July 23, 2025
In response to a Facebook question about how the average hiker walks the Appalachian Trail, here is my response:
Most important is knowing why you are walking! The trail is a blank canvas on which you express your unique fulfillment! It supports YOUR average day, YOUR pack weight, YOUR number of times going home.
How about getting to know the trail and yourselves?
I have loved my relationship with the AT starting at age 50 and find very little in common with most hikers I’ve met, especially with their focus on mileage, speed, food, and hatred of mountains. I’m happy to talk this through with you. I’ve worked as a ridgerunner for 7 seasons and have talked with thousands of hikers in Virginia.
Answers to your specific questions about myself:
10 miles per day overall, with a range of 0-28 miles/ideal pack weight 27 lbs for my 5’1″120lbs; I went home once for 9 days for completing a professional training; sharing gear with a partner was great and required staying together (Over my ridgerunning years, I met hikers supposedly hiking together who didn’t know where the other one was. Unnecessary trauma occurred, the most severe being the one behind died and partner found out two days later.)
My motto: If I can’t see my partner, I’m walking solo.
I’ve walked all of the trail twice, both in sections and as a southbound thru. Sections range from 1 hour to 1,000 miles. I love the way my husband and I learned the trail. We went out to the nearest section in increasingly longer visits: 1 hour, half day, one overnight, three nights, a week, two weeks with a mail drop several times, four weeks. With that pattern, we walked 700 miles from Springer to Catawba, VA in walks over 5 years. After that, I went myself and walked it solo because he didn’t want to do it anymore.
I’ve also walked several other long distance trails, finding that nourishing my inner journey in Nature walks is my best way to be alive.
The most valuable trail skills I now have are specific methods for shifting my emotional experience on purpose and for climbing mountains easily.
I love sharing my trail experience and expertise with wise and courageous women and men who invest in guidance for crafting their unique and fulfilling walks of The Appalachian Trail – or around the block!
Contact Regina by email <regina@forgivenesswalks.com>