Check out the “North Country Trail”. Happy Packing!

ADT… Wow Last I heard it was still an Idea, How Cool! -Thanks Mike! …Learn somethin everyday

Its not easy, I can tell ya that much. and Trails dot com?? Dude- that site is a joke. For long-range trips you need a route graphic that shows the region, and the trail on a measurement of scale for the surroundings… Trails dot com has, dots.

The PCT is not a Dot, two 4mo. trips on that trail will assure anyone of that.

In the rare instance someone read this and entertains an Idea of a trip like our young friend “Mike D” was hypothesizing… I Agree with “Mike”. Research of what trails are available for road-trip style, Thru-trail travel is frustrating and time consuming. Going by State and even counties can help, under the Nat. Park Service and Outdoor Recreation sections of the websites associated with the region. But with SO MANY sites set up for “Drive-then-Hike”er’s and “Family Friendly Recreation trails” and dont forget, the “Bike Loops” that seem to qualify as wild, scenic escape trails for backpacking adventurers… It can be hours until you find out, “oh, that junk just goes in a 5 mile loop…”
Maybe ok for a gear check.
Look for keywords and names of trails, then find out what they are- when it can be done based on your prep and equip (i.e. if you could manage the winter temps and hazards with your gear, or should you find a way to wait for summer…) Get a cheap map of large areas you are traveling and highlight your Ideas.- Look all around the gaps for towns and alternate crossings, minding all variables of weather, lodging, food and equipment supply ability and availability, Post offices… then what about the nearest town? go through the trip in pinches, point A to B. Whats in this section? what is in my way to my objective? is this a trail? how long is it? whats the elevation? how do other people do it on this trail in this area? Where is Water? When is it available?

Places along the PCT can be weird. There are weird places all over this nation! Little outposts that you can receive UPS shipments, but they close for long periods during winter. Places that seem like they will be nice but its just a guy in a shack selling hormel chili with a phone you can call collect from…
–And the internet can warn you of such places- you just gotta know what you are looking for. Names and Places- Google it and keep looking, as much as possible.
That kind of Trip is No Joke -Mikey D. Pack Boxes of food and extra gear, clothes and shoes, get your Mom to mail em to ya when you call her and tell her to send em! – Get your head right about your capability to adapt and what your limits are likely to be. Imagine the worst weather you have ever been in and then imagine you were in it all night in a coat… What would you do?
Be real, Bro. Find your weakness and shore it up! – Shoes rub your feet? cant walk long with blisters… Have a Tent? What can you do ifya had to go without it? …keep your head spinning, and when its too much and you start freaking out like I do when I know I have committed to a trip like this…… TAKE A BREAK.
We can’t plan for everything, and there are ways through it anyway you get dealt your cards. Everyone is an Expert- too, ya know… I’m writing a lecture right now! – Yes a 22 is versitile – no its not the best survival rifle. Yes magnesium and flint can start fires but there are cool tools that are better- and if you dont have any of that then you are skewed-blued-and-tatooed anyhow. Maybe learn some primative methods?
if ya get discouraged like I did because you have none of this great gear everyone is talking about and you are living bare bones with no hope of that stuff, take heart in the old ways. Remember that we did it before all these gismos and 850+ down was available. Think Practical and Purpose Directed- and Learn to love hefty garbage bags. Stay Optimistic and Be Happy in the Short life we have here- Living Outdoors is a Experience that demonstrates the Laws of Change in Nature and Illustrates to us the Transition our Lives constantly endure… Do Your Best to Prepare and also have the Heart to Embrace the adversity, allow yourself dignity even if you Fail. Dont miss the lesson!
Thanks for reading haha
-Travel Lite

I believe it is called the “American Discovery Trail” from Delaware to San Fransisco and parallels close to the I-80 / I-70 roads. You might be able to head a bit southwest and pick up the Oregon Trail in Omaha.

The SPOT Personal Locator device can and does work, but I chose the ACR unit for the following reasons:

SPOT uses communication satellites where ACR uses the COSPAS-SARSAT satellites;

Comm sats takes longer to be acquired and to triangulate, and has more dead zones, where COSPAS-SARSAT satellites on a dedicated frequency allow faster locating and has fewer dead zones.

SPOT requires an annual fee, where the ACR is a one-time purchase;

SPOT has multiple buttons and LEDs that can be confusing and/or could get accidentally depressed, where the ACR unit has the antenna wrapped around the unit covering buttons and no nonsense LEDs;

Customer reviews… simply stated, I read too many negative reviews of SPOT being unreliable, and should not be considered as a true ‘life or death’ situation PLB.

After I purchased my ACR unit, another scout leader bought a SPOT, and after actual comparison of the two units during trekking events. Standing next to each other, I used my ACR, the other scout leader used his SPOT. The ACR sent the test message 100% of the time, where the SPOT sent the message only 75% of the time from the same locations in the Rockies at the same time to the same recipient.

Both SPOT and ACR have online setup features, and I understand the SPOT site is not as user friendly as the ACR site.

Sure, SPOT can be configured to send predefined messages like “I’m Okay” or “Send Help”, provided you get the connection to the Comm Sats, but so can the ACR unit, albeit ACR only sends a “Test Message” of your current GPS coordinates to a cell phone or email account you set up online.

When I am on the trail, I can deploy the antenna and press the test button and within 5 minutes either the cell phone or the email account I had configured to send the message to is received. When keeping in touch with others, typically the primary or secondary registered emergency contact you can have a predefined time (lunch and dinner) as to when you will send a test message of your GPS coordinates, and if they have not heard from you in a reasonable time frame they can at least place a call for you in case you could not; advising the planned route, and the track of your coordinates during the trek up to the last known contact.

In short, I personally prefer the ACR unit over the SPOT for better reliability IF there was an actual life or death situation; AND if it was a life or death situation I would rather I spent $300 for a more reliable unit as compared to $100 for a less reliable unit.

Can you explain the difference between SPOT and the ACR. I know that SPOT requires an annual subscription fee and the others do not but SPOT is a lot cheaper by two thirds and having some emergency comms is better than non, especially if you don’t venture out into the boonies every weekend.