(Part 3) Top products from r/AppalachianTrail

The most spectacular section is probably going to be the White Mountains, but that's also the section that is likely going to demand the greatest level of experience with technical mountaineering (not too mention a lot of expensive gear).

If you're somewhat comfortable with cold weather conditions (including travel through and camping in snow), the Hudson Highlands can also be very pretty in the winter without being as challenging as the Whites.

Even in the southern most sections of the trail, there's a decent chance you'll encounter snow. Make sure you familiarize yourself with cold weather camping skills and techniques (this is an excellent book on the subject) and keep your first cold weather trips simple and easy if you haven't done any winter camping before.

Had a double rainbow as well! Loved it!

seconding the seam sealing at home. Also, don't pay for the seam sealant from dealers. Go to an auto parts store or amazon and get flowable silicone. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BKEBO0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's the same stuff but waaay cheaper. Also seconding waterproof testing before the trail. I took a garden hose and drenched it, don't just splash water on it and hope for the best. Its a lot easier to reseal it at home than get soaked on the trail.

My advice is do not buy shoes that you've never tried on. The same pair of shoes fit different on everyone and the right fit depends on a variety of factors; gait, pronation, width, arch, etc. Go to a running store that has professionals who can help you determine this. It's common for them to stick you on a treadmill and video tape you to tell you exactly what food type you have. If you have the time pick up a copy of Fixing Your Feet. This book is written for long distance hikers, regular hikers, runners, etc. There is a ton of great advice from shoe fit, sock choices and benefits, foot type, blister treatment and prevention, and so on. I was on the hunt for a couple of years for a good pair of hiking shoes and bought several pairs off of online reviews and what was popular (La Sportiva Ultra Raptors, Saucony Peregrines, North Face Hedgehogs, and so on) before finally biting the bullet and taking the time to do what I outlined above. I've finally found a good shoe for me (Keen Versatrails) and I have no doubt that my feet would be a mess and my hike in jeopardy if not for taking a bit of time out of my week.

The Barefoot Sister's book is pretty good. Also check out As Far As the Eye Can See by David Brill. These two come highly recommended by both me and the trail legend Ernie from Sunnyside Inn in Hot Springs NC, a veritable wealth of knowledge about all things AT

As mentioned, you should definitely get the latest AT guidebook. You may also enjoy reading Becoming Odyssa, Grandma Gatewood's Walk, and AWOL on the Appalachian Trail. I would also highly recommend Walking With Wired's 2014 AT blog.

Bob Proudman did so much for protecting, and constructing the trail. Very few folks know his name. He wrote the handbook on trail maintenance! Truly an end of an era. Thank you Bob!

Edit: a word

Here's Part 1 and Part 2.

I could definitely see it not suiting certain types of people, but I looooooved it. It managed to be an accurate depiction of trail life and entertaining at the same time. I would fund a kickstarter to make an indie movie based on the books immediately.

I read Appalachia: A History by John Alexander this year in preparation for my own NOBO. I've always found knowing the history of wherever I'm walking through adds so much to my experience. The book looks at the social, cultural and economic aspects of the region from early expeditions, through the colonial era to present day. It was all very interesting and presented in an accessible manner. I only found it terribly boring a couple times, which is pretty good for a history book! Couldn't recommend it more though, as its very thorough.

https://www.amazon.ca/Appalachia-History-John-Alexander-Williams/dp/0807853682

Might not be good enough for a water source that low, but one of these helps with water collection:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QBQ894L

I just finished mine. It's a lot like AWOL's book but it's more up to date. Has an entry for each day along with daily mileage and location. It's here: https://www.amazon.com/Thru-Hiking-AT-Summer-Adventure-Appalachian/dp/1708783024/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=thru+hiking+the+at&qid=1574977110&sr=8-7

I have an old copy of Appalachian Trail Data Book I've been logging my miles on.

https://www.amazon.com/Appalachian-Trail-Data-Daniel-Chazin/dp/1944958002

Answers contained within: The Three-Body Problem

When my g/f and I did the Long Trail a couple years ago I was fine eating the same few meals day in and day out, she was not. She bought a cookbook designed for backpacking and dehydrating. For a couple weeks we made meals, dehydrated and stored them ready for the hike. This method worked great, she's not a super picky eater but this method allowed her to be excited for different meals each night.

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I don't know your backpacking experience or what you know about the LT but let me tell you it's HARD. I've thru-hiked the AT and PCT, the LT is some of the hardest trail I have encountered. We planned 18 days as well, after 3 days we abandoned our SoBO of the LT. We were almost 20 miles behind schedule at that point and I didn't want to kill my g/f on a 2 week death march to complete the LT. What we did instead was spend more time in town and B&B, hitch back to the trail somewhere else, go NoBo or SoBo based on difficulty and which town we wanted to end up in next. Keep the option to yoyo around and visit small town Vermont.

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Backpack Gourmet is a good resource.

https://www.amazon.com/Backpack-Gourmet-Dehydrate-Healthy-Eating/dp/0811713474/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1557845459&sr=8-24

You know, he used to maintain the Thru-Hiker's Handbook and manage Trailplace.com – An Appalachian Trail Resource Site and Community but I can no longer find the pledge and hear he has moved on to other things.

You have to read A Walk In The Woods before you go hiking. Otherwise, you'll never be able to properly hate it by the end of the trail, and you won't be a real thru hiker. Thems the rulez.

Back in the late 80's I read, "Murder on the Appalachian Trail", an account of an actual double homicide at a shelter in Virginia. After having read it, I left it in a shelter about 100 miles from the event.

Link to Amazon review: http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Appalachian-Trail-Jess-Carr/dp/089227106X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449572825&sr=1-1&keywords=murder+on+the+appalachian+trail

I got one of these ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000BBGQA6?pc_redir=1395429768&robot_redir=1 )when I worked at a outdoor store...the batteries are kinda a pain to find but they last a long time and it's simple (and crazy light). But as usual YMMV

I know the author of the book "The Eastern Cougar" personally, I've read it. I live near where this attack happened. There was some fool who had three western mountain lions as "pets" in his backyard in the county. He got busted, but I have no doubt there are other idiots who buy them illegally and let them go when they realize what a terrible idea it was.

I'm definitely one of those "I want to believe" types. But if you read the history, the sad reality is the European settlers killed off most of the eastern cats, and their descendents killed off the rest. I do believe that there are a few mountain lions living in the Appalachians (as evidenced by this news story) but those are escaped pets.