Steps to Prepare for a Thruhike

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Common tasks to complete prior to beginning a thruhike.

Friends, Family, and Employment

  • Find a person or service to handle your mail.
  • Notify your landlord and employer.

Logistics & Life Organization

  • Arrange travel to your starting point.
  • Learn which phone carriers are most reliable for your trail, and consider switching, if necessary.
  • Setup your blog/social media/etc.
  • Get any needed permits.
  • Put your belonging in storage.
  • Set your email vacation reminder.
  • If you have a vehicle that will be placed in storage or not driven, have someone routinely run the vehicle, or disconnect the battery and add a fuel stabilizer to the gas tank

Gear

  • Figure out section-specific gear. Will you need warmer layers? An ice axe? Extra water capacity?
  • Check the condition of your gear, and make any needed repairs.

Trail Planning & Resupply

  • Confirm that water sources will be available during your intended timeframe.
  • Learn about the resupply options on your trail. Determine if and where you would like to send resupply boxes.
  • Keep an eye on the snowpack, if applicable.

Bills & Finances

  • Cancel your car insurance and, if applicable, surrender plates/registration. Depending on location, local laws may require comprehensive-only/parked car insurance, even if a car is in storage.
  • Cancel or pause subscriptions.
  • Ensure all bills are set to autopay with email and text notifications turned on for payment status
  • Notify your credit card company you’ll be traveling. Make sure you know your debit PIN.
  • Check the expiration date on credit and debit cards, drivers license, passport, and so on. Renewing while on the trail can be difficult.

Physical Training & Skill Building

  • Practice using your ice axe.
  • Review the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace.
  • Go on some shakedown hikes to test your gear and comfort levels.
  • Practice throwing a bear hang, if necessary.
  • Learn to identify plants such as poison ivy, poison oak, and poodle-dog bush, and learn how to safely remove ticks.

Health

  • Get in shape.
  • Visit your doctor and dentist for check-ups, and if applicable, receive vaccinations/boosters and renew prescriptions for the duration you expect to be on trail.
  • Health insurance.

Navigation, Cell Phones, and Apps

  • If bringing a beacon, setup the subscription, configure the device, and practice using it.
  • Download books, movies, music, apps, maps, etc.

References