[at-l] Cheapest Thruhike

[Bror8588 at aol.com (Bror8588@aol.com)]

Another alternative is to pick a different trail such as The Long  Trail.  
Some AT Thru-hikers recommend this trail as a preview of what will  be faced on 
the AT.  It follows the AT for a distance and then heads into  the North 
country of Vermont.  The accomplishment of this will let you know  what it is like 
to do the AT.  It will also qualify you to put an  "LT-06" next to your name 
in the ALDHA Directory, and that can be the  start of a long list of alphabet 
soup if you keep up the hiking in years to  come. 
 
ALDHA is one place where the letters following one's name indicate the  
accomplishments of great effort and yet each individual has a unique experience  
for the people met and the individual's body, and the weather encountered,  
combine to make an experience that provokes a story to share with others.  
 
Whatever trail you choose to hike and for whatever time it takes, the money  
spent will be a worthwhile investment in character building.  But aside  from 
that, it will be a point of reference for the rest of your life.  "The  year I 
hiked the _________ Trail."  Even, "the year I attempted the   ________ 
Trail" is better than not getting out there and putting one foot in  front of the 
other,
 
Happy Hiking!
 
Skylander