How to THRU HIKE the APPALACHIAN TRAIL [Checklists for 4 Phases of Preparing]

So you want to attempt a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, but don't know where to start? Let me help! From the time you decide "yes, I want to do this in my lifetime" to the final weeks before your start date, I created lists of what to do. A prepared start can be less physically and mentally hard, and set you up for success throughout the trail. There's so much to think of and remember, but here's a handy checklist to refer back to!
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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!
00:00 What Is This Video
00:06 Phase 1
05:09 Phase 2
08:13 Phase 3
11:03 Phase 4
14:14 First Resupply Maps
15:57 If You're Overwhelmed

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

I didn't set up the live chat in time for the premiere! But hello! I hope you're all doing well!!!

[@PacemakerandButtons]

You are so inspiring! Even to this old 59 year old hiker. We cannot wait to get out there in February’24 and start hiking our dream. Thank you for your videos

[@melvinlee5684]

You are such a good teacher and a honest person. No hyperbole or BS from you. Your videos are a must see for anyone planning on hiking the AT.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you so much!

[@cwesley2005]

Im 46 got a full time job and kids. Pretty much lost my opportunity to ever through hike. So if you are young, do it! Just seriously do it!

[@jimpetway8907]

You got it down … very well said in all your comments & knowledge . Journeyman Jim here been section hiking the A T for 3yrs starting in May 2024 SoBo finishing up this year in Maryland and Virginia . States I have done . Georgia , North Carolina , Tennessee , Maine , New Hampshire , Vermont , Massachusetts , Connecticut , New York , New Jersey , Pennsylvania & West Virginia … I have enjoyed every minute of the trail my retirement journey I planned for 2 plus years , like you said watched 100s of KZbin videos on everything from hiking , backpacking , ultralight gear and everything in between , nothing else prepares you until you get out onto the trail and just do it . I do suggest everyone do some shake down hikes before you start as I did in Harpers Ferry West Virginia upon I found out very quickly that I had to change shoes . I went from oboz to Salomon , which worked awesome for me , remember to take extra care of your feet , they are carrying you and your gear for 2190+ miles …

[@jimpetway8907]

O and I forgot to mention I’m celebrating my 70th Birthday on the trail this year in August .

[@jss27560]

I’m preparing to get both my knees replaced so I can walk more than a few miles with too much pain. after that I’ll just have to see.

[@jimmyjohnstone5878]

I once did a six day backpack hike up the West Highland Way in Scotland. That was enough for me. Camping is fun but I didn't want more than a week of it. I am impressed by anyone who does these hikes which take months.

[@jeffreyking3807]

Hey young lady. Just a shout out. Still watching the channel. Happy holidays Maddie (ranger) 😊

[@tomsmith3409]

Thank you for valuable information on the AT. I wish you a Merry Christmas Ranger!🎄

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you, same to you!

[@hikeaholicstt]

Thanks! This is so insightful... I'm planning to hike the AT in 2025. I'm coming from the Caribbean so financials, and time off for the 6 months are what I'm working on now.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Nice!! So excited for you!

[@TomG315]

You keep it real and keep your sense of humor. Thanks for the vids!

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Glad you enjoy them!

[@mtadams2009]

Lots of good information. For those of you with little or no backpacking experience don’t worry. I have met so many people on the AT that never backpacked or very little that did fine actually more than fine, they thrived. One thing they all did, was watch videos and learned and they did not carry lots of unnecessary stuff. The app Far Out is great and will pretty much be your best friend on the trail. You will know where you are on the trail, where water is, camp spots, shelter, towns, hostels etc. enjoy take care

[@bboice08]

You are a trail angel❤❤🎉🎉

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Awww!

[@tomellis3218]

Mattie thank you for the quick yet thorough outline on preparing for an AT Adventure. ❤😊Merry Christmas.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

My pleasure!

[@bobv7753]

Thanks Maddie/Ranger for your helpful content. Your shared experience is invaluable to anyone planning a through hike. I followed your 23 AT hike vlog from start to finish. Big congratulations to you for that amazing accomplishment!!! Looking forward to more adventures!!!

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Yay!! Thank you for your support!

[@jaywolfe1254]

Hello from Jim Thorpe PA RockSylvania!!! I've been doing the AT in Pennsylvania but only on weekends

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Yay! Hey Jim!!

[@jr.7302]

I start Sat 3/2 from Amicalola! I'm super exciteds.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Yay!!! That is so awesome!

[@themraceofspades1000]

Thanks for all the help

[@Get_Some_Nature]

Love this video on helping other hikers prepare for the A T!!!! You are so generous Ranger!!! 💚👣

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you! I try!

[@db.mc2]

Thank you Maddie 🙂 Hope you're doing well, stay safe and take care my friend 👍🏻Appreciate you 🙏🏻God Bless

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Doing good, thank you! Hope all is well with you too!

[@jasonjones5213]

Great video, Lot's of great information.

[@edwardgwilcoxjr7232]

I’m impressed once again ! I say to all future thru hikers Ranger Maddie and her Witty Witt’s has it down from her thru hike experience and let’s not forget Smoke Master support. Awesome job. 👍

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank you!!

[@edwardgwilcoxjr7232]

👍

[@kennethharding1882]

Hey.. Really appreciate all the good advice. Going to check through other videos. Goal is to be on the AT in 2026.NOBO Doing as much prepping as possible (like getting out and trying different things in different weather.) Lots to do before then.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Oh that’s awesome!! You’ll be well prepared by that time!

[@jimmymalone3494]

Thank you for sharing with us.

[@Tosadar_Outdoors]

Great, useful advice, thank you for sharing 👌❤️🔥🍻💯

[@Get_Some_Nature]

My shakedown hike for my successful A T thruhike in 2022 was my first successful thruhike, the Colorado Trail in 2021. I when exactly what I was getting into after learning what worked for me and other hikers on the Colorado. The A T is a different beast, but I knew I could do it and I did! 👣

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

That’s how I felt about doing a few other shorter thru hikes before the AT too!

[@allens-place]

Wow ! you certainly have developped a very good and interesting style in your post AT vids, very enjoyable, entertaining and informative. keep up the good work. (from a young/old, 75 yrs, old man living in the southern area of Africa)

[@Josephhikes]

Good Advice ! You really do a good job presenting your videos.

[@amerphoto1]

Maddie, what an informative video and your enthusiasm is contagious. Even though I am retired, time is of essence for me so a thru hike is not possible but... a LASH hike is. These steps you brought to point are essential for any hike and I plan on using your steps to hike the New York State section of the AT in the next couple of years. Have seen all your 2023 AT videos and love them! Thanks for the information, look forward to more of them.

[@youarenotalmostthere]

Thanks for the tips.

[@joankline343]

Excellent video and advice! I hope you and Smoke are doing well. Hope to see you again soon. Merry Christmas! 🎄

[@703am]

thank you for the info, I don't think I could do the whole trail but am planning on doing at least a part of it... hope all is well with you and smoke, Merry Christmas

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

That’s so cool, 703am! I hope it goes wonderful for ya! Thank you, and merry Christmas to you too!

[@1dancier]

Great info. So much to learn.The little map near the end is gold. What were your best towns? Maybe towns you could take a few days rest in.

[@mcldotcom]

The Answers ( MANY TIMES ) Lye within the Questions being asked. The Difference between ( FACTS ) and FICTION ?? Those are as wide and the World is Diverse. A statement to get all your viewers ( THINKING ) Good times, Bad times, (WE) all have had a share in that pie. I could have skipped leaving a note here *YET* after seeing many clips that have been posted. WORDS still need to keep flowing. By now you have heard. Each journey begins with a *SINGLE STEP* - Forward. Planning to most is what gets them into (HOT WATER) Over - Thinking instead of trying it out to see what does and will NOT work for you personally. A few outstanding tips to share with all (HERE). LESS is MORE and just like bigger shoe sizes seem like ( OVER- Kill ) the ones who do it ( RARELY ) have said what a TRUE blessing it truly is. SOCKS, Brands, Jackets, UNDERWARE, Commando ( FREE-Style ) CROCS are the Ticket, Even when no one else wants to admit it... A few hours, Days , weeks long, months without YOUR HOME BASE shower. Walking sticks, Cold soak meals instead of cooking trying to lose those ounces and save your back ? Who is more right or wrong. Are any of them smoking * C R A C K * ? Each person, YOUNG or Old. Male - Female -( SOME WHERE ) In between maybe. Go fast, Start extra early, No Breaks into town unless YOU want to forget the aches and pains of what got you there in the very first place. Pizza, BEER, RAMEN that never ends, Tortillas and Peanut butter ( WHO ) would have guessed. Trail Magic, Trail Angels, Hitch Hiking or Getting UBERS to find you too. PAY it FORWARD, Give back to those who's Names YOU never actually knew. Who gave you yours ? Would it be better is it was changed or stayed the same for another 6 months or more ? PEOPLE tend to say one thing then do another. HUMAN Nature is FUNNY at BEST. Routines and the RUTS each hates to admit. NORTH Bound ( South Bound ) Section Hikers , doing it all in the same Calendar YEAR. Pre-Covid ( POST ) YOU know what then ? Shelters are for Cheats ??? Did YOU go Hostile and worry about the SHEETS ? ? ? Hook -ups, CHEATERS, Nasty smells that last for weeks even after showers and laundry days two and three. YOURS, MINE - OURS - Everyone Elses stories from *HELL*. Do it now? Wait thill Later. PCT, AT, There has to be more in store ( YES ) NO - Not in this lifetime. WHAT have YOU lost your mind then ? Money is about Budgets. Spend a little here, save a whole lot there. Send it ahead? Buy on the Fly ? Always Remember that VARIETY is the S P I C E of Life. Always have some sweet and salty treats. YOU can NEVER actually have enough water. Toilet paper is a Luxury *BUTT* do you use the right hand or the left when No one else is looking ? Cat Holes, Zip Lock Baggies that smell like * C R A P * in Your back pack - Oh What a Felling ( YEAH ) were on the trail again. PRIVY here - stay away from there. Look up from the GREEN Curtain. Mountains YOU go up can make you Sick to your stomach. Bandages, Mole Skin, Aspirin, Allergy medicines, Girls have other needs. Do YOU Pee behind a Tree or stay just off the Trail to make sure NO ONE Sneaks Up on YOU too ? Have seen it, Heard it, Been there, and DONE away with the GOSSIP and Myth busting Rockets the internet is Famous for. Its an Outing. A Life Long Dream. Many will fail within the Very few days being on trail. Break downs like injuries that YOU were NOT prepared to see or deal with either. Laugh , Cry, HELL - Scream it from the top of your lungs. Today - IS - Yesterdays - TOMORROW. There is always another way to build a wheel that goes no where until it does out o f control sliding down a hill in pain and agony . What that the right knee, left knew or ( WEEEEE) Knee all the others were complaining about seeing ??? YOUR Welcome in Advance. Riddles , Rhyme's, That all come out in time. Have a Better day. Sing or Complin its all the same. If No one is listening ( THEN ) it never really happened ( YES or NO ) Its just another day...

[@Amilliondreams87]

This is one of the best comprehensive guides I've ever seen. Usually people just start filming on trail, I didn't even know about registering for hikes or Farout until 2020. I literally just decided to do something and followed the blazes. This is WAY more helpful lol.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Oh good! Glad it was helpful!

[@appalachianwanderseeker]

Super helpful - thank you Maddie!

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Glad to be of service!

[@Jan.harvey]

This is so awesome! You answered every question I could have imagined. You covered everything so quickly. I'll have to listen again to catch it all.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thanks! I tried to talk fast in this video because it seems like that's what people want these days, but I don't know if I'll stick with it, because like you said, it was hard to catch!

[@laruep2275]

Love your videos

[@TheMrMaaaaa]

I am not planning to hike the AT since I am not even from the US but you really made me want to Hike and especially ThruHike in Europe aswell. Unfortunately wild camping is not allowed in every country over here so that might be a bit more difficult. But your journey through the AT made me really want to visit the US at one point - to see the nature, get to know the people and just experience it what it's like. Also kinda frustrating since the US is so big and and you kinda have to chose where to go and what to see and can't do it all.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Yeah, I definitely know what you mean! I feel bad for visitors because to get away from the cities and into nature, there's very little public transportation and you'd probably have to rent a car. Plus bears and mountain lions are scary too.

[@mars_hikes967]

Hike the Hexatrek! It is nicer than the AT and camping is not a problem as long as you don't set up camp in someones yard.

[@TheMrMaaaaa]

@@BeerinBeautifulPlaces That is true, even tho renting a car would not be a problem since I would enjoy a roadtrip. I know that was so scary when you were talking about wild animals. Can't imagine what it must be like to face a bear or a mountain lion. We don't have that (at least here in germany)

[@mtadams2009]

@@TheMrMaaaaaOn the AT there are only black bears and they not big man eaters. Yes it could happen but it’s very rare. On the AT I think it’s ticks actually deer ticks that are an issue. Take care

[@aprilfensom6412]

I am planning for 2025, just have to much going on in 24. I will be 55🎉 and I have to get better gear then I have. I have been a camper all my life just not a lot of hiking for long miles. 50 miles is the most I have done in 6 days. Most of the time it's just day hikes.

[@justinward3218]

One day…I live 3 hours from Springer. Went there today. One day…

[@IamMuddy]

Good tips, thanks! Muddy 2025

[@mattmcdowell5225]

"Nobody can motivate you, like you" LOVE THAT!!! Good vid Maddie, Thanks.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Thank YOU!!!

[@marymorris4452]

I can't afford that,so I going to try the north bend trail in WV this summer

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

It is pretty expensive. The North Bend Trail sounds awesome!

[@encouragesolutions2595]

Great intro and summary. Thanks. I'm planning to come to a wedding in May but would like to do 8-10 days on the trail but have no clue where I could start and finish while experiencing great scenery & minimum of mountain climbs as I'm 64. Any advice or where to look would be appreciated. BTW Wedding is in Doylestown PA.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Pennsylvania, especially the part near that wedding, is tricky because there’s a lot of rocks and sometimes far gaps between water sources. I don’t remember there being a lot of rocks coming out of Port Clinton, and you could go to Palmerton which is 40 miles away. You could go on to wind Gap, for 20 more miles, but right after palmerton, there’s a steep, rocky hill

[@pegspun]

Wonderful video, Maddie! So much good information! just curious… Who was the oldest hiker you came across?

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

I think the oldest was 85!

[@pegspun]

@@BeerinBeautifulPlaces Oh Wow!!! Wasn’t expecting to hear that! How wonderful 🤍

[@sweetbeep]

Ticks.

[@KymeKim]

Just realized I commented on a video from 10 months ago, I am new to this. Wonderful videos! Please check comment from the other video. Thank you. Kim

[@cherokeesurvival8340]

I THINK YOU DID THE FIRST PERFECT VIDEO = FOR BEGINGER PERSON HIKER -I Wanna Hike the Appalachian Trail- NOW WHAT?! [Checklists for 4 Phases of Preparing] MY FRIEND

[@neuro7097]

Your body get worn out towards the end of the trail? I thought you just get in better and better shape.

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

Oh yes! It was difficult to squat down from Virginia onwards for me!

[@neuro7097]

How about post recovery? Are your legs stronger than ever?@@BeerinBeautifulPlaces