Everything you need to know to complete your thru-hike. The AT is a life changing experience and an amazing accomplishment. Half of the battle is proper preparation. This book is everything I wish I would have known before setting off on my thru-hike. Complete with personal tips and experiences. Learn how to budget wisely, save money and not waste cash. Know how to allocate 6 months of your time and plan your exit. Master your gear with a massive guide on everything from your spork to your tent. Understand clothing, layering and materials. Hear about what life is really like on the trail. Know which direction to go, when and why. Familiarize yourself with a state by state breakdown of the trail. Learn how to mentally prepare an optimistic framework for the "I-wanna-quit-days". Understand the physical demands and methods to prevent injury. Prepare yourself for the nutritional needs with food ideas and favorite meal plans. Know the REAL dangers on the AT. "Female Needs" section from AT record-holder Heather 'Anish' Anderson. And a whole lot more...

"I really loved it...Appalachian Trials is full of specific tactical tips for mental preparation, which is key well beyond the AT." - Tim Ferriss, author of New York Times Best Selling The 4-Hour Workweek and The 4-Hour Body Each year, it is estimated that more than 2,000 people set out to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, yet seven in ten ultimately fall short of their goal. Given the countless number of how-to books and websites offering information about logistics, gear, and endurance training, one would think that more people would finish this 2,200 mile trek. Why then, do so many hikers quit prematurely? After successfully thru-hiking the AT in five months with zero prior backpacking experience, author, Zach Davis, is convinced he's discovered the answer. Aspiring thru-hikers, Davis tells readers, are preparing the wrong way- sweating on the StairMaster, meticulously plotting each re-supply box, or obsessing over the a synthetic or down sleeping bag or perfect pair of socks. While the AT undoubtedly presents extraordinary physical challenges, it is the psychological and emotional struggles that drive people off the trail. Conquering these mental obstacles is the key to success. This groundbreaking book focuses on the most important and overlooked piece of equipment of all- the gear between one's ears. Filled with first-hand, touching yet humorous vignettes and down-to-earth advice that both instructs and inspires, Appalachian Trials gives readers the mental road map they'll need to hike from Springer Mountain to Mt.Katahdin. In Appalachian Trials readers will learn: Goal setting techniques that will assure hikers reach Mt. Katahdin The common early stage pitfalls and how to avoid them How to beat "the Virginia Blues" The importance of and meaning behind "hiking your own hike" 5 strategies for unwavering mental endurance The most common mistake made in the final stretch of the trail Tips for enjoying rather than enduring each of the five million steps along the journey Strategies for avoiding post-trail depression and weight gain In addition, the Bonus Section of Appalachian Trials includes: A thorough chapter on gear written by thru-hiker of the AT and Pacific Crest Trail, and professional backpack gear reviewer Information about the trail's greatest and most unknown risk and how to guard against it 9 tips for saving money before and during your thru-hike A thorough FAQ section including information ranging from how to obtain sponsorship, to the best stove for the trail, to avoiding chafing, and much more

Accounts by thru-hikers, organized by topic. Foreword by hiker Maurice Forrester and stunning color photos by Mike Warren.

Each year, nearly 2,000 men, women and, occasionally, children set out to hike the 2,174 miles of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine (or vice versa). Good preparation is often the key to whether they become part of the 20-25 percent who make it. For this adventure of a lifetime, the [i]Thru-Hike Planner[/i] will help you chart a course, work out a budget, choose gear, plan meals, get in shape and otherwise inspire. It comes with homework: charts and worksheets and checklists and forms, all designed to be ripped out and spread over the kitchen table and then stuck in your pack.Formerly the popular [i]Appalachian Trail Workbook for Planning Thru-hikes[/i], which went through six revisions between 1992 and 2003, this title underwent a total make-over in 2005, bringing together the up-to-date advice of recent hikers with the mileages and trends seen by the trail's managers. This 4th edition advances the mileages and shelters to 2009 status and includes new tips.

The Appalachian Trail, Step by Step provides valuable information you will need to plan and prepare for a Thru or long distance section hike on the AT. Whether you have questions about gear, food, transportation, trail guides, et cetera, this book will help paint a clearer picture of what it takes to set out on a long distance backpacking trip.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people attempt a thru-hiking trip of the Appalachian Trail. However, only about 10% of these people complete the trip; about 90% just give up and go home after hiking a few miles. If you can complete the trip successfully, you are definitely a rare breed.The key to completing the trip lies in proper preparation. It has little to do with strength or energy; and everything to do with mental, physical, and financial preparation. Further, the best way to ensure you complete the hike is to seek advice from people who have actually been there and done that. In this book, I lay out some practical advice and tips drawn from my personal experiences hiking the Appalachian Trail. These tips will help you plan adequately so that you can successfully thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.

Have you dreamed of hiking the Appalachian Trail, but been unsure of how to make it happen? Step By Step Guide for Section Hiking the Appalachian Trail Plus Bonus Planning Tips, Do & Don'ts, and a Packing Checklist Bob Olson always had a love for anything to do with being outdoors and had enjoyed many hiking and camping excursions, but he was ready for more! After signing up and completing an Outward Bound trip, he decided he was ready to tackle the over 2,175 mile Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Maine. How was he going to tackle the trail with a job and family at home in South Carolina that he could not leave for five to six months? The answer was to section hike it over the course of 158 days spread out over 13 years! In This Appalachian Trail Hiking Guide, "Big Bob" Provides: Step by step descriptions of many AT landmarks Valuable planning tips Dos and Don'ts Suggestions on how to divide your hike into sections A valuable backpacking packing checklist