APPALACHIAN TRAIL BUDGET: The "Rules" Vs What I ACTUALLY Spent

[@bethaniecarico]

Oh my goodness Maddie. Im a numbers person and this absolutely made my day. Awesome video. I know you beat yourself up sometimes on the trail for going slow, but you filmed, edited, and even created expenditure reports. You weren't slow, you worked while hiking the AT. ❤

[@chrisharmon5453]

👏👏👏 she really did.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you! ☺️ glad to meet a fellow numbers person!

[@sheilahenry7279]

Agree 100%

[@Elizabeth-pt4bv]

I dont think people are aware how their hikes are affected by videoing and posting. You have to constantly head into town and that adds to the cost. Thank you for these updates, so great.

[@TomG315]

Your post hike videos are a treat. And a big real time help!

[@philliplee1193]

Yep, she boosted our morales, too.

[@sheilahenry7279]

Love the using old fuel cans! That newest gadget to transfer from a larger or other part used canisters is gonna help so many. I’m glad to see you helping recycle & reduce waste. Another hiker said he would take part used & keep his & also only used his a little before next part full at next stop. Crazy thru hikers misuse privies, leave tp on trail & close to it & water. Smh You are a blessing.

[@mountaincat8]

Overall, the AT cost a lot less to hike than I thought it would. You got a lot of adventure for not too much money. Thanks for showing us your expenses. Your tips on saving money were also useful.

[@bobv7753]

Thanks Maddie/Ranger this is really helpful information for anyone going on a through hike. As always your genuine content is appreciated. Best Always......😊

[@joshuahenry9135]

Your videos are so compelling. Really enjoyed them as the pop into my view.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

That's awesome! Thank you!

[@Chana_does_stuff]

I’m really grateful for this video! Originally I was setting myself up to start budgeting about $5,000 for the trail but I saw several numbers from people as high as 10 or 20k and so I thought I needed to budget for more (which would have been hard but theoretically doable since I’m not planning on doing the trail until 2027) I understand what you’re saying about wanting to spend more on certain things than you did but I feel good knowing I don’t have to worry about saving up quite as much as I thought I would beforehand

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

I did get really lucky with trail angels and give-and-take friends but even if I didn’t, I don’t see it costing that much more!

[@pdr0603]

thanks for this through breakdown of costs, very helpful. Congrats on finishing. Look forward to seeing future adventures. Again, thanks for your efforts.

[@Terraducky]

Congrats again for finishing the AT! This was a great wrap-up-the-trail video I found very interesting so thanks for that. You are so organized! The best advice I feel was, at the end, "Take care of yourself". Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

[@pauldonathan5316]

Thank you for detailed analysis... I love your van...stay hiking girl!! Oh how's smoke, ya'll still together ❤

[@designdoctor247]

that was very interesting

[@philliplee1193]

From watching some of your videos, you’re strong willed yet your morale at times had some downs. That’s the value of those morale boosters, towards your success not always in dollars, sometimes had to be. Thankyou for budgeting in the privilege of letting us share in your adventures !

[@deborahanderson5508]

Nice break down of expenses.

[@pattyk8594]

Congratulations, you did a great job on the trail and now off the trail! Good to know this level of detail. I think the zero days would be such a welcome blessing.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you! In the moment, I was always down for a zero day, but it was hard when most hikers I knew were far ahead of me and the costs started adding up!

[@karahjo231]

I have Celiac Disease and will definitely have to spend far more on food. I also have autoimmune conditions so I will have to dehydrate meals, plan out electrolytes, vitamins and send myself packages of pre planned out meals and safe snacks so I don't go into flares. I will definitely have to replace my shoes regularly because I have a connective tissue disorder that makes my feet extremely bendy and I need protection for my feet. This gave me a great idea of how much it typically costs for one person. I will probably be taking my child with me as well so I will need to stop more and make sure to budget for more hotel stays because we will probably skip the hostels. Irreplaceable moments and memories for $10,000 sounds so worth it!

[@philliplee1193]

Oh my. .maybe a shorter ideal than this marathon ? Put it this way, I’d like to think my old van could make it every time, and I’ve put the thing out there on trust a little more than I should. Luckily it seems it’s broken down nearby but given me warnings. Cheers!

[@karahjo231]

@@philliplee1193 I went from being completely disabled last year and having a walker prescribed to me to being able to walk 10 miles a day now. I'm sure in 2 years I will be able to tackle 25 miles a day easily. Determination is incredible, when you really want something you can make it happen. I'm sure I'll have more people doubt my abilities, but that won't stop me. I was so sick doctors gave up helping me but I refuse to give up on myself. Thank you for the concern although it isn't needed.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Nice!!! I’m so glad I could help in making your journey happen!

[@blairpoisson6474]

You are so right! I want all the info not just someone's guess. It's nice to know more real info.

[@1z1zmike]

That was great…thank you! 🙂🙏

[@Amilliondreams87]

Oh my goodness this was so incredibly helpful!!! TY

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

I'm so glad! Thanks for watching!

[@TrailTrekkingJohn]

As I watched I couldn’t stop thinking about when you were explaining Google Sheets. When you showed your screen recording, you had several familiar apps grouped together in a KZbin group; but there were several I’d never seen. Could you share the names of the apps you have grouped in KZbin (KZbin, KZbin Studio, VidIQ, Google Drive, Gmail, unknown, unknown, unknown , and unknown)? It’s pretty awesome to see how you’ve set up your phone for hiking, KZbin, social media and movies. All the best to you.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

That’s cool you noticed that because I’m a phone organization nerd!! The KZbin “folder” is KZbin itself, VLLO (editing videos), KZbin studio, Tube Buddy and Vid IQ (both help you find keywords to used that are highly searched for and/or don’t have a lot of videos on that subject already) PicsArt (where I make my thumbnails), AAE (an app that connects to a cheap-o drone I got for free, I never use it anymore, I probably should delete that app), google drive (how I send or save a lot of videos that might not be saved to my phone), and gmail since I mainly use it for KZbin business!

[@jaywolfe1254]

I remember back in the 90s people used to say it takes about $3,000 to do the whole AT it's good to know it's very close to same numbers walking is the cheapest vacation LOL

[@joankline343]

That's a very professional, clear and percise chart and evaluation of your through Hike and expenses. Very well done. Hope to see you again soon. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family 🙏 🦃 🥧 🍷 ❤

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you! Happy thanksgiving to you too!

[@703am]

Happy Thanksgiving to you and family ...I really didn't realize that it cost that much. Why would I think that it wouldn't cost much at all ,I have no ideal. Guess I learned something.

[@arandompersonp9883]

Thanks!

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank YOU!

[@joesoutdoorplaces]

Great information

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jasonfitzpatrick414]

There is a new visitor center at Amicalola. The east side trail is still a disaster though.

[@UNIQUENAME2007]

haha, never thought about the cost per mile breakdown, that's funny for some reason, can you imagine thinking about that every mile of your hike!? I swear I'm going to calculate how much each thousand vertical feet I get to ski after climbing a mtn cost on my next outing.

[@robertdesrosiers4743]

thanks ranger big help be well

[@margueritemitchell1829]

Hello from Beautiful British Columbia Canada 🇨🇦 🎉😂❤

[@UnbrokenChain360]

Your KZbin thumbnails are great.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you, I’ve been trying!

[@amypatenaudegunn3322]

Flesh vehicle! Ha ha enjoyed the memories, thanks for sharing your adventure.

[@Tosadar_Outdoors]

That's great n perfect, thank u 🤘🔥👌🍻💯

[@dannymcclendon1105]

Good info! How did you pay for things on trail - credit, debit, cash, Venmo, PayPal? No one really says how to pay fir shuttles, hostels, etc.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

They’re all different! Majority of businesses can do credit or debit, a few in rural places or small businesses can only do cash or Venmo. Very rarely you run into someone that only takes cash. For me, that was mostly in New Hampshire and Maine

[@TheSpiralLab]

I’m curious about how much you were making from Adsense revenue and if you think it at least offset the extra costs of needing to find wifi and take more zero days.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Definitely! I was very fortunate that my Adsense and Patreon earning were more than ever during the trail!

[@amypatenaudegunn3322]

Did you cover your expenses?

[@bobdillon3884]

Glad I did most of the trail in 1977 & 78. $1 today was like a dime then....and shaw kept me fed for a day for nothing...

[@todayslist37737]

Would it be possible to upload more videos and schedule them for release weekly or daily shorts. Maybe stay on trail longer instead of having to go into town more often? Also what would cost difference be with a bounce box vs higher store prices in certain areas? Or even prepacking boxes to be mailed by family when requested. I do understand the mail system isn't always exact.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

I worked my butt off before I left for the trail to be able to finish videos way before they needed to be posted. But when I ran into iCloud issues in the first three weeks, I lost a lot of progress I made. I never attempted to get back head of schedule, it would just be so much work at once. For mailing resupplies, I tried that when I did the Tahoe Rim Trail and it cost $90 to mail a kind of heavy box from Kentucky to California. Even with the different cost of living, I think we would have spent about the same and had less legwork if we just went to a grocery store. So that’s why I never tried a resupply box on the AT! It just wasn’t on my radar!

[@todayslist37737]

@@BeerinBeautifulPlaces oh ok. I knew the resupply boxes cost slot, but dang $90!!! I guess the only other option is 2 weeks worth of freeze dried food. I guess I wasn't thinking about how much space it takes to film a video.

[@roberttrinies7698]

I'm confused, isn't $1.00 per mile = $2,200.00 total?

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Yeah, you’re right. I definitely remembered that rule wrong or I heard it from someone who didn’t know what they were talking about!

[@steveblake4187]

Thanks, Maddie. Very interesting and informative. (but it still seems a little odd to see you gesturing with clean fingernails)

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Haha that’s cool that you noticed that! It’s so. Ice to have clean nails!

[@gingrai00]

That’s very thrifty!

[@jasonfitzpatrick414]

Next time put on fifty pounds before you head out.

[@hannahlawter6447]

Love your journey! Would love a video on how you started planning for you trip and what all that entails! Congrats on finishing ❤

[@douglas1071]

Your honesty and transparency is so refreshing. Answering the questions we all want to know.

[@Josephhikes]

Always enjoy you videos I spent more than you and hiked half as much, so I’m going back next year. NOBO from Harper’s Ferry. One of my big expenses was getting vortexed in Gatlinburg 21/2 days 3nights in a hotel . 🤦‍♂️but so much fun . We did that because of storms 😁

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Happy trails on the rest of your hike!!

[@jennifercocharan4526]

We thought of having van transport. And pay for a towing into different areas and it will be there.....just a new thought.....

[@The_T-Man]

The northeast is insanely expensive

[@cathypeterson2420]

I think your Beyond the norm not many girls out there Like you .your an adventurer and less the lookat me So luv it

[@tomellis3218]

Really appreciated the breakdown on expenses. I had only heard $1000 to $1200 per month as a budget. I think you were very thrifty on trail. I’m much older 71 & will likely either take more zero days & hotel stays but it will be my hike at least I’m hoping so. I will be looking to view more adventure flogs from you… you are a very fine story teller / presenter. Happy Thanksgiving Ranger…. I’ll be in Louisville to visit my sister over Christmas . Maybe we will run into at a Heine Brothers Coffee Shop or Safai Coffee Shop. Happy Thanksgiving❤😊

[@tomellis3218]

PS I’m having Thanksgiving dinner with Pinto & her family in Va.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

That’s awesome! Pinto is great! And so is Louisville!

[@ri-imagine-life]

Great info!! I’m so happy to see you in your van!!

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you!

[@hikingwithscrooge]

Great info again. Thanks and have a nice Thanksgiving Maddie!

[@all-to-Him-I-owe100]

Great job! Thank you that! Also, if I look at how much I spend month to month living - that is not bad!

[@mrbscpds5801]

Thank You for sharing that information

[@LauraMichellez]

Thanks so much, Maddie!

[@JH-pg8jh]

So informative thanks for taking the time to share!

[@edwardgwilcoxjr7232]

Maddie Witty Witt’s In charge awesome!

[@edwardgwilcoxjr7232]

👍

[@RafaelbySuzannah]

interesting. It was funny about the beer. I also can't get over how neat/tidy your vehicle is any tips on? That would be helpful

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

I cleaned it before the video, that’s all!

[@RafaelbySuzannah]

@@BeerinBeautifulPlaces I really like the van and it be cool to see a video down the road about how you keep a clean organize it are you going to keep it traded in things like that I'm kind of curious. anyway, for now congratulations and enjoying post trail videos. Funny about beer costs....

[@dixielambrecht7009]

Your minivan looks ready to go...any plans?

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

I wish! Just cleaned up a bit since I was filming in there!

[@arandompersonp9883]

Thank you for sharing your journey. There is a lot of wonderful people along the AT.

[@karengustin6066]

Great video and explanation!

[@appalachianwanderseeker]

The inside of your vehicle is so comfortable and cozy looking.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you!

[@butlerdawgs78]

"you only get one flesh vehicle to maneuver around the world in" .... lmfao... you're the best

[@juliamarple3785]

I am gonna go thru your video real well. For this upcoming year, I am trying to figure out how to track my roadtrip expenses. I wanna budget it out. Then I will start working on an AT budget. I can do $1000/month. Gotta make it work!

[@doubletimericepats]

That’s exactly what I made on my Appalachian Trail through like every month I would receive $1200 and it took way way more than that because all the help and everything else. Yeah it adds up. It just depends on what choices you make you’re so right Maddie.

[@pegspun]

Thank you so much for sharing this video! Great info and your spreadsheet was very well done! Hope you and Smoke have a wonderful Thanksgiving🦃

[@ClaytonSea]

Thanks for being so transparent with your AT costs Ranger! You got out of Shaws with one of the lowest totals I've seen! I ended up spending closer to $300 and one of my tramily members spent $600 just at Shaws!

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Oh good! Glad to know I’m not the only one who was blown away by how much I spent!

[@ivydeliz]

I’m surprised the groceries cost is so small! Feels like I buy 10 things and it’s already $50. Also not enough money on beer 😂 jk great breakdown

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

I was surprised too! Maybe because it was things like ramen and knorr sides, not produce or meat?

[@Usepen]

Great info! Thanks!

[@kristymoore7052]

Very, very good. Thanks. As an older hiker with some specific dietary needs, I know my costs would probably be in the $7500 dollar range based on your experience. Many on you tube say to expect to spend 10k, though maybe they mean gear also. Can’t remember.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Maybe! Or they mean just in case you have an unexpected cost!

[@tennesseeyaya1830]

I appreciate all your hard work. Looking forward to all you do.❤

[@Mikehastohike]

That’s an outstanding breakdown, I was curious what the actual costs break down to. PCT 2024 AT hopeful in 2025

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Glad I could help!!

[@jennifercocharan4526]

You could have gotten food stamps. Future reference..and no dont feel guilty. Everyone should get it at least once in their life. Put your money into your parents account for your access. Claim no household. No job. You'd maybe get a month or 2.....or more

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

If I can afford to not work for 6 months, I definitely should save those resources for others!

[@doubletimericepats]

Actually, very fantabulous fabulous. Is that a word?

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thanks for all the comments, DT!! I appreciate your support!

[@sarahsiskin6780]

Wow! I had expected it to be a little over 5k

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Nice, good guess!

[@NestoRides514]

Are you a van-lifer too? Vehicle video?

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

A copyright issue made me put two songs on top of each other in the beginning, so not the video I’m most proud of, but it is my most viewed! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqexZGSHi5WqjtEsi=yoMBYH2AS0I0EP2m

[@roberttrough6439]

Wow! Sounds great 👍

[@jennifercocharan4526]

And find food pantries in the area. Even homeless shelters...they are nice..and its easy. Alsp public transportation is a easy access in towns. I would rewalk this trail and see of you can do this even cheaper. I think you would get alot of notice for it. Wisdom grows when earned.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

I would rather save food and shelter for those who truly need it! Not a pride thing at all, but for everything I take, someone else will go without. Someone who needs it more, most likely

[@MaryPonder]

You should totally lead an AT group for a fee of course

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

I’ve actually thought about that! I don’t know if these knees have it in them to do it again, though!