AWOL on the Appalachian Trail

by David Miller

What does it cost? In 2003, five thousand dollars would be a good baseline. Most hikers will spend more on the gear and town stops to make the trip comfortable, and some frugal hikers will get by on less. Opportunity cost—the income that you won’t earn while hiking—is the largest expense of thru-hiking. Hiking is as cheap as any vacation that you can take. Virtually every night’s stay can be free, and there’s enough food left in hiker boxes to eat for free. No one does this, though, as the pull of a hot shower, soft bed, and “real” food is strong. A reasonable plan might be to factor in the cost of a hotel or hostel stay and a few restaurant meals every week. A thru-hike will last fifteen to thirty weeks. The big three gear items—pack, tent, and sleeping bag— can all be had for less than two hundred dollars each. All the gear that I started with added up to about a thousand dollars. However, I purchased an equal amount of gear that I tested and chose not to take, and I bought more gear along the way.