5 Reasons Why Thru Hiking SUCKS | Appalachian Trail 2024

[@sarahsundstrom1425]

I think finishing a hike is one of the most difficult things of the whole thing and most people don't think about it while they're walking or it's just some kind of abstract thought but hard to wrap your head around and then it's just a mountain and down to a vehicle and the rude lonely ending .. painful and often too quick goodbyes . The hugs swift and fierce. I warned many people about it on my second long trip cuz all of them couldn't wait to go home and I'm like you're going to miss this hold on to your hat... But then finishing is the ultimate gift of these trails provides you with so many mixed emotions. I have never stopped walking because of these long trails and I keep reaching for more. Lmnt is game changer!

[@trekkingforeurope]

If you'd like to tackle a thru-hike that _never_ ends, I highly recommend the European Long-Distance trail network. There are twelve of them, crisscrossing Europe, with a total length of over 60k km (40k miles). They might not always be the most inspiring trail (I'm hiking the E10, and a whole lot of it is just roads or bike paths), but especially crossing the Alps, or heading eastward into the Carpathians, or northward into Scandinavia, it gets _really_ spectacular. If you're ever over here in Europe, I can't recommend them highly enough. Lovely video. Thanks for all the helpful tips, and I'm so glad to see you complete the AT! Well done!

[@Marty-s8d]

15:47 You are one tough cookie! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I've walked over 20,000 miles the past decade, but I doubt I could have ever thru hiked the Appalachian trail. Hats off to you, Mollie!

[@JeffMurphy-17019]

Thanks for all of the updates , my wife and I enjoy all of them.

[@AngelOnTheTrail]

Hey Mojo DC here! Fun fact while hiking through Pennsylvania during the heatwave Blue Moon saved a day hiker and his husky after showing signs of heat exhaustion and helped them get a ride into town. While we had a big group of people that day at Eckville Shelter he came rolling in with a hero's welcome while we partied and enjoyed being done for that day. Just one of the memories that came back whenever I'm missing trail (all the time) and then your videos pops up. I miss all of you guys so much and hope to see y'all at some point at trail days or a lot of us in Colorado were thinking about having a big reunion where we go out for a shorter backpacking trip this time. Anyway hope you're doing well and if you are ever having a rough time feel free to reach out. Its been difficult for all of us so you are not alone!

[@mollyroseoutdoors]

Hey DC!! Good to hear from you! Thanks for sharing. I had no idea Blue Moon did that! Pennsylvania was rough with the heat and hardly any water. I hope you’re doing well too!

[@heather__hikes]

Glad I’m not the only one ready for a trail days reunion! I’m struggling over here 😅

[@MichelleFitzpatrick-of8oc]

Thanks for the info and tips. Happy Holidays!

[@lindamoon8981]

Good information to pass on to potential thru hikers, or actually any hikers. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!

[@soulproprietorDan]

Great angle for a video. The one thing that surprised me was constantgly being itchy, but after you said it I know that feeling! I appreciated the recap of what sucked, even if you don't complain much. Glad to hear from you Molly!!

[@charliejg]

I wish I had done a through hike when I was younger and single. For me, the hardest thing about through hiking would be the separation from family for such a long time. I've seen some through hikers whose significant other followed them and supported them in a vehicle of some type. I think that would be fun. Thanks for the info. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[@jeevjagostudios]

Thanks, MoJo, your wonderful videos are helping me deal with my post-thru-hike KZbin-viewer blues. I also appreciate how much you put into making your videos. In this one, you went to the trouble of finding relevant clips from your hundreds of AT vlogs to accompany each of your "sucky" sections. Plus you shared your experience and research about symptoms of possible health problems on the trail. And since this was an AT-centered video, we got to revisit your full AT-thru-hike intro. Thanks again and I look forward to more Molly productions. 😉

[@johnalden5821]

Great video! I have had hypothermia while backpacking, for sure, and have also come very close to heat exhaustion. The hypothermia situation was a solo trip, and it could have cost me everything. Luckily, having had wilderness first aid training, I was self-aware enough to figure out what was happening, and I got myself off the mountain. After that experience, I strongly recommend that anyone, especially with less experience, go in a group or with a partner when hiking in cold or high-heat situations. Always let family know what your route is and when you expect to finish.

[@RickINFJ]

Seriously outstanding work on this video, Molly. Bravo! 👏 Invaluable advice, and you did a great job with the graphics, clips, and editing. Merry Christmas to you, Darren, and Bandit. 🎄🏕🎄

[@richardfioravanti4914]

I hope you and your family have a great holiday season

[@somerandomguy4149]

I followed you everyday day religiously. And I can't wait to see your documentary. Or at least I hope there will be one. And I love how real you are with this. Still love your channel. And yea the east coast heat is definitely different it like walking thru soup because of the humidity we have lol you literally wear it.

[@suehancock5573]

Great video Molly! Merry Christmas to you and your family! 🎄🎁🙏❤️🎅 Also I hope ziggy got to finish on his December hike! 🥾🏕️🥾🏕️🇺🇸 Take care and keep smiling! 🙏😊🎄🏕️

[@butchbinion1560]

Thanks, so good tips. ✌🏻👊🏼

[@jnaas77]

Thanks. I agree heat exhaustion can be really scary. I was once on a 2-week hike in Corsica, and two of the first water sources marked on the map had dried out, luckily the third one still had some swampy and muddy tasting water left in it, and I didn't even get sick from drinking it. But I was quite scared for a while.

[@RolandKrastins]

Excellent video! Lots to think about!😅

[@LindaCrain-r1e]

Good video. Not mentioned in your video, but for me, the hardest part of long distance hiking was the mental struggle of time away from family and some hiker guilt of being gone while the family held things together in our absence. And missing family activities while gone was a thing. The weather, gear issues, terrain are all sort of expected- well documented by you. You would have not succeeded without the support of your husband and mother - acknowledging that also helps your post hike return. Merry Christmas. Philmont.

[@JacquelineB117]

A lot of different health concerns on trail. Happy to hear that you made it through relatively unscathed Mojo. Thanks for the important info.

[@crimson25543]

Hi Molly! Great list. Have you & your tramily talked about meeting up for a long weekend and doing some day hikes & general hanging out? That would certainly keep the relationships going in a way that everyone would enjoy, since hiking is the common thread among you. Even if it's just once a year, it would be something new to look forward to and reminisce about. The aspect of thru hiking I'd find most challenging would be personal hygiene as well as stinky clothes. I wonder if anyone tried washing a top or shorts or underwear, using available creek/river water & some Bronner's soap, & then letting their item dry over the next day, hanging off their pack, while hiking? That would be in addition to any days in town, of course.

[@1z1zmike]

Thank you for sharing this excellent video! You mentioned that it was a life changing experience…could you do a video about this topic? Thanks again…enjoy and look forward to more of your videos 🙂🙏

[@1024Pete]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Most interesting. I dared myself to be scared knowing I will make mistakes and nature will show no mercy. You got to Ignore the pain and accept nature’s punishment and sense of humor. Embrace the hardships of sorrow, exhaustion, sickness, lack of sleep, going hungry, being hurt then succeeding with accolades and hugs. I got that just by raising my children and indulging my grandchildren. The AT is more like a miserable spoiled child that wants its way and takes advantage of your kindness. Tolerance, knowing limitations, and a sense of humor helps. Cheers to your efforts and fortitude. Wishing you a mighty fine life. Happy Trails! Wishing you peace, good health, and good fortune for the new year and beyond.

[@joankline343]

Excellent informative video! I'm not a thru hiker but have experienced some of those things in life. From walking in extremely cold temperatures and not being dressed properly to Haying season, working hard without not enough fluid. I never realized how serious both can be. Or riding bicycle 25 to 35 miles without any hydration. I almost passed out one day in extreme temperatures while pushing to hard. The lessons we learn from the Joys of life. 😅. I can't imagine having to wear the same clothes all the time because I really sweat. 😮. My dad used to get upset with me because I seemed to get into the Poison Ivy and Oak a lot as a kid and I'm still not sure what it looks like. I just have this thing about touching beautiful things and or smelling them. 😅. Those bug bites were a bit nasty and I'm sure could be very dangerous. It sounds like that you were well prepared otherwise for your hike. Excellent video! Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to you and your family 🎄 ⛄🎁

[@butchbinion1560]

Thanks, will you do another thru hike? ✌🏻👊🏼

[@TATO_ON_TRAIL]

Still not deterred, still want to do it! 😅 good video idea, very interesting!

[@Casual_BackPacking]

I love this channel , awesome channel

[@robertlanham7830]

Love your intro but it would be cool now to add a photo/video clip of you on Katahdin! Keep up the great content Molly!

[@celenasherrill1455]

Great video!

[@michaelglentz1858]

Hate flipping ticks! And poison ivy. And bugs. But also can’t wait to hike and deal with it all!

[@jeannenimmo5]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, because I think it's worth repeating: The Trail does not equivocate - it treats us all the same, especially when it comes to things we cannot completely control, like the weather, the terrain, the bugs and such. It's all a matter of trade-offs and risk-reward equations. Many years ago, there was an economic principle called The Real Cost Principle.' In a nutshell, it's this: When we decide to do something, by doing that something, we give up all else that we could be doing at that time. Some of the travails of The Trail require thoughtful choice(s)and carefully considered decision-making - we must know when to say 'when,' and give ourselves the latitude to recover and deal with the varied situations we encounter. There are always consequences for the decisions we make, both good and bad, some of them quite unpredictable. Just try not to place yourself in a position where unintended consequences may dwell - you know, 'All I wanted to do was drain the pond, but I got eaten by an alligator.' Be well, stay safe. 🥾

[@davidshambaugh6884]

Thank you for your content! I have enjoyed following your hike. I was wondering about being separated from your husband and family while on the trail. That did not make your top 5 sucks😊 Also curious about Ziggy...did they have an opening in December for him to finish? Thank again!

[@bonnief.1851]

Great video again! Any word on Ziggy? Or did I miss his summit update?! And a very merry Christmas to you both!

[@donaldbedsole5154]

I remember her giving a Ziggy update recently. Look back for a video called "2 Months Post Trail and Ziggy Update | Appalachian Trail 2024".

[@bonnief.1851]

⁠He wasn’t able to summit Katahdin due to it being closed, so he was planning on summiting in December when it’s opened for the winter.

[@703am]

I think I could deal better with the cold than the heat and humidity, over all it seems you had a good hike. One question? while on the trail did you even think of quitting?

[@paulalee9324]

She was really sad after she spent 5 days with Darren in NYC. But in true MoJo style, she bounced back

[@donaldbedsole5154]

My wife was wondering where expecting to get a nice big hamburger and fries and finding out the restaurant is closed ranks?

[@JO-rk5gu]

I enjoyed the video, question: How in the world does one afford to do this? Doesn't it take months to hike the trail?

[@drakebonnellbonnell9045]

👑🎄🥾

[@thundergaming515]

Are you gunna be making a documentary?

[@SteveinSWVA]

I didn’t see #5 coming…

[@JasonHikes1]

5 reasons why I’ll never thru-hike. Just kidding. One day, one day.