Appalachian Trail - comparison with the Camino?

[ScotlandtoSantiago]

Hi,

I'm interested in walking a section of the Appalachian Trail at the end of October and wondered if anyone could give a little advice?

First up, I know the Camino de Santiago and the Appalachian Trail are quite different for many reasons. But what I’m interested in is the infrastructure on the AT and if it can be compared at all to the Camino?

Specifically, I’m looking at the North Carolina section of the trail (88 miles) and/or parts within Tennessee.

One of the incredible things about the Camino was the provision of accommodation en-route, allowing freedom from detailed planning and the ability to travel light. Is it possible to do something similar on the AT or is that out of the question?

Normally camping would be an option but that’s not possible on this trip. Therefore, I’d like to be able to plan a 5 or 6 day hike with affordable accommodation at reasonable intervals (15 to 20 miles) and avoid the need for transfers to other towns at the end of a days walk.

Can anyone with experience of both walks offer a few pointers?

[John Hussey]

I have passed by the NC section of the AT twice.

The best source for AT (Appalachian Trail) info is: Appalachian Trail - Whiteblaze.net

There are no albergues on the AT but in towns and villages there are inexpensive, hostal-like places to stay. On the trail there is a string of three sided huts where hikers stay for the evening. They are smallish, some better than others and free, they have a roof. If it is snowing, it is cold!. Surprisingly enough a small few have a fireplace. You sleep on the wooden floor. Bring a sleeping mat as some of the floors are roundish slats and hardly comfortable.

As for difficulty of hiking, I'd give the Camino Frances just a 2 or perhaps 3 three out of 10, probably closer to 2. The AT I'd have to give an 8 or 9. The downhills on the Smoky Mountains took out my left knee the last trip I made and I had to stop there after walking from Springer Mtn, Georgia.

[ScotlandtoSantiago]

Thanks John. I've used some of the more official AT sites and never quite found the info I needed but this is a great website.

Also appreciate your advice on the difficulty of the hiking. On day hikes this probably wouldn't be a problem for me but with several days worth of gear in my backpack it will be more of an issue.

[John Hussey]

Unlike on the Camino, hiking the AT you will need to plan ahead and carry all the food you will need before your next resupply in the next available place-likely a small town.

Plus you will need to carry a small stove and fuel. The alcohol ones are about the lightest and for pennies you can even make one yourself. Look up a "cat stove" there are lots of plans on how to do it. My favorite and the far simpler one is the "super cat stove", just a small can and two rows of holes you punch in it with a hole punch that you would use for paper, since the can will be soft aluminum! Fuel is alcohol, but the 100% kind you would find in a hardware store, not the 70% variety in pharmacies.. Water is plentiful in springs or streams and is quite delicious along the NC portion. Get something like a Platypus to carry it in.

In October you might meet some of the early SOBO's (southbounders) that started at Katahdin in Maine many months earlier. They will be easy to spot. After having walked for 5 or 6 months straight they will be lean, mean, bedraggled and just fly by you!

Good Luck!

[nollaigc]

Read Bill Bryson's Book 'A Walk In The Woods', at worst it is a very funny book,at best it may provide you with the authors best insights on his experience of walking the AT.

[John Hussey]

Read Bill Bryson's Book 'A Walk In The Woods', at worst it is a very funny book,at best it may provide you with the authors best insights on his experience of walking the AT.

Just remember that Bryson's book is in NO way indicative of what an AT thruhiking experience is like. The book is a tongue-in-cheek attempt at humor designed to sell his book rather than any attempt at all at being informative. I have read it and it is interesting but his experience as outlined in it in no way even resembles the AT through-hike, or even section-hike. There are many better ones if you wish to read about actual experiences of those who actually walked the trail and Bryson only walked a few sections of it, just enough to be able to spin his yarn. A better book of someone who walked all of it and gave an accurate accounting is "AWOL on the Appalachian Trail": Amazon.com: Awol on the Appalachian Trail: (9781595940568): David Miller: Books

But, if you want the humor, read Bryson!