Buyer Beware: A Warning to Thru-Hikers!

Lynne Whelden at the end of '92 Appalachian Trail hike. Prospective thru-hikers and brides have one thing in common–they're both easy to take advantage of. You've embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, the clock is ticking away, you don't have a clue what to do and you're in dire need of reliable information. Your state of mind lends itself to vendors who want to sell you too much and charge you too much. Believe me, the sort of challenges you will face on the Appalachian Trail or Pacific Crest Trail or Continental Divide Trail will not be solved by throwing money at them. I've heard too many stories of neophyte hikers going into camping stores and letting unscrupulous salespeople talk them into all sorts of ridiculous purchases. Here's an excerpt from a letter I got just a few days ago: "My own story started about three months ago when I started outfitting myself for the Appalachian Trail. I was very eager to start buying gear even though I was just starting my research on the trail. (I have done no hiking and very little camping before this.) I assembled all of my gear through local outfitters and got what I thought to be good equipment. When I got it all in to my pack and got on my scale at home and found out that I had 41 pounds minus food and water I said no way! Over the next two weeks I returned most of the gear and figured out how to get my weight down to 27 pounds minus food and water. Just last week I received your video from the Appalachian Trail Conference and was amazed." So...give yourself plenty of time to research the various options. When you're under the gun, you make stupid decisions. Every year you'll hear hear a story about the hiker who bought his gear one day and showed up at Springer Mountain the next. It does happen but for every one that actually finishes, there's 10 that didn't. To maximize your chances of success, approach your hike as if you were buying a car. Buy from someone who knows what they're talking about, do your research and don't rush into anything. That way, time is always on your side. Lynne Whelden at the end of '97 Pacific Crest Trail hike.

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