Who knows a lot about hiking the Appalachian Trail?

Question

I'm just curious as to what people do about their jobs while they're hiking the trail. Do they have really understanding employers that hold their jobs for them or something? Also, what about pets? Wouldn't you be afraid they'd forget who you are?

I'd love to hike the Appalachian Trail in a few years, but I have 2 cats I would not want to forget me, and I'll be a CPA at that time. I'm thinking it's not at all practical.

Answer 1

I've tried a short section of it and found it to be very confusing.   I'm not very experienced with trails like that.  I'm more of a mountain-biker, I guess I'm used to traisl that are well marked.

Answer 2

  If you are thinking about hiking the entire length of the trail, It could take you a couple of months.  An alternative would be taking a weeks vacation and hiking a small portion of it first.  That way, it would be a normal vacation away from your job and pets.  Then you could see what it is like, and whether you would want to invest the time and extreme effort to do the whole thing.  Thats the way I did it for the first time in 1975, and I have done the entire thing four times since!!