Walking 2,178 Miles in 98 Days: My Appalachian Trail Log, Ultralight Gear, and Field Notes
In the summer of 2009, my hiking partner and I took a Greyhound bus to Gainesville, Georgia, shared a cab to Springer Mountain, and started walking north to Maine.
Most Appalachian Trail thru-hikers take five to six months. We wanted to see what would happen if we treated the trail as a high-mileage physical and logistical problem rather than a relaxed summer stroll. We hiked 2,178.3 miles in 98 days, averaging 22.48 miles per day. I carried an individual ultralight pack base weight of 5.73 pounds.
This is the complete record of that hike: the daily distance data, my itemized gear list, how hiking with a partner kept our pace steady, state-by-state observations, and the physical reality of moving fast over mountain terrain.
Key Numbers at a Glance
The daily numbers below come directly from my hiking log:
| Metric | Recorded Value |
|---|---|
| Route | Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine |
| Party | 2 hikers (hiked together with a partner) |
| Total Distance | 2,178.3 cumulative miles |
| Hiking Days | 98 days (May 21 to August 26, 2009) |
| Overall Average Pace | 22.48 miles per day |
| Sample Standard Deviation | 5.04 miles |
| Marathon Days (26.2+ miles) | 20 days |
| Days Over 30 Miles | 6 days |
| Longest Single Day | 33.2 miles (Day 29, Wapiti Shelter, VA) |
| Shortest Single Day | 5.2 miles (Day 98, Katahdin summit, ME) |
| My Pack Base Weight | 5.73 pounds (91.75 oz) |
A standard 5-month thru-hike moves at about 14.5 miles per day. By Day 98, an average thru-hiker is around southern Pennsylvania or Massachusetts. Moving at 22.5 miles per day compresses the timeline, but it requires dialing in pack weight, food resupply, and a disciplined daily routine with your partner.
The 5.73-Pound Ultralight Gear Setup
In 2009, ultralight backpacking was far less common than it is today. Carrying a base weight under 6 pounds required stripping away almost everything that outdoor retailers marketed as mandatory.
Hiking together with a partner made the logistical load manageable. We coordinated gear choices so we were not duplicating unnecessary weight, while keeping individual essentials self-contained. I used a 19-ounce frameless pack, slept under a 5x7 flat silnylon tarp, and cooked over a homemade alcohol can stove that weighed half an ounce. If an item did not prevent hypothermia, keep water potable, or keep our feet moving, it stayed off the packing list.
Complete Itemized Pack Weight
| Category | Item | Weight (oz) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pack | GoLite Jam Backpack | 19.0 | Frameless, simple roll-top pack |
| Sleep | Marmot Pounder Sleeping Bag | 17.0 | Synthetic 40F bag, fast-drying |
| Sleep | RidgeRest 3/4 Foam Pad | 9.4 | Closed-cell foam, trimmed to length |
| Shelter | Silnylon Flat Tarp (5ft x 7ft) | 7.5 | Pitched with trekking poles |
| Weather | DriDucks Rain Jacket | 5.7 | Fragile but waterproof and breathable |
| Electronics | Digital Camera with battery | 9.1 | Carried for photos and journal notes |
| Clothing | Extra Darn Tough Socks | 3.5 | Worn in rotation to prevent blisters |
| Shelter | Titanium / Aluminum Tent Stakes (6) | 2.8 | Ground anchors for tarp guyouts |
| Lighting | Petzl Headlamp with batteries | 2.7 | Used for night hiking and camp setups |
| Hydration | 2x Platypus 1.8L Reservoirs | 2.2 | Collapsible, zero empty weight |
| Protection | Heavy-Duty Pack Liner Bag | 2.1 | Kept sleeping bag dry inside pack |
| Water | Aquamira Water Treatment Drops | 2.0 | Chemical chlorine dioxide drops |
| Hygiene | Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Soap | 2.0 | Multi-use washing |
| Tools | Leatherman Micra Multi-Tool | 1.7 | Scissors and small blade |
| Shelter | Polycro Plastic Groundsheet | 1.5 | Window-insulation plastic barrier |
| Storage | Silnylon Stuff Sacks | 1.2 | Ditty bags for food and loose gear |
| Food Hang | Spectra Bear Bag Cord | 1.0 | 50ft lightweight cord |
| Kitchen | Homemade Alcohol Can Stove | 0.5 | Built from an aluminum soda can |
| Essentials | ID, debit card, cash | 0.4 | Town stops and permits |
| Kitchen | Light Plastic Spoon | 0.2 | Eating utensils |
| Kitchen | Mini Lighter and Waterproof Matches | 0.2 | Stove ignition |
| Total Base Weight | All 20 Pack Items | 91.75 oz | 5.73 pounds total |
On my body, I wore Montrail trail runners (22.3 oz), running shorts (5.2 oz), a cycling jersey (4.0 oz), and Darn Tough socks (2.1 oz), while carrying Leki trekking poles (18.0 oz).
What Held Up and What Failed
The 5x7 tarp required careful site selection. If wind whipped rain sideways during an exposed ridge storm, spray was unavoidable. But pitching it low in dense trees kept us dry through downpours from Georgia to Maine.
The DriDucks jacket tore easily against briars, requiring duct tape patches, but it cost under $20 and breathed far better than heavy proprietary shells. Trail runners caused early foot soreness, but they dried within thirty minutes of creek crossings, while heavy leather boots remained sodden for days.
Daily Mileage Dynamics: 20 Marathons and 6 Days Over 30 Miles
Maintaining a 22.5 mile average on rugged mountain terrain comes from continuous motion rather than speed. Having a partner was central to that pace: we woke at dawn, started walking within fifteen minutes, kept food breaks to fifteen minutes, and kept moving until dusk. When one of us felt sluggish or dealt with aching joints, the other set the tempo.
Key patterns from the daily record:
- Early ramp: We opened with 15.1 miles on Day 1, reached 22.0 miles on Day 2, and hit 24.0 miles by Day 9 in the Great Smoky Mountains.
- The Mid-Atlantic speedway: Days 24 to 70 across Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey were the fastest stretches of the hike. Terrain flattened out, trail legs were fully conditioned, and 25-to-30-mile days became standard.
- The 30-plus mile club: 6 days exceeded 30 miles, peaking at 33.2 miles on Day 29 to Wapiti Shelter and 32.1 miles on Day 42 to Rock Spring Hut in Shenandoah.
- The rugged Northern slowdown: Mileage dropped sharply in the White Mountains of New Hampshire (Day 77 to 83) and southern Maine (Day 84 to 88). Mahoosuc Notch and vertical granite climbs cut our daily pace down to 18 to 20 miles despite hiking full 12-hour days.
State-by-State Field Notes: Springer to Katahdin
1. Georgia (Days 1 to 4 | 79.3 miles | 20.7 mi/day)
Georgia wastes no time. The climbs start immediately out of Springer Mountain, steep, humid, and rocky. My feet started hurting on day one, a dull ache that never completely disappeared for the next three months.
That first week was about learning how to exist outdoors together. We figured out how to pitch our tarps cleanly, how to keep sleeping insulation dry in steady downpours, and how to eat constant calories while moving.
2. North Carolina and the Smokies (Days 5 to 14 | 192.5 miles | 18.9 mi/day)
The balds in North Carolina delivered our first panoramic views. Max Patch felt like an open meadow floating above the clouds. But open ridgelines also meant watching severe thunderstorms roll in from miles away with nowhere to shelter.
In the Great Smoky Mountains, cold rain, shelter rules, and severe stomach sickness hit around Day 11. Pushing through 20-mile days with fever and nausea was miserable, but stopping in wet woods felt worse than walking toward town.
3. Tennessee (Days 15 to 23 | 179.5 miles | 24.7 mi/day)
Hot Springs and Damascus marked our first true trail town resets. Real food, grocery stores, and hot showers made a massive psychological difference. We ate double orders of diner food, pizza, and ice cream.
By Roan Mountain and the Highlands, our bodies had adapted. Daily soreness became background noise, and 24 to 28 miles felt sustainable from morning to night.
4. Virginia (Days 24 to 45 | 538.8 miles | 24.5 mi/day)
Virginia is massive, making up one-quarter of the entire trail. It plays tricks on your head because you walk for three weeks and remain in the same state.
This was our fastest extended block. On Day 26, we hiked 30.6 miles to Partnership Shelter and ordered delivery pizza directly to the trail. On Day 29, we hit our hike-wide record of 33.2 miles to Wapiti Shelter. Shenandoah National Park brought paved waysides, blackberry milkshakes, and Day 42’s 32.1-mile push.
5. West Virginia and Maryland (Days 46 to 48 | 69.5 miles | 23.2 mi/day)
Crossing the pedestrian bridge into Harpers Ferry was a huge mental milestone for us. At the psychological halfway point, Maine stopped feeling like a fantasy. Maryland was gentle, rolling terrain with well-maintained shelters and stone monuments.
6. Pennsylvania (Days 49 to 57 | 222.5 miles | 24.7 mi/day)
Pennsylvania is famous for sharp, ankle-twisting rocks. You stop looking at mountain views and spend eight hours a day staring directly at your shoe placement. Shoe rubber wore down quickly on the jagged sandstone.
Trail magic in Pennsylvania was remarkable. Coolers of cold soda and fresh fruit left at gravel road crossings kept morale high. At Pine Grove Furnace, we completed the traditional half-gallon ice cream challenge in one sitting.
7. New Jersey and New York (Days 58 to 64 | 177.3 miles | 25.3 mi/day)
New Jersey was surprisingly flat and fast, producing our highest state average of 25.7 miles per day along the Kittatinny Ridge.
New York brought short, steep rock scrambles like Bear Mountain. Hiking within forty miles of Manhattan felt surreal. We could see glimpses of distant skyline haze from granite knobs, then drop down into quiet wooded notches.
8. Connecticut and Massachusetts (Days 65 to 70 | 147.6 miles | 24.8 mi/day)
Summer heat and mosquitoes peaked in southern New England. Connecticut followed the Housatonic River before climbing into the Berkshires. On Day 64, we logged 31.6 miles to Silver Hill, and on Day 70, we crossed Mount Greylock into Vermont.
9. Vermont (Days 71 to 76 | 139.8 miles | 23.3 mi/day)
The Long Trail overlap brought classic green mountain terrain: deep mud, wooden bog planks, and cool mornings. On Day 75, we pushed 30.5 miles to Thistle Hill Shelter, crossing into Hanover, New Hampshire the next morning.
10. New Hampshire (Days 77 to 83 | 138.7 miles | 19.8 mi/day)
New Hampshire reset the physical difficulty completely. The White Mountains are steep granite walls with massive vertical drop and exposed ridgelines above tree line.
Climbing Franconia Ridge and Mount Washington was humbling. Our daily mileage dropped below 20 miles per day despite pushing from 6:30 AM to dark. Every step required quad and knee braking on wet granite steps.
11. Maine and Mount Katahdin (Days 84 to 98 | 213.2 miles | 20.9 mi/day)
Southern Maine started with Mahoosuc Notch, known as the trail’s toughest mile. It is a jumble of giant boulders where you take off your pack and crawl through subterranean ice caves.
After Monson, we entered the 100-Mile Wilderness: no paved roads, no town resupplies, just dense boreal forest, river fords, and root-choked singletrack. Carrying five days of food in frameless packs made the first thirty miles heavy, but our pace stayed above 21 miles per day.
On Day 98 (August 26, 2009), we climbed the 5.2-mile final ascent of Mount Katahdin through the boulders of the Hunt Trail. Reaching Baxter Peak in cold, howling wind and touching the wooden sign marked the end of 98 days and 2,178 miles together.
Complete 98-Day Distance Log
The complete daily itinerary from my original trail spreadsheet:
| Day | Date | Night Location / Shelter | Miles | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Trail Day 1 | Gooch Mtn Shelter | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Day 2 | Trail Day 2 | Hogpen Gap Camp Site | 22.0 | 37.1 |
| Day 3 | Trail Day 3 | Tray Mtn Shelter | 19.4 | 56.5 |
| Day 4 | Trail Day 4 | Muskrat Creek Shelter | 22.8 | 79.3 |
| Day 5 | Trail Day 5 | Big Spring Shelter | 19.3 | 98.6 |
| Day 6 | Trail Day 6 | Wayah Shelter | 20.1 | 118.7 |
| Day 7 | Trail Day 7 | NOC | 16.3 | 135.0 |
| Day 8 | Trail Day 8 | Brown Fork Gap Shelter | 16.0 | 151.0 |
| Day 9 | Trail Day 9 | Mollie’s Ridge Shelter | 24.0 | 175.0 |
| Day 10 | Trail Day 10 | Double Spring Gap Shelter | 18.9 | 193.9 |
| Day 11 | Trail Day 11 | Peck’s Corner Shelter | 21.2 | 215.1 |
| Day 12 | Trail Day 12 | State Line Branch Camp Site | 22.2 | 237.3 |
| Day 13 | Trail Day 13 | Walnut Mtn Shelter | 21.4 | 258.7 |
| Day 14 | Trail Day 14 | Hot Springs, NC | 13.1 | 271.8 |
| Day 15 | Trail Day 15 | Little Laurel Shelter | 19.6 | 291.4 |
| Day 16 | Trail Day 16 | Hogback Ridge Shelter | 21.5 | 312.9 |
| Day 17 | Trail Day 17 | No Business Knob Shelter | 20.7 | 333.6 |
| Day 18 | Trail Day 18 | Nolichucky River | 6.3 | 339.9 |
| Day 19 | Trail Day 19 | Clyde Smith Shelter | 26.2 | 366.1 |
| Day 20 | Trail Day 20 | Stan Murray Shelter | 11.2 | 377.3 |
| Day 21 | Trail Day 21 | Mountaineer Shelter | 19.7 | 397.0 |
| Day 22 | Trail Day 22 | Watauga Lake Shelter | 26.3 | 423.3 |
| Day 23 | Trail Day 23 | Mcqueen’s Knob Emergency Shelter | 28.0 | 451.3 |
| Day 24 | Trail Day 24 | Saunders Shelter | 21.1 | 472.4 |
| Day 25 | Trail Day 25 | Wise Shelter | 23.7 | 496.1 |
| Day 26 | Trail Day 26 | Partnership (Pizza) Shelter | 30.6 | 526.7 |
| Day 27 | Trail Day 27 | Knot Maul Branch Shelter | 25.6 | 552.3 |
| Day 28 | Trail Day 28 | VA 615 Camp Site | 23.8 | 576.1 |
| Day 29 | Trail Day 29 | Wapiti Shelter | 33.2 | 609.3 |
| Day 30 | Trail Day 30 | Pearisburg, VA | 16.6 | 625.9 |
| Day 31 | Trail Day 31 | Pine Swamp Branch Shelter | 19.3 | 645.2 |
| Day 32 | Trail Day 32 | Sarver Hollow Shelter | 24.9 | 670.1 |
| Day 33 | Trail Day 33 | Catawba Camp Site | 22.8 | 692.9 |
| Day 34 | Trail Day 34 | Daleville, Va | 25.7 | 718.6 |
| Day 35 | Trail Day 35 | Cove Mountain Shelter | 24.9 | 743.5 |
| Day 36 | Trail Day 36 | Petites Gap (Mom) | 21.9 | 765.4 |
| Day 37 | Trail Day 37 | US 60 (Mom) | 31.7 | 797.1 |
| Day 38 | Trail Day 38 | VA 56, Tye River (Mom) | 25.7 | 822.8 |
| Day 39 | Trail Day 39 | Dripping Rock | 15.4 | 838.2 |
| Day 40 | Trail Day 40 | Calf Mtn Shelter | 21.2 | 859.4 |
| Day 41 | Trail Day 41 | Pinefield Hut | 26.2 | 885.6 |
| Day 42 | Trail Day 42 | Rock Spring Hut | 32.1 | 917.7 |
| Day 43 | Trail Day 43 | Gravel Springs Hut | 28.4 | 946.1 |
| Day 44 | Trail Day 44 | Jim and Molly Denton Shelter | 18.7 | 964.8 |
| Day 45 | Trail Day 45 | Sam Moore Shelter | 25.3 | 990.1 |
| Day 46 | Trail Day 46 | Harper’s Ferry, WV | 22.4 | 1012.5 |
| Day 47 | Trail Day 47 | Pine Knob Shelter | 23.9 | 1036.4 |
| Day 48 | Trail Day 48 | Tumbling Run Shelters | 26.3 | 1062.7 |
| Day 49 | Trail Day 49 | Tom’s Run Shelters | 25.8 | 1088.5 |
| Day 50 | Trail Day 50 | Boiling Springs, PA | 23.1 | 1111.6 |
| Day 51 | Trail Day 51 | Duncannon, PA | 25.7 | 1137.3 |
| Day 52 | Trail Day 52 | Rausch Gap Shelter | 28.8 | 1166.1 |
| Day 53 | Trail Day 53 | Hertlein Campsite | 23.0 | 1189.1 |
| Day 54 | Trail Day 54 | Windsor Furnace Shelter | 24.2 | 1213.3 |
| Day 55 | Trail Day 55 | Bake Oven Knob Shelter | 26.5 | 1239.8 |
| Day 56 | Trail Day 56 | Leroy A. Smith Shelter | 23.6 | 1263.4 |
| Day 57 | Trail Day 57 | Delaware Water Gap, PA | 20.2 | 1283.6 |
| Day 58 | Trail Day 58 | Brink Road Shelter | 24.7 | 1308.3 |
| Day 59 | Trail Day 59 | Unionville, NY | 26.7 | 1335.0 |
| Day 60 | Trail Day 60 | Wildcat Shelter | 29.0 | 1364.0 |
| Day 61 | Trail Day 61 | Palisades Parkway Camp Site | 21.7 | 1385.7 |
| Day 62 | Trail Day 62 | Clarence Fahnestock St Park Camp Site | 25.0 | 1410.7 |
| Day 63 | Trail Day 63 | Telephone Pioneer’s Shelter | 23.8 | 1434.5 |
| Day 64 | Trail Day 64 | Silver Hill Camp Site | 31.6 | 1466.1 |
| Day 65 | Trail Day 65 | Limestone Spring Shelter | 19.1 | 1485.2 |
| Day 66 | Trail Day 66 | Great Barrington, MA | 25.5 | 1510.7 |
| Day 67 | Trail Day 67 | Upper Goose Pond Cabin | 27.5 | 1538.2 |
| Day 68 | Trail Day 68 | Dalton, MA | 20.6 | 1558.8 |
| Day 69 | Trail Day 69 | Williamstown, MA | 23.3 | 1582.1 |
| Day 70 | Trail Day 70 | Melville Nauheim Shelter | 20.0 | 1602.1 |
| Day 71 | Trail Day 71 | Stratton Pond Shelter | 27.8 | 1629.9 |
| Day 72 | Trail Day 72 | Lost Pond Shelter | 25.5 | 1655.4 |
| Day 73 | Trail Day 73 | Rutland, VT | 17.6 | 1673.0 |
| Day 74 | Trail Day 74 | Tucker Johnson Shelter | 18.4 | 1691.4 |
| Day 75 | Trail Day 75 | Thistle Hill Shelter | 30.5 | 1721.9 |
| Day 76 | Trail Day 76 | Velvet Rocks Shelter | 16.1 | 1738.0 |
| Day 77 | Trail Day 77 | Firewardens Cabin | 21.9 | 1759.9 |
| Day 78 | Trail Day 78 | Jeffers Brook Shelter | 21.0 | 1780.9 |
| Day 79 | Trail Day 79 | Lonesome Lake Hut | 21.8 | 1802.7 |
| Day 80 | Trail Day 80 | Galehead Hut | 15.9 | 1818.6 |
| Day 81 | Trail Day 81 | Mizpah Hut | 21.1 | 1839.7 |
| Day 82 | Trail Day 82 | Gorham, NH | 19.6 | 1859.3 |
| Day 83 | Trail Day 83 | Gorham, NH | 21.1 | 1880.4 |
| Day 84 | Trail Day 84 | Carlo Col Shelter | 16.9 | 1897.3 |
| Day 85 | Trail Day 85 | Baldpate Lean-to | 16.4 | 1913.7 |
| Day 86 | Trail Day 86 | South Arm Road Camp Site | 18.1 | 1931.8 |
| Day 87 | Trail Day 87 | Little Swift River Pond Camp Site | 21.6 | 1953.4 |
| Day 88 | Trail Day 88 | Fire Road Camp Site | 18.4 | 1971.8 |
| Day 89 | Trail Day 89 | Stratton, ME | 18.6 | 1990.4 |
| Day 90 | Trail Day 90 | West Carry Pond Lean-to | 22.6 | 2013.0 |
| Day 91 | Trail Day 91 | Bald Mtn Brook Lean-to | 28.7 | 2041.7 |
| Day 92 | Trail Day 92 | Leeman Brook Lean-to | 25.0 | 2066.7 |
| Day 93 | Trail Day 93 | Chairback Gap Shelter | 23.0 | 2089.7 |
| Day 94 | Trail Day 94 | East Branch Lean-to | 20.7 | 2110.4 |
| Day 95 | Trail Day 95 | Wadleigh Stream Lean-to | 29.6 | 2140.0 |
| Day 96 | Trail Day 96 | Hurd Brook Lean-to | 19.6 | 2159.6 |
| Day 97 | Trail Day 97 | The Birches Shelters | 13.4 | 2173.0 |
| Day 98 | Trail Day 98 | Katahdin | 5.2 | 2178.3 |
Endurance and Recovery Takeaways
Walking 22.5 miles every day for three months taught me practical realities about endurance that apply directly to physical training and work:
- Pack weight dictates joint longevity: An extra five pounds in a backpack is thousands of extra pounds of impact per knee every mile. Dropping my base weight to 5.73 pounds was the single reason my tendons survived 98 consecutive days without a stress injury.
- Consistent pace beats sporadic speed: Averaging 22.5 miles a day comes from minimizing stationary breaks and maintaining a steady 2.5 to 3.0 mile-per-hour pace for nine to ten hours.
- Partner pacing builds mutual discipline: Maintaining a high-mileage schedule across three months is much harder alone. Having a hiking partner meant dawn alarms were non-negotiable, breaks stayed short, and we pulled each other through low-energy stretches.
- Radical mental simplification: When your day consists entirely of four categories (miles, water, calories, and shelter), mental clutter disappears. The momentum of putting one foot in front of the other carries you through bad weather, steep terrain, and physical exhaustion.
If you are planning an aggressive thru-hike or multiday push, weigh every piece of gear on a kitchen scale before leaving and treat daily mileage as a routine of small habits rather than big physical surges.