In 1998, I thru-hiked the AT - passing every white blaze I could see… In NY state a severe storm had all but obliterated the actual trail with trees all helter-skelter across the corridor. Using map and compass, I bush wacked as closely to the trail as I could navigate. I never got lost, but was once seriously disoriented for a couple days until stumbling upon the long tree tunnel again. My point is this - It was my hike and I felt really good about the way I conducted myself with the integrity one would expect from a true thru hiker. I really don’t care if another hiker blue/yellow/aqua blazed and misrepresented their hike. It’s not my concern and doesn’t bother me. It’s on their conscious not mine. ‘Hike your own hike’ was the mantra that was most prevalent in 1998 and it was good enough for the ‘Dirty Dozen’ and I who started together from Springer Mountain on March 1st 1998. And that’s all I have to say about that! VIKING’98
You speak the truth about the AT. Many years ago when i hiked it,it was much longer. Back then we didnt have many foot bridges. We had to hike down to the creek,then cross it and hike back up to the trail. So,in some spots you have it much easier than in others. But it was a very enjoyable hike.
Hey man, just wanted to say thank you for your helpful advise on the AT. Just got back from doing a 4 day section hike and you were definitely right, its not the bears or the snakes that get ya, its those mountains! lol! Look forward to watching more helpful wisdom :)
I am way late to this one. I would prefer to walk the official trail along the white blazes, but I don't think anyone should undervalue the accomplishment of another because they decided to blue blaze a little. If you walked from GA to ME primarily on the AT, then heck, you walked from GA to ME. Yellow blazing is cool if you are a section hiker and only have time to hit certain areas that interest you. A thru hiker that yellow blazes has automatically deferred themselves into the section hiker category.
I think a lot depends on why you hike. I hike to enjoy the trails, and as I have gained experience move more slowly, taking more time to enjoy vistas, soak my feet, swim in streams, and to take side trails less traveled. I have no trouble cranking out a long milage day. I learned long ago that when you walk into a wild place, you see a scene. If you sit still for 10 minutes, you become aware of delightful details, and the wildlife emerges when things get quiet. You get much more out of the same place you would have transited in a minute. Even on trains and busses, I hate to travel at night, because I miss out on seeing what I am traveling through. I am the same on the trail. I hike mainly for myself, and am indifferent to what others think I should or should not do. In my opinion, anybody that has walked from one end to the other, trying to mainly stay on the trail, is a thru hiker. I will not quibble over a few side trails.
I'm a little late to watch this one, but great video and thank you so much for continuing to make these! I will be doing a 4-day hike on the Trans-Catalina Trail in November, and even though it's very different from the AT, these videos have been a great resource in helping me feel prepared.
Hey flatbrokeoutside, enjoying your videos - you have a good 'radio' voice and good to learn from your selected practical advice in combination with other hiking websites and blogs. Trying to 3-7 day section-hike parts of the southern trail(most recently GSMNP) as they are within closer driving distance to where I am. Think I am more afraid of ticks and lyme disease in the northern sections than I am of bears elsewhere. Guessing I can wash all my clothes in permethrin if I end hiking up that way at some point and the other usual tips but would be interested in your advice in regards to insects and their active seasons and avoidance of bites,stings and preparation,gear. Happy trails.
Jeremy Cothran Based on what I hear, I think you are right about ticks being bad in New England. I talked about ticks and insects in my "Don't go commando" video. Despite what I said in that video about 100% DEET, I still prefer bug spray with about 40% DEET. I have been trying lemon eucalyptus but it stinks bad and has the same poison warnings as DEET. I have not tried permethrin treatment but I have read reviews that say it works. And if we go commando, we might end up with a crotch full of ticks. Happened to me. Good hiking and thanks for watching!
Jeremy Cothran I spend a bit of time in Florida's swamps, including the Everglades. One tactic that seems to work is to eat large amounts of raw garlic beginning about 10 days before you enter the woods, and all during the trip. And bear in mind that while you may enjoy benefits of this system, don't expect any person who associates closely with you to share your enthusiasm.
+flatbrokeoutside - I have enjoyed a number of your videos. Thank you very much for producing some of the better content on youtube. I think you hit the nail on the head. We each hike for our own personal reasons. The inner peace, joy, cleansing, or whatever motivating impetus compels us to climb in the wilderness never translates well at parties. I have been a section hiker since '92. Like yourself, I most likely will never complete a through hike. I hike to *be* hiking rather than to *have* hiked. I think that anyone who needs or wants to claim the through hike trophy should be able to do so. It is a merit they may need for their own purposes. In that regard, I think the merit system that is in place shows a wisdom of folks from an older age with great trail wisdom. For myself, I would be a purist if I sought that trophy. I wish there was a way that we could simply inquire of a through hiker if they accomplished their trek "purist" or not without any judgement implied in the question. That would make it so much easier to connect with folks who had achieved an old dream of mine. Pax et bonum!
This is an interesting point. My question though would be to the purists who want to define what others have accomplished, aren't you missing the point of why you do things? Is it the ability to claim you Thru Hiked the AT or is it the experience of doing it that matters? Do you Thru Hike to be able to tell people you did it, or do you thru hike for the life experiences you get along the way? Whether you blue blaze or not you experienced the AT from Georgia to Maine, right? If you did not Blue Blaze at all, IMO you have not earned the right to define others experiences and how they want to define them.
To me, if someone is going to make reference to thru hiking the AT, then that's what they should have done. It's a specific reference to a specific thing. If someone wants to take side trails, etc. they could say they hiked for six months in the Eastern US, but to me that's not the same as saying they thru hiked the AT.
I went to Clingmans Dome with my wife. We then hiked about 2.5 miles south on the AT and saw three thru hikers. Returning to the Clingmans Dome parking lot via a blue blaze trail we saw the same hikers coming back up. They had hit the parking lot area and realized they had gone the wrong way. I always wondered why they backtracked. They could have just walked up the road to Clingmans Dome and been there n there merry way. Now I understand.
Ha ha! I might decide that person is not my soulmate, but I'm also not a young person. 😃 I don't have plans to thru-hike, but I would be inclined to choose option B. I recently read A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, and I was hit with this controversial subject having never previously known of blue-blazing. Good discussion!
Chanda Harkins I didn't even understand how many side trails there are until I actually was on the AT. I was amazed how many there are. And thanks again for watching!
No wonder there is debate on this. I can see both sides (as I'm sure most can). To me it only matters to yourself. If you feel like you hike it all . . . well . . . I think you did! For me . . . I want to pass every white blaze.
Im doing the PCT in 2016 and the way I see it is that Im walking to Canada via the PCT, so in that respect im pure in my Goal but not to the PCT and Im fine with that.
Channels with Patreon accounts offer some kind of bonus stuff to their members -- I'm not sure what I could come up with. If I did exclusive videos, they'd probably be lame. I've certainly had plenty of time to get used to the idea of being a section hiker. :) And thanks again for being a great viewer!
A little off subject: Do you know of any sights that detail how the AT has changed through the years. I was curious and looking for several days ago. I had heard that springer and katadin where not always the terminus.
Planner I'm afraid I don't know any comprehensive source. Bits and pieces are moved all the time. The ATC website currently says "The A.T. has been relocated between the New River and Rice Field Shelter north of Pearisburg, to a corridor of public land that will be protected from development. The new route is 0.1 longer." This is in Virginia. Mount Oglethrope was the southern terminus until 1958. Wikipedia says it was moved partly because of "construction of a gravel logging road on the mountain and the development of a number of pungent chicken farms along the route." And thanks for watching!
Gearing up for NoBo from Springer in April. For me it's no question or debate, White Blaze or go home. No way can you stand up on top of Katahdin and claim that you did a thru hike if you didn't completely follow the Trail.
JP JPJP on some level yes, but also, who cares? It's about enjoying the hike, I plan on thruhiking, and stopping by a few places like DC. To me that doesn't invalidate the 2200 (more like 2400 miles all said and done) miles I'm about to walk. Don't worry about what other people do, hike your own hike bro.
Going off trail is perfectly acceptable to visit places and do things. Hell, when i'm up in NJ i'm going to zero a day or two visiting friends and family there. i'm also going off trail in Shenandoah NP for a day or so also on account of i used to work there and want to catch up with current happenings with my ex coworkers. It's a whole different thing though when one blue or yellow blazes significant stretches of the trail.
For less experienced hikers I think blue blazing it past some of the harder parts is a viable option and it should not be held over someones head. Personally the only reason I haven't thru hiked it myself is because I am a clutz. The chances of me busting my butt is 100% guaranteed. I say let people hike their hike it's not going to effect you in any way.
to many great side trails to be a purist. also i like to "slack" pack to local stores for resupply. one more thing if you walk from Ga. to Maine. you walked the AT. but then again i section hike. so through hikers don't want my opinion.
+Ta Price Your opinion is welcome here. BTW, do you mean you visit stores without your pack? If so, where do you put your pack when you visit stores? And thanks for watching!
i have bit and parts of my hike of the Appalachian trail and ive actually have pa to ma finish and since i hike with my dog i do have to skip baxter state park what do you think about
MrCarzyboy21 If it was me and Baxter would be the last section I need to have done the entire AT, I absolutely would board my dog. It's only 15 miles from the park boundary to the AT terminus. I would contact the trail maintaining club in Maine - www.matc.org/ - and ask them for advice on dog boarding. The idea would be that maybe somebody in the club likes to board dogs and the club would give me a number. The closest kennel I can find online is at Medway off I-95. Not close to the AT. There are a lot of really steep rocks between Pa and Maine, places with ladders and rebar. Plus river crossings. My dog would have to be strong and in good shape. I read that dogs usually can find their way around near-cliffs. Here's a thread about it on the White Blaze forum - www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php/106941-dogs-and-steep-places?highlight=rebar+dog - Good hiking and thanks for watching!
flatbrokeoutside i dont like to board my pride and joy and for me being on the trail with my dog is a bonding process and finding out our weakness and our trust levels are and seeing that smile on her what makes a dog owner bond stronger..
I see I'm gonna have to do it all twice... First time as a purist, high-fiving each and every white blaze because I'm a bit of a perfectionist that way, and then a second time to experience the blue and yellow parts. I love feeling "effective" with short-cuts and canoeing is a passion so yeah... Gonna need to do it twice...
+minustwelve I have met, in September, a couple of guys doing it twice. They did the whole thing northbound so fast they turned around and headed south. They certainly stood out from other hikers - they had the lean look of guerrilla fighters carrying the bare essentials. Sans weapons, of course. 4,000 miles must have made it a year to remember. Thanks for watching!
Plenty of people get by fine without paper maps, but I would urge everyone to at least carry a trail guide which is a huge help in not getting lost. Probably the most common is David Miller's - www.amazon.com/T-Guide-Northbound-2017/dp/0997049316/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1492444899&sr=8-2-fkmr1&keywords=david+miller+appalachian+trail+2017 - updated annually and good for the entire trail. I believe there is a phone app version. The AT Conservancy on its website sells a series of guidebooks - highly detailed and handy for section hikers. Many folks find the guthook phone app helpful. I did a video on basic AT navigation - th-cam.com/video/Z7byHrTrpi8/w-d-xo.html - Hope this helps and thanks for watching!
@Austin Downing I have never heard anybody recommend blue blazes if it's raining. Blue blazed trails get just as drenched as anything else. If it's raining all THAT bad, some people hole up in their tent, or a shelter, till it clears.
first off : my opinion does not count, i havent thru hiked yet, I start at the end of march woohoo I'm starting going into this as a purist i want to see every white blaze on foot. that being said 3 months in a nice young lady could totally have me blue blazing lol i know this now.. and so yeah... hyoh its the only way
In 1998, I thru-hiked the AT - passing every white blaze I could see…
In NY state a severe storm had all but obliterated the actual trail with trees all helter-skelter across the corridor. Using map and compass, I bush wacked as closely to the trail as I could navigate.
I never got lost, but was once seriously disoriented for a couple days until stumbling upon the long tree tunnel again.
My point is this - It was my hike and I felt really good about the way I conducted myself with the integrity one would expect from a true thru hiker.
I really don’t care if another hiker blue/yellow/aqua blazed and misrepresented their hike. It’s not my concern and doesn’t bother me. It’s on their conscious not mine.
‘Hike your own hike’ was the mantra that was most prevalent in 1998 and it was good enough for the ‘Dirty Dozen’ and I who started together from Springer Mountain on March 1st 1998.
And that’s all I have to say about that!
VIKING’98
Thanks for sharing your experience and thanks a million for watching!
You speak the truth about the AT. Many years ago when i hiked it,it was much longer. Back then we didnt have many foot bridges. We had to hike down to the creek,then cross it and hike back up to the trail. So,in some spots you have it much easier than in others. But it was a very enjoyable hike.
what did Lewis and clark do? I think all but yellow blaze. so hike your hike and have fun!
Hey man, just wanted to say thank you for your helpful advise on the AT. Just got back from doing a 4 day section hike and you were definitely right, its not the bears or the snakes that get ya, its those mountains! lol! Look forward to watching more helpful wisdom :)
+Brian Vath Keep hiking and thanks again for watching!
I fall in the purist camp. It just seems like the right thing. Very thought provoking. Thanks for bringing up the discussion.
Sleeves And thanks again for watching!
If I want somebody to tell me how to do anything that is solely my decision and my way to accomplish it, I'll get married again.
I am way late to this one. I would prefer to walk the official trail along the white blazes, but I don't think anyone should undervalue the accomplishment of another because they decided to blue blaze a little. If you walked from GA to ME primarily on the AT, then heck, you walked from GA to ME.
Yellow blazing is cool if you are a section hiker and only have time to hit certain areas that interest you. A thru hiker that yellow blazes has automatically deferred themselves into the section hiker category.
Thanks again for watching!
I think a lot depends on why you hike. I hike to enjoy the trails, and as I have gained experience move more slowly, taking more time to enjoy vistas, soak my feet, swim in streams, and to take side trails less traveled. I have no trouble cranking out a long milage day. I learned long ago that when you walk into a wild place, you see a scene. If you sit still for 10 minutes, you become aware of delightful details, and the wildlife emerges when things get quiet. You get much more out of the same place you would have transited in a minute. Even on trains and busses, I hate to travel at night, because I miss out on seeing what I am traveling through. I am the same on the trail. I hike mainly for myself, and am indifferent to what others think I should or should not do. In my opinion, anybody that has walked from one end to the other, trying to mainly stay on the trail, is a thru hiker. I will not quibble over a few side trails.
+tom jackson Thanks again for watching!
I'm a little late to watch this one, but great video and thank you so much for continuing to make these! I will be doing a 4-day hike on the Trans-Catalina Trail in November, and even though it's very different from the AT, these videos have been a great resource in helping me feel prepared.
+Victor Mach Have a great hike and thanks again for watching!
Hey flatbrokeoutside, enjoying your videos - you have a good 'radio' voice and good to learn from your selected practical advice in combination with other hiking websites and blogs. Trying to 3-7 day section-hike parts of the southern trail(most recently GSMNP) as they are within closer driving distance to where I am. Think I am more afraid of ticks and lyme disease in the northern sections than I am of bears elsewhere. Guessing I can wash all my clothes in permethrin if I end hiking up that way at some point and the other usual tips but would be interested in your advice in regards to insects and their active seasons and avoidance of bites,stings and preparation,gear. Happy trails.
Jeremy Cothran Based on what I hear, I think you are right about ticks being bad in New England. I talked about ticks and insects in my "Don't go commando" video. Despite what I said in that video about 100% DEET, I still prefer bug spray with about 40% DEET. I have been trying lemon eucalyptus but it stinks bad and has the same poison warnings as DEET. I have not tried permethrin treatment but I have read reviews that say it works. And if we go commando, we might end up with a crotch full of ticks. Happened to me. Good hiking and thanks for watching!
Jeremy Cothran I spend a bit of time in Florida's swamps, including the Everglades. One tactic that seems to work is to eat large amounts of raw garlic beginning about 10 days before you enter the woods, and all during the trip.
And bear in mind that while you may enjoy benefits of this system, don't expect any person who associates closely with you to share your enthusiasm.
+flatbrokeoutside - I have enjoyed a number of your videos. Thank you very much for producing some of the better content on youtube. I think you hit the nail on the head. We each hike for our own personal reasons. The inner peace, joy, cleansing, or whatever motivating impetus compels us to climb in the wilderness never translates well at parties. I have been a section hiker since '92. Like yourself, I most likely will never complete a through hike. I hike to *be* hiking rather than to *have* hiked. I think that anyone who needs or wants to claim the through hike trophy should be able to do so. It is a merit they may need for their own purposes. In that regard, I think the merit system that is in place shows a wisdom of folks from an older age with great trail wisdom. For myself, I would be a purist if I sought that trophy. I wish there was a way that we could simply inquire of a through hiker if they accomplished their trek "purist" or not without any judgement implied in the question. That would make it so much easier to connect with folks who had achieved an old dream of mine. Pax et bonum!
+idoneous Thanks for sharing your perspective. Keep hikin' and thanks for watching!
Thanks for the videos they give very good information.
Taking on Life And thank you for watching!
This is an interesting point. My question though would be to the purists who want to define what others have accomplished, aren't you missing the point of why you do things? Is it the ability to claim you Thru Hiked the AT or is it the experience of doing it that matters? Do you Thru Hike to be able to tell people you did it, or do you thru hike for the life experiences you get along the way? Whether you blue blaze or not you experienced the AT from Georgia to Maine, right? If you did not Blue Blaze at all, IMO you have not earned the right to define others experiences and how they want to define them.
To me, if someone is going to make reference to thru hiking the AT, then that's what they should have done. It's a specific reference to a specific thing. If someone wants to take side trails, etc. they could say they hiked for six months in the Eastern US, but to me that's not the same as saying they thru hiked the AT.
+DC Chiasson Thanks again for watching!
I went to Clingmans Dome with my wife. We then hiked about 2.5 miles south on the AT and saw three thru hikers. Returning to the Clingmans Dome parking lot via a blue blaze trail we saw the same hikers coming back up. They had hit the parking lot area and realized they had gone the wrong way. I always wondered why they backtracked. They could have just walked up the road to Clingmans Dome and been there n there merry way. Now I understand.
Thanks for sharing that story and thanks for watching!
Ha ha! I might decide that person is not my soulmate, but I'm also not a young person. 😃
I don't have plans to thru-hike, but I would be inclined to choose option B. I recently read A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, and I was hit with this controversial subject having never previously known of blue-blazing. Good discussion!
Chanda Harkins What do you mean "not a young person" or is that a photo from your college days?
Chanda Harkins I didn't even understand how many side trails there are until I actually was on the AT. I was amazed how many there are. And thanks again for watching!
aren't some of the blue blazed areas the old part of the AT?
Some of them are indeed. And thanks again for watching.
Hiking New Mexico Rockies:) Love it, and yes, in segments.
+Rick Earthplay Excellent! Good hiking and thanks for watching!
No wonder there is debate on this. I can see both sides (as I'm sure most can). To me it only matters to yourself. If you feel like you hike it all . . . well . . . I think you did! For me . . . I want to pass every white blaze.
Frank Lilley I also want to pass every white blaze and EARN THE RIGHT to call myself a 2000 miler someday.
Frank Lilley Me, too! And thanks for watching!
+Appalachian Swede Well said. "EARN THE RIGHT" to proclaim achieving a goal, regardless of what that goal may be.
Ethics!
Im doing the PCT in 2016 and the way I see it is that Im walking to Canada via the PCT, so in that respect im pure in my Goal but not to the PCT and Im fine with that.
+Sol92692 Thanks for watching!
Have you thought about starting a patreon account and maybe making enough money to do a thru hike on the AT?
Channels with Patreon accounts offer some kind of bonus stuff to their members -- I'm not sure what I could come up with. If I did exclusive videos, they'd probably be lame. I've certainly had plenty of time to get used to the idea of being a section hiker. :) And thanks again for being a great viewer!
A little off subject: Do you know of any sights that detail how the AT has changed through the years. I was curious and looking for several days ago. I had heard that springer and katadin where not always the terminus.
Planner I'm afraid I don't know any comprehensive source. Bits and pieces are moved all the time. The ATC website currently says "The A.T. has been relocated between the New River and Rice Field Shelter north of Pearisburg, to a corridor of public land that will be protected from development. The new route is 0.1 longer." This is in Virginia. Mount Oglethrope was the southern terminus until 1958. Wikipedia says it was moved partly because of "construction of a gravel logging road on the mountain and the development of a number of pungent chicken farms along the route." And thanks for watching!
+Planner Hey! At least in the southern terminus, you are correct. It was originally at Mt Oglethorp, GA.
+John McC Oops! I see Our Gracious Host had made that point and should have clicked the 'show more'. So sorry.
Gearing up for NoBo from Springer in April. For me it's no question or debate, White Blaze or go home. No way can you stand up on top of Katahdin and claim that you did a thru hike if you didn't completely follow the Trail.
Many agree with you and thanks for watching!
JP JPJP on some level yes, but also, who cares? It's about enjoying the hike, I plan on thruhiking, and stopping by a few places like DC. To me that doesn't invalidate the 2200 (more like 2400 miles all said and done) miles I'm about to walk. Don't worry about what other people do, hike your own hike bro.
Going off trail is perfectly acceptable to visit places and do things. Hell, when i'm up in NJ i'm going to zero a day or two visiting friends and family there. i'm also going off trail in Shenandoah NP for a day or so also on account of i used to work there and want to catch up with current happenings with my ex coworkers. It's a whole different thing though when one blue or yellow blazes significant stretches of the trail.
For less experienced hikers I think blue blazing it past some of the harder parts is a viable option and it should not be held over someones head. Personally the only reason I haven't thru hiked it myself is because I am a clutz. The chances of me busting my butt is 100% guaranteed. I say let people hike their hike it's not going to effect you in any way.
Thanks for being a viewer!
to many great side trails to be a purist. also i like to "slack" pack to local stores for resupply. one more thing if you walk from Ga. to Maine. you walked the AT. but then again i section hike. so through hikers don't want my opinion.
+Ta Price Your opinion is welcome here. BTW, do you mean you visit stores without your pack? If so, where do you put your pack when you visit stores? And thanks for watching!
no sir, i take my pack ! what i meant was i hitch a ride.
i have bit and parts of my hike of the Appalachian trail and ive actually have pa to ma finish and since i hike with my dog i do have to skip baxter state park what do you think about
MrCarzyboy21 If it was me and Baxter would be the last section I need to have done the entire AT, I absolutely would board my dog. It's only 15 miles from the park boundary to the AT terminus. I would contact the trail maintaining club in Maine - www.matc.org/ - and ask them for advice on dog boarding. The idea would be that maybe somebody in the club likes to board dogs and the club would give me a number. The closest kennel I can find online is at Medway off I-95. Not close to the AT. There are a lot of really steep rocks between Pa and Maine, places with ladders and rebar. Plus river crossings. My dog would have to be strong and in good shape. I read that dogs usually can find their way around near-cliffs. Here's a thread about it on the White Blaze forum - www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php/106941-dogs-and-steep-places?highlight=rebar+dog - Good hiking and thanks for watching!
flatbrokeoutside i dont like to board my pride and joy and for me being on the trail with my dog is a bonding process and finding out our weakness and our trust levels are and seeing that smile on her what makes a dog owner bond stronger..
MrCarzyboy21 You didn't have your dog yet when you hiked Great Smoky Mountains National Park? They aren't allowed there, either.
flatbrokeoutside we bypass it
I see I'm gonna have to do it all twice... First time as a purist, high-fiving each and every white blaze because I'm a bit of a perfectionist that way, and then a second time to experience the blue and yellow parts. I love feeling "effective" with short-cuts and canoeing is a passion so yeah... Gonna need to do it twice...
+minustwelve I have met, in September, a couple of guys doing it twice. They did the whole thing northbound so fast they turned around and headed south. They certainly stood out from other hikers - they had the lean look of guerrilla fighters carrying the bare essentials. Sans weapons, of course. 4,000 miles must have made it a year to remember. Thanks for watching!
Amazing. Gonna keep on dreaming big and one day I'll get there. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
I'll hike the white blaze parts I can handle physically. Others I'll blue blaze.
+rutabagasteu Thanks again for watching!
The good old blue blazes lol
what are the chances of getting lost without a map?
Plenty of people get by fine without paper maps, but I would urge everyone to at least carry a trail guide which is a huge help in not getting lost. Probably the most common is David Miller's - www.amazon.com/T-Guide-Northbound-2017/dp/0997049316/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1492444899&sr=8-2-fkmr1&keywords=david+miller+appalachian+trail+2017 - updated annually and good for the entire trail. I believe there is a
phone app version. The AT Conservancy on its website sells a series of guidebooks - highly detailed and handy for section hikers. Many folks find the guthook phone app helpful. I did a video on basic AT navigation - th-cam.com/video/Z7byHrTrpi8/w-d-xo.html - Hope this helps and thanks for watching!
flatbrokeoutside Thank you very much man. I already got the guide!
Follow the white blazes, you completed The Trail. Any other path, you just walked a long way.
Hell yeah. And thanks for watching!
@Austin Downing I have never heard anybody recommend blue blazes if it's raining. Blue blazed trails get just as drenched as anything else. If it's raining all THAT bad, some people hole up in their tent, or a shelter, till it clears.
first off : my opinion does not count, i havent thru hiked yet, I start at the end of march woohoo
I'm starting going into this as a purist i want to see every white blaze on foot. that being said 3 months in a nice young lady could totally have me blue blazing lol i know this now..
and so yeah... hyoh its the only way
+john doegh Either way, have a great time! And thanks for watching!
I bet some of the blue blazes have views you wouldnt want to miss yeah?
Definitely, there are a ton of great sights on side trails. And thanks for watching!