How to Hike a Famous Trail

The ultimate goal for some hard-core hikers is to walk across the United States on one of the three major trails: the Appalachian Trail, the Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. Any one of them will provide you with the challenge of a lifetime; all require intense thinking and advance planning. Most people drastically underestimate the commitment that's required.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Read A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail, by Bill Bryson. In addition to being entertaining and well written, the story paints a sobering picture of what a 2,000-mile (3,219 km) stroll is like. Hint: He didn't make it. And he was getting paid.
2. Decide if you want to attempt an entire trail in one trip or do short sections over an extended period of time. The Appalachian Trail is almost 2,200 miles (3,541 km) long. At an average speed of 15 miles (24 km) per day, it would take over five months of steady walking. The Pacific Crest Trail is more than 2,600 miles (4,184 km), and the Continental Divide Trail is about 3,100 miles (4,989 km). All traverse mountainous areas and include countless thousands of feet in elevation changes.
3. Read maps and guidebooks to give you an idea about distances between supply points and to scrutinize your route. Pay close attention to elevation changes, and prepare for any weather. Bring warm clothes and rain gear: It can be summer at sea level but winter a few thousand feet up.
4. Plan your daily progress based on elevation change, not strictly distance. Traversing mountains with a heavy pack is slow work. On a day that requires significant elevation gain and loss, your mileage total will be way down. For example, a section of trail that includes a total climb of 5,000 feet (1,524 m) but covers less than 10 miles (16 km) of distance is a full day for most hikers.
5. Set up a physical fitness plan and get in shape. You can wait until you're on the trail and do your training and hiking at the same time, but this guarantees that you'll be tired and miserable at the beginning. Practice carrying a pack and covering miles. Fitness is safety: A fit person thinks more clearly, acts faster and covers more ground in case of emergency.
6. Collect your gear well ahead of time. Be sure your boots are broken in and you have experience using your tent, stove and pack.
7. Collect any necessary permits and be aware of restrictions. These issues are handled on a state or local basis, so permits may be required in some areas but not others. For information on specific trails, check out these Web sites: for the Pacific Crest, Pcta.org; for the Appalachian, www.Appalachiantrail.org; and for the Continental Divide, CDTrail.org.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't get too hung up on daily mileage goals. A steady demeanor and positive attitude are more important than sticking to a rigid plan.
• Recognize that you are on your own in the wilderness. While a rescue might be possible, you should plan on taking care of yourself. If you can't accept this reality, don't go. See 474 Survive Being Lost.
• If you haven't exercised for a while, talk to your doctor before embarking on a long hike.
• Be prepared to deal with annoying and dangerous animals, including mosquitoes, bears and snakes. Bug spray is a good idea. A bear-proof container for food is essential in many areas.