# Ask the guy who's hiking the Appalachian Trail **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 21, 2008, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516 "2008-02-21T05:10:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![dbuzman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de0a6/32.png) [@dbuzman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbuzman)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/41 "2008-02-23T07:24:05Z")
The current woot ([www.woot.com](http://www.woot.com)) has a hand cranked generator. It’s listed as for cellphones but you may be able to get a plug/s that will work with any devices you are taking. It also has a radio that is handpowered. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/42 "2008-02-23T12:24:39Z")
This is so totally cool! I’ve bookmarked your site for future dining and dancing pleasure. This is one of those things that I’ve always thought would be amazing to do. Mano-vs Himself and Nature and Bugs. I look forward to updates along the way. If there were a way to send a box of trail goodies to you on route somewhere, I would definately do it. Yanno, an Acme Safe and Bowling Ball 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/43 "2008-02-23T14:28:08Z")
[QUOTE=dbuzman] The current woot ([www.woot.com](http://www.woot.com)) has a hand cranked generator. It’s listed as for cellphones but you may be able to get a plug/s that will work with any devices you are taking. It also has a radio that is handpowered. [/QUOTE] Interesting, but probably heavy, and like I said, I don’t _want_ to take a cell phone. And everything else I have takes AAAs. [QUOTE=Shirley Ujest] If there were a way to send a box of trail goodies to you on route somewhere, I would definately do it. [/QUOTE] You could hire a bush pilot to fly low over the trail and drop a couple pizzas and sixer of Woodchuck Hard Cider. I’m just sayin… ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/44 "2008-02-23T14:40:43Z")
In light of the recent murders in NC/GA, are you at all concerned about bad guys? Do you have a self-defense plan? ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/45 "2008-02-23T15:04:25Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] In light of the recent murders in NC/GA, are you at all concerned about bad guys? [/QUOTE] Nah. They caught that guy, and I think like Garp did: the chances of two unrelated murders on the trail in the same year are a million to one. I’m safe now. > [@](#): > > Do you have a self-defense plan? Drop pack. Run like hell. ---
**Author:** ![dbuzman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de0a6/32.png) [@dbuzman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbuzman)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/46 "2008-02-23T15:17:35Z")
\*\* Furt\*\*, I know you’re not taking a cellphone, I just linked that in case anything else you were taking could be powered by it. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/47 "2008-02-23T17:53:47Z")
[QUOTE=furt] Drop pack. Run like hell. [/QUOTE] Excellent plan. Once you’re a few weeks in, dropping the pack will be like turning on a turbo booster, and there will be very few people who can match your endurance. Of course, if the killer is a fellow thru-hiker and befriends you . . . :::scary music::: ---
**Author:** ![dgrdfd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@dgrdfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dgrdfd)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/48 "2008-02-23T18:18:01Z")
This is awesome. I have a friend who took around 6-7 months and hiked it after graduation. The number he quoted was like 2,200+ miles though because I remember telling him that was from Tennessee (where we lived) to where I lived in California and he was amazed it was so far. I guess he really didn’t think of it like that. You mentioned bears, how likely is it that you will encounter one? It was my understanding that you can’t outrun them and can’t fight them. What happens if one wants to eat you? Do you have any kind of pepper spray (would that even work)? Good for you for taking this opportunity. Now that I have a full time job I couldn’t imagine getting 6 or 7 months off without quitting. Maybe in 30 or 40 years when I am near retirement. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/49 "2008-02-23T20:47:34Z")
[QUOTE=dbuzman] \*\* Furt\*\*, I know you’re not taking a cellphone, I just linked that in case anything else you were taking could be powered by it. [/QUOTE] Ah. Sorry for my misunderstanding. [QUOTE=dgrdfd] You mentioned bears, how likely is it that you will encounter one? It was my understanding that you can’t outrun them and can’t fight them. What happens if one wants to eat you? [/QUOTE] He will find I’m a little chewy and somewhat fatty, but not altogether unpleasant if properly prepared. A nice Australian Shiraz would seem a good match. In all seriousness, Eastern bears are small, shy and non-aggressive, and can be fought off (very different from out west). If I were to see a bear in the wild, I would be the very lucky exception. [http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.1046965/k.946C/Black\_Bears.htm](http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.1046965/k.946C/Black_Bears.htm) > [@](#): > > Good for you for taking this opportunity. Now that I have a full time job I couldn’t imagine getting 6 or 7 months off without quitting. You never know. There was no precedent for it at my workplace and I asked with no real expectation of getting it. But I wrote a proposal, explained how it we could make it a win-win … and damned if they didn’t give it to me. ---
**Author:** ![beanpod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9adbd/32.png) [@beanpod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beanpod)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/50 "2008-02-23T21:23:11Z")
How did you convince your workplace it would be a benefit for them? How long did you think about doing this before deciding to? Is your mom scared to death? (Mine would be.) What are you most looking forward to? What are you most afraid of? And thank you for sharing with us! This sounds like it would be an amazing experience. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/51 "2008-02-23T22:34:45Z")
[QUOTE=beanpod] How did you convince your workplace it would be a benefit for them? [/QUOTE] Summer is my slow season anyway, my replacement will make 2/3 the money you’d pay me, and I’ll be a rejuvenated employee when I get back. > [@](#): > > How long did you think about doing this before deciding to? It’s been a “someday” goal since I was 12 years old (I’m now 38). Two years ago it finally dawned on my that my calendar was never going to read “Someday.” > [@](#): > > Is your mom scared to death? (Mine would be.) Yes. > [@](#): > > What are you most looking forward to? As far as locations on the trail? Probably Grayson Highlands in Virginia, where the trail runs through the grazing areas of wild ponies. > [@](#): > > What are you most afraid of? 1. Quitting. 2. Some catastrophic injury or illness knocking me off the trail. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/52 "2008-02-24T00:39:35Z")
[QUOTE=furt] Interesting, but probably heavy, and like I said, I don’t _want_ to take a cell phone. And everything else I have takes AAAs. You could hire a bush pilot to fly low over the trail and drop a couple pizzas and sixer of Woodchuck Hard Cider. I’m just sayin… [/QUOTE] Hmmm…I’m wondering if I could trebuchet a 6 pack and pizza to you. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2008, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/53 "2008-02-24T13:49:29Z")
What kind/model backpack will you use? What footwear will you use? (including socks) Brian ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/54 "2008-02-24T16:10:58Z")
[QUOTE=N9IWP] What kind/model backpack will you use? What footwear will you use? (including socks) [/QUOTE] Osprey Atmos 50 Vasque boots – I forget what model – thinking about trying out a pair of trail runners come summer Smartwool socks w/ liners [my gear list](http://atblog08.blogspot.com/2008/02/final-gear-list.html) ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/55 "2008-04-28T00:07:13Z")
Hope this is okay to bump – I’m off the trail for a few days, taking a break at my parents’, and figured I’d bring it up for anyone who wasn’t around in February. ---
**Author:** ![Figaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ea666f/32.png) [@Figaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Figaro)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/56 "2008-04-28T00:56:31Z")
[QUOTE=furt] Hope this is okay to bump – I’m off the trail for a few days, taking a break at my parents’, and figured I’d bring it up for anyone who wasn’t around in February. [/QUOTE] how many miles have you logged so far? Are you on pace to finish? How’s it going in general? ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/57 "2008-04-28T02:53:44Z")
Yes, let us know how it’s going so far!! ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/58 "2008-04-28T03:15:32Z")
[QUOTE=Figaro] how many miles have you logged so far? Are you on pace to finish? How’s it going in general? [/QUOTE] In trail terms, I am at Erwin, Tenn., approximately 325 miles into the trail. I’m a few days behind where I’d like to be, but no big deal. Still plenty of time left to finish, for sure. In general, other than my pace being a bit slow, it’s going very well. No serious injury or health issues (probably due in part to going slow – people who push to much get the injuries…), no gear problems – up until today, when I ran my MP3 player through mom’s washing machine, that is. I recently had a lengthy journal entry about the “state of the hike”: it’s the 4/16 entry at [atblog08.blogspot.com](http://atblog08.blogspot.com) ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/59 "2008-04-28T06:12:34Z")
I would urge Mods to allow infinite bumps to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516/60 "2008-04-28T16:12:44Z")
What did you take that’s been essentially useless? What did you wish you had, that you didn’t? Are you tenting, or using a hammock, or what? If so, what kind? I’m extremely jealous of you, incidentally. Hiking the AT has been a long-time dream of mine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-hiking-the-appalachian-trail/438516.md?page=4)