Ask a Thru-Hiker: How Do I Get to the Trailhead?

This article originally appeared on Backpacker

Do you dream about hitting the trail for a long--really long--hike? In Ask a Thru-Hiker, record-setting long-distance hiker Liz "Snorkel" Thomas answers your burning questions about how to do it.

Dear Snorkel,

I love the idea of going on a thru-hike but every time I sit down to start planning, I get caught up on the first detail: How do I get to the trailhead? Most of these trailheads are far from airports and public transportation. I don't have any friends or family who live nearby to give me a ride. Hiring a taxi or rideshare for that distance is expensive, and obviously I can't rent a car to drive it to a trailhead only to leave it there for a month or five. What would you recommend?

Stuck on Step 1

Dear Stuck,

I've been there. Even after hiking more than 20 long trails, getting to the starting terminus is still a challenge.

My first recommendation is to lean into the trail's community. I'm a shy person who likes to think of herself as self-reliant, and asking for help from strangers on the Internet is not in my nature. But I've found the communities around these long trails to be welcoming and generous. The trail community includes past thru-hikers who have been there and made it work. It also includes helpful locals and trail managers who have on-the-ground intel that can aid you in your quest.

Many trails have an organization that can connect you with helpful locals who can drive you to the trailhead, also known as "trail angels." They can also direct you towards Facebook groups where hikers and trail angels can connect.

Trail angels have picked me up at the airport, driven me to trailheads, and even stopped by local gear stores to help me get last-minute supplies. They've treated me better than family, sending me off on the trail feeling like someone has my back and wants me to succeed out there.

It's essential to be respectful of trail angels' time and to compensate them for things like gas. Remember, you're on the trail angel's schedule. It doesn't matter if you only have a certain number of days to hike: If your trail angel isn't able to give you a ride on a certain day or a certain time, please don't pressure them or make them feel guilty. Respect their needs, and be patient or find another solution. Remember, you aren't the only hiker they are helping, and we as a community don't want to burn out the kind souls who help us.

Trail organizations want you to succeed as a hiker. If you hop on the phone with them or send them an email, they can point you in the right direction. Some trail organizations, like the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, even run a shuttle to some trailheads because they don't want the logistics of getting down a 4WD road to be what stops people from hiking that trail.

Lastly, know that there are ways to get you to your trailhead that don't require reaching out to trail angels. Some long trails, like the Colorado Trail, can be accessed by public transportation and rideshare. Other trails, like the Appalachian Trail and Superior Hiking Trail, even have dedicated businesses that ferry hikers to trailheads for a fee.

For me, one of the trickier things about planning a thru-hike is that so many of the logistics of getting to trailheads aren't published. I get it: Trail angels don't want their personal contact information available to anyone. Local taxi businesses and services come and go. The best thing is to get up-to-date info from people who live in the area and care about the trail.

Part of thru-hiking is learning to surrender some control to what the trail gives us; be flexible, and you may be surprised at how quickly the universe meets you halfway. For me, reaching out for help has been one of the harder lessons to learn, but I am continuously surprised by the kindness of strangers.

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