In order to be best prepared to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail a lot of planning is involved for a long-distance backpacking trip. Celina Wilt successfully completed this adventure in 2018 and she has shared 5 tips that will make women feel most comfortable on the trail.
Make sure you have the right pack for your thru hike on the AT. I used the Osprey Aura 50 which worked great for me and I only made one modification by sewing on a larger hip pocket for ultimate granola bar storage. Having a pack that fits your body type and is lightweight is essential for thru-hiking comfortably. I recommend testing several packs beforehand and getting used to your pack by carrying it on day hikes before your start date.
Treat your clothes with Permetherin for prevention against bugs. All the way from Georgia to Maine you will encounter many insects, but New Hampshire is full of ticks and ticks mean Lyme disease. You can send your clothes to Insect Shield to be treated with Permetherin before your thru-hike. Permetheirn saved me on the trail and I didn't end up getting bit by any ticks. It is also very helpful with preventing mosquitoes!
Less is more for a long-distance backpacking trip. Make sure you slow down if you notice any aches or pains in your body because walking less is the only way you are going to get better. Plantar fasciitis and stress fractures will both kick you off the trail and take their sweet time to heal. I recommend starting your thru-hike with low mileage days and working up to higher mileage days when your body feels strong.
Use Smartwater or LIFEWTR bottles. I used a 2L bladder for the first 100 miles before quickly realizing that bottles were the best option. Both Smartwater and LIFEWTR are lightweight, easy to replace, hard to break and work well with water filters. The plus side of using LIFEWTR bottles is the different art on all the bottles so you won’t mix up yours with your friends on the trail.
Hike at night on hot days. Night hiking became one of my most enjoyable times to hike on the Appalachian Trail. During the hot summer days I hiked at night and I felt more comfortable and had more energy. There were also considerably less bugs and I was able to rest during the times with the most heat and humidity on the trail.
