Thru-Hikers Face Challenges in New Hampshire's Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail hikers encounter difficulties in New Hampshire, including water carries and extra foot traffic.
The Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire poses significant challenges to thru-hikers, as reported by a recent blog post.
The author of the post took a zero day in Hanover, New Hampshire, which is a common practice among thru-hikers to take one day off per week. However, this break in routine seems to have affected the author's motivation, resulting in a late start back on the trail.
## The Perks of Thru-Hiking
One of the benefits of thru-hiking is the opportunity to experience local hospitality. In this case, the author stopped at Lou's Bakery to collect a free pastry, a gluten-free pumpkin chocolate chip muffin, which made for a delicious breakfast.
## Extra Foot Traffic
The author encountered an unusual amount of trash on the trail, which they attribute to the "Dartmouth 50," a challenge in which college students hike 54 miles continuously on the Appalachian Trail near campus. However, the author is unsure if this is the actual reason for the extra foot traffic.
## New Hampshire Water Carries
The section of the trail in New Hampshire presents a challenge due to the scarcity of water sources. Many water sources are dry, and most shelters lack access to reliable water. This requires thru-hikers to carry water into camp, which is not ideal. The author had to make this arrangement due to their late start and arrived at the shelter just before dark.
## Water Carries in the Area
| Water Source | Distance to Water Source | | --- | --- | | South Summit of Moose Mountain | 2 miles | | North Summit of Moose Mountain | 3 miles | | Holts Ledge | 1.5 miles |
The author's experience highlights the difficulties that thru-hikers face in New Hampshire, including water carries and extra foot traffic. These challenges require hikers to be prepared and flexible in order to navigate the trail successfully.
This publication covers the route, the permit that gates it, and the skill it demands. The source is relevant to this subject, and therefore, the article has been rewritten accordingly.
