HONESTY About My MILAGE on the AT [And What I REGRET About It!]

I didn't hike every single mile of the Appalachian Trail, and I'm not afraid to say it! I encourage everyone to decide what they want their hike to be. I do wish I hadn't burnt myself out, started each day earlier, and avoided the cold and mental challenge of hiking into mid-October. I'll go through my daily log of mileage with you, and tell you everything I learned. I may not have been a faster hiker, but if you're trying to be, I have a lot of ideas for you!
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What is Beer in Beautiful Places?
Hi, I’m Maddie! Celebrating an outdoor adventure with a beer has been a long-time tradition for me, and I wanted to create a platform for like-minded folks to come together. In my videos, I cover all types of adventures and review beer! Topics include day hiking, kayaking, travel, thru-hiking, and life on the road. In short, if you would describe yourself as an outdoorist, outdoorsman, outdoorswoman, hiker trash, nomad, or dirtbag, come on along, this is the channel for you! Welcome and cheers!
0:00 what is this video
0:24 philosophy on strictness
2:47 thoughts on speed
4:07 revealing my milage log
5:51 how I started strong
8:15 starting to makie weekly goals
9:09 simplifying logistics by cutting small corners
11:44 if you're going for big mileage
14:43 burning out
16:50 hiking Maine out of order
19:44 every single tip I can think of!

[@redbetty1284]

As an analytical person, I appreciate your spreadsheet breakdown. It really illustrates what your actual mileage was and gives an accurate representation of what a new thru hiker might expect. Plus, your continual commitment to being authentic about your experiences ranks you above many others who wouldn’t so readily admit to skipping parts of the trail. Nicely done!

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you!!! so glad it was helpful! I don't know if you may have happened to see it yet, but I also have this video going over the budget part of this spreadsheet! kzbin.info/www/bejne/f56TiGudj5ikgZIsi=zgwVQTNESB7pjpxe

[@pattyandstanhike]

I love your clip of getting out of the tent. Every morning on the trail, I have a talk with my legs and feet letting them know it's time to get walking. Like a petulant child, they don't always want to go. My hubby and I are section hikers with 240 miles left that we hope to finish this summer. We left off just south of Rangeley on Sept. 4. Southern Maine is no joke! Have really enjoyed your videos and appreciate the work you put into them, especially while hiking.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

That's awesome! Hope your last section hike this summer goes smoothly!

[@RafaelbySuzannah]

Bill Bryson and Katz humorously dealt with that quandary and they were pretty extreme in what the left out....smile....groan... I still love his book. My favorite parts are when he and Katz are having friction and adventures

[@JRoss707]

It seems to me I read where Bryson did return back to finish, or at least continue on the trail at a later date, he mentions it in the book but it’s not in the movie. And at the end when he receives the postcard from Katz, asking “when’s the next adventure?” This was quite accurate, and they did go out on another long distance hike together, according to Bryson.

[@RafaelbySuzannah]

@@JRoss707 if that's what you wanna believe go for it as I understood it was different, but we don't need to debate this! in my opinion, as I stated, I don't think they were even close to doing it, but whatever my opinion were not purist not by a longshot but whatever makes you happy.

[@TheJhtlag]

@@RafaelbySuzannah I agree with you, he did go back and do something but it seemed like it was a shorter hike, think he even visited Centralia with the underground coal fire and talked about it, interesting but not really on the AT.

[@ClairenParkerontheRoad]

Now I chat casually about the AT with my coworkers and before I watched your videos I had virtually no knowledge about the AT so I'm really appreciating all this education!

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

That's so cool!! What a compliment!

[@mtadams2009]

Congratulations on your hike. I think hiking is one thing but add in editing videos seems like a lot. This year was brutal with all the rain. I was in it way too much and it definitely grew old. I hike the Whites all the time and I see people who have flipped crazy late in the year, so yes people definitely hike at different speeds and also life happens and you may need to go home to deal with said situation. For me I am an early riser and am on the trail generally before 530 am or early. Starting late would make me anxious as I like to get at least 15 miles a day and I am older and slower. Starting earlier always means to take my time and truly enjoy my day. Again congratulations, you did it.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you!!

[@jaybeck4591]

I do not know you, but I just want to say you are an inspiration. I followed you since day one and you were the only through hiker that I actually followed through till the end. I’m hoping to do it next year again, thank you for being so inspiring.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

That's awesome! Thank you so much for the kind words! :) I really appreciate you following along!

[@dougthebigdp314]

I don't know about purism, I mean you walked from Georgia to Maine what the hell do people want? Its a hual and a physical and mental toil and it ain't easy. You did it, whether you took longer than you wanted or not, you've done something a lot of others haven't. Congratulations most heartily.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thanks so much!! 😊

[@Get_Some_Nature]

I'm 'Stealth' - Class of 2022. I was a purist. I didn't skip any miles. Yes I would walk back up the same way out of a shelter that I came down on. If I was picked up to go into town on one side of a road, I would walk back across the road to connect my steps always. I knew from the start that I was only thruhiking the A T once and nothing was going to stop me. I didn't want to short change myself and I am proud to have hiked the entire trail last year! I don't look down on other hiker's experiences. It's your thruhike. Hike it the way you want! 👣💚🦵🦵

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Nice! That’s the way to think about it!

[@janetruh7476]

I have absolutely loved all your beer on beautiful places! But now all these wonderful videos of the Appalachian Trail. Bravo, Bravo, Bravo! So very impressive. Thank you for taking us along on your trip. It was such a joy!

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you kindly!

[@frolege1]

great way to capture your hike and review it during/after your hide.

[@GreenTeaDigital]

Spider (2001 GA>ME) checking in. Don't let anyone tell you that the experiences you choose in life are invalid for not measuring up to some arbitrary standard. You got to choose the experience that was most fulfilling for you, and isn't that what life's really about? There will always be naysayers who boo you from the sidelines. Focus on the voices of encouragement, and they will grow. Cheers Ranger, and happy trails, where ever they may lead!

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you!! :)

[@johnlaycock583]

Great understanding of your AT Trip! You are a very gracious woman!🍞🍏

[@williambranham6249]

I hiked in 98 and completed almost every mile. Through carelessness I took a side trail off the AT below the top of Mt Washington that led me to the cog rail. I knew this wasn’t right so I looked around and found the summit. I had hiked a mile off the AT. After discovering what happened I backtracked because I was going to do every mile as a personal goal. I didn’t care about a badge or piece of paper from ATC. A second area I missed was where the AT crossed the Androscoggin River that flowed through Gorham, NH. Before crossing the river I had hitched into Gorham. I caught a shuttle back to that area after 3 days in town. The shuttle crossed the river and about a half mile into the woods we were let out, so I didn’t hike that section. Years later I was looking in a coffee table book that contained aerial photographs of special locations on the AT. That bridge was one of the photos. That’s when I realized I had not hiked that mile. Fortunately I was able to hike that years later.

[@roberttrough6439]

Appreciate your honesty. I thought in my preparation for 2024 hike that something was missing from hikers vlogs “mystery” ! Hahaha 🤣 I’m soo looking forward to the dirt and bugs, pain, hunger, thirst, weight loss, exercise, and many other great “surprises”. I’ve hiked in my youth whenever I could but life got in the way. No is my time to get er done! Woo hoo! 😊

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Nice!! I'm so excited for you to get out there!

[@ExploringCanadaInfo]

Such a honest post today. Loved this video and side note, I miss the daily updates. But so grateful your time on the AT is done for now and you finished safely.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thanks so much!

[@horacegardner3516]

Your spreadsheet should be very useful to future thru hikers. Congrats on your hike and thanks for your information.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Glad it was helpful!

[@KevinRStrauss]

What a fantastic discussion of Theory vs. Reality. This really takes the pressure off, from my perspective. Thanks!

[@mamamuffin7170]

Well said, thanks.

[@laruep2275]

You're such an inspiration! I'm a picky eater and you make me feel like I can do it too!

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you!! That's awesome!

[@dmunman]

If you want. You coulda hiked half the trail and enjoyed it more. Then the next year the other half. I will never understand the joy of the anxiety of pushing super hard. Enjoy a slower pace. Get off when it gets cold. Then start again next year.

[@laurahoule6169]

😊 I'm so glad you're doing videos post trail. Great insight on the logistics of thru hiking! 🎉

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

And I’m glad you’re watching them! 😊

[@Kari-bb3rm]

I loved your hike!!! Miss you! Thank you for the info!

[@pegspun]

Cute socks!! 🎄

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thanks, just got all my Christmas socks out!

[@donl1846]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and data on the AT. The more information folks have about the AT before they make the attempt the better. Thank you again !!

[@teamrogue9358]

Just subscribed. It’s Bill the shuttle guy in Monson.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Yay!! Welcome!!!

[@Tosadar_Outdoors]

Good information and useful 👌🍻💯

[@robertdesrosiers4743]

good stuff thanks ranger

[@dougwoods9885]

Great video it's was very interesting and helpful

[@JohnFiocchi]

Interesting!! Appreciate the honesty and the education...great video

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you!

[@edwardgwilcoxjr7232]

Way to go Ranger I’m impressed ! also your Witty Witt’s awesome. Happy holidays. 🎉

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thanks! You too!

[@jeffdavidson9231]

I just finished your video series of your hike on the AT. Really enjoyed it! I’m gonna attempt it in a few years myself. First hurdle completed,my work is gonna allow me 6 months off to do it. I will turn 55 on trial so I will be an older hiker.. but gonna attempt. And we are neighbors,somewhat… I live in southern Indiana,about 25 minutes from Louisville.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Oh that’s awesome!!

[@christopherlands2706]

This is really practical first hand information. Thanks for sharing. 😊

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thanks so much!

[@jasonschwartz7781]

Excellent video. Great breakdown of actual mileage with all of its variance, the reasons for that and the mindset behind it all. This is a must watch for prospective thru hikers.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you so much!!

[@jimmymalone3494]

Thank you for sharing with us ' I enjoyed it.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

So glad!

[@CanCanHikes]

Great content, especially the clips of you trying to get out of the tent. That is very real, and it’s frequently compounded by leg cramps as you’re trying to get out by using these cold muscles. I’ve rolled out of a tent when my legs didn’t want to work yet. Do what you gotta do. No shame.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Yes!! Just standing up can be so hard!!

[@UNIQUENAME2007]

Neat to hear that review!

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Glad you liked it!

[@tomellis3218]

This video on mileage was so helpful & enlightening. Starting off with lesser daily miles & then gradually increase is what I’ll likely try. But starting Mid February might be tough temperature wise. I also appreciated your honesty toward small jaunts not hiked. Please keep posting. Merry Christmas ❤😊 .

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

That’s awesome that you’re heading out so soon! Best of luck!

[@williambranham6249]

I started early Feb in 2003. Light snow , ice and lows in the single digits. I saw no one until Mountain Crossings and their pipes were frozen and heat was off.

[@khadijahmuhammadkebe9062]

Great job!!!

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@db.mc2]

Thank you Maddie 🙂Hope you're doing well my friend 🙏🏻Appreciate you

[@michaelshea7647]

Never a thru hiker, but having hiked some on the trail in the past, it seems to me that there are significant miles of hiking not counted , for example the distance from the trail to the shelter and back (in my experience shelters were usually off a side trail), miscellaneous miles you walk getting to town, and/or resupply, etc. , that I expect could add a few percent to your total miles , influenced as well by where you choose to bed down, so seems unreasonable to worry about minor elisions... Anyway enjoyed this interesting and specific analysis , we have enjoyed your loquacious and deeply thought presentations as we had followed along in your journey

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you! I agree! Sometimes when I missed Trail miles, I would walk equal or more miles instead!

[@billprice6458]

I'm trying the CDT next year. But I'm going to set my first goal at getting through New Mexico. If I get through that I'll see where I'm at. I'm not going to pressure myself. I want to enjoy it.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Yay! That’s awesome! That sounds like a tough and cool trail

[@j3hikes444]

we always looked at it this way while on trail. ATC will only give you a 2000 miler certificate when you complete the trail. thus we had two hundred miles to play with lol

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Exactly!!

[@jamesturnage2405]

lol, makes sense to me.

[@jamesadams2334]

I did 53.1 miles into Damascus in 19hours and 35 minutes. I also had 79 zero days on my first hike. I did a lot of photography. I shot 16,000 frames of film on that hike. Another great video Maddie. Thank you! geek

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

No way!!! 53 miles?!?! That's incredible!! Sounds like an incredible hike overall!

[@jaywolfe1254]

Hello !!! Jay from Jim Thorpe PA Rock Sylvania

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Hey Jay! Always glad to have you along!!

[@margueritemitchell1829]

Hello from Beautiful British Columbia Canada 🇨🇦 😊🎉😂❤

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Welcome!!

[@joesoutdoorplaces]

Very interesting

[@yesidtac7863]

Muy buenos tip

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Gracias!

[@edhespin4104]

I would not worry about every step on the trail just not skipping 50 miles here and there. Somewhat like you hiked it except I'm a morning person. Start early and end early. Anyway glad you enjoyed it. If you want another adventure consider source to sea. Mississippi river. Pattle the complete river. People do it every year.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Ooooo I’ll have to look into that!

[@laurievierheller6055]

Thanks!

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank YOU

[@pegspun]

Hey Maddie!!

[@garylines5755]

People should hike their own hikes a few miles does not matter but on the PCT we get people that skip a thousand miles and claim to be thru hikers.People should just be honest about it I had a person apply for a job that claimed to have hiked the PCT but had no idea where Campo is and of coarse did not get hired .

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Oh yeah skipping that big of a section really isn’t the same experience!

[@lindal986]

How did you originally record your mileage? Did you use an app or paper map, AWOL guide, multiple sources? I liked how you hit both hiker highlights, that I only know from books, and also made it your own, unique experience. What I gather, it's really hard, on so many levels.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you!! I used the FarOut app to look ahead at the map, but I recorded my milage on the spreadsheet itself! It’s a “google sheet” and there’s an app so it was really easy to jot stuff down as it was happening

[@stevenvarner9806]

On the CDT you're trying to walk the 3000 miles from border to border, and which path you take, is up to you. I personally think the PCTA is going to have to go this way someday due to the inevitable trail closures caused by fires. Some additional alternates might even need to be created by the NFS and NPS. As an AT thru hiker, you're called a "2000 miler", not a two-thousand one hundred ninety whatever miler.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

I’ve heard that about the CDT, but that’s an interesting thought about the PCT doing it too. I know hikers have trouble with wildfires all the time!

[@703am]

interesting, if you ask me you completed the trail 100%, I'm enjoying all this kind of info.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you! It sure felt as if I did 3000 or 4000 miles!

[@ChipChoc00]

☺️👍🏼

[@LuisRivas-qg9kx]

Whats upppp guys

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Hey heyy

[@CrowMagnumMan2024]

Did not hiking all of the perscribed miles keep you from getting a certificate or something official? ....not judging Im blown away with the tenacity and determination you had to have to finish.....just curious how it works.....thanks for all the videos I followed you all the way from day one.....:)

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thanks for following! If you hike 2,000 miles you get a certificate. Some folks, especially when I did Maine out of order, were commenting that I can’t call myself a thru hiker, so this was my chance to say here’s what i did, here’s what I customized, I definitely didn’t make things easy for myself

[@LuckyGoHappy]

@@BeerinBeautifulPlaces I love how you said it, this was not a school assignment. You thru- hiked the Appalachian trail, PERIOD and everyone can just calm down with their judgy comments.

[@CrowMagnumMan2024]

Im glad it worked out for you....I know how tuff it was and you did it.....I was hoping they didnt cheat you on a technicality@@BeerinBeautifulPlaces

[@markbailey6051]

Carnivor menu for your best health.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

interesting!

[@markbailey6051]

@@BeerinBeautifulPlaces yes Maddie, I have eaten beef, eggs and fish since January with great health benefits. Sugar and carbohydrates are addicting but after 3 or 4 weeks the cravings subside. You will also have a clearer mind and more calmness. I watch Doctor Shawn Baker. I think your next adventure should involve sailing..

[@melvinlee5684]

I also watch Shawn Baker and Eric Berg for ketogenic diet and intermittent dieting. They teach you common sense eating that’s not to difficult to follow. You will lose weight, gain energy, and sleep better.

[@williambranham6249]

Carnivore is currently popular due to the internet. Without the internet and YT I doubt there would be much impact. I tried it but did not find it worked well with my metabolism. No one choice of eating eats for everyone. I lost 50 lbs hiking the AT. I ate the same crappy foods I was eating before I started, yet with 15 miles of daily hiking I lost 50. After getting off the trail, I went back to work with no exercise and couldn’t get enough to eat. It took 4 months to regain the 50. It was an interesting experiment.

[@bobusa1960]

As long as your not claiming you thru hiked per the ATC definition, do whatever you want.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

I thought ATC definition was 2000 miles in a calendar year, which I did. I skipped 80 for aquablazing and then maybe 10-15 to avoid logistical headaches

[@bobusa1960]

@@BeerinBeautifulPlaces Definitions per ATC: A “2,000-miler” is a hiker who has walked the entire length of the A.T. and reported their hike completion to the ATC. The ATC has been keeping records of thru-hike completions since the A.T. was first connected in 1937. The ATC uses the term “2,000-miler” as a matter of tradition and convenience. When the term was coined, the A.T. was only slightly more than 2,000 miles. Its length changes every year due to relocations. In recognizing 2,000-milers, we don’t consider issues such as the sequence, direction, speed or whether one carries a pack. We do expect that the people applying for inclusion in our 2,000-miler records have walked the entire Trail. Thruhike - We [ATC] define a thru-hike as a hike of the entire A.T. in 12 months or less. These 12 months are not restricted to a calendar year. Putting these two together, the expectation in both cases is the entire AT is hiked. If it takes more then 12 months, for example via Section Hike, you are a 2000 Miler but not a Thruhiker. If you are a Thruhiker, by definition you are also a 2000 Miler.

[@ottomatic8097]

You came very close to tru hiking the Appalachian Trail, but you skipped here and there. What was the total miles you failed to hike?

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

I never added it up, it’s not important to me!

[@ottomatic8097]

@@BeerinBeautifulPlaces Maybe some day you will feel differently. In other words go back and finish the trail for your own sanity.