How I prepared for my 2024 Appalachian Trail thru hike

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ม.ค. 2025

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  • @chaosncheckt9356
    @chaosncheckt9356 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    Well Chuck, we all have our reasons for hiking the AT. Yours sound solid and it appears you have a plan. I hiked the AT last year at 66. I had planned or rather thought about it since 2016, but my family was against it. Being a 90% disabled VET they had good concerns. Eventually, I won them over but with two caveats. The first being if I got hurt or sick and had to leave the trail, I would not go back. Second, my son had to hike the first 10-days with me. I will say hiking those ten days with my son was my best time on the trail; except for summit day. As for getting hurt/sick, like all hikers we have accidents with falls being the most common. I did have my share and getting sick; got sick after a stay in a shelter and had to take a ZERO for antibiotics and IVs. The thing is, get up each day and walk. Listen to your body, if you are tired, consider a ZERO. When in town, eat carbos and lots of them. Don't pack your fears. I strongly suggest your pack with water and food, weigh less than 25lbs. I am following a large number of through hike attempts this year with about 12 having started in Jan and Feb and of those, five have left the trail before Neel's Gap for one reason or the other. Wishing you the best of luck. We look forward to following your adventure.

    • @ChuckHowell-Outdoors
      @ChuckHowell-Outdoors  11 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Thanks. I’ve headed out and just uploaded my day 1 video. Feeling good right now!

  • @HikingwithJenny
    @HikingwithJenny 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    The chair story was funny but really illustrates how far you’ve come! That is an impressive training regimen. Sounds like you’re ready!

    • @ChuckHowell-Outdoors
      @ChuckHowell-Outdoors  11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Thanks. We'll find out if I'm ready. It was kind of embarrassing in the store

  • @kellee6551
    @kellee6551 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Beautiful Chuck...My hiking buddy and I prepared for 2 years as well. This was in '93-'95...So glad you hiked with a weighted pack..many don't and it just isn't the same. We would finish our hike at a 8 story parking garage and hike the stairs up and down with our packs. My Dad passed away 2 months before we were to leave so I had family duties to attend to. My buddy did the hike for the 2 of us. He did mention that we should have done a lot more stairs in preparation. But he made it just fine. Just take it slow and HIKE YOUR HIKE. I'm 73 now and still smoking the "hopium" that my day will come. I look forward to watching your journey....Be the Rock Star You Are. 👍

  • @danmolnar9751
    @danmolnar9751 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I had the privilege of hiking the trail in 2021 (Georgia to Vermont) and 2022 (Vermont to Maine). I'm very excited for you since I know the adventures, the scenic views and the wonderful people you will meet on your journey. This will be the journey of a lifetime for you. Thank you for sharing it with us. Godspeed!

  • @pleok08
    @pleok08 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Thursday, February 15th: You got this! Slow and steady! One foot in front of the other. Good luck! Happy Trails! Ross08

    • @ChuckHowell-Outdoors
      @ChuckHowell-Outdoors  11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Thanks. Looking forward to the adventure.

  • @therestorationshop
    @therestorationshop 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Walking a 12 minute mile is phenomenal. My fast pace is just below 15 and to go any faster I have to jog. I'm 5'10" and you're 6'1" so maybe it is a stride thing... still, that's impressive. Obviously you prepared well because your AT thru-hike was a success, so congrats on that! I started last year to prepare for a Grand Canyon backcountry trip and took a similar approach to your's, which was successful as well. I'm going to do AT from Springer to NC in April '25. Thanks for taking the extra time to take videos during the hike and post them. Very helpful.

    • @ChuckHowell-Outdoors
      @ChuckHowell-Outdoors  14 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Hey, no problem. It took a while to work up to doing 12 minute miles for multiple miles, but it is achievable. Realistically, it’s not really necessary to move that fast. It just helps build up cardio. You won’t need or want to move that fast on the AT. It’s all about perseverance rather than speed. Congratulations on getting your attempt planned, and I wish you all the luck. Let me know if you Vlog it. I’ll follow along.

  • @richardross7219
    @richardross7219 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    This will be a great adventure. The better that you prepare, the easier the first 300 miles will be. Treat your outer clothing and gear with Permethrin every month. There are 9 tick diseases along the trail. In 2017, my wife died from a tick disease. Many thru hikers come down with tick diseases now. The deer ticks are so small that you rarely see them when they are attacking you. Share the warning.
    Take your time on trail. It is very easy to injure yourself. I recommend that you carry a poncho(River Country $10) and a Heetsheet emergency blanket(its bigger, tougher, quieter, and reusable unlike mylar). Carry a few extra oatmeal packets in case you get delayed along the trail and run out of food. Good Luck, Rick

  • @ianhall702
    @ianhall702 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Looking forward to following you on trail Chuck. You must have worn a track around that golf course!!! Good luck from Wales, UK!

    • @ChuckHowell-Outdoors
      @ChuckHowell-Outdoors  11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Thanks. It was mostly on pavement so no trail😄

  • @celenasherrill1455
    @celenasherrill1455 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Just saw you on Peaks 4 Pounds channel and had to check out your channel. Best wishes for an awesome adventure. I'll be following along.

  • @wandawilloughby6052
    @wandawilloughby6052 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I wish you could have videoed the chair event and now we see you going up Sassafras without a problem. This was the most sensible preparation I have watched. And Fresh Ground sets up on the foothills trail 12-26 if you want to join in

    • @ChuckHowell-Outdoors
      @ChuckHowell-Outdoors  11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks. It’s been a long journey to get here. Feeling strong

  • @DivineMojo
    @DivineMojo 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I just saw you on PeaksNPounds video climbing up Sassafras, and then this one popped up in the suggested lol. Cheers!

    • @ChuckHowell-Outdoors
      @ChuckHowell-Outdoors  11 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Thanks. She’s great! Already seen her a few times. Keep pulling for her. I know I am.

  • @Judy-fi7ce
    @Judy-fi7ce 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Sounds like you planned well and did well slowly increasing your mileage. I followed a training plan two months before I biked across Wisconsin, my home state. I'd get up at 4:30 am and bike 20 miles before work. On weekends, I biked 40 miles for the purpose of increasing my endurance. When it came time to do the bike trip, I had no problems at all. 400+ miles in six days. We camped overnight on high school lawns. I biked with a cycle group and vans carried our tents and camping equipment. I can vouch for training ahead of time. It really pays off. I'm watching your hike now and it looks great. Take care.

  • @pcrice-lr2dn
    @pcrice-lr2dn 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Sounds like you are prepared,watching you on your videos and enjoying,Good luck ,keep heading NORTH……Grandfather,and Linville are fairly close to where I live but I go there to play GOLF 🤣🌿🍃

  • @jakeva9802
    @jakeva9802 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Solid plan. Looks like you are very prepared.

  • @TheAntHill184
    @TheAntHill184 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I’ve been preaching myself as well.
    You encouraged me (and others) to keep going.
    Keep us posted on your pilgrimage.

  • @nathanflanders171
    @nathanflanders171 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Great video!

  • @graydogtreks
    @graydogtreks 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    You’ve done very well with you prep. Favor follows you! I start 3/19/24 NoBo from Springer. I hope we meet up.

    • @ChuckHowell-Outdoors
      @ChuckHowell-Outdoors  11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Heading out a day ahead of you. It’s likely we’ll meet sometime

  • @juliamarple3785
    @juliamarple3785 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Look at all youve been learning & living in retirement. ♡ Thats what real life is about.
    My story is kind of opposite. Im just a little old lady dinking around, when suddenly i realized that i had done a 53 mile hike on the OT. Holy Crap, Im a Hiker!

    • @ChuckHowell-Outdoors
      @ChuckHowell-Outdoors  11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      It kinda just happens, but isn’t it great!!!

  • @jessicafenn-hill3849
    @jessicafenn-hill3849 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    This video was great! Thanks for sharing the idea of training with a bag of dog food! Best of luck and I look forward to watching your journey!

    • @ChuckHowell-Outdoors
      @ChuckHowell-Outdoors  11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks. The dog food spread out the load nicely

  • @Dave_Outside
    @Dave_Outside 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Now this is the way to prepare for such a trip 👍 Absolutely brilliant. Something very obviously not many do. I’m working on it myself but need to up the mileage and weight. I’d recommend Goruck packs for anyone preparing like this. Designed to carry weight plates and very durable, lifetime guarantee. Also check their pants and shirts. Great gear and much of it made in the US. Good company with a good story, started by a former army special forces officer.

  • @Workin2Liv
    @Workin2Liv 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Preparation sounds great.

  • @sulj3373
    @sulj3373 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Very thorough and informative.I’d like to see yourFoothills video someday.😊❤

    • @ChuckHowell-Outdoors
      @ChuckHowell-Outdoors  11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I hope to put it out, but I’m on the AT now. I’ll try and get it out once I finish. I’ve finally learned how to get it all done

  • @Tracer-yc4wq
    @Tracer-yc4wq 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Good luck on your adventure!

  • @KyGirl747
    @KyGirl747 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Well, you did it so……. you did it right!

  • @themichaelfindling
    @themichaelfindling 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I just rewatched your prep vid.
    How did you lose 40 lbs in a year ? Was it just the hiking and carrying weighted packs? Did you change diet or was it all from doing prep hikes?
    Great inspiration!

    • @ChuckHowell-Outdoors
      @ChuckHowell-Outdoors  6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I didn’t change my diet a whole lot other than reducing (not eliminating) carbs. I did remove cookies and chips from the house and ate a lot more fruit. The big thing was the exercise. You either cut calories or burn more. It also helped to think of it as training for my hike. I told myself “if I quit training, I’ll quit my hike”. If you think about it, 40 lbs in a year is less than a lb a week. Weigh weekly and stay on top of it and it comes off before you know it. Just don’t give up

    • @themichaelfindling
      @themichaelfindling 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      “If I quit training, I quit my hike” - my new mantra.

    • @ChuckHowell-Outdoors
      @ChuckHowell-Outdoors  6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Just remember to take a couple days off every week. I didn’t train on weekends. Your body needs time to recuperate

    • @themichaelfindling
      @themichaelfindling 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Bandit, I had never stepped one foot on the AT until a couple weeks ago. I was inspired to spend a weekend hiking. I dropped in the rollercoaster near Bears Den and hiked south to Sam Moore shelter. My pack was 20lbs with food and water, and it was 90+ degrees. I think I hiked only 5 miles + and I was exhausted that night. The trail kicked my butt! Set up tent, talked to a couple thru hikers who just hit the 1,000 mile mark. I was so excited to be on the trail. The next day I hiked back out the same way . The roller coaster is no joke. You did the whole thing in one day and I have much respect for you. I learned that my gear is good, but my fitness needs work. I now have a baseline. I hiked in and out over two days with a 20lb pack in super hot weather. It was 80 degrees in my tent at 10pm!
      I'm 66 yrs, 6', 260lbs. I set a two day goal and did it- huffing and puffing. I'm planning a four day AT hike . I have work to do to drop 40lbs over the next year or sooner .
      Thanks for putting yourself out there!

    • @ChuckHowell-Outdoors
      @ChuckHowell-Outdoors  6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Keep up the training. We all have to start somewhere. You picked a hot time to be out there. If you eventually do a thru hike, you will most definitely not start that hot. Don’t get discouraged and keep hiking!!

  • @davidkendall6801
    @davidkendall6801 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    When you retire, you do MORE of what you already enjoy .