Backpacking the Appalachian Trail (AT)

[Manfred]

After walking from Mexico to Canada on the PCT last year, I’m embarking tomorrow on a new adventure: Hiking from Springer Mountain in Georgia through 14 states to Mount Katahdin in Maine. You can find my gear list and my resupply plan on my AT blog together with my daily reports.

https://atnavigator.wordpress.com/

[Kevin Babione]

I’m looking forward to following you!  I’m in Lancaster, PA and the AT does an arc around me about 90 minutes away.  If you need anything as you get to PA please don’t hesitate to contact me and I’ll do whatever I can to help.  I’ll send you a PM with my contact info.  Happy Trail!

[Lycopodium]

Wonderful! I’m looking forward to following your journey!

[Manfred]

Thanks Kevin! I responded with my contact data. May be I see you in Duncannon when I cross the Susquehanna River in two months or so.

[MJ H]

I was driving through Duncannon last week (on my way to hike up north of there). I hadn’t before realized how much of a river town it is. It’s just a few blocks wide as far as what I could see.

[David Thomas]

Very cool, Manfred!

The PCT and the length of NZ since retirement and now the AT!  I think I know what 2026 holds.

I want to be Manfred when I grow up.

Do you have a trail name?

[Manfred]

David, I kept my trail name from the PCT: The Navigator

Already on the first day other hikers found it fitting, when I patiently explained how to orient the map and where to go to pick up their resupply off the trail. Once they couldn’t simply follow white blazes they were lost.

[David Thomas]

Once a Boy Scout Map & Compass Instructor, always a Boy Scout Map & Compass Instructor?

[Manfred]

It’s actually fun to help people and explain how to use map and compass. It amazes me that people have a plate compass hanging on their backpack because it was on some list of things you need, but don’t know how to orient a map properly with it.

[AK Granola]

I learned in high school how to use a map and compass, but if I hadn’t, I think it would be hard to learn now. To re-orient myself – because i never use the skill – I watch YouTube videos and then go out and practice. I tried taking an REI class, but the gal teaching had probably learned from YouTube and really had no idea what she was doing; everyone who followed her directions went the reverse way from the target, and those of us who simply worked together to figure it out did fine. There aren’t many opportunities to learn this old skill any more, if you want to learn from an expert.  Most people can’t even read a map to navigate without Google maps. And while you don’t need it most places, it sure is nice to know that your upcoming terrain will be swampy, mountainous, or along a road or stream.

Looking forward to following the AT journey!

[Manfred]

Glad you are following the journey. The AT is a very different experience for me than the PCT. Very different terrain and a wider variety of people. Very fun!

[Author]

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