scottasonicdvx

Thanks for doing this AMA,

I would like to complete a through-hike of the AT in the near future. I have limited experience with distance hiking. I have done some day hikes and a long distance bike trip, but nothings as enduring as a through hike of the AT.

What sort of physical/mental preparation would you recommend before attempting a through hike?

Thanks for the reply.

I'm a chef so I'm regularly running around a kitchen for 12+ hours a day, so my legs are fairly used to a heavy workload.

As a chef something that interests me is eating while on the trail. I sort of had a dream of prepping for my hike by preserving lots of food in the months prior and only eating food I had preserved myself while on the trail. Possibly mailing myself packages to pick up along the way to resupply.

How reasonable of a goal is this? Did you have reliable enough access to the post office as you progressed for this to be an option?

Follow up, did you do any foraging for food while on the trail?

Good to know.

Last question. I have heard people say that doing a distance hike was a formative experience and that they came out a slightly different person after having had the experience.

Did you feel that your hikes changes you in any way? What sort of lasting impact have your hikes had on you?