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AT
Survey Guide
Getting
Ready
Background
Info
Making
Time
Start
Dates
Routes
Mail
Drops
Bounce
Boxes
Backpacking
Gear
Top
Twelve
Sent
Home
Best
Gear
Worst
Gear
Replacements
Top
Brands
First
Aid
Water
Treatment
Maps
/ Guides
Seasonal
Changes
Backpack
Weight
Health
Insurance
Sickness
Pain
/ Problems
Vitamins
Weight
Loss
Trail
Food
Supply
Top
5 Foods
Recipes
Danger
on the Trail
After
the Trail
End
Dates
Cost
Hiking
Again
Favorite
Sections
Biggest
Surprise
Best
of the Trail
Worst
of the Trail
Lessons
Learned
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Appalachian
Trail 2003 Hiker Survey
The
majority of survey responses we received were from northbound
thru-hikers, so these results are therefore representative
of their experiences. To date we have received 49 replies
to our Appalachian Trail survey. According to the ATC, there
were 503 hikers that reported finishing the AT in 2003.
After
the Trail
- Continued
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Best
of the Appalachian Trail
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Thru-hikers
list what they liked the best about their time on the AT:
- People,
friendships, and local community
- Peace,
quiet, simplicity
- New
places, new people, new experiences each day
- Freedom
- No
timetable or schedule
- Solitude
and full immersion in nature
- Natural
wonders and beautiful views
- Eating
whatever you want
- Walking,
exercise, and fresh air
- The
Trail's length and the mental challenge
- Not
working 9 - 5 every day
- Conquering
fears
- Getting
in shape
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Worst
of the Appalachian Trail
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Thru-hikers
list what they liked the least about their time on the AT:
- Rain
- Wet
clothes
- Cold
weather
- Bugs
and mosquitos
- Hut
system in the White Mountains and the beauracracy of the
AMC
- The
amount of thru-hikers and the daily race for shelter spots
- Missing
family and friends
- Heavy
pack weight
- Being
alone for too long at times
- Severe
weather
- Being
dirty all the time
- People
who were selfish, negative, or always complaining
- No
variety in diet
- Hiker
gossip
- The
difficulty
- Noise
- Rocks
in Pennsylvania
- Finishing
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| Lessons
Learned on the Appalachian Trail |
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Every
thru-hiker leaves the Trail with their own impressions, memories,
and experiences. Above all they leave with a new piece sewn
into their soul, to replace that which was left behind on
the AT.
| Restoration
in the basic goodness and kindness of people. |
| How
relatively unimportant money and possessions really are. |
| Finding
confidence in myself and the knowledge that I can take
care of myself. |
| Take
it slow. |
| Strength
and endurance come with time. |
| Less
is more. Simplify. |
| Manage
your money carefully. |
| Don't
judge character by appearance. |
| Save
the best for last. Don't eat all your Little Debbies first. |
| How
little is needed to be truly happy. |
| That
my limit is higher than I thought and I can do anything
I put my mind to. |
| To
lose my idealism early on. The Trail is what it is, not
what I wanted it to be. |
| Enjoy
life and don't let it control you. |
| How
important friendship and relationships are in life. |
| With
laughter, any difficulties can be overcome. |
| The
Trail gives you everything you need - it's amazing how
it happens. |
| Don't
be shy about asking for help. Most people want to help. |
| Learned
to trust myself and others. |
| Rednecks
exist in every state of the union. |
| How
long 2,000 miles really is. |
| The
grass is always greener on the other side. |
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| Congratulations
to all of the Appalachian Trail thru-hikers, past, present and
future. |
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