I think the Appalachian Trail is way overhyped for beginners

Overheard some guy at an REI last month saying the AT is the perfect starter trail, but after doing 150 miles of it in 2022 I found the constant shelter crowding and mud pits made it way harder than something like the Long Trail. Why do people keep pushing a 2,190-mile slog as a first backpacking trip?

2 comments

2 Comments

anthonymurray1mo ago

Grab an AT guidebook and skip the shelters entirely. Tarp camping and getting off trail a bit for water makes the whole thing way less miserable. The mud never stops though, just gotta accept that.

abby_wilson511mo ago

400 miles in and I've never used a shelter more than twice so maybe I'm missing what's so miserable about them... Tarp camping is fine but you still end up hiking the same mud and dealing with wet gear in the morning. Seems like the shelters are just a dry place to crash if you hit them at the right time.