Successful Appalachian Trail hikers typically resupply every 4-5 days, covering 60-80 miles between stops while carrying 1.5-2 pounds of food daily. Smart hikers target high-calorie foods with 125-140 calories per ounce—think peanut butter and nuts, not canned goods that'll wreck your back. The average trek costs around $7,600, with resupply logistics varying from luxurious trail towns like Damascus to basic convenience stores requiring lengthy detours. Mastering this balance between weight, nutrition, and timing separates successful thru-hikers from those who flame out early.
Understanding Resupply Frequency and Timing Patterns
How often should hikers venture off the Appalachian Trail to restock their food supplies? The data reveals something surprising.
Both section hikers and thru-hikers follow remarkably similar patterns, averaging around 4 to 5 days between resupply stops. Section hikers clock in at 4.69 days, while thru-hikers average 4.33 days.
But here's where it gets interesting. Some hikers stretch this to 30 days—though that's rare and usually involves slack-packing strategies.
Most hikers cover 60 to 80 miles between resupply points, hiking roughly 13 to 17 miles daily. In Virginia, major towns sit 7 to 10 days apart at normal pace. In remote areas, hikers may need to carry supplies for 6-8 days or more due to limited access points.
As fitness levels improve throughout the journey, many hikers become comfortable with longer distances of 80-100 miles between resupply stops.
The pattern holds: carry 4 to 6 days' worth of food, balance weight against supply availability.
