A family of six is preparing to embark on a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail (AT), a journey they’ve been preparing for for about five years. The Merten family from North Carolina includes David, Sally Ann, and their four kids, ages 15, 14, 11, and nine.
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The AT is about 2,190 miles long, winding from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. The thru-hike typically takes 5-7 months. The Mertens are a homeschooling family, and they’ve been preparing for this break in schooling for several years by working to get ahead.
As for what else it takes to prepare for an Appalachian Trail thru-hike as a family of six, Sally Ann did a walk through of the family’s gear in a YouTube video a few weeks ago. They’ve also been preparing by dehydrating food and, of course, doing a lot of hiking on trails near their home.
See the Mertens’ daily vlog for their “day 0” (basecamp) below, followed by a YouTube announcement of the family of six’s plans to hike the AT. Follow along with their journey on their YouTube channel, Six Pack Hikers.