FAQ
This is an on-going list of questions you may have about the trail or this website. Many of these were my preliminary questions. For now, the initial questions will have either personal answers OR be information I have read about the trail but have not yet experienced as at this point, I have not begun the hike. If you have additional questions feel free to email me with “AT FAQ” in your subject.
Q: Is the trail really 2200 miles long?
Q: Why would anyone want to spend that much time in the woods?
Q: Can I hike with you?
Q: Are you going to carry a gun (or other form of weapon)?
Q: How do you charge your mp3 player? (and other devices) -Ann, Greg, Carson, and Marie
Q: What’s the most beautiful site you’ve seen? -Cara S. and Katie S.
Q: How do you prevent chaffing? -Erin S.
Q: What do you do to deal with the emotional stress of your hike? -Erin S.
Q: Does it get lonely or do you meet people? -Andy M.
Q: What do you find yourself thinking about THE MOST out on the trail? -Trent H.
Q: Do you have your Bible with you and what Scriptures are you repeating in your mind? -Trent H.
Q: Have you been really scared? -Trent H.
Q: What method are you using to measure your mileage each day? -Mandy R.
Q: What have you been eating on the trail? -Mandy R.
Q: What is the current weight of your pack? -Mandy R.
Q: What kinds of foods do you crave the most? -Mandy R.
Q: Has anything surprised you about the trail? -Mandy R.
Q: How’d you get plugged in with World Vision? -Jess W.
Q: What is your testimony? -Shane
Q: How can you afford this hike?
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Q: Is the trail really 2200 miles long?
A: Well, yes and no. One message on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website says “the A.T. extends more than 2170 miles from Maine to Georgia” while another paragraph from the same site states, “Completing the entire 2,175 miles of the Appalachian Trail in one trip is a mammoth undertaking.” The length of the trail is forever changing as certain sections have been relocated over the years. However, when you count approach trails, walking into towns, and side trails, it’s easy to see that a thru-hiker will end up hiking well over 2200 miles by the time they have finished.
Q: Why would anyone want to spend that much time in the woods?
A: Of course this is a philosophical question. In Roland Mueser’s book Long-Distance Hiking he breaks the “why” question down into three categories: Challenge and Adventure, Love of the Outdoors, and Escape and Simplicity. Other related phrases from the ATC’s Thru-Hike Planner that come to mind are “I want solitude and wilderness,” “I want to simplify my life,” “I want to lose weight,” “I want to get in shape,” and “I want to make friends, meet kindred spirits.” As I have been considering the hike for about a year, I’ve had plenty of time to mull over most of the above motivations. In no particular order, the most reoccurring thoughts I have are “I’d like to be in good shape for once in my life,” “I’d like to spend 5-6 months living a more simplistic lifestyle in order to reconnect to the Creator,” and “I’d like to combine several interests of mine into one pursuit/goal.”
Q: Can I hike with you?
A: Maybe. It’s no small task to acquire gear, physically condition yourself for the trail, set aside time from work or school, and then have the funds set aside to afford it. If you are interested in hiking part of the trail with me, email me, tell me which section you’d like to hike, why, how, when, etc. and we’ll go from there!
Q: Are you going to carry a gun (or other form of weapon)?
A: No. Guns are illegal in many of the sections of the trail. I might carry some form of pepper spray.
Q: How do you charge your mp3 player? (and other devices) -Ann, Greg, Carson, and Marie
A: Thankfully my MP3 player uses AAA batteries. I charge my phone and my video camera every 4-5 days when I’m in a trail town.
Q: What’s the most beautiful site you’ve seen? -Cara S. and Katie S.
A: I would say the climb up to Clingmans Dome. That was the morning the trees frosted sideways and the sun came out and lit everything up. BEAUTIFUL!
Q: How do you prevent chaffing? -Erin S.
A: Goldbond Powder. Don’t leave town without it.
Q: What do you do to deal with the emotional stress of your hike? -Erin S.
A: Lots of Scripture, sermons, and prayer. And it’s great to chat with people at night at the shelters.
Q: Does it get lonely or do you meet people? -Andy M.
A: Most of the hiking day is lonely as I’m not hiking the same pace or with anyone else. But during the evenings hikers arrive at each shelter and then it becomes a bit more social.
Q: What do you find yourself thinking about THE MOST out on the trail? -Trent H.
A: Tough Question. Probably about how many miles left I have that day, whether or not I’m making good time. It’s weird, I’ll catch myself thinking in 3rd person, as if I’m talking to someone or explaining something to someone in my mind. Weird, I know!
Q: Do you have your Bible with you and what Scriptures are you repeating in your mind? -Trent H.
A: I actually have the Bible on my MP3 player. In my mind I try to start the day with Lam 3:21-23, and I’ve enjoyed listening to the entire Gospel of John several times.
Q: Have you been really scared? -Trent H.
A: I haven’t been scared yet, as in bears, monsters, the dark, hillbillies, etc. The most worried/anxious I’ve been was the day I had stomach problems. But that, too, passed. 🙂
Q: What method are you using to measure your mileage each day? -Mandy R.
A: I carry one of many guide books about the trail. They list the miles from shelter to shelter, and specific landmarks in between.
Q: What have you been eating on the trail? -Mandy R.
A: Poptarts, Snickers, Peanut M&Ms, granola bars, tortillas with PB & cheese or PB & honey, tuna, and Lipton noodles.
Q: What is the current weight of your pack? -Mandy R.
A: As of 5/5 around 44 lbs with 4 days of food and 3 liters of water. Trying to cut even more weight!
Q: What kinds of foods do you crave the most? -Mandy R.
A: Frankfort Pizza 🙂
Q: Has anything surprised you about the trail? -Mandy R.
A: Almost everyone has a cell phone. Most small trail towns have a coffee shop with wireless Internet. And I’m surprised how much sleep you get while hiking (9-10 hrs a night!).
Q: How’d you get plugged in with World Vision? -Jess W.
A: Accidentally 🙂 See under ‘About Me.’
Q: What is your testimony? -Shane
A: Would it be cheesey to quote part of a song that sums it up? Conversations by Sara Groves:
I think we’ve figured out
This world is bigger than you and I.
We’ve exhausted our wealth of knowledge
And have no more answers for mankind.
We’ve had every conversation in the world
About what is right and what has all gone bad,
But have I mentioned to you that this is all I am,
This is all that I have.
I’m not trying to judge you.
No that’s not my job.
I am just a seeker too,
In search of God.
Somewhere somehow this subject became taboo.
I have no other way to communicate to you.
This is all that I am.
This is all that I have.
I would like to share with you
What makes me complete.
I don’t claim to have found the Truth,
But I know it has found me.
The only thing that isn’t meaningless to me
Is Jesus Christ and the way he set me free.
This is all that I have. This is all that I am.
Q: How can you afford this hike?
A: I couldn’t. I thought I had enough saved, ran out of money, then started putting my expenses on credit card. Took several months of work to pay it off 🙂
