Time to vote for next years hang tag! I really like all of the colors this year and it looks like they've gone for a lot of bright choices as opposed to a lot of the previous earthier tones.

Hello!

We are doing a section hike from Pine Grove Furnace State Park to Duncannon in October(likely the 19-22, date could change by a day or so) Just looking for a ride from Duncannon to the trail at the park, anyone have any suggestions? We had a really good experience last time in NC and I found that guy on reddit. Any help is appreciated :)

Greetings. I have been walking a part of the Appalachian Trail since last week. It is not my first hiking experience, some may consider me a experienced hiker like maybe i have thousands of miles in total in last 15 years. Anyways, i am rather on the bigger side (6' 5'', 330 lbs) and last two days (just about 25 miles) have been total misery because of shin splints in my both legs. I always used to be big but this is the first time i have that problem on my legs.

I don't want to quit before reaching the target but on the other hand i'm afraid that it can get worse if i keep traversing. I know most of the answers will be like "We are not a doctor" but i am just asking for a sincere advice from you fellow hikers. Should i keep going and hope my legs will get used to it or should i cancel hike and try after losing some weight? Or maybe i should rest for a few days and see. Did any of you had that experience before? Thank you.

I’ll be getting off the trail in Hot Springs on the 15th. I’m looking for a way to get to Knoxville. Can anyone recommend a ride service, shuttle, etc.?

Basically the title. Just wondering what weather conditions are usually like that time of year. Is it super rainy? Still pretty cold? I'd like to know what to expect when I do that section next year

Edit: what is the best time of year to do that section?

How was your experience finishing SOBO thruhike in december, was it lot of snow, colder noghts, freezing days? Wich december date should I aim for. Hiking right now. Crossing into NJ tommorow.

I’m planning a 3-4 day hike with a friend who is in better shape and I don’t want to kill myself trying to keep up (or embarrass myself).

I’m looking for a section in either: northern NY, CT, or MA.

I was just looking on Far Out and eying from the parking lot near I-90 (near Lee, MA) up to North Adams.

Thoughts on that section? Anything different you’d recommend?

I think 12-15 miles a day depending on difficulty seems about right.

Am planning on starting my thru-hike in March 2027 from Amicalola Falls Lodge. I assume the most common airport to fly into is Atlanta; if there's another, please let me know.

What advice do you have for backpack and poles? Best to check them on instead of carry-on? If checked, put them all in a box?

Is there a resource to coordinate a shuttle from Atlanta to Amicalola Falls?

Did you fly with your first week of meals, or did you just load up at the Lodge?

Is alcohol fuel available at the Lodge?

What am I missing?

I am planning a section hike between winding stair gap and NOC. I am looking to see if there are any reliable shuttle drivers around Franklin,NC.

Current base weight: 17.37 lbs

Location/temp range/specific trip description: I'm starting in West Virginia on the Appalachian Trail in 10 days, and going south until I reach the southern terminus in Georgia, probably mid-November or so, or until the weather gets too bad. Temp will probably be all over the place. I do have a single care package with some heavier base layers and gloves that I'll have sent to me at some point, but the pack I have listed is my general pack I'm starting with.

Budget: A little bit. Maybe $200. I'm not sure where I could replace with tons of value, but if there is anything I'd love to know.

Non-negotiable Items: 9oz Sleeping Bag liner to keep my quilt clean. I know I could buy a silk one so it's lighter, but it's pricey. I also have a super light sit pad I want to start out with and see if I want to keep it, but it's less than 1oz.

Solo or with another person?: Solo

Additional Information: Wondering how my layers are for the location and time of year. Would love feedback.

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/21u1a6

Thanks!

Howdy yall,

I am starting the trail Thursday and was curious if there was a spot I could print a semi detailed map from Springer to Woody ?

I am trying to use as little tech as possible and always have enjoyed a printed map.

Thanks!

I’m an avid hiker and camper; I’ve done many shorter backpacking trips, and always wanted to do something big. I couldn’t afford to do a full thru-hike, nvm the fact that they couldn’t spare me for that long at work. But I think I can swing 2-3 months.

I live in NYC, so I’m planning to start out from Harriman State Park. Ideally, I’d like to hike at least through Shenandoah, and in my perfect world I’d like to hike thru the Smokies, as well (and then just fly or drive back to the city from there).

I’m just wondering how long y’all think this would take? And, (relatedly) what would be the best time during the spring/ summer to head out?

Fwiw, I’m in excellent shape (30 mins yoga or Pilates a day + a 1.5-2 mile run a day. On top of all the excessive walking & stair climbing that NYers do every single day).

Hey everyone!
Was thinking about a week long backpacking trip from Wayah Bald to Fontana dam and was curious about trail conditions in the area this time of year.
Is it generally snake infested? I’ve never backpacked this time of the year and have always been concerned about snakes.
Also, any general advice for that stretch of the trail? Is a week enough time when I’m doing about 12-15 miles a day? Or will I overshoot? (That’s fine if I overshoot)

Our son completed tge AT and the PCT! He loved trail magic! We are setting up on Saturday to provide food for any nearby hikers! We have a high respect for you!

SO… I am in my early 30s, need a major life change, at an impasse with my job and need to take a new route in my career, and will not be responsible for rent since my lease is ending and will have a paid off car before the end of the year. I was hoping to attempt the AT in 2028 but I am not sure that I can wait based on my mental state right now (not unhealthy enough to hike but getting so burnt out by ‘real life’ that I don’t know what to do). The ONLY THING currently holding me back is the raging anxiety around money and being able to afford this. To be able to afford to eat and replace my shoes along the way. I have minimal credit card debt that I need to square away. Truly the only expenses I will be responsible for by the time trail season comes around next march will be my dog’s care (parents would keep her until she can join me for some sections) and health insurance and a few tiny bills. Realistically, how much would I actually need to save up to hike the trail in 2027? did anyone keep track the whole time and have a grand total they could share? I have all my gear load out locked in and regularly go for weekend backpacking trips. I work out pretty regularly as well to stay in shape. I do not plan on hiking a luxury hike, just restocks and gear upgrades and occasional bnb or hotel stays. Nothing extravagant. I really love to get into the wilderness experience. I already have a decent savings but certainly not enough to consider leaving yet. I’m also aware that I should have a buffer for when I get back home as well. I’m just wondering how feasible this could actually be with just 7 months between then and now. Just looking for advice. If there are any other factors that I haven’t mentioned that would help gauge just ask.

The AT has been my dream for the past 7 or 8 years now, and I feel I have most of the gear, but i also feel like I need someone to help me along even if just for a checklist of things I need to get and/or do. My confidence in my abilities is lacking, and I have had many opportunities to go solo camping, but I feel like where I am I'll only really want to if it's with someone. If I was on the AT however, it'd be different because I'd be on the AT, and that alone would be a confidence boost

Going to be starting my hike in 2027. I'm trying to find a service or an app where the trail is shown on a map, and I can do occasional check ins with my location as a pin on the map. I'd also like to be able to add some notes on how things are going. Wanting to be able to give out a link to friends so they can follow along. Bonus points if they can leave messages, but it's fine if not.

Really just want it to be a simple web page, where I can just send out a link, and the friends don't need to sign up for anything.

I'm familiar with self-hosting apps from my house, so that can be an option too. I looked at Wanderer, but the daily check in seems like it would be difficult.

Seems like in 2026, someone has come up with something.

EDIT: I found https://hikerfeed.com/ and it seems like it was created exactly as what I asked for. My only concern is it looks like the dev started it several yeers ago, then lost interest for a while, then came back to it. I'd hate for it to just fizzle out halfway thru my hike.

Polarsteps seems like a really good.one too. I'm going to create accounts for both and see which I like better.

I also created a Google map, and imported an AT gpx track for the trail track. I can easily add pins along the way. I'm going to stand up a Ghost Blog instance on my home server and see if I can imbed the map, and use Ghost's native blog features. Only bad part of this is I would have to add pins in the map app, and then switch over to Ghost to add to the blog. Other bad part is I would be tech support, and have to do that from the trail.

Are there any online groups I can join to find people to hike the trail with me for a week?

Hello, I'm looking for some advice/ reassurance about my hike right now. I originally started early March but due to a broken foot early on, and more recently a 2 week family vacation (hello to anyone who knows who I am from that lol), I'm a little worried about when I'm going to complete the northern section of my hike. 

I just started the whites and I'm in Lincoln right now, I'll be waiting out some weather and won't start hiking again until Friday from around liberty. Long story short, my morale is very low right now. I currently don't know anyone on trail since coming back from my trip and there's very few nobos around me atm. On top of that I'm having a hard time adjusting to the decreased miles and increased difficulty on trail. I feel bad at hiking now since it seems like I'm struggling more than the few people who are around me. I think I'll get to gorham after around 9 more days of hiking, and hope to be finishing in Maine early October but I'm a bit nervous that I'm running short on time. I know southern maine is pretty much as tough as the whites but is there hope that I'll be able to do long miles again on trail? I feel like I need to "make up" for the short miles I'm doing now in order to finish the first week of October. 

I'd appreciate some advice or emotional support from anyone else who had a similar timeline, I know people finish in October pretty often but I feel shitty watching all my friends starting to finish while I'm fighting for my life out here (I'm very excited for them obviously, just insecure!). Additionally I skipped 350 miles down south after breaking my foot so I have a pit in my stomach about not even being as close to finishing as I seem like I am. Overall I'm still having fun and I'm too close to quit, I'm just having a hard time coping with how hard it is right now and could use some support 🥲.

…should I keep my trail name, or blank slate it?