The best logistical preparation is to get down to basics. Where is the water? What will I eat?
Regarding water, I purchased all of the maps from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Those maps identified most springs, streams, and rivers. Before hitting the trail every day, I would examine the pertinent map and learn where water sources were. Then I would load up with water at the best quality water sources, and ration my water as needed. On the A.T., I appreciated water more than I ever have.
Purchasing the Appalachian Trail Data Book from the ATC, it was my most valuable resource! I then spent three days in a library with the A.T. Data Book and maps. I calculated approximate distances I would hike every day in order to determine towns I would enter to go to a Post Office to get each supply box. Looking back, spending those three days in that old library in Falls Church, Virginia, was stellar preparation. My entire thru-hike, I never had any food pick-up problems. (And I was blessed to have a reliable support person who faithfully mailed my boxes every week – my dad.)
I ended up with 24 planned pickups. That resulted in me buying 24 sturdy boxes of the same size. Then I had to address those boxes with the 24 specific Post Offices, marked “General Delivery – Please hold for A.T. thru-hiker.” Then I had to fill those 24 boxes. I did.
Regarding my food, like so much, I would take a different angle if I were to thru-hike again. Yet I did a top-notch job with my meals implementing much that I learned in Scouting. You burn so many calories backpacking all day. You need a food plan! Some buy at general stores as they go along. I bought everything ahead of time, and would do that again. Food choice is a personal preference. Please know you will need to eat, eat, eat, as you hike, hike, hike.
The A.T. journey is at the core a wilderness journey. In my opinion, the more you embrace the wilderness journey, the more you will enjoy it. Treat yourself to a healthy meal in a trail town. Treat a trail friend to a lemonade or milkshake in a trail town. Yet cherish the wilderness experience on this once in a lifetime journey.
I will address one more logistical subject: shopping. Take your time to learn what is out there, and then settle firmly on what you want. Having so few things in your pack, you need quality over quantity. I tell one fun story to illustrate.
As the time was getting closer, I needed to purchase a stove. (If I were to do it now, I would go without cooking, but that stove was great on cold mornings for hot oatmeal, which is what I had almost every morning.) I had the stove picked out, and I called around and discovered that an outdoor store in a new mall there in 1990 called Tyson Corners 2 had the stove. I went there one weekday, and there was hardly anyone in the new mall. As I approached the store, I noted their cool window display. As I looked at the display, I quickly saw a one quart container of great quality. I had been looking for a one quart container! I darted into the store, and the only person in the store was a gentleman who worked there. I blurted out, “I’m hiking the entire Appalachian Trail and I need that one quart pot you have in the display case! It is exactly what I have been looking for!”
Fortunately the gentleman was not startled by my excitement. He no longer had the cooking set which contained that cooking container, yet he was so nice and told me he would sell me that sole container from the display case. As he was going into the display case to get it, I found the stove I had planned to buy. When I purchased the stove, he gave me the one quart container for free. I was grateful. He would be the first of many who would give me a gift, which would make my journey from Georgia to Maine more enjoyable.
I was given many little gifts along the A.T., and after my hike was all over, I wrote a list of the people who gave those gifts, and I attached it to my completion letter for the ATC. So going full circle here, I interject that folks at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy over the years have treated me really well. Though it is 30 years later, and you have so many resources on the Internet, I recommend relying on the ATC for resources first of all.
Though water, food, and shopping are all standard parts of life, these basic needs require special attention by you as you plan your adventure on the Appalachian Trail. And you might appreciate water and food more than you ever have.
Hunter
