doing, as you keep meeting the same hikers (who are walking & hiking in the 
same direction.)  It's fun to watch them recognizing, guessing, and working up 
to ask.  At the end, I sold the "second" pick-up for more than I paid for it, 
including taxes.  But, then it was a junker.

BTW -- If you solo, you need three vehicle and drivers to set it up at the 
beginning of the hike, unless a someone walks home/catches a bus/etc. -- one 
driver for each vehicle you will be using, plus someone with a vehicle to 
drive whoever drove your second vehicle to the hike-back-to-point and left it 
there.  Generally, folk I have know to do this routine aren't solo, and there 
is no need for the third vehicle.

BTW2 -- Also generally, folk I have know to do it, tend to do a fair amount of 
motel nights.  I did less that my other Pennsylvania hikes.

Pennsylvania has lots of road crossings, for the most part the AT parallels 
roads (i.e., no BIG round-abouts from one trailhead to another) and parking 
was not much of a problem.  I wonder about the additional issues in more urban 
areas (NJ/NY) and in somewhat remote places like Maine where road access can 
be more challenging.

Chainsaw

 BTW -- if stamina is an issue, you might also consider one of the alternative 
schedules listed on the ATC site -- for a slower, less vertically challenged 
start.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Curtis Balls" <curtishballs at yahoo.com>
To: <at-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2008 12:09 AM
Subject: [at-l] Hiking the AT using a car


I'm  looking for any information on how to assist a hike on the AT using a 
car.  I don't mean car hiking.  I mean slackpacking without a support team, 
just myself.  Is it possible?  I need to start out really, really slow because 
of my knees and a weight issue that is a concern but not a crisis.    Any 
ideas, articles, books, guides, leads, experiences would be helpful.  Once I 
get my stamina back, I may loose the car.

Thanks,
Curtis






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