THE TREK CO • December 13, 2021
Thru-hiking the AT isn’t all sunshine and roses. Like most prospective thru-hikers, I knew that going in. Nonetheless, I was still caught off-guard by many of the ridiculous, surprising, and oddly specific challenges I faced when I set foot on the trail for the first time. Because there are some things in life that you can’t truly understand until you’ve lived them. Here are seven rude awakenings that took me by surprise when I started hiking the Appalachian Trail.
1. Wet wood is slippery.
2. There are creatures far more terrible than bears.
3. Dishwashing is not a thing on the AT.
4. Solar panels are useless in the green tunnel.
5. Hanging your bear bag is a risky business.
6. Everything is wet all the time.
7. Rocks and roots. EVERYWHERE.