Any thru hikers?

[jeepinmatt]

The AT would be so much more fun if they allowed dirtbikes! Good luck man, its something I've always wanted to do, and probably never will.

 

[GONOVRIT]

Be careful and good luck. Hate to even mention this but I will. A co-workers brother has been in the hospital since early september and is still in after contracting a flesh eating bacteria in PA while thru hiking the AT. He got up at night to use the bathroom, stepped in a hole and got a 2'' cut on his ankle. Never thought a thing about it until things got bad. Random I know, but anything can happen out there.

 

[BoltOnJohn]

Good luck dude! I recall reading about your prep last time but never read the report. You're smart to do this while you're young. Once you're married with children and working full time, taking months off to hike the AT isn't likely to happen. Not that married with children is a bad state of being, just saying you're smart to jump on this while you have the chance.

 

[NCcummins]

Sounds great! Good luck!

Our friend who thru hiked 2 years ago is vegetarian, I know he dehydrated a lot of his own food.

Thank you! If speak with him, ask him if it would be alright to send me his email address. I would love to get some new meals planned!

I am a hiker, never thru'd, though. Done well over half the AT.

BUT...asking for donations to fund a personal vacation?? Sheesh.

Can't beat that! I see what you are saying about asking for donations, but yes, we are. Every dollar helps greatly, not to mention we are both paying for classes as full time students. Although I don't go to a $40,000 a year school, $7,000 is still a big chunk of change for me. I have pretty much sold everything I have to help fund this hike. I have absolutely no payments at this point, which was one of the biggest thing I needed to get rid of. I moved out of my apartment and now Laura and I live with her parents. Laura is gluten, soy, and dairy free. She is also allergic to peanuts and almonds. You can only imagine how much it is going to cost her to eat along this trek. If we were both full time employees who have had several years of work under our belts, we would not even think about asking for help. We are not. 100% of money is going towards this hike. If we get $5 from the boxes, that is $5 that we did not have.

Have a paypal link I can donate to?

MXandOFFROAD89@netscape.net and we would GREATLY APPRECIATE IT! We spent the day today setting up a Facebook page. We decided along with our trail journals, we are going to also keep up with a Facebook page. It can be accessed at http://www.facebook.com/2013AppalachianTrailThruHike

If you do make a donation, please give us a name and contact if you can. Thank you for asking!

I look forward to following you again. Was sure rooting for you last time. Hope you make it this time.
I can understand taking your girlfriend with you. It would sure be a looooong six months w/o her.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH! It certainly will be a different hike with her. I know there are MANY people who hike it alone, and I know a great number of them (I've spoken with David Miller a few times about it. Those who know the AT know who he is). I'm not that type of person that can do that. If I was, I believe I would go SoBo to make sure I was by myself. I don't want to me all mushy mushy, but Laura literally is my best friend and we do everything together, so I cannot think of someone else I would like to have with me on this trek.! Thank you again!

 

[NCcummins]

The AT would be so much more fun if they allowed dirtbikes! Good luck man, its something I've always wanted to do, and probably never will.

I've heard this soooo many times! When I'm at the shop, it's more like "dang, if they allowed RZR's on the trail, I'd leave tomorrow!" Thank you man!

Be careful and good luck. Hate to even mention this but I will. A co-workers brother has been in the hospital since early september and is still in after contracting a flesh eating bacteria in PA while thru hiking the AT. He got up at night to use the bathroom, stepped in a hole and got a 2'' cut on his ankle. Never thought a thing about it until things got bad. Random I know, but anything can happen out there.

I appreciate it! There is nothing to joke around about when it comes to everything that can turn bad on the trail. Most hike straight thru with no worries, while others (like your co-workers brother) experience life changing problems. During my last hike, I met an older man named Model T in the smokies. He was full of life, said "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now" every time I ran into him. He died of a heart attack in the last shelter of the smokies. I'm glad you pointed this out, because Laura's mom often brings up the girl (I think it was in GA but I may be wrong) who was a student and got in contact with a bacteria like so. She now has lost her arms and legs (maybe not all of them, but it was on the news). I appreciate the heads up and it certainly will make me think twice!

Good luck dude! I recall reading about your prep last time but never read the report. You're smart to do this while you're young. Once you're married with children and working full time, taking months off to hike the AT isn't likely to happen. Not that married with children is a bad state of being, just saying you're smart to jump on this while you have the chance.

This is 100% of our reasoning to do it now. We both do not have much schooling left and so far, no children! We also do not have jobs that require us there every day. We both fully understand this would not be possible later in life. Some have given us some grief about having our donation boxes out, but this is exactly why. We do not have exactly all the money we need thus far although we hope to have it all together by March. Every dollar helps and goes a long way. Honestly, I would rather moral support that financial support! It really, really helps to look back or sign on in a trail town and see people writing on your journal and so on! Thanks you very much!

 

[NCcummins]

Laura and I have spent the day setting up a Facebook page. I'm not the best with Facebook, but I believe you can like the page without being one of our friends. We have decided we are going to keep up with this Facebook page as well as our trail journals when we are able to do so while hiking.

You can find the Facebook page here:

http://www.facebook.com/2013AppalachianTrailThruHike

Thank you everyone for the support!

 

[NCcummins]

Thanks to everyone who has checked out the Facebook page!

 

[NCcummins]

I spent some time last night getting my trail journal set up for the 2013 hike. I was reading through all seven pages of my guest book signatures. That was not an easy thing to do. As I read through them, it brought back many memories and reminded me of all the support that followed my last hike. I thank those of you who plan to follow Laura and I on our upcoming bike. I also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who followed and supported my last hike. It means a lot to have that support behind you and it was great reading and re-reading my guest book signatures last night. I sincerely thank you guys!

 

[NCcummins]

As most of you know, I hiked 815 miles from Springer to VA in 2011. I planned on thru hiking with my (ex) girlfriend in 2013. Things went south, fast. So, with that said, within a week, I moved out, canceled the hike, applied to finish my last semester at school, begged a few teachers to let me in their classes, and I graduated in May from ETSU with a Bachelors in Business Administration. I then re-built a 1987 Chevrolet Astro Allegro 21ft motor home and toured North America ending up in Alaska for a while. A year ago from this date, my life did a complete 180. Thankfully, it turned out for the better, and I've been more than fortunate within the last year. With that said, I just have the get through the next three months, and I'm on the trail again. Yes, thru hiking, form GA to ME, the entire 2,200 miles. I cannot wait. I will not be getting off the trail or ending this hike unless my body is lifted off the trail. This is the last thing I want to do before I get a "real job" and start working full time.


Hitting the trail March 15th, 2014:


www.trailjournals.com/nadeau

 

[J.C.]

Glad to hear it! Keep us updated!

 

[mommucked]

My neighbors son did the whole thing solo a few years ago. I could get you his contact info if you have questions or need/want any advice or opinions on or before the journey. I'm sure he'd be happy to be of help.

 

[lockedup5]

I was wondering what happened to you this year. Will be waiting on updates.

 

[NCcummins]

Glad to hear it! Keep us updated!

Thank you! I definitely will.

My neighbors son did the whole thing solo a few years ago. I could get you his contact info if you have questions or need/want any advice or opinions on or before the journey. I'm sure he'd be happy to be of help.

That would be great. More contacts the better. Thank you very much!

I was wondering what happened to you this year. Will be waiting on updates.

I think a lot of people were. I kind of went through a "low" around this time last year. Of course, everything worked out fine and I believe I am more excited to hike this year than I was in 2011 solely because I kind of know what is coming, at least in the south.

 

[NCcummins]

Two of my buddies that I graduate high school with, Slick and Cone, both thru hiked this year. I met them in Mass for a week on my way to Maine coming back from Alaska in August. They finished their NoBo thru hike October, 7th, 2013. Here are some pics of the trail magic I did for them, and some other hikers. A lot of Pabst was consumed that week.





slack packing them for a 30 mile day:

 

[NCcummins]

For the rest of my life up until the hike:

Graduation:



The RV before and after (completely rebuilt from the ground up, included Pergo on the interior, 3.73 rear end, lift front and rear, custom made housing with gusset to support the weight, Cooper AT3s, 16" Aluminum wheels, roof re-sealed, one bed taken out, and everything else you can think of! Hey, it did make it 17,000 miles without even a flat tire or cracked windshield)





Take off:



Kansas:



Denver, Colorado (Red Rocks for July 4th to see Blues Traveler and Moe):





The Grand Tetons and Yellowstone:

 

[NCcummins]

Banff and Jasper National Parks, Alberta, Canada:




The Alaska Highway:



(picture taken just after midnight):



Denali National Park:







Homer:










Valdez:



The Trip:

 

[metalmiles]

Very jealous was planning on attemptin this hike in 2014 as a thru hike but started building a buggy an that idea was out aside. I WILL thru hike it one day! Kudos

 

[NCcummins]

I have been on the trail about 5 and a half months now. I am currently in Hanover, NH getting ready to start the White Mountains. You can view my journal here:

http://www.trailjournals.com/blue

Instagram (I'm new to it. Made it for the hike): nadeau77

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NCcummins

400 miles to Katahdin left!

 

[jeepinmatt]

 

[loki_racer]

My dad lives in Hanover. Let me know if you need anything and I'll get you connected with him.

Congrats on making it. Finish strong.

 

[6BangBronk]

Bump this thread up. Got our first AT trip planned this summer. Bunch of noobs in the family with a lot of shit talk so far. We plan on hiking 8 days. Honestly doubt any of us will last 3... Hopefully make it a annual thing when all the younger hikers get out for summer. They are our inspiration. Us old guys probably wouldn't even consider without their talk about us.

Neighbors think I'm crazy (actually I know I am) walking up and down our road on weekends with a stuffed pack. I jacked everything up in my office and stand all day at work now. They think I'm crazy at work too (actually I know I am).

I've got 3 months to absorb as much knowledge as possible. Haven't bought shit yet (still absorbing). Do know my bulky gear from boy scout days (25+ years ago) is now completely worthless...

 

[Rogue]

What an awesome thread. I was just up in Hot Springs (after running Hurricane Creek) and we went to Max Patch and hiked a few miles of the AT (in the snow!). I'm getting the itch to tackle at least an overnighter (or two) whan it warms up. Thinking of starting with Max Patch to Lemon Gap or to Hot Springs.

I hope you get to do your trip ^^. Where do you plan to start?

 

[6BangBronk]

What an awesome thread. I was just up in Hot Springs (after running Hurricane Creek) and we went to Max Patch and hiked a few miles of the AT (in the snow!). I'm getting the itch to tackle at least an overnighter (or two) whan it warms up. Thinking of starting with Max Patch to Lemon Gap or to Hot Springs.

I hope you get to do your trip ^^. Where do you plan to start?

View attachment 211143

Figured the closest point to Durham being VA somewhere. Plan is to hike north for 3 days and hiking back in 3-5 more. Then next year same but south. Hopefully start a family trend and extend further south and further north every year after.

Just got back from Hot Springs (years of working my life away I have just starting my bucket list). Ate at Smokey Mountain Diner dedicated to the AT. That got me fired up for my next bucket item. Wife sent out a facebook post for the fam. All the kids started talk. Now it's ON!!!

 

[Rogue]

"years of working my life away I have just starting my bucket list"

This is me exactly. We ate at SMD as well breakfast and lunch. Great place!

 

[6BangBronk]

Looked at the AT poster on the wall at SMD someone put together of a bunch of markers. There was a haircut in the mix where someone did the AT in the back of their head. I think I got enough hair back there? If so, an AT shave to sport for the trip is a must.