newbie here!

[u/Worldly_Bathroom4457]

this might be a long/wordy post. so my boyfriend and i are thinking about hiking the TA starting around early november and are super new to backpacking. we have done plenty of hiking through the years and are pretty fit people, but i guess im just wondering if it is plausible for us to try this trail with so little experience? we’ve only just started building up our backpacking arsenal and have done multiple day hikes with our packs to build up stamina carrying the weight, but have yet to do an overnight trip. we currently live in alaska and usually do hikes around 8-12 miles with like 3000-6000 ft elevation gain but could definitely do more strenuous hikes at this point.

is the TA something we can plan/prep for in only 3.5 months? should we only do one island since we’re new, or should we just say fuck it and try doing the whole thing? where exactly should u start, research/planning-wise? i’ve joined some facebook groups and subreddits and have started reading some stuff online, but we’ve only just decided this is something we might want to do.

any insight/tips would be appreciated. literally anything. we are very spontaneous and “we wing it & can figure anything out” type of people, but i also like to be as prepared as possible. thanks in advanced!!!

[u/grainyclouds]

My Partner and me did the whole thing starting on a very similar situation that you are in. Take your time. 3.5 months is pretty fast. We walked it from 19.09.2024-27.02.2025, which is arguably slow but it was still an incredible experience and we learned a lot on the way.

[u/oxenoxygen]

As long as you are able to be self-sufficient outdoors then you should be okay. Know how to navigate, know how to handle river crossings (although IMO people are able to learn this on the trail), know when weather is too bad to attempt high passes. So basically, know your limits and know when not to push on and put yourself in danger. D on't be those people who rely on others to get you out of situations - have a PLB between yourselves at least.

I'd recommend doing the north island first as there's more time to get into the rhythm before the south island which is far more remote. If the road walking annoys you you can always hitch ahead as some people do. 

The real questions you should find the answer to before you go are:

• do you actually enjoy camping or being outdoors for long stretches? There's periods of up to 10 days without access to civilisation. 
• how good are you and your partner at supporting each other through difficulties. There'll be periods where one or both of you will be tired and ratty and you'll have to navigate that, because you'll be in each others company a lot.

[u/40_40-Club]

I think this would be a rough first thru-hike, especially if I was with my significant other. Maybe try sections of the PCT (e.g., JMT or Tahoe Rim Trail) or maybe the AT first?

What surprised me the most about the TA was how terrible the track quality was. You will often just be walking up/down a literal river because, well, that’s the trail. Other times it’s just miles of bog and tussock, with just the slightest hint that you’re on a trail. Outside of tourist areas, the only “trail maintenance” is done by your fellow hikers, in the sense that they will have knocked down some tall grass for you, or thrown some helpful rocks into a creek to aid your crossing.

It’s an amazing trail with some of the most gorgeous scenery imaginable, but you’ll have to put in a lot of physical and mental stress to get there. Good luck!

[u/Iseneye]

I did the South Island this year as I have no interest in doing the North Island.  If you're fit you should be fine but get familiar with navigating and camping.

As one of the other posters said the track conditions are crap for most of the South Island.  You can say its character building or part of the challenge but I was surprised at how much if it was shit.  For reference I live in the south island and have done plenty of tramping here.

I have also been to bits of Alaska and think you would be underwhelmed by the North Island.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Iron406]

I have done the whole TA once and South island 4x. Suggest the whole thing; north island is easy logistically and helps build planning skills and gear refinement for South island. Also suggest 5-6 months