Spring flowers are starting to bloom, and so many of my fellow Class of 2019 AT thru-hikers are already on the trail. Part of me feels like I’m already behind.
But as I watch all the videos on YouTube showing these hikers’ first few days or weeks on trail, I’ve realized something. It’s probably a good thing I’m not out there on trail with them right now.
Starting early
According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the vast majority of northbound (or NOBO) AT thru-hikers start in Georgia in March or April. This allows them 5-7 months to get to Maine. They don’t have to rush. There’s no urgency to make big miles. The trail is just there to walk.
Unfortunately, 75% of those thru-hikers won’t actually make it to Maine for one reason or another. Some will discover the trail life isn’t what they expected, or that it’s harder than they thought it would be. Others will run out of money or fall prey to an injury during their journey.
Whatever the reason, most the AT thru-hikers out there on the trail right now won’t be celebrating atop Mt. Katahdin later this year. So why do I feel the pressure to get out on the trail with them? What’s the urgency?
I’ve done a lot of hiking over the years. I know what my pace is and how many miles (or hours) my body is bound to walk each day. I might be behind the bubble of hikers, but there is still plenty of time for me to make it to Maine if I start in early May.
Mind games
One of the biggest downsides of having a driven, type-A personality is you always want to be at the head of the pack.
In high school, you strive for the best GPA possible so you can get into your #1 college choice. In college, you strive for the best internships so you can get a good paying job. And then when you finally have that great job, you strive for stellar performance reviews, promotions, and pay raises. You’re always chasing the next goal.
Hiking isn’t like all those other parts of my life though. Being the fastest doesn’t matter to me. Hiking as many miles as someone else is irrelevant. There are no trophies at the finish line. It’s just about being outdoors and appreciating nature.
So why does it feel like I’m “falling behind” the pack? Why am I allowing myself to get sucked into that hyper-competitive mindset?
I know I should be using my time more wisely. Right now is the time to focus on doing the things that will help set me up for success on the trail. After all, I want to be part of that small fraction that actually makes it all the way to Maine, right?
Choosing a late start
If I’m being completely honest though, I didn’t choose my starting date for the AT. It chose me.
My best friend is getting married in Costa Rica near the end of April. Consequently, we booked tickets to spend the two weeks of April down there enjoying the tropical beaches and rainforests.
How do theses travel plans square with hiking the AT? Isn’t April when I should be on the trail? Well that depends…
Anyone who knows me well, can attest to how much I dislike the cold. In fact, I hate it. When I was in the Army, I endured more than my fair share of being unnecessarily cold outdoors. And now I actively avoid it as much as I can.
So, even if we weren’t going down to Costa Rica in April, I can’t imagine myself actually getting out on the trail before April 15th. By then, most of the cold weather down south is over. The chances of snow on the trail diminishes. The biting cold winds turn to refreshing breezes.
So waiting to start the AT until early May wasn’t really a major departure from when I’d probably start anyway. At most, I’ll be a week or so later than when I originally planned to get on trail.
How I’m going to use my time
Instead of focusing on what all those other AT thru-hikers are doing right now, I need to get my head back in the game.
April is my month to build my legs up and get stronger. One of the biggest benefits I had on the Camino last year was that I went into it after a long summer of hiking. My feet were toughened up, and my quads and hamstrings were strong from hard day hikes in Acadia National Park and the White Mountains.
April is also the month to focus on my gear and doing things like:
- Setting my tent up and breaking it down a dozen times will increase my comfort with my gear and develop a routine.
- Loading and unloading my pack each week will help me determine where things should logically go, so I can be more organized on trail.
- Getting some practice hanging my bear bag in the woods. A few reps under my belt now can only help me dial in my technique, right?
Final Thoughts
One more thing I want to do before I get on trail is get out there and do some trail magic.
Before we head out to Costa Rica, we’ll be in staying in several locations within an hour’s drive of the AT. That’s the perfect opportunity to bring a smile to a few hikers faces instead of worrying how far I might be behind them.