Hiking the Appalachian Trail - A Perspective

[Ridgerunner665]

Very nice pics...

Me and Dad still get a good laugh out of that every time we talk about it....there are a lot of bears in that area (Grayson Highlands Park). I should have known better I guess...

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

I'm working on hiking the AT(section hike) myself. I've only done GA and NC so far. I carry my Kel Tec PF-9 while hiking. It is VERY light. And I don't feel too under armed since it holds 7+1 in 9mm.

At one point, I was researching on how I could carry legally on all parts of the trail, but I stopped when I considered the dangers... It's probably a better idea to carry regardless.

Bears, drug dealers, murderers. Those are all serious problems for someone who's unarmed. The AT is the perfect place for people on the run from the law. They don't even have to tell anyone their name, they could just use their trail name. Plus, thru-hikers are extremely out of the loop when it comes to news.

There's another danger that I ran into on my last hike: Wild Hogs. Don't really know how aggressive they can be because the ones I saw ran off. I still wouldn't want to surprise one with it's young. Those tusks look dangerous. Unless you can climb a tree faster than a monkey, a pistol might be the perfect tool.

 

[desidog]

I've found that the AT really attracts the eccentrics and oddballs more than any other hiking trail.

I've never hiked solo on the East Coast, always with a posse, but living in Idaho i did it a lot...after constant accompaniment in the army it was really nice to be alone, and no one else i knew wanted to pursue golden trout in high alpine lakes...

No personal offense meant, OP, but I think it would be seriously STUPID and NAIVE not to bring a sidearm when hiking solo. Not only would a pistol or carbine be ideal for deterring an animal or nefarious person (which is more of an issue on the AT than out West, IMO, but there's no predicting crazy!) but a loud gun is an excellent signal if you were to fall and break a leg: Using Morse Code, 3 quick shots, 3 spaced out, and 3 quick spells S-O-S. (So an auto w/ high-cap mag is far better than a 5- or 6-shot wheel-gun, IMO.) Also, powder can help start a signal fire.

Out on the trails, the law is out of cell-phone-range, and your cell is out of batteries, so if bad things happen, it is entirely up to you to extract yourself.

That said, I'm ever thankful we live in a country where we can travel freely on Public lands, and meet so many interesting and benevolent people along the way.

...and Thanks to T.R. for the National Parks and an American shooting legacy!

 

[xanderzuk]

No offense taken desidog, but I think there are two things you need to reexamine. First, in no way is it feasible to carry a rifle or carbine on a thru-hike. Let me refine that a little, it's all but impossible. Second, you might want to examine the history of crime on the A.T. It's so low that it doesn't even really register. This doesn't void the necessity for self defense options, but saying that it's safer out West is pure speculation and rumor.

Thru-hikers develop very tight bonds, and even if you start alone, like I did, you will quickly develop friendships with other hikers. You look out for each other, both on trail and in towns.

If you go back through the thread, you will notice that I mentioned I would bring a very lightweight pistol if I did it again.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Seriously. Carrying a rifle or carbine for a thru hike on the AT would be impossible. A normal rifle with ammo weighs what? Around 8lbs. minimum? For over 2000 miles on foot?

Think of all the other stuff you could carry that weighs 8 lbs... 4 days worth of food. 3 extra sleeping bags. A SERIOUS first aid kit(AED?). Three extra changes of clothes. A gallon of water. 16 extra pairs of socks.

...or you could just carry one of the super lightweight pistols that are currently on the market with one extra speed loader/mag full of ammo, plus be about 6 pounds lighter.

Also, how would you carry it? A rifle in your pack? Wouldn't it be nearly impossible to get a ride into town while looking filthy and carrying a rifle? Once you got to town(by walking because no one would pick you up) wouldn't the local police be ready to throw you in jail at the drop of hat?

And all that is assuming it is legal to carry a rifle in public in all the states that the AT goes through. While you might be able to covertly get away with carrying a pistol in your pack, not so much with a rifle.

 

[hso]

A carbine is not practical on a through hike of the AT. Even supported hikes with friends resupplying you to minimize the weight you have to carry, the 5-7 lbs of even a lightweight carbine is too much of a trade off compared to the weight of a pack of signal flares and a light weight pistol.

Not all of the AT runs through national park/forrest and none of the resupply points are public so complying with carry laws can be a headache. Remember that miles of the AT are in Mass. (some through villages and towns), New York and New Jersey, not the states with universal reciprocity.

To legally carry a firearm on the Trail, you must meet the permitting standards of the state and locality in which you are hiking. On national-park lands, discharging a firearm is illegal, even if you have a legal permit to carry it. Extra efforts may be required to secure weapons in towns to abide by local ordinances and private-property owners' rules. (Firearm rules vary by land ownership. The Trail crosses 14 states and more than 90 state, federal, or local agency lands, with each having its own rules and regulations; you are responsible for knowing and following those rules.)

 

[desidog]

No offense taken desidog, but I think there are two things you need to reexamine. First, in no way is it feasible to carry a rifle or carbine on a thru-hike. Let me refine that a little, it's all but impossible. Second, you might want to examine the history of crime on the A.T. It's so low that it doesn't even really register. This doesn't void the necessity for self defense options, but saying that it's safer out West is pure speculation and rumor.

Thru-hikers develop very tight bonds, and even if you start alone, like I did, you will quickly develop friendships with other hikers. You look out for each other, both on trail and in towns.

If you go back through the thread, you will notice that I mentioned I would bring a very lightweight pistol if I did it again.

Ahem; then i have done the impossible! My CX4 has done the whole Long Trail, and a bunch of other routes...not the AT, though.

You'll find that many states who don't honor other state's carry permits don't care about long guns; and a CX4 fits nicely up the side of a frame-pack....covered with a t-shirt or your poncho, i've walked with- and by many people who never knew it was there. As to weight; after lugging around a Barrett M82, and an M4 with enough ammo for a hard contact; two 15rd 9mm mags and a 5 lb gun wasn't a pain.

As for crime on the AT, i think there aren't many violent crimes but a lot of pot smokers...still illegal....and i'd imagine that with a lack of police presence or witnesses, perhaps more crime goes on out there than we'd know. Of course, it's all about being in the wrong place at the wrong time...which can be anywhere, whenever.

 

[hso]

xanderzuk, ridgerunner,

One night at the Icewater Springs shelter there were half a dozen bears "working" the area around the shelter. A bear with a Wonderbread bag galumphed past me as I came up on the shelter from down slope. As if that wasn't surprising enough I watched an idiotic young woman come charging down the trail with a stick in her hand yelling at the bear to "give that back!" as if it were her badly behaved dog making off with the hotdogs at a cookout. I put a hands out, "WHOA! That's not some puppy dog you're chasing!". She "HUMPH"ed at me and continued on after the bear. I just shook my head and trudged up to the shelter. She showed up a few minutes later with a handful of leaf litter covered bread that had fallen out of the bag.

That night we made room for everyone, permit or not, that made it to the little bald since a sow and two spring cubs and what appeared to be a juvenile from the year before that hadn't gone off on his own padded around the shelter and pawed around for any "treats" they could find.

At one point I woke up to the sound of gently rattling chain link to find the yearling black bear sitting on his rump and sniffing at some guy's pack he'd foolishly leaned up against the bear fence. I watched and debated for a couple of minutes and finally crawled out of my sleeping bag to squat down in front of the bear (that was back when I could bend my knees far enough to low squat) and watch him more closely. He looked at me like my dog does when he's wondering why I won't give him a treat and stuck as much of his claws/pads through the chain as he could "reaching" for the pack. He looked at me again as if to say, "Help a fellow omnivorous mammal out, wouldja pal? Something smells good in there and I'll split it with you.". I just chuckled and told the little bear, "Not your's little buddy", and set the pack against the foot rail of the chain link "bunks" away from the bear fence. He just "UMPH"ed the way black bears do and rolled off his butt and onto all fours and waddled away. I got back into my bag and chuckled about his disappointed look and went back to sleep. I had never seen that many bears scavenging around a trail shelter before or sense. Rangers told me the shelter was "too close" to the road and it made it easy for folks to make a short hike in and leave plenty of litter to attract bears.

 

[JHK94]

Ahem; then i have done the impossible! My CX4 has done the whole Long Trail

Isn't the Long Trail like 1/10th of the length of the AT?

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Okay desidog, I'll admit it. I'm impressed.

It is a little more than 1/10th the length, and still very short in comparison. Also, you only have to stay legal within Vermont's carrying laws. A motivated individual could probably do a thru hike of the Long Trail with only 1 resupply. That means your chances of having an issue with a rifle in public are minimized to only a time or two in towns.

From what I've heard, it has plenty of mountains. Not unlike the AT in difficulty level, just much shorter. If you could physically carry that rifle and your other gear for 270ish miles in the mountains, I'm sure you could make your body do it for 2100ish miles on the AT.

Don't know why you'd want to, though. As for me? No way I would carry 5lbs of rifle when I could carry a less than 1lb Kel Tec pf9. The hassle of trying to keep a rifle out of view wouldn't be worth it for me. But to each his own.

I might rethink my position on shorter hikes though.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

hso,

Yeah...they are quite fun to observe (bears). Very comical most of the time...especially the young ones (just be very respectful of momma)

This thread has inspired me...I still have all the equipment, Dad is a bit old to make a long hike (still in great shape for a 60 year old man)...but he says he'd love to take about a 2 week trip. He still takes a lot of day hikes but he misses the long hikes as much as I do (probably more).

I'm thinking sometime in late August or early September...not quite sure where we are going yet. He said for me to decide...

 

[desidog]

Isn't the Long Trail like 1/10th of the length of the AT?

Yup, but i was referring to through hiking in general on public trails, not the length of the walk. If you go 21 or 2100 miles, you're still carrying an un-PC gun past strangers, and the same precautions apply.

Don't know why you'd want to, though. As for me? No way I would carry 5lbs of rifle when I could carry a less than 1lb Kel Tec pf9. The hassle of trying to keep a rifle out of view wouldn't be worth it for me. But to each his own.

Dead on accurate Rusty, that's part of why i stopped doing it. And yes, my previous post sounded pretty cocky on rereading...apologies to all.

To briefly answer, but hopefully not thread-jack, when i got out of the army i had lost a lot of hair from stress and developed some paranoia as to my surroundings; and carrying a carbine seemed only natural and logical. Luckily, with time and reflection, that mindset only lasted the first two or three months i was home...and still subliminally thinking i was in a war zone. A lot of guys i know are pretty rough right when they get home.

When i moved to Idaho, i figured a 9mm would only piss off a bear or lion, and got a HK USP40; a good hiking companion.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Really wish I could find the time and money to do the whole AT---too many responce-abilities(kids-house) in my life-----I envy you.

 

[Cosmoline]

The hassle of trying to keep a rifle out of view wouldn't be worth it for me. But to each his own.

Why would you try to keep it out of view? And why is it deemed "impossible" to go on a long hike with a rifle?

 

[.455_Hunter]

Great thread xanderzuk!

My Army buddy did the whole AT to decompress after pulling an 18 month Iraq tour and getting out of the service. He would not trade the experience for anything!

I would concur that the best weapon for being armed "under the radar" on the AT would be something like an airweight j-frame, perhaps loaded with Double Tap's new hard cast 158 gr. LSWC +P. Plenty of emergency thump for two and four-legged problems on the trail. Hell, I would even take a NAA Mini-Revolver and not feel helpless...

I admit, I have a habit of carrying too heavy of guns while backpacking, but I have not recently done such extensive of a trip as you.

Take Care!

 

[alexpkeaton529]

I love the trail and am hoping to go on a section hike this summer. We have already covered all of Georgia and moved into North Carolina.

My father had wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail since he graduated from USMMA in 77, bought everything he would need but was never able to do it. A few years ago he was determined to do it so every year we try and cover about 30-40 miles or more if we have the time. Our last hike this Thanksgiving was great even though the weather was gloomy and you couldn't really see anything. When I was younger we would always go camping and and do Boy Scouts but going into middle and high school that was pushed to the back burner due to work. It is great getting to spend the time with my dad and brothers out in the mountains.

Last summer though it was just my brother and I by ourselves. I had just turned 21 and he was 23 so it was exciting. We ran into three guys at our first shelter and ended up staying with them the rest of the way. Didn't realize one of them had a 357 on him until we got to their truck.

I think it is well worth the price of the weight for the trip. As it stands we havent taken any sort of firearm with us on any of the trips but my dad is planning on changing that. We do carry bear mace though and one of those handy dandy gps locator beacons.

Great photos by the way. Did you just have other people that you ran into take some of them or did you fashion some soft of tripod? My dad actually took apart a pole and added a bolt to the top of it so he can just stick it in the ground, stick the camera on top. Everybody can be in the photo on the trail and he can take photos of himself when he goes out alone.

 

[Keauxbi]

Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Isn't that code for running away to Argentina to see your mistress?

 

[friscolatchi]

Nice post. Real nice. Thanks for sharing your experience. As for taking a non-handgun handgun, try the SUB 2000. it's 4 lbs, folds in half to 16 inches and will fit on the side straps of the backpack. You can deploy it stowed in this fashion in probably less than 30 seconds and cover using a stuff sack when needing concealment.

 

[friscolatchi]

PS it totally legal and costs 300 bucks!

 

[xanderzuk]

Ok, I'm going to address the several suggestions for a rifle/carbine again:

1)Even for the 4lb Kel-Tec Sub 2000, you are talking the weight of an extra tent and sleeping bag.

2)The suggested mode of carry (strapped to the side of your bag), makes it essentially useless. The weight distribution of your bag would be wwwaaaaaayyyyy off. Try a 33 mile day with 4 extra pounds hanging off the side of your pack. Try a 13 mile day in the White's, or an 18 mile day in the rocky parts of Pennsylvania. Ain't gonna happen.
How do you think you are going to deploy a weapon that requires you to take off your pack, unfasten, and bring to aim in an emergency? Further, to suggest a sling or hand carry is equally ridiculous. There is no way with the terrain of the A.T. that you could carry a rifle safely in your hands, and achieve the daily distances necessary for a Thru-Hike.

3)Weather - This was one of the wettest years on record. How do you suggest I keep the rifle dry? Covering it is only going to add more weight.

Alternative:

Small .380, .38 Special, or 9mm pistol in the hip belt pocket of my pack. Right where my hands are, unzip, ready to go. Weight? Well, carrying even an extra ounce sucks, but if you insist on carrying a firearm on a trip like this, its the way to go.

 

[Ed Harris]

I beg to differ on the lack of crime on the AT. Violent crimes such as the ones highlighted in the news articles below were behind our efforts to force the Department of Interior to permit licensed concealed carry in our National Parks. Existing regulations regarding the carrying of firearms remain otherwise unchanged, particularly limitations on poaching and target practice and prohibitions on carrying firearms in federal buildings.

The National Park Service is the most dangerous law enforcement agency in the Federal government. Its officers are 12 times more likely to be killed or injured as a result of an assault than are FBI agents. According to NPS spokesman Al Nash the number of incidents has been fairly steady over the past few years. Park Service officers' jobs are complicated by the fact that they have to function as regular police officers in addition to protecting monuments and icons that receive 277 million annual visitors. The rise in officer assaults as evidence that the law enforcement agency is understaffed and underfunded. This makes it even more important for parks and AT users to remain vigilant and to exercise situational awareness.

Former Park Police Chief Teresa Chambers was fired in July 2004 after she told members of the media that the agency's staffing level was inadequate. Randall Kendrick, executive director of the U.S. Park Rangers Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, said that the Park Service's record for protecting its officers is "astoundingly poor." He said that the assaults against park rangers are undercounted because there is pressure within the agency to not report incidents if there is not a death or injury.

http://www.doi.gov/news/08_News_Releases/120508.html

http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/re...S AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS&field=des&match=exact

http://www.aldha.org/arrest02.htm

http://www.barryyeoman.com/articles/murderonmountain.html

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3693/is_199607/ai_n8749751/

http://labyrinth13.com/mirror/VirginiaMurders/index.htm

 

[friscolatchi]

Xander - Could you legally carry concealed through all the states that the AT goes through? No, not here in NY as there is no reciprocity. I agree that weight is a concern and if my primary concern was self defense, then 4 pounds on my pack and next to me in my tent at night would be fair compensation. If SD is not a concern, then I agree, better carry more food. I would much prefer carrying my 13oz snubby then a 4 pound (sans mags) rifle. As far as I"m concerned and from experience, the additional weight is not an issue when backpacking, especially when your feeling strong. If it's time I"m concerned about, then strip it down to bare bones. Also regarding the deployment of the gun, and reading your scenario above, you would have had plenty of time to deploy the said firearm. I"m not talking about bears charging but use of the firearm when stopping after a day's hiking. Balance of the pack can be attained by compensation of weight.
The bottom line is that you're the one that accomplished this enviable endeavor and have the hands on experience. I"m just postulating. However, I have many years of rock climbing and backpacking and carrying heavy loads in the mountains. I'm just trying to share my thoughts.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experiences with us. The pics are great.

 

[xanderzuk]

Ed, just so you know, the first, fifth, and sixth links you posted don't work. I never stated that there wasn't crime on the A.T., just that it is extremely low. You have several crimes "near the Appalachian Trail" that also happen to be in two of the most visited national parks in the country (if I'm not mistaken the Smokies are the most visited). If you look at the rate of crime per number of hikers/people on the trail every year, it's extremely low. That's not to say it doesn't happen. I spent the night at Wippetti Shelter (spelling? location of shelter where two people were killed), very very eerie.

I guess overall, to each their own. I think the lines were blurred a bit with regards to hiking vs. thru-hike. Can you take a rifle with you hiking? Yes. Would I? Depends on where, and what's around (other than terrain). Would I bring a rifle on a thru-hike? Never. Could you? If you were so inclined, the hard part is the mental determination, but easing up on the weight helps all aspects.

I personally would love to do a hike/hunting trip.

 

[Leanwolf]

XANDERZUK - " I personally would love to do a hike/hunting trip."

Xanderzuk, come out to idaho. There is a gigantic wilderness area called the "River Of No Return Wilderness." No vehicles allowed. Hiking and horses only. Elk, deer, moose, wolves, Mountain lions, Black bears, fishing, etc. You can hike in to some of the most remote country in the United States and hunt at your leisure during the hunting seasons. (Hike in and camp, anytime, if you want to camp in some very deep snow. )

Also, there are other wilderness areas in the Western States where you can do the same, such as the "Bob Marshall Wilderness" in Montana, etc.

Any of these wilderness areas out here would provide you with a great hunting/hiking experience.

L.W.

 

[tnhillbilly]

"Ok, I'm going to address the several suggestions for a rifle/carbine again:

1)Even for the 4lb Kel-Tec Sub 2000, you are talking the weight of an extra tent and sleeping bag.

How 'bout ditching the tent AND the sleeping bag?

2)The suggested mode of carry (strapped to the side of your bag), makes it essentially useless. The weight distribution of your bag would be wwwaaaaaayyyyy off. Try a 33 mile day with 4 extra pounds hanging off the side of your pack. Try a 13 mile day in the White's, or an 18 mile day in the rocky parts of Pennsylvania. Ain't gonna happen.

How do you think you are going to deploy a weapon that requires you to take off your pack, unfasten, and bring to aim in an emergency? Further, to suggest a sling or hand carry is equally ridiculous. There is no way with the terrain of the A.T. that you could carry a rifle safely in your hands, and achieve the daily distances necessary for a Thru-Hike.

Funnily enough I seem to recall a fellow by the name of Daniel Boone (and many others) did more or less this same thing some 200 years ago on an undeveloped/unmaintained trail carrying a 10 lb longrifle + lead shot + gunpowder without the benefit of hiking boots, fancy hiking duds and packs, GPS, topographical maps, cell phones, or likely even a compass. So "Ain't gonna happen" and "There is no way with the terrain of the A.T. that you could carry a rifle safely in your hands, and achieve the daily distances necessary for a Thru-Hike" seem to be more commentaries on lacking abilities of modern day outdoor enthusiasts than inabilities of humans to survive in less than ideal terrain. They did it back then, it can be done today if folks would only apply themselves.

3)Weather - This was one of the wettest years on record. How do you suggest I keep the rifle dry? Covering it is only going to add more weight.

Do what those fellows did, meticulously maintain your weapons, sleep on your arms, and use plenty of lubricants (animal fats in their case) to coat the metal.

Alternative:

Small .380, .38 Special, or 9mm pistol in the hip belt pocket of my pack. Right where my hands are, unzip, ready to go. Weight? Well, carrying even an extra ounce sucks, but if you insist on carrying a firearm on a trip like this, its the way to go."

Folks should do what suits them, but it always kills me to see modern outdoors enthusiasts who can't fathom survival in the "wild" without all their modern luxuries and gizmos, to the point of claiming it can't be done without said aids. It can be done and has been done. Moderns (and I'm speaking in general here, not attacking the op) are just too lazy, timid, or unwilling to do it.