Expectation versus Reality

Research The first thing you should realize about the Appalachian Trail, or nature for that matter, is to never underestimate it. My first big mistake was exactly that, and it was a mean one. I had jumped head first into my computer, researching anything and everything related to the trail. I had watched dozens of YouTube videos, read articles, books and talked to people who had successfully hiked it. I was full of adrenaline and excitement for this monumental task that I had dreamed of for years. For me this part was the "easiest" to overlook, it was the first step in this cycle of shit.

Take your time to research. Pay attention to all the small details and be ready to look outside the box

Time and planning

Time and planning is also a MAJOR part of this hike. I'm not sure about other hikers, but to me it seems like most people take upwards of a year or more to properly plan their hike. I somehow decided FOUR MONTHS was going to be sufficient. Boy was I wrong! Best thing that you can do is to give yourself ample time to plane everything out. You will go through multiple stages of trial and error with every one of these topics, trust me.

Plan ahead, you'll thank yourself later

Gear cost/Weight

This is without a doubt the most controversial topic of the hike. This isn't your typical hike in the woods, you need to buy reliable quality gear, and that shit is expensive. Over and over I heard the quote of two to six thousand to complete the hike. (This was gear cost and food while hiking). Don't be fooled for a second. Most of us own cars, have bills and more.. these things don't just go on hold. As I began to purchase my gear, I smiled as I placed every item in my cart, knowing that it was exactly what I needed. I watched my costs add up, $500, $1000, $2000.. that smile turned to a smirk. It wasn't over, I ordered gear on Amazon trying to save money. Purchases, returns, losses, it never stopped; $3000. Woah, what in the hell? That smirk was now a frown. It's okay, right? It's for a good cause. I did some math and set up auto pay for my bills, ~$4000 for 6 months.. I'm now in $7,000. I forgot about how im getting down there; rental car, $400. What about cost while hiking? Let's say $2,000. All said and done, this trip will have cost me nearly TEN THOUSAND dollars. No one will have told you that. You'll also hear the word "ultralight" thousands of times, don't let it fool you. You're probably going to find lighterpack.com, and become a UL junkie. You'll get a digital scale and start finding out how to save weight. Every piece of gear you buy will come down to weight. Keep your base weight low. You go online, see people with a 20 lb full weight. Okay cool, you can do that. You feel great, your pack is at 25lbs; but it's not over. Did you forget your food and water? Packed up for a test hike you sling your pack over your shoulder. 36lbs. Your typical 4.6mph pace crawls to a steady 3. After 2 miles you shoulders and hips are begging for relief. This is fucking heavy.

Check your finances before you start, figure it all out. Expect to spend a lot of money while you're gone. Find the best gear and price. Go into stores, find a bargain. Test your gear rigorously. Pack and unpack, go for short hikes. You WILL find flaws in your gear. Fix them now.

Food

This wasn't as much of a shock to me, but start figuring out food early on. Dial back your habbits, eating less food. (We all snack uncontrollably). What you consume on the trail will be vastly different from home, so spend some time researching what others eat and experiment for yourself. Test your stove alot, learning to cook on a tiny one pot burner can be tough at first. It's also good to note that food and water weight alot. 5 days of food for me weighed in at 7lbs. This is where your pack weight will crest over your initial idea of "base weight". Your back will also crest over. Oh, don't eat those $1 top/maruchan ramen noodles either. They contain a preservative called TBHQ. If you enjoy living, don't eat that.

Food.. Don't underestimate it's weight or size. You'll have a 10-14L dry bag just for it. On the bright side, as you eat it lightens up.

Transportation

Last one. In all the crazy commotion, did you forget about how your even getting to Georgia in the first place? Everyone's situation is different here, but pay very close attention to your means of travel. It's also very important to factor in cost, because none of it is cheap.

Figure out how you're even getting to Georgia.

Take everything here with a grain of salt. This is my hike, yours will be different. My choice of gear also included expensive camera equipment and top of the line clothing.