I have a window next year to take a real breather for my mental health and take a break from burnout while I figure out what I want the next chapter of my life to look like. When this window opened up, my first thought was to do a thru hike. I've always loved hiking and I cut my teeth on some AT hikes a number of years ago. So a chance to do a thru sounded to good to be true.

Well, this may be sacrilege to the thru hiking community, but now that I've had a couple of months to start planning this thing, especially in the greater context of me doing this for my physical and mental health I'm starting to wonder if I really need to do the whole thing. I'm wondering if I really need to be on the trail for 6 months or if three would be enough. So I'm contemplating starting a "flip flop" from Harper's Ferry in April. Say I hike to Katahdin, and when I get there, I ask myself "okay, do I need to hike the rest of this thing?"

Obviously, this is a question that only I can answer for myself, and obviously there are alot of personal pros and cons that I won't bore you guys with. But I'd be curious to hear from anybody who only did half of the trail (whether intentionally or unintentionally). Was it enough for you? Do you find yourself wondering "what if"? I would love to hear some thoughts/experiences.

Alright. I am not an AT hiker, but there is a lot circulating about the death in Shenandoah NP, near the AT.

The story runs deep: disclaimer that this is just all the available info I could find. No official notices have confirmed much in the way of details. Information was found via various social media posts and comments, SNP press releases, and local news coverage of the incident. TLDR: take it with a grain of salt. Not trying to fear-monger; delete the post if you feel I am doing so. I find some trail social media outlets are fanning the flame of serial killer conspiracies, but the evidence and the response points to a provoked bear attack, imo.

There were reports on FarOut that a not-so-friendly black bear was in the area around that same time she was found. Some on Reddit claim she was seeking to connect with the bears. Some comments are kind, others say she was “on some Timothy Treadwell shit” — Treadwell was a famous bear enthusiast that often did not take safety precautions. He later died of an attack. She was camped in the park from skyline drive. The areas closed to visitors and backcountry camping nearly two weeks after she/pieces of her body were found—guessing after the FBI got involved. They found the last picture on her phone was a bear. My best guesstimate is that she was curious in an unsafe way. A tragedy occurred. Immediate response was to contain the bear, but communication should have been more transparent and forthcoming about the aggressive bear.

The DOI no longer publicly reports deaths in national parks as of last year. Seems like FarOut is a good app to have on your phone. Other hikers saw a posting in a shelter close-by of an aggressive bear in the area. Check your shelters, folks.

It’s almost peak foliage time in Shenandoah, too. Sounds like employees of the park received written communication not to share anything publicly or on social media about the death. Do with this info what you will as nothing official has come out, but they are context clues.

My dad hikes the AT about 2 times a year and has been for almost 20 years. He has packing down to a science, but his birthday is coming up and I want to get him something really neat that you’d never think of. Anyone recommendations?

I’m planning a 3-4 day hike this month along the AT through the Great Smoky National Park. I was originally planning on parking at the Clingmans Dome lot and doing Kuwohi to Lake Fontana Dam.

However, I have a couple questions:

1. is this parking lot safe in regards to break ins? I will have some car camping stuff in my car. None of it is expensive (mattress + extra chips kinda stuff) but a broken window would be annoying to deal with.
2. any good shuttle services in the area?
3. or any alternative secure parking spots?

*title is supposed to say 3-4 days. I’m flexible with timeline if someone has some other amazing section suggestion through the park.

What’s a decent budget to hit by March 1st for the trail? I’m going for a thru hike northbound

Girlfriend and kids were doing a small day hike on the Peter’s Mountain section out to Shock Rock and back to the parking area and somehow lost her only car key in the process.

Looking at a silk bag liner to use as a simple sheet set up in hot N.C. summer camping. Any recommendations or experience using one? Does it actually keep you cool and comfy or is it a sweaty nightmare?

OK, the food koozie and crotch thaw technique are legit. Hiking with your hands in the air if your fingers are swollen might be, too. But hiking in a hard hat or Speedo? Does anyone actually do that? I mean, no judgement... I'm just surprised.

What are the best "you did it" gifts ? I wanna do something besides a nice meal but not sure what and need some inspiration

I’m guessing this is a “to be expected” and I’m late to the party but …

LITERALLY EVERY time I have parked overnight at a trail (including this previous weekend) people leave bags of trash in the bed of my truck. Let’s say only 8 times but still.

Last night I’m driving down the highway because I forgot to check this time and BAGS of trash are flying out at other cars on the highway.

I used to tell myself it has normally occurred during peak season so if even 3% of hikers are ignoramuses that might make sense but how many people were passing by my truck this previous weekend?

Just frustrated as I assumed better of our “community”. It was at least 4 gallon ziplocks and several Powerade bottles this time on an overnight hike when I passed and saw maybe 4 other groups in total is baffling to me.

Just seems way too much to be a small “one bad apple situation” … but hey at least I haven’t had a smash and grab or something worse but cmon man … do better

Any shuttles available today (Sunday 10/11) that can take two + bikes?
TIA

Hi, I'm trying to get an update on the weather and trail conditions around Harper's Creek shelter on the Three Ridges Loop in VA.

I have someone overnight camping in the area.
With the weather conditions today, I'm trying to understand what they may be experiencing on the trail, has anyone been near the area and has any information?

Found a silver ring with a cross at a campsite here

Also near here found a small digital camera sort of thing

Please share and help me find their owners!!!!

My wife lost her thick heavy large silver bracelet, open on one side (cuff type bracelet), given to her by her late father, has a carnation on it; I jokingly refer to it as her Wonder Woman bracelet; urgent that it be found. Harpers Ferry area -- AT to/from Split Rock, old town, nat'l park. If found, please text 717-654-0798.

Can you please provide suggestions for an adapter/holder for a phone to take videos/photos on trail? TIA

I received an email from Recreation.gov advising that Cosby Knob Shelter is closed due to aggressive bear activity during my booked dates.
I’m hiking northbound on the AT through the Smokies, with Tri-Corner Knob booked the night before Cosby Knob.
I’m considering skipping Cosby Knob altogether and hiking straight from Tri-Corner Knob to Davenport Gap, but I’m wondering if that’s too much for one day.
Has anyone done that stretch in a day? Or is there another shelter or campsite along the way that would make more sense?
Interested to hear what others would do!

We were planning to do a section from Standing Bear through Hot Springs to Allen Gap starting on Sunday (and staying the night in the area tonight), but we're worried the rain might cause flooding. Do any of you know about the local level of concern? Is it expected to be "just a storm" or is there real worry about flooding and damage?

Ok, folks... I'm making actual, real progress towards a thru in the next year or two, but I'm trying hard to do some work on my physical fitness now.

I work crazy overtime at my job and train when I can, especially late fall through early spring. Last winter, I day hiked 20 miles once a month at my local park and did shorter hikes and bike rides most other weekends in preparation for a mammoth march (which I did well with), and I do 1-2 nighters now and then, but now I want to step it up.

How many miles with a fully loaded pack is a good target on a trail that offers about 1500 feet of elevation over 20 miles (I'm a coastal dweller and can't drive a few hours to Shenandoah every weekend) over the next few months to best prep me for the trail?

I strongly recommend you take a zero day at Damascus, VA and use the zero day to rent a bike at the outfitter and do the top half of the Creeper Trail. They will drive you to the top of the trail and most of the ~15 mile ride back to Damascus is down hill - I swear I didn't have to pedal for the first 5 miles. You cross the creek like 30 times on bridges and can dip in the water. There are also little restaurants and ice cream places at towns along the trail. You can then use the bike to ride around town and resupply. The year after my 2020 SOBO thruhike I went back with my wife and we did it again.

This one is probably very common but I also have to suggest a few zeros when you get to Harper's Ferry so you can take the Amtrak into Washington DC. I got a cheap Airbnb and used the capital bike share to rent bikes (very inexpensive for a 3 day pass) and rode all around, and visited several friends I have there. But the Mall and all the Smithsonian museums are free (museums were closed when I did my hike though).

What are other recommendations? please post below

I recently completed the JMT and had the same issue I've faced after other long hikes - how to (re)find the people I met along the way. There are people I met on the AT years ago that I only knew by trail name. I assume other hikers have the same challenge, so I put together a simple searchable directory to help solve it - https://trailnames.club/ . It's free and open source (github.com/MrRee/trail-names), no ads, emails remain hidden, and I'm hoping it helps with reconnection. Feedback is appreciated, and if you have a trail name please add it. The more entries I can get the better, to try to get it going. (PS - Right now there are a few dummy names mixed in with the real ones so people can see how search works etc. I'll remove those as it gets traction). Thank you!

Hello - I would love some feed back about this section of the AT. My friend and I would like take our kids on a hike for 4 nights and we are thinking April would be the time to go.

Day 1 ~ 4.4 miles Springer -> Three Forks

Day 2 ~ 3.7 miles (Long Creek Falls side trip?) Three Forks -> Hawk Mountain

Day 3 ~ 5 miles Hawk Mountain-> Justus Creek

Day 4 ~ 1.5 miles Justus Creek -> Gooch Mountain Rest/Exploration day could push to next spot if we felt like it.

Day 5 ~ 4.8 miles Gooch Mountain -> Woody Gap Finish

We are two mom's who are experienced hikers. We have both hiked with our kids on longer hikes (8-10), but they were out and back situations with camping. I used to live in ATL and I remember hiking to Springer Mountain but I was almost 20 years ago.

Our kids are 10, 8, 8, 6, and 5

We were thinking that April would be a good time to hike this section.

We welcome any and all feedback on what the trail is like at that time of year or how it looks now vs 20 years ago. My kids do not have backpacks for overnight camping, so any recommendations for the 10 and 8 year olds would be helpful. I did look for post with kids mentioned but they all seemed really old. Thanks for your time and consideration if you give any feedback.