Dan's AT FAQ
or
"Funny You Should Ask"
Long-distance hikers tend to get asked the same questions over and
over again. Unfortunately, some think this gives them license to give
rude, flippant answers. I don't mind answering a sincere question,
even if I've heard it a million times before. But now that I have the
Web at my disposal, please see if your question is already here.
How long did it take you?
77 days the first summer. 76 days the second summer. That sums to
right around 5 months. This was a diligent pace for me.
Where did you cut the Trail in half?
I finished my first summer at Pa. 34, 1.3 mi North of Tagg Run
Shelters, 10.5 mi South of Boiling Springs, Pa., near Carlisle, Pa.
What was your favorite section?
The best part was watching the regions change beneath my feet.
Each is awesome in its own way. I really liked the Grayson Highlands
in the South. In general, I found Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine
to be extraordinarily sepectacular.
How far did you walk each day?
It totally depended on terrain, weather, pack weight, emotional
state, shelter and campsite location, and plenty of other things. My
longest day was 23.5 mi. Plenty of days were less than half of that.
The mathematical average (including days off, etc.) is about 14 mi. I
don't count miles unless they are on the Trail (side-trips don't
count).
Did you ever take a day off?
I took 5 "zero-mile"days. No two were in a row. This is
much fewer than many long-distance hikers. I would try to schedule a
short day into town so that I had much of the afternoon to take care
of town chores.
How did you ever find the time?
I'm a student. I did it after my junior and senior years of
college. I am now in graduate school.
Why didn't you do the whole Trail at once?
I'm a student and I was unwilling to take a semester off. I looked in
the mirror and asked myself if touching the sign atop Katahdin would
mean any less to me because I had a 10-month break. The answer for me
was no, but I respect that others do not feel the same way.
Did you do a lot of hiking beforehand?
Only three prior trips were longer than a weekend and the longest trip
was about 10 days.
How did you get your Trail name ("Focus")?
It refers to my dedication to the mission. Especially early in
my hike, I would spend a lot of time making sure I was doing
everything possible to ensure success.
Were you a purist? Did you hike every inch of the
Trail?
That depends what you mean. I didn't yellow-blaze
(skip any section via road access). I didn't blue-blaze (take an
alternate trail thus missing a section of the AT), except to take a
shelter loop (take a different path into and out of a shelter). I
didn't slackpack (hike without my pack). I hiked the entire Trail
consecutively South to North (no rearranged or Southbound sections).
So am I a purist? I couldn't care less. All that annoys me is people
who are stuck on declaring me unpure for taking a shelter loop even
though they would hike sections in the opposite direction. Hike your
own hike and don't attach or unattach any labels to me. I don't care
if others are supposedly purists or not. Enjoy your time on the Trail
and do it the way that is meaningful to you.
Why did you want to hike the Trail?
I really don't know. But it was very important to me and it will
always be one of the most rewarding, amazing experiences of my life.
Did you feel safe?
Yes. The most afraid I felt was walking from the Howard
Johnson's to the Winn Dixie on US 220 because trucks were coming at me
at 55 mph around a blind curve.
How did you get into town?
If it was a mile or less I would generally walk. Otherwise I
would hitchhike. Hitchhiking was an inherent risk I accepted before
beginning my trip. Except for receiving one uninvited sermon I met
only the friendliest people in the world.
What was the best place you stayed?
Moreland Gap Shelter. It's about 30 years old with duct tape on
the roof and a weather-beaten floor. It's small, there's no view, and
the water is 150 yards down a steep hill. But I got in during a
horrific thunderstorm that soaked the front 2 feet of the shelter. I
sat crouched in the back in my warm dry clothes and made dinner as the
heavens fell around me. It was very comfortable.
Dan Grossman Focus, Ga->Pa '96, Pa->Me '97
danieljg@cs.cornell.edu