Hotels and hiking the AT
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wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 11:34 last edited by
Yes this thread is @Aqua-Letifer bait
For those not aware, hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) goes from like Georgia to Maine, is over 2,000 miles, and takes a few months to complete. Very few make it the whole way.
Anyway, I'm following a blog of someone who just started it and is on Day 7, and they noted on Day 6 they had their first hotel stay.
Listen, I know I'm wrong after about a 5 second google search, but I presumed to really claim you hiked the whole AT you don't stay at a freakin' hotel (hot shower, bed...)!
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wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 13:02 last edited by
My nephew has done it. I have no idea if he ever stayed in a hotel during the trek. I do know he couldn't sleep in a bed when he got back home and a lot of smells bothered him greatly.
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Yes this thread is @Aqua-Letifer bait
For those not aware, hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) goes from like Georgia to Maine, is over 2,000 miles, and takes a few months to complete. Very few make it the whole way.
Anyway, I'm following a blog of someone who just started it and is on Day 7, and they noted on Day 6 they had their first hotel stay.
Listen, I know I'm wrong after about a 5 second google search, but I presumed to really claim you hiked the whole AT you don't stay at a freakin' hotel (hot shower, bed...)!
wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 13:29 last edited by@89th It is pretty common. They are usually called "zero days" and are used to rest, recover, and resupply.
A pretty big business with trail communities that are close to the trail; "trail angels" that will shuttle people from the trail to their hotel, etc.
I semi-followed a family that hiked the trail a few years back, and they stayed at a hotel/hostel probably 80% of the time.
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wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 13:33 last edited by
I see no issue with hotels. You're still hiking the trail.
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wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 13:34 last edited by
Slackpacker.
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wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 13:38 last edited by
@Mik said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
I see no issue with hotels. You're still hiking the trail.
Yes and no.
There's hiking the trail, and there's offering a bit of yourself to be devoured to make room for wisdom.
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wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 13:58 last edited by
That's pretty elitist-metaphysical.
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wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 13:59 last edited by
Besides, I'm too old to do the camping, much less the hiking.
But I have wisdom to spare. Just ask.
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wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 14:00 last edited by
I have 2.5 wisdoms to share. The rest I’ll need just to get through life.
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wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 14:22 last edited by
Slightly off topic: The Continental Divide Trail comes up and around and goes long the East Ridge on the edge of Butte (Montana). Lots of mountain bikers do that trail, and ride down into town to restock supplies. That has not ever been on my bucket list, even if I stayed in a hotel every night. I would do a rails to trail vacation like that, though.
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wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 14:41 last edited by
@jon-nyc said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
I have 2.5 wisdoms to share. The rest I’ll need just to get through life.
Yeah, well, some of us are just better endowed than others.
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wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 14:55 last edited by Aqua Letifer 3 Oct 2025, 14:58
@Mik said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
That's pretty elitist-metaphysical.
It's the freaking AT. I'm not talking about what some day-hiker should do, every time they go out in the woods. I sure as hell look forward to diner food once I get done a day-long walk. I'm talking about a certain kind of through-hike.
I know quite a few through-hikers (and far more would-bes). A great many would-bes feel stuck in their lives, and they have this idea that they'll go hike the AT to find themselves. That's a very common reason you'll come across.
A fine idea—we've been doing that sort of thing for tens of thousands of years—but if that's the goal, then you need to take that seriously. You need to keep the phone at home and stay out in the forest. Civilization is what put you in this existential crisis in the first place; freaking commit to the very place you went to find answers.
Fun hikes or doing the thing for the challenge is ay-okay. You're not obligated to have an existential experience when you do the AT. But a lot of folks go there explicitly for that, and either give up or come back finding out nothing about themselves because they didn't take that process seriously.
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wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 14:55 last edited by
@jon-nyc said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
I have 2.5 wisdoms to share. The rest I’ll need just to get through life.
You've got more than that.
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@Mik said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
That's pretty elitist-metaphysical.
It's the freaking AT. I'm not talking about what some day-hiker should do, every time they go out in the woods. I sure as hell look forward to diner food once I get done a day-long walk. I'm talking about a certain kind of through-hike.
I know quite a few through-hikers (and far more would-bes). A great many would-bes feel stuck in their lives, and they have this idea that they'll go hike the AT to find themselves. That's a very common reason you'll come across.
A fine idea—we've been doing that sort of thing for tens of thousands of years—but if that's the goal, then you need to take that seriously. You need to keep the phone at home and stay out in the forest. Civilization is what put you in this existential crisis in the first place; freaking commit to the very place you went to find answers.
Fun hikes or doing the thing for the challenge is ay-okay. You're not obligated to have an existential experience when you do the AT. But a lot of folks go there explicitly for that, and either give up or come back finding out nothing about themselves because they didn't take that process seriously.
wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 15:36 last edited by@Aqua-Letifer said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
@Mik said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
That's pretty elitist-metaphysical.
It's the freaking AT. I'm not talking about what some day-hiker should do, every time they go out in the woods. I sure as hell look forward to diner food once I get done a day-long walk. I'm talking about a certain kind of through-hike.
I know quite a few through-hikers (and far more would-bes). A great many would-bes feel stuck in their lives, and they have this idea that they'll go hike the AT to find themselves. That's a very common reason you'll come across.
A fine idea—we've been doing that sort of thing for tens of thousands of years—but if that's the goal, then you need to take that seriously. You need to keep the phone at home and stay out in the forest. Civilization is what put you in this existential crisis in the first place; freaking commit to the very place you went to find answers.
Fun hikes or doing the thing for the challenge is ay-okay. You're not obligated to have an existential experience when you do the AT. But a lot of folks go there explicitly for that, and either give up or come back finding out nothing about themselves because they didn't take that process seriously.
Interesting! I figured your reply to me would've been "you're wrong dood"
I get that there are supply/food places near the trail at times, that's of course ok (need food...) but it's the bed/shower thing that made me basically want to stop reading this blog.
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@Mik said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
That's pretty elitist-metaphysical.
It's the freaking AT. I'm not talking about what some day-hiker should do, every time they go out in the woods. I sure as hell look forward to diner food once I get done a day-long walk. I'm talking about a certain kind of through-hike.
I know quite a few through-hikers (and far more would-bes). A great many would-bes feel stuck in their lives, and they have this idea that they'll go hike the AT to find themselves. That's a very common reason you'll come across.
A fine idea—we've been doing that sort of thing for tens of thousands of years—but if that's the goal, then you need to take that seriously. You need to keep the phone at home and stay out in the forest. Civilization is what put you in this existential crisis in the first place; freaking commit to the very place you went to find answers.
Fun hikes or doing the thing for the challenge is ay-okay. You're not obligated to have an existential experience when you do the AT. But a lot of folks go there explicitly for that, and either give up or come back finding out nothing about themselves because they didn't take that process seriously.
wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 15:51 last edited by@Aqua-Letifer said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
@Mik said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
That's pretty elitist-metaphysical.
It's the freaking AT. I'm not talking about what some day-hiker should do, every time they go out in the woods. I sure as hell look forward to diner food once I get done a day-long walk. I'm talking about a certain kind of through-hike.
I know quite a few through-hikers (and far more would-bes). A great many would-bes feel stuck in their lives, and they have this idea that they'll go hike the AT to find themselves. That's a very common reason you'll come across.
A fine idea—we've been doing that sort of thing for tens of thousands of years—but if that's the goal, then you need to take that seriously. You need to keep the phone at home and stay out in the forest. Civilization is what put you in this existential crisis in the first place; freaking commit to the very place you went to find answers.
Fun hikes or doing the thing for the challenge is ay-okay. You're not obligated to have an existential experience when you do the AT. But a lot of folks go there explicitly for that, and either give up or come back finding out nothing about themselves because they didn't take that process seriously.
I like that.
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wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 16:10 last edited by
Our National Trails Depend on Federal Support – Which is Now in Doubt
https://appalachiantrail.org/official-blog/national-trails-federal-support/
Do it while you can.
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@Mik said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
That's pretty elitist-metaphysical.
It's the freaking AT. I'm not talking about what some day-hiker should do, every time they go out in the woods. I sure as hell look forward to diner food once I get done a day-long walk. I'm talking about a certain kind of through-hike.
I know quite a few through-hikers (and far more would-bes). A great many would-bes feel stuck in their lives, and they have this idea that they'll go hike the AT to find themselves. That's a very common reason you'll come across.
A fine idea—we've been doing that sort of thing for tens of thousands of years—but if that's the goal, then you need to take that seriously. You need to keep the phone at home and stay out in the forest. Civilization is what put you in this existential crisis in the first place; freaking commit to the very place you went to find answers.
Fun hikes or doing the thing for the challenge is ay-okay. You're not obligated to have an existential experience when you do the AT. But a lot of folks go there explicitly for that, and either give up or come back finding out nothing about themselves because they didn't take that process seriously.
wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 16:30 last edited bySome smart guy said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
@Mik said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
That's pretty elitist-metaphysical.
It's the freaking AT. I'm not talking about what some day-hiker should do, every time they go out in the woods. I sure as hell look forward to diner food once I get done a day-long walk. I'm talking about a certain kind of through-hike.
I know quite a few through-hikers (and far more would-bes). A great many would-bes feel stuck in their lives, and they have this idea that they'll go hike the AT to find themselves. That's a very common reason you'll come across.
A fine idea—we've been doing that sort of thing for tens of thousands of years—but if that's the goal, then you need to take that seriously. You need to keep the phone at home and stay out in the forest. Civilization is what put you in this existential crisis in the first place; freaking commit to the very place you went to find answers.
Fun hikes or doing the thing for the challenge is ay-okay. You're not obligated to have an existential experience when you do the AT. But a lot of folks go there explicitly for that, and either give up or come back finding out nothing about themselves because they didn't take that process seriously.
After my nephew did the trail, he ditched his dreams of a fulltime music career, finished his AgEcon master's, married a really pretty and talented young lady with a strong bohemian bent, bought a house and started making babies.
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Some smart guy said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
@Mik said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
That's pretty elitist-metaphysical.
It's the freaking AT. I'm not talking about what some day-hiker should do, every time they go out in the woods. I sure as hell look forward to diner food once I get done a day-long walk. I'm talking about a certain kind of through-hike.
I know quite a few through-hikers (and far more would-bes). A great many would-bes feel stuck in their lives, and they have this idea that they'll go hike the AT to find themselves. That's a very common reason you'll come across.
A fine idea—we've been doing that sort of thing for tens of thousands of years—but if that's the goal, then you need to take that seriously. You need to keep the phone at home and stay out in the forest. Civilization is what put you in this existential crisis in the first place; freaking commit to the very place you went to find answers.
Fun hikes or doing the thing for the challenge is ay-okay. You're not obligated to have an existential experience when you do the AT. But a lot of folks go there explicitly for that, and either give up or come back finding out nothing about themselves because they didn't take that process seriously.
After my nephew did the trail, he ditched his dreams of a fulltime music career, finished his AgEcon master's, married a really pretty and talented young lady with a strong bohemian bent, bought a house and started making babies.
wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 16:32 last edited by@Jolly said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
After my nephew did the trail, he ditched his dreams of a fulltime music career, finished his AgEcon master's, married a really pretty and talented young lady with a strong bohemian bent, bought a house and started making babies.
Yeah, those experiences are likely related.
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wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 16:34 last edited by
I hope those who find their old problems awaiting them after a grueling journey of self-discovery, aren't too hard on themselves that they didn't commit hard enough.
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@Aqua-Letifer said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
@Mik said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
That's pretty elitist-metaphysical.
It's the freaking AT. I'm not talking about what some day-hiker should do, every time they go out in the woods. I sure as hell look forward to diner food once I get done a day-long walk. I'm talking about a certain kind of through-hike.
I know quite a few through-hikers (and far more would-bes). A great many would-bes feel stuck in their lives, and they have this idea that they'll go hike the AT to find themselves. That's a very common reason you'll come across.
A fine idea—we've been doing that sort of thing for tens of thousands of years—but if that's the goal, then you need to take that seriously. You need to keep the phone at home and stay out in the forest. Civilization is what put you in this existential crisis in the first place; freaking commit to the very place you went to find answers.
Fun hikes or doing the thing for the challenge is ay-okay. You're not obligated to have an existential experience when you do the AT. But a lot of folks go there explicitly for that, and either give up or come back finding out nothing about themselves because they didn't take that process seriously.
Interesting! I figured your reply to me would've been "you're wrong dood"
I get that there are supply/food places near the trail at times, that's of course ok (need food...) but it's the bed/shower thing that made me basically want to stop reading this blog.
wrote on 10 Mar 2025, 16:49 last edited by@89th said in Hotels and hiking the AT:
I get that there are supply/food places near the trail at times, that's of course ok (need food...) but it's the bed/shower thing that made me basically want to stop reading this blog.
I would guess that there is less than 5% (and probably significantly less than that) who continual through hike and never use a hotel/hostel. I think that a person can say that they "through hike" if they complete the entire trail in a calendar year.
People typcially start in the south and go north, but because of increased usage and crowding, they trail assc. is encouraging people to start in the middle, go north to complete the first half and then return to the middle and do the bottom half.
