3 Tips for the Long Trail
If you’re interested in hiking the Long Trail, here are a few tips that might help you out!
1. Don’t underestimate the trail just because it’s not a triple-crown thruhike.
Planning for a “short” thruhike may actually be more difficult than cross-country trails (it was to me!).
To name just a few reasons why: there are fewer opportunities to switch out gear and make adjustments as you go, you will (most likely) have a deadline to get back home (which can be stressful), and you have less time to develop your “trail legs”.
Try to dial in your gear beforehand (test it out!), give yourself adequate time – maybe even extra time, and make sure you are training physically for the trail! It might just seem like covering the basics, but that’s important!
2. If you live far enough away that you need to fly, keep an eye on flight prices!
Airports are ~2 hours from the trailhead in each direction, so you will likely have to pay for a shuttle at some point. These shuttles involve people taking their own time out of their day to drive thruhikers around (for which we are grateful!), but that does come with a steeper price than public transport. While the flights can also be expensive, this is your best bet to save on travel fees!
3. Try not to let things back home keep you from being in the moment.
The beauty of backpacking comes from nature, physical exertion (which our bodies do not always get enough of), and being with our thoughts. It can be peaceful to be alone and think about ongoing events, but don’t let it influence how you experience the trail and interact with others. You’re carrying a lot of weight out there as it is – ain’t nobody got room for stress 😉
I hope to utilize these tips in my re-attempt of the Long Trail down the road! Hopefully they can help you out too ✌️
