How to Hike the AT: The Nitty-Gritty Details of a Long-Distance Trek

by Michelle Ray

How to plan and prepare for a long-distance hike on the Appalachian Trail Includes information on trail nutrition, culture, first aid, gear, weather conditions, and more Expert advice from an experienced long-distance hiker along with useful information for any long-distance trek Other Appalachian Trail guidebooks tell you about notable scenery, trail history, or changes in terrain. This one tells you exactly what you need to know to prepare for and complete a long-distance hike on the A.T. From determining a budget, preparing an itinerary, and packing gear to resupplying, using bounce boxes, and staying on schedule, this book will help any hiker make certain their long-distance trek is a success.

You can hear an interview with Michelle Ray on how to prepare for your thru-hike if you click here.

Genres: Nonfiction, How To, Outdoors, Reference

272 pages, Paperback

First published December 17, 2008

About the author

Michelle Ray has been an avid hiker for more than fifteen years and has logged thousands of miles on the Appalachian Trail. She is a member of the Appalachian Long Distance Hiking Association and works as a field editor for the Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers Companion. She lives in New Hampshire.

Reviews

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had some good points I copied down even if I just do day hikes from time to time and a few overnight backpacking trips. Its great to do any part of AT you can.

[Erich H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75/5 - had this on my shelf for years and decided to finally read it through before donating. Largely informative (though not really relevant to me anymore). However, the section on snakes/snakebite should have been edited better ("poisonous" snakes, mentions of coral snake bites, etc.), as the information is largely out of date and/or useless.

[Victoria Wilde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finishing this book feels like an accomplishment akin to hiking the AT...

“I did it. I said I’ll do it, and I’ve done it.” -Emma “Grandma” Gatewood

Let’s just say that it’s thorough.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful information, but you'll definitely need to read a guide book in addition to this.

[Chase Metcalf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly dated (2008)but still useful look at the challenges and how to prepare for hiking the AT. Worth reading both for the insight and practical tips.

[Nik Rowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This "how-to" book is a nice combination of advice and anecdote. A lot of the information is general hiking tips, which can be skipped if you are an experienced hiker. However, there is a great deal of information that is relevant specifically to the AT. I was especially fond of the section that discussed dealing with cold weather as I will be doing a winter hike, and many of the books I've read leave this discussion out completely. This is a book that I will continue to use as I plan for my trip.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having just successfully thru-hiked this year, I would say that this was a particularly helpful resource in preparing especially as I had virtually no backpacking experience when I started. It is starting to show its age but was still invaluable in making my journey a success.

[McKell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough. She did a very good job listing every possible consideration. Not to be read as a novel, but more like a how-to guide. I read it, skimming over much of it, to find the details that pertain to my hike.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is very helpful for anyone planning to hike the Appalachian Trail.

[Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the better A.T. guide type books I've read. You can tell it was written by someone who knows what she's talking about.

[Gregp · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very useful contemporary book on how to prepare for a long distance hike on the Appalachian Trail.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative. A good overview. Vanessa and I are trying to figure out our next steps - which sections will we do? When? With what gear?

[Houston · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as exciting as AWOL, but good info none the less

[Katelyn Zhu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book with lots of useful advice! I can't wait to hike it myself!!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to long distance backpacking, covers from the inexperienced to great tips and tricks to help seasoned backpackers.

[Jeremiah Paddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and informative read. Inspired a great amount of wanderlust.