Research as prep work for my AT Thru-Hike

Time until hike: 71 days

If there’s one thing I do a decent job at, it’s research. My time in academia has honed my skills in learning how to ask a question and find the answers I need, want, and don’t expect. These skills have also proven useful for non-academic matters.

For example, in 2023, I added “learn to drive a stick shift” to my annual bucket list. A friend and colleague of mine offered to teach me. The first thing he did was send me homework in the form of a video tutorial and instructional article. As a diligent academic, I completed my homework and also added some other resources. The lesson itself was great. I attribute that success to the prep work I did beforehand.

So…what does that have to do with hiking?

Great question, honestly. For someone like me, someone with VERY little backpacking experience, I knew from the moment I committed to hiking that my knowledge was limited. I knew there were many things I didn’t know. I just haven’t let that stop me.

Instead, I’ve set out to research as much as possible. This post highlights some of the ways I’ve used research so far to prepare for my AT hike.

Gear Comparison Research

I played Fantasy Football for the first time last year. Every week, I researched all of my players or potential players to determine who to pick for my starting lineup. I learned how to compare players and what kinds of things mattered to me when choosing someone for my roster. I finished fourth (out of 12) in one league and sixth (out of 10) in another. It’s not outstanding, but it’s not bad either.

I’ve been using this same type of research approach when choosing gear for my hike. It’s also the approach I’ve spent the most time on in preparation for my hike.

For each item of gear (e.g. sleeping bag, tent, fuel source, water filter, etc.), I usually start by typing something like “best for hiking” into my search browser. I would read the articles or watch the videos that came up (a big shout out to The Trek for being one of the sites I visited the most) to help me make a decision. I’ve learned that a lot of times gear comes down to personal preference, but sometimes additional insights and reviews can be extremely informative.

I like to learn from the wisdom and experience of others, so this method has proven to be incredibly useful. Not only did it increase my confidence in the gear I purchased, but in doing so it gave me more information about other aspects of hiking that I may not have been thinking about.

Simply put, I’ve treated my gear like I treated my Fantasy line: choosing gear based a little on expert advice, a little on reviews, and a little on personal preference.

Read books and watch videos

I admit, I haven’t done as much of any of these things as I probably should. Other than gear related articles and videos, I haven’t read or watched much else. Heck, I haven’t even read some of the most essential books like A walk through the forest either Wild. (Need more proof of what a fan I am?)

The two books I have read in mental preparation for my walk have been Appalachian Trials by Zach Davis and How to Hike the Appalachian Trail by Chris Cage. Both books have given me many key considerations for navigating the OT. Zach’s book is more about mentally preparing for the hike (a sometimes overlooked topic), while Chris’s is more about the things you need to know. For example, Zach offers tips on how to overcome boredom on the hike, while Chris offers information on what different sections of the hike are like topographically. I would recommend both books to anyone looking for a place to start researching.

I haven’t watched that many videos, but I have followed a few YouTube channels that document people’s hikes. The truth is that most of the channels I follow are from female hikers. I wish there were more books written by women about hiking the AT, but the videos are enough. It’s kind of like what I tell people who are new to D&D (Dungeons and Dragons): sometimes the best way to learn about something is to watch/listen to other people doing it.

Practice walks

A fundamental part of any research effort is testing things. I can compare gear, read articles and books, talk to other hikers, and watch videos all day, but there’s nothing better than getting out there and trying it all.

Some of the most important things I’ve learned in preparation for my hike come from the practice hikes I’ve taken. Actually, one of the most important experiences I’ve ever had wasn’t even a hike. It was a weekend stint volunteering on a Green Mountain Club volunteer trail team. I learned a lot from the rest of the volunteers and our trail guides (shout out to my entire team) about things I had never considered before. I wouldn’t change that weekend for anything.

The biggest practice hike I’ve completed so far was an 85-mile hike I did along the Vermont Long Trail. I used most of the gear I had purchased for my AT hike to test them out “in the field,” so to speak. And I’m very happy I did it. I learned a lot about my personal preferences, what gear I might want to change, and how to pack best. I’ll talk more about that practice walk in a future post.

Practice hikes have also allowed me to experience the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges that hikers can face. I’m still not an expert on any of these things, far from it. But now I have a better starting point than before.

Research Summary

Research as a preparation tactic builds knowledge and confidence. It’s easier to feel safe when you feel like you understand things. It doesn’t always work out that way, but it doesn’t hurt either. The important thing is not to get too bogged down in research and need answers to all the questions. A little mystery and uncertainty can be a good thing: it strengthens character.

I haven’t finished researching as part of my preparation for my hike. I’ll probably keep saying that even when I’m finally out there. It takes a lot of time but it’s worth it.

And so we continue the adventure….

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