Reddit mentions of How to Hike the A.T.: The Nitty-Gritty Details of a Long-Distance Trek

If you do three consecutive years, you won't really need to worry about getting in shape, just staying in shape during the off seasons (I assume you won't be hiking in the winters). If you live in the south, you can still get outdoors to hike. If you live in the north, then treadmills and stair steppers are the way to go if you can't stand the cold (like me). The bigger concerns, at least for me, are personal health and money. Injuries and sickness happen, so you have to avoid those. And you need to make sure you're insured while on the trail. You also won't have much, if any, income for 3 years. That's tough. I have an AT thru-hike slated for 2015 and a PCT thru-hike for 2016, but it's already tough on me financially. Things keep popping up and eating into the PCT fund.

For general long distance hiking, here are some of my favorite books:

Andrew Skurka

Michelle Ray

Jan Curran

The Logues

I found Michelle Ray's book, How to Hike the A.T.: The Nitty-Gritty Details of a Long-Distance Trek, invaluable to my preparation. Not knowing anyone who had any long-distance hiking experience, this was the next best thing.

http://www.theatguide.com/

http://www.aldha.org/companion.html

You could try this one, but I've never used it:http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/0811735427

Check the sidebar of this subreddit--lots of good info there.

Simple crackers and biscuits, known as hardtack, were the kind of bread that were used by sailors and soldiers for centuries.

Seriously, though, if you are planning a major hike, there are plenty of books on the subject. Or just google "food for a long distance hike"

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0811735427?keywords=preparing%20for%20a%20long-distance%20hike&qid=1457019547&ref_=sr_1_fkmr2_3&sr=8-3-fkmr2

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1484062647?keywords=preparing%20for%20a%20long-distance%20hike&qid=1457019547&ref_=sr_1_fkmr2_1&sr=8-1-fkmr2

http://www.hikingdude.com/hiking-trek-food.php

http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/senior-health-never-too-late-to-be-healthy/long-distance-hiking-and-eating-not-exactly-a-healthy-diet/

This book is very helpful for a first-timer:

http://www.amazon.com/How-Hike-A-T-Nitty-Gritty-Long-Distance/dp/0811735427

For what it's worth, I hiked a considerable distance with a 17 year old during my hike. An amazing person. He told everyone he was 20 so that he didn't face constant age jokes and he had the maturity and humor to back it up. Jaws dropped when he revealed up in Maine that he was only 17.