How to Hike the Appalachian Trail: A Comprehensive Guide to Plan and Prepare for a Successful Thru-Hike

I’ve read every book about hiking the AT that I can get my hands on. This one is the best. It’s concise, frank, and well-written. Confidence is a huge part of conquering a challenge like the AT. Reading this book and following Chris Cage’s recommendations will not only make you feel prepared—you will be prepared. My copy is so dog-eared and full of asterisks and underscores from referring to it again and again.

This book is super helpful with common (and uncommon) questions that a first time thru-hiker might have regarding preparation and planning. Awesome read! Such a boost of encouragement also! Can’t wait to start my AT journey!

I found it odd that a southbounder would write a "how to" book, given that the vast majority of thru-hikers are NOBOs, and face a few different problems than the SOBOs. I wonder how much winter gear would have been reviewed had he been a NOBO.I liked the recommendations for gear, which were clear, and also clearly stated whether or not the author personally had tried it.Not sure one could make a decision on re-supply boxes or bounce boxes or what percentage of each, given the limited discussion presented.The one thing that stood out to me more than any other was reference to "hiking group". This is the first I've heard anyone even mention such, and I've read probably 30 or so books about the AT (and PCT). The phrase "hiking group" seems to imply much more cohesion and organization than most hikers admit to. Unlikely, unless you set out to hike together, that you'd maintain any one group more than a few days. Yeah, it happens, but seems the exception. Is it?While not a "definitive guide to ..." this is a worthwhile read. I'm not convinced it's the *best* out there, but it's a good start.

This book was a very well planned out and simple read. I enjoyed how the author put it together. This book left me so excited to plan a thru hike. Now I’ll be reading for 2nd time highlighting important facts. Loved it!!!

This is the best book I read on how to be a successful long distant hiker. I found the format refreshing. Less on the Appalachian experience and more on how to have a great experience on a long distant hike.The chapters on hydration, gear, clothing and food were particularly well researched and well written. I believe one of the most important items you covered is mental preparedness and a deep internal desire and passion to make such an arduous multi month journey a thru- hike entails.I have a few comments on items I found very important in long distant hiking. These were lessons l learned during several long distant section hikes on the PCT. I'm currently preparing for a Calendar Triple Crown in 2020. I'll be hiking nearly 8,000 miles in 10 months, or 3.6 times the distance of the Appalachian Trail.Lessons from a long distant hiker:1. Mental preparedness is absolutely the number one item any long distant hiker needs to work on. You must be mentally prepared before venturing into the wilderness for several months.2. Train with and wear calf high compression socks on all long distant hikes. I have used these for years and have never had any foot or leg swelling and these also prevented me from having any hotspots or blisters on my feet. I'm averaging 30 miles per day, starting on day one with No Pain! Look into socks made by CEP.3. Hydration is often the most over looked and misunderstood fundamental of long distant hiking. I start off the morning at 6:00 AM drinking 32 oz. of water mixed with concentrated electrolyte solution (look into a product called LyteShow). I hike for two hours while drinking 32 oz. of electrolyte water, I then stop, find and purify two quarts of water. I add electrolyte solution and drink a quart of water and resume hiking while drinking the other quart of electrolyte water. At the end of my 12 hour hiking day I have consumed 12 quarts of electrolyte water. Dehydration reduces your energy and mental alertness by 30%. Most hikers have no idea how much water to drink or the importance that all their water needs to contain electrolytes.4. Your chapter on food was excellent. I find that 99% of the long distant hikers I meet on the trails never carry sufficient calories for the hike their doing. For my long distant hikes I carry 28.5 oz. of food per day, this gives me 4,070 calories, or 143 calories per oz. I have done 4 week section hikes averaging 180 miles per week and have lost only 1 lb.5. The chapter on gear was well thought out. When I reviewed the pages of the equipment you took on your hike I didn't see a base wt. for your backpack and equipment. The base wt. for my backpack with the equipment that can handle 110 degree weather down to zero degrees comfortably is only 12 lbs. I carry 4 days of food at a time with a wt. of 8 lbs. (I'll be averaging 150 miles for each 5 day supply of food. When water supplies are good, I carry just one quart of water at a time. At the start of the PCT at the Mexican boarder, that increases to over a gallon of water and the food supply goes down to 3 days. The max wt, of my 45 liter Rarely exceeds 22 lbs. Only snowshoes and extra water would bring my total backpack wt. to exceed 22 lbs. Lighter is always better!.6. One of the main reasons I can keep the base wt. of my backpack to 14 lbs and still comfortably handle zero degree weather with 50 mph winds is my ultra light weight Vapor Barrier Clothing. All the VB clothing I need to be comfortable at zero degrees weighs only 26 oz. This includes a VB cap, face guard, gloves, socks, jacket and pants. I used my VB clothing inside my 15 degree top quilt at minus 5 degrees and was very comfortable. Look into VB clothing made by RBH Designs.Long distant hikers will certainly learn and benefit from your book and the lessons you gained during your Appalachian thru-hike. As a long distant hiker I appreciate the effort and research you put into your book. I hope to meet you on the trail.Max Walker

Loved this book. Helped me hike alone. Good read.

Chris cuts to the chase and covers the hike in depth. I can’t think of any questions he left unanswered. Great advice and was open to lessons learned from the hike and any adjustments he would make for the future hikes.

This book desperately needs to pass through the hands of a copy editor. Lots of misspellings and misplaced apostrophes.The author repeatedly endorses using 100% DEET bug spray, and even soaking a sleeping bag in permethrin, which seems unhealthy to me to say the least; then later dismissing chlorine dioxide water treatment for being "chemical." Seems inconsistent. Not sure what to make of that.Despite the title, the book does not go into any detail about hiking the actual trail. I suppose that is left to the official guides and apps these days, but I could have used a bit more detail on Maryland than "I wish I had something awesome to say about Maryland."

I would like to thru hike the AT when I retire in a few years and this book answered all the questions I had about tackling such a trip. Really appreciate how well rounded was the information provided. Recommended.

O livro detalhe bem o que você vai precisar para fazer a trilha.Seria melhor ainda se tivesse fotos tanto da trilha quanto dos acessórios indicados no livro.Ajudaria ter uma visualização melhor dos detalhes que o autor fala

Very good info on the trail and how to get the best from it.

Gran libro. Me ha dado motivación para hacer el Trail. Muy buenos consejos y fácil de leer para principiantes en las caminatas.

Let me say this first: This book is not an APPALACHIAN TRAIL map or guide.It helps you to understand the journey, the needs, the gear and what to expect in 6 months.It is a fresh book that combined with the AT guide (the most important one) will lead you to understand this way of living.I really like it, it made me go to USA and to think on myself in that trail. Love it.The only cons: Chris made the trail with some gear from kind-of the same brand (and he gives a lot of examples!) but I feel it was a little bit commercial. (Also for his own food brand). But this is a small cons. I love this book and I would buy it again!!