{"id":3296,"date":"2023-11-29T20:11:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-29T20:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jphikes.com\/index.php\/2023\/11\/29\/ready\/"},"modified":"2026-06-10T23:25:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T23:25:32","slug":"ready","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jphikes.com\/index.php\/2023\/11\/29\/ready\/","title":{"rendered":"Ready!!!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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With the kit locked down, now it is time to lock down a starting date and transportation.  For the Pacific Crest Trail I used Guthooks and Yogi’s PCT Handbook.  For the Appalachian Trail, I’ll use Guthooks (now renamed FarOut) and AWOL’s AT Guide.<\/div>\n
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I cannot start until sometime after March 4th.  The earlier the better, however.  Tickets to Atlanta airport are quite reasonable.  I found flights for less than $200.  I will need to check in my backpack, however.  (Remember when that was free?)  My pocket knife that is smaller than my pinky and my trekking poles cannot be in a carry-on bag.<\/div>\n
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I’m also using Reddit this time.  The reviews for Ron’s Appalachian Trail Shuttle were excellent.  I texted him.  $140 from the airport, plus he’ll sell me iso-butane fuel as I cannot take that on the plane.  He is very knowledgeable, which is always helpful. While this isn’t my first rodeo, I really know nothing about the AT.<\/div>\n
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So, I’m going to finish up looking at flights and get that locked down.  Then I’ll Venmo Ron for the transportation and I’ll be good to go.<\/div>\n
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Update 1<\/b><\/div>\n

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I was able to snag a flight to Atlanta for just $98!  My start date is March 6th.  It is a very early flight, but I will be in Atlanta before 9:00 a.m.  I also figured out that I’d rather start at Amicalola Falls instead of the Southern Terminus.  That will give me the full AT experience and cuts down my shuttle cost to $120.  He’ll have a medium iso-butane canister for me, so I’ll be ready to go.  I’ll check in at the visitor’s center and get my tag.  Then I’ll start making my way.<\/div>\n
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Ron asked me if I had a trail name.  I said that I was given the name Fine Young Buck, but chose to only use Young Buck unless I reached the finish.  Standing before the Northern Terminus between the United States and Canada, I accepted my full trail name.  I also said the name was a fitting joke as I was in my 50’s.  He asked if I would keep it.  I said that I would let the trail decide that.  I sent him my picture at the end of the PCT and he felt I should keep it.<\/div>\n
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I might.  However, when I take those first steps, I’ll just be JP.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With the kit locked down, now it is time to lock down a starting date and transportation.  For the Pacific Crest Trail I used Guthooks and Yogi’s PCT Handbook.  For the Appalachian Trail, I’ll use Guthooks (now renamed FarOut) and AWOL’s AT Guide. I cannot start until sometime after March 4th.  The earlier the better, … Continue reading Ready!!!<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3297,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-at2024"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jphikes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jphikes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jphikes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jphikes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jphikes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3296"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jphikes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3296\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3298,"href":"https:\/\/jphikes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3296\/revisions\/3298"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jphikes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3297"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jphikes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jphikes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jphikes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}