[at-l] Introduction

[saunterer@jimbullard.org (saunterer@jimbullard.org)]

At 02:13 AM 05/27/2002 +0000, Stumpy wrote:
>. . . clip . . .
>
>When I originally learned the distance involved, I ignorantly thought
>that it could be accomplished at a rate of 30 miles per day, but I was
>told that was next to impossible to achieve. I am okay with that, I am
>willing to devote whatever it takes to accomplish this goal.

Hi Stumpy, welcome to the zoo, er, list I mean.  :)  The question of 
average daily mileage came up a short time ago and I did the math a couple 
of years back in a fit of pre-pre-planning for a hike that I didn't 
anticipate until 2005.  It breaks down like this: (If possible, view the 
following chart using Courier font to make the columns come out right)

              No Days Off    1 Day/wk Off    2 Days/wk Off
4 months       18 mpd        19.29 mpd         21 mpd
5 months       14.33         16.6              20
6 months       12            14                16.9
7 months       10.29         12                14.4

Caution: the above is AT miles only (figured at 2160).  It does not take 
into account approach trails at both ends, blue blazes to shelters, blue 
blazes to interesting overlooks or side trips to town/in town for 
resupply.  The calculations assume 30 days/month. Yeah, I know, some months 
have an extra day and one has 2 less but if I took that into account I'd 
have to refigure the chart several different ways for different start dates 
and I was just trying for an average.  I don't know for sure but I strongly 
suspect that you could count the number of hikers who've done the whole AT 
with an average of 30 mpd or better (72 days or less) on your fingers, 
possibly on one hand.  It's not impossible but it's darned close.

sAunTerer