Thru-hiking 101
Course Information
This course is designed, instructed, and led by Registered Maine Guide and thru-hiker, Koty Sapp (Trash Panda). Koty has backpacked over 7000 miles and has spent over 350 nights backcountry camping. He has thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, Arizona Trail, Florida Trail, and two Caminos. In addition, he has hiked portions of the Pinhoti Trail and Pacific Crest Trail, as well as in other remote wilderness areas across the country.
This course can be taken prior to attempting any thru-hike. It also works well as the start of a southbound thru-hike attempt of the Appalachian Trail, as we cover the northernmost 32 miles of the trail, including Katahdin.
Over six days we will cover a variety of topics aimed at preparing you for a multi-month journey along a long distance trail. The 100 Mile Wilderness contains some of the most remote and rugged terrain along the Appalachian Trail, which makes it the perfect setting for learning what it takes to thru-hike. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most difficult terrain along the entire Appalachian Trail and 1 the easiest, the terrain on this trip ranges from a 2 to a 10.
To promote an effective learning environment, enrollment is limited to 5 participants, per course. The mileage hiked each day is intentionally kept on the lower side to allow for learning and skill-building throughout the day.
Each participant needs a fully functioning backpacking kit. If you do not yet have a backpacking kit, we can outfit you with one of the lightest and best kits on the market. Our kit comes in at approximately 12-14 pounds and is ready for any three-season thru-hike. We prefer that you bring the gear you will take on your thru-hike or rent/purchase recommended gear directly from us during the on-site workshop portion of the course. Gear is an important aspect of a safe and efficient hike. We also recommend that you wait until the nutrition & meal planning segment to purchase your food for the in-the-field portion of the course.
On-site Workshop Topics: The reality of a thru-hike, leave no trace principles, thru-hiker tips & tricks, how to pack efficiently, how to fit & wear a backpack properly, clothing & outerwear, backpacking essentials, the importance of eliminating redundancy and focusing on multi-use items, nutrition & caloric intake, meal planning and prep, how to plan out hiking days, how to plan out sections between towns/resupply, how to budget on a thru-hike, first aid kits, and gear. We will also spend time going through each participants backpack, talk about gear choices, and make suggestions.
In-the-field Training Topics: How to navigate using FarOut & the AT Guide, time & distance estimation, proper trekking pole use, fording a stream crossing safely, choosing a safe & proper campsite, setting up your tent/hammock efficiently, lean-to & privy etiquette, hiking etiquette, overuse injury avoidance, foot care, blister care & prevention, sustaining energy and pace on varying terrain, proper layering techniques in varying conditions, fire building techniques, water sources & purification, preparing meals on trail, minimizing campsite contamination, how to hang a bear bag, using a BearVault or Ursack properly, useful knots, and more.
Dates & Itinerary
Day 1: 11:00 a.m. pick up from Bangor (Airport, hotel, car rental, or bus stop). If you are driving to us, you must check-in at the Outfitters by 1:00 p.m. From 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. you will be able to get settled into your room at the Hostel and join us for a light lunch. From 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. we will cover information and planning workshop topics. Dinner will be 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Day 2: Breakfast is 7:00 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. From 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. we will cover hands-on workshop topics. We will break for lunch and down time from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Dinner will be 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Day 3: Breakfast is 7:00 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. We will depart for Pollywog Stream at 8:30 a.m with an estimated arrival of 10:00 a.m. We will hike 6.2 miles to Rainbow Spring Campsite. The day will be a mix of learning, skill building, and relaxation time. Terrain difficulty: 3-5/10
Day 4: We will hike 11.3 miles to Abol Pines Campsite. The day will be a mix of learning, skill building, and relaxation time. Terrain difficulty: 3-6/10
Day 5: We will hike 9.8 miles to Katahdin Stream Campground. The day will be a mix of learning, skill building, and relaxation time. Terrain difficulty: 2-4/10
Day 6: We will hike/climb 5.2 miles to the summit of Katahdin starting at 5:00 a.m. and descend 4.4 miles to Abol Campground, for our 3:00-5:00 p.m. shuttle, with an estimated 4:00-6:00 p.m. arrival back at the Hostel. The day will be a mix of learning, skill building, and serious hiking. Katahdin has some of the most difficult terrain you can find along the AT. This hike typically takes 10-12 hours. Terrain difficulty: 3-10/10, with a majority in the 7-10/10 range. Celebratory group dinner in the evening.
Day 7: We will regroup from 7:00-8:30 a.m. for one more group session to cover what we learned, ask final questions, return rented gear, and/or purchase gear. 9:00 a.m. departure for Bangor (Airport, hotel, car rental, or bus stop). 10:00am check-out for those who drove themselves. Or you can take a rest day and we can shuttle you back to the trail to continue south on a thru-hike attempt!
Lodging
Lodging is provided through Appalachian Trail Hostel & Outfitters.
On the first, second, and last night, participants will stay in a bunkhouse that includes a communal kitchen, bathroom, and shower.
A coin-operated washer & dryer is located on-site. Change and house-made detergent are supplied by the Outfitters.
Linens, pillows, comforters, towels, shampoo, conditioner, loaner clothes, and coffee are included with your stay.
Please refer to Rooms & Rates for more details.
Pricing
Included: all transportation mentioned in the itinerary, accommodations for the first, second, and last night of the trip, two breakfasts, one lite lunch, three dinners, gate fees for 100 Mile Wilderness, guide fees, and our fees. Prices are in USD.
Not included: any transportation and accommodations not mentioned in the itinerary, snacks, food for the backpacking portion of the course, gear rentals, trip insurance, and optional gratuity for shuttle drivers, hostel staff, and the guide.
Thru-hike 101 with bunkhouse accommodations: $1220 plus $9.45 for 9% Maine lodging tax
Booking & Cancellation Policy
The deposit is 25% of your trip cost and is required at booking. The deposit is included in the total trip price.
The remaining 75% is due 90 days prior to the start of your trip. This is to ensure you are committed to the trip.
We can accommodate up to five participants per trip. While we expect the trip to fill up, it should be noted that we do require a minimum of three participants. If less than three participants have registered by the due date, those who have booked this trip will have the option to either cover the additional costs so that the trip may proceed or cancel their trip and receive a refund, minus processing fees.
Cancellation Policy:
Domestic (US) - Cancellation fee
90+ days - Deposit may be applied toward another trip, within one year, based on availability.
60-89 days - 100% of deposit
30-59 days - 50% of total trip cost
29 days or less - 100% of total trip cost
Please understand that we may turn away other customers in order to hold your reservation. Our policy is not meant to be punitive, however, we plan far in advance to make these trips a possibility. At the time of the due date, funds may have already been used in preparation for your upcoming trip. For this reason, we strictly adhere to our cancellation policy. We strongly suggest that you purchase travel insurance to help cover any unforeseen circumstance that may lead to you canceling after the due date.
To qualify for refunds, you must notify us in writing, by email, to info@katahdinadventureco.com.
Katahdin Adventure Company reserves the right to alter or cancel trips and determine refund amounts at its sole discretion.
Disclaimer
While this is a fully guided trip, all participants must be capable of covering the distances mentioned in the itinerary. Each participant should be in reasonably good hiking shape. Each participant will be required to carry all necessary supplies and gear for their safety and enjoyment. There is a list of essential items the guide requires you have. We will send the list and relevant information at booking. You can choose to rent or purchase these items during the on-site workshop.
Weather on the Appalachian Trail is unpredictable. A common saying for thru-hikers is “no rain, no pain, no Maine.” It will be no different on this epic adventure! Rain, shine, sleet, or snow the trip must go on!
Get in touch.
If you are interested in participating in our trip, please reach out to us. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have and help you register.
June 27 - July 3, 2026: 4 of 5 spots remaining
July 8-14, 2026: Registration will open once 1st trip is full