I'm planning a SOBO thru hike in August. I have never done a thru hike and I am still a little new to backpacking but have 8 months to figure that out. I will have my dog with me, so I know my options are limited for shelters and getting into town. I have a great tent that's not too heavy and am upgrading my sleeping system. Still figuring out food, extra gear, and clothing and wanted any recs. Thanks in advance!
One of the worst parts of a recent section hike was when my dog found, rolled in, and ate human shit. I love my dog, but sharing a tent with her that night made me question all my life choices.
Yeah, this dog thinks cow shit is a delicacy so I'm used to that aspect but I truly don't know how I'd do with the human stuff. I admire your resolve lol
Thank you so much for all of this! The puppy food is a great idea! I plan on having him on his hands free leash as much as possible, just to be considerate of any trail rules, and other hikers and dogs. I know as dogs in trails have become more common it's been a bigger issue. I also planned on staying outside the shelter, just in case other folks aren't down with it. He is not a chaser and he's very friendly, but he never kicked his food stealing habits. The little dude spent his first two months on earth scavenging and eating trash and he will absolutely still steal food if he sees the opportunity.
Do not bring your dog.
Yeah, I am a single woman and he's my best bud so he's going 😬
if you can carry your dog on your shoulders, with your pack, up a 20 foot extension ladder one hundred times... then i would say you are almost ready for the climbing parts of the trail. mt abraham, mt mansfield, whiteface, madonna, burnt rock, etc etc... these all abandon the hiking trails and turn into rock climbing.
That's the part I'm training myself for over the next few months.
right on, unfortunately dogs get a bad rep on trail due to probably mostly day hikers who let their dogs go off trail and poop all over the place and chase wildlife. Also i'm pretty sure GMC caretakers will tell you dogs need to be leashed 100% of the time in the alpine zone or above 3k feet or something due to the extremely delicate ecosystem and endangered plants (which dogs trample and pee on). some of the plants take 40 years to grow one inch & then of course you cant control when your dog decides to squat and relieve themselves.
Yeah, bad owners truly ruin it for everyone else. We're pretty used to staying on the trail, I've taken him to areas with bogs and delicate ecosystems where we had to stay on a boardwalks or something. He's got pretty good recall overall, but I plan on having him on leash as much as possible just because I don't know how other people train their dogs and I know some folks aren't dog folks at all.
As far as suggestions on shelters and getting into town… We made four stops and at each stop we did a resupply, these were the only times we went into any towns. I believe at almost all of them having a dog would not have been a problem. As far as shelters are concerned, I think you can just set up your tent away from the shelter so you can have some space for you and your dog to not disturb others. The only hard part about having a dog is going up and over camels hump and up and Over mount Mansfield. Depending on what kind of dog you have, there are some technical spots that you might have to consider picking up your dog if he’s small enough. but if you’re careful it should be OK. Are you going north to south or south to north? If south and north coming over on the backside of camels hump is pretty steep and sketchy.
OMG thank you so much for the response! I am planning on north to south, I know it's harder that way but also I would prefer to get the hardest part done first. He's a mutt, so he's medium sized, definitely part lab, probably part heeler and anyone's guess as to the rest, but he's pretty agile. I'm still preparing both of us for any parts where I may have to carry him or something and I'm packing first aid stuff for him too. Hoping to take several backpacking trips before this one to make sure we're prepared and acclimated, but we're currently out West, so the terrain is different.
Will he be able to ford rivers, get up and down ladders, and scale steep rock faces? Some dogs can but some can't.
He can definitely do the rivers and the steep rock faces, it's a maybe on the ladders, less because of ability and more because of timidity. That's some of what we'll be working on for the next several months. But also, if there's something he can't do, I can help him through it. I wouldn't want to take him somewhere I couldn't get him through if need be.
Great! Not all dogs are built for trekking 10, 12 hours a day on tough terrain but some certainly are. Good luck:)
I have also tried to get him used to the little boots, he hates them but we might try again
Thank you! Yeah, he's part lab and part heeler so he's built for working and I am just wasting his potential by making him a hiking dog instead lol
I’ve done it three times, and each time I’ve gone south to north. The first hundred miles going north always gets me my trail legs. The north is beautiful, remote, and there aren’t a lot of people around. All three times I went for the month of July. Although the bugs started to calm down a bit, it was awful foggy at times and humid. If I ever do it again, I’m definitely going to do it in the fall like September! I’m not sure what the Appalachian Trail bubble will be like at that time but for you the last 100 miles you’ll be merged with the Appalachian Trail. Honestly, if I were you, I would just take the trail and your trip day by day. If one day, you and your dog do 5 miles that’s totally fine. Just listen to your body and your dogs, body and take it slow. I met a ton of people hiking with their dogs when I was on the LT. August it will be warm so take that into consideration heavily. Is there a time restriction for you? September might be a better month
I really appreciate the input! My job ends in early August and I won't have another opportunity to run off for 3-5 weeks for another few years so I wanted to go ahead and do this in August. I may be able to lapse into September a bit, but then it gets dicier with like income and health insurance and all that fun stuff.
That makes sense. I would do exactly what you’re doing if I had the chance! I’m so jealous. My Aussie is one and a half years old and we have been conditioning him in the last few months to do longer walks and hikes. We’re hoping that this summer when he turns two, we can take him for like a 3 to 5 day hike. if I could take the time off, I would totally take him on the long trail this summer and do another hike. The long trail is my favorite thru hike. I have been doing a lot of research about bringing dogs on extended hikes, and some thing I’ve been reading about is bringing them extra supplements to make sure they get enough protein and fat. Someone suggested olive oil to pour over their food. Also things like high protein, dehydrated, dog food, and peanut butter.
Thank you so much! I have plenty to research and prepare, but I'm so grateful for the opportunity! That's an awesome suggestion about the food, I've been reading about conditioning dogs for long hikes and I know I'll have to bring extra food for him, but the olive oil and peanut butter ideas are so helpful! My lil dude is 4 and we've done lots of hiking in previous summers, but I am going to start conditioning him to hike several miles a day starting this spring. Our maximum was 9 and it was accidental because I got turned around on a trail in Groton State Forest lol. We both ate and slept well that evening. 2 is such a fun age, and Aussies are so full of energy! I'm sure you'll have a great trail companion in no time!
Awesome! Thank you. Have fun!
This is very much my opportunity to do something fun that I've wanted to do for a while before I really begin my new career and I'm very excited about it
That’s borderline animal cruelty.
I have an Aussie and he is would be coming with us if we did an another thru hike. I think bringing your dog is OK as long as you hike the hike based on your dogs needs and not your own. When my wife and I did our thru hike we would do 20 to 30 mile days, but if we were to take our dog with us, we would know that we would have to significantly shorten our hikes, because if we did days like that, then it certainly would be animal cruelty. We also would keep into consideration his paws by getting different types of ointments to massage into his paws at night. Also observing him and his body closely. If our dog looked or seemed like he was too tired to go on, or there was any type of indication that he wasn’t doing well, we would absolutely stop and only continue if our dog could continue.
Back in the 1900s when I thru hiked it I came upon a scene on day two where a guys dog had gone for a swim and had its fave ripped apart by a beaver he tried to play with. Watched two grown men bawling while trying to run, carrying their 70 pound lab to a trailhead for help. We all know the stories of dogs collapsing from exhaustion (especially in august) , or getting injured trying to climb on rocks wherein there are 15 foot drops if you miss a step. I have two dogs that I take on day hikes and bird hunt with all the time, but couldnt pay me to subject them to a 20 day thru hike. (Closer to 30 considering the dogs feet can’t do 20 mile days. And , when you are basically conceding that there will be no zeroes spent in a hotel , and getting a ride into town will be hard as hell with a dirty dog I tow.
As inevitable raccoon said, part of hiking with your dog is hiking your dogs hike. I would never push my lil buddy further than his limits. I know how hot and humid August is in Vermont and I know when he's too tired to keep going and we need to stop. Thankfully, I do have friends that are more than happy to pick us up along the trail if they need to and a few will even be joining us for some sections. So if I need to get into town and nobody will take a disgusting woman and her muddy dog, I can arrange a ride with someone who knows us. I am sorry you saw a dog that was attacked like 20 years ago, but all dog owners and dogs are different.
No one asked about your fantasy
Holy shit. You're an ass.
He's a pretty active lil dude, we hike and camp together frequently. I know plenty of other folks bring their dogs for various reasons, and I know there will be a few sections that it gets a little dicey. I'm comfortable carrying my dog if/when I have to and I know he'll just be happy to smell all the new smells and roll in the mud. Did you have any recommendations for the actual hike or are you just concerned about the dog?
Ok kid. Sounds like you got thru hike figured out. Why bother asking people that have done it?
To be fair, I asked for food, gear, and clothing recommendations and you suggested I leave my dog and claimed it would be cruel to take him. And then I asked if you had any different suggestions. Totally open to ideas, but the dog is going. Have you hiked it in the last two decades or are you basing your suggestion off a trip in the 1900s?
I’m sorry , have the mountains changed since then ? Is the trail more difficult ? Explain to me how the “when” matters? Actually don’t bother. I can tell you’ll never even start it, much less complete it.
Thanks for the help! This is totally what I came to reddit for!
You definitely want to plan carefully for your dog. People have successfully completed the LT with their dogs. I've not brought my dogs when I've done the entire LT. Some LT backpackers with dogs have used a harness that can be attached to a rope for safety and the ability to lower a dog or pull one up in lieu of ladders. You might check out the harness and airlift at https://fidoprotection.com/ . I own an airlift that I carry on some backpacking trips with my dog - I have no idea as to how that or the harness made by FidoPro compare to competing products.
There are ladders along the LT (three areas come to mind: between Burnt Rock Mountain and Camel's Hump, on the south side of Mansfield, and south of Appalachian Gap on the north side of Mount Ellen). The boulder hopping on the south side of Mansfield can also be hairy. Some of the risky stuff on the south side of Mansfield can be avoided with a foul weather bypass. There are also some spots with rebar steps.
Hitching is much harder with a dog, especially if it has been raining or the dog looks wet or muddy. I tried it once going from the LT when everything was clean and dry and ended up going with a Plan B. You can get food sent to you to the Inn at The Long Trail by a delivery service (i.e. UPS, FedEx but not USPS) and there is a Post Office about a mile from the trail along Rt 2 at Jonesville (you may have to adjust your pace to be sure to get there when it is open).
If you poke around trailjournals.com you will find a few journals for people who took a dog.
Also, please do some backpacking with your dog and with your assembled gear before setting out on the trail. Even better, do it when the weather is going to be bad. Even without a dog it is important to have a clear sense of how you will keep dry what needs to be kept dry, with a dog it becomes even more important.
Some random tips:
Keep checking your dogs paws.
Be tick paranoid!Green Mountain Hostel (Manchester) and other spots are dog friendly.Beware of porcupines (especially around Killington) - twice I've seen porcupines right on the LT.The GMC has an info page with a video: https://www.greenmountainclub.org/hiking-the-long-trail-with-your-dog/
If you use Facebook, you might want to check out Long Trail Hikers - Class of 2024 and Long Trail Hiking GMC Community. Both can help you make contacts and possibly arrange for dog friendly shuttles or hostels as the date nears.
Thank you so much for this!
Highly recommend getting a harness for your dog that has a handle on the back. Having done a number of section hikes with my (50lb) dog, it is very, very useful to have that handle to help them up and over difficult spots.
This is the pack/harness I use: https://ruffwear.com/products/palisades-pack
Thank you so much!!!
Thank you so much! I read about those harnesses a while back but didn't know where to look recently! This is all super helpful! I'm definitely planning on taking as many weekends as I can to backpack and take test trips beforehand so I know what we'll definitely need and what works best for us.
Being an emergency sling along for the pup incase of injury. Carrying a dog when it doesn't want to be carried isn't easy.
Thank you! Someone linked one that I am going to get and also try out a little with him so if we need it we're not trying to use it for the first time
I agree with that. I literally put my dog in it and carried it around the neighborhood for an hour. Figured the first time I tried it should NOT be an emergency.
Lucky I haven't ever needed it. But, it's apart of my gear now
I did it with my dog in 2018. It was fine. I mean, it was extra work and extra stress with a dog. But I got to hike the trail with my bud, and that was awesome. The dog was totally fine.
I would not hike the Long Trail with an old dog, or one that had any kind of infirmity. The Long Trail is hard. It will be hard for you. It will be hard for him.
I didn't ask my dog to carry a damn thing, and I overfed him every meal. He would not eat breakfast from a bowl, and I couldn't wait all day, so I hand fed it to him as "treats" on trail. He scarfed it up that way. Use the puppy version of his normal food. It has more fat and calories by weight than adult food. Find some kind of meal supplement to give him something extra. I used turbopup bars on our hike, but they aren't a thing anymore. I'm sure you can find something. Make sure he will eat it before you decide to carry it. I found that my guy would sometimes drink from a stream. But he would drink EVERY time I filtered water into his bowl, so that's what I did.
I talked to my vet ahead of time, and she gave me painkillers, antibiotics, and bandages to bring just in case. I didn't need any of it, but I did carry it.
I know the Yellow Deli will let you camp on their deck with a dog. I don't know about any other hostels or hotels.
I never had a real problem with him in any of the shelters. But "we" went to sleep on the floor of Butler Lodge one night, because the bunks were taken. My dog, however, made friends during the night, and I woke up alone. He was in a sleeping bag on one of the bunks, with his new friend. In fact, he made lots of friends on the trail. Almost everyone was happy to see and interact with a friendly dog on trail. This was definitely true for every thru hiker I met. There aren't any "no dogs allowed" shelters on the Long Trail. We even stayed indoors at Stark's Nest. But make sure other hikers are cool with sharing the shelter with a dog, before you volunteer them to do it. And be honest with yourself about how well-behaved your dog really is.
We met a few dayhiking dogs, but no other Long Trail thru hiking dogs. We did meet a sobo Appalachian Trail thru hiking doberman on Bromley. And we met a cat on a leash on Mt. Mansfield.
I'm from Vermont, so I never had to hitch. I just had people meet me for resupply. You could probably mail yourself enough resupplies (Inn at Long Trail, The P.O. on Route 2, etc.) that you wouldn't need to hitch. It would take some planning though.
You will have to carry extra weight because of your dog. That's the tradeoff for having him with you. But the extra weight sucks. Have a plan for the ladders. Make sure he's had his tick treatment. You won't need to leash him very often, but you will need to leash him on some sensitive alpine areas, and around sensitive dayhikers. There are lots of grouse and rabbits on the trail in some sections, and porcupines in others. Be prepared for that, if your dog is a chaser.
Mostly, just pay attention to him. Is he eating? Drinking? Limping? Acting normally? Does he seem like he needs to cool off? In my case, my dog was healthy the whole time. But he can't tell you how he's feeling, so you will have to be observant.
Thru hiking is kind of a grimy activity anyway. But the dog is going to make everything so, so much dirtier. Just accept it.