One of the most exciting aspects of the Appalachian Trail (AT) for me is to meet as many of you as possible during my travel to AT. So, here is a shameless request from me! Please join me on the trail or host me for an evening! You will either experience some amazing stories along with me on the trail itself, or you can hear them from me at your home! All I need is food, shower, laundry and charging of my battery packs.
The following write-up and the excel attachment will provide all of you the details for your consideration. Of course, the logistics, week-day schedule, family plans, unfortunate flexibility required in my plan, and many other compulsions may prevent you from joining or hosting me.
Most experienced thru-hikers would say that there are three steps in preparing the day-to-day plan for AT.
- Step 1: Prepare day-to-day plan in detail,
- Step 2: Print a hard copy of this plan,
- Step 3: Burn away the plan in the furnace in cold Michigan winter.
The plan takes into consideration slow ramp up and specific slowdowns in White Mountains (New Hampshire) and in southern Maine. Availability of water and shelters/campsites decide the daily distance. Visit to nearby towns are planned every 5-6 days to replenish the food. Occasionally I take “zero” days to take rest during my brutal schedule and stay in the hostels at as many places as possible. It also provides me some idea as to where and when the medication and gear needs to be mailed by Anjali.
While such a plan provides insight into the overall schedule, it does not consider temperamental weather (including familiar hurricane season), sudden injuries, unforeseen delays, and host of other issues that one cannot plan for. Obviously, such a day-to-day plan is very difficult to follow. That is why most experienced hikers recommend burning the plan and hiking one’s own hike.
Guthook app has elevation details, water availability and other milestones of AT. AWOL guide further provides maps of nearby towns. Besides, many blogs (written, audio and video) provide information on ground reality of terrain and other difficulties. I considered all of them in this plan.
In any case, here are few interesting numbers:
- Starting date is April 10th, 2021 from Waynesboro, Virginia (Southern tip of the Shenandoah National Park)
- 189 days to complete this very long trail of 2,193 miles, including 10 “zero” days
- 402,400 ft vertical climb, with average climb of 2,130 ft/day (This is truly insane!)
- There are 36 days with climbs higher than 3,000 ft (equivalent of a climb of Grand Canyon from base to south rim)
- There are 6 summits of altitude above 6,000 ft, 32 summits between 5,000 and 6,000 ft and 70 summits between 4,000 ft and 5,000 ft. The trail is routed to go to the top of each of these summits.
- The trail is “embellished” with some ridiculous summit names. There are the Beauty Spot, The Priest (hikers confess sins committed on the trail at the base of this summit!), Roller Coaster and multiple President’s mountains
If you are joining me for the section of the trail: Find dates and locations that are approximately convenient to you. You can either be dropped at some intersection or park your car at the trailhead. Walk with me for a few days. There are local shuttle services that can drop you back to your car. Please note:
- I recommend that you work on your fitness (especially with a 25 lbs backpack) to enjoy the trail. While column D (Distance) and column G (Climb, ft) in the excel attachment will provide you the extent of hiking every day, these numbers are partially adjustable for your and my fitness level.
- Unless you are very fit or have done previous hiking, I recommend you NOT to join me in New Hampshire or southern Maine.
- I will have space for one additional person in my tent and can loan my extra backpack. However, you will need all other gear. I assure you that you will continue to use this gear in future!!
- Please contact me (248-635-9443 or nitin.anturkar@gmail.com) and/or Prashant Javkar (pjavkar@yahoo.com) for further discussion. Prashant will coordinate your plan during my travel.
If you are planning to host me: Two small cautions, please. Since I will not have a car (duhhh!), I need to be picked up from the close-by trail head and dropped back early in the morning on next day. I also may have a strong sweaty smell that will go away only after my shower. Please contact me (248-635-9443 or nitin.anturkar@gmail.com) and/or Subodh Ghonge/Aparna Patankar (ghonge@gmail.com) if you plan to host me.
To all of you, I can only say BIG THANK YOU just even for considering to be part of this plan!
Stay tuned for funny stories on my day-to-day plan preparation! That will be on some other day!
– Nitin (Dadhi) Anturkar (December, 2020)
View AT Plan Day by Day here in excel sheet. Please convey your interest in comments.
