I know that figuring out how to get away on a hike, both financially and time-wise, is one of the most daunting puzzles a prospective thru-hiker faces.

I worked for three summers and all throughout college saving for my first long thru-hike, on the Appalachian Trail. I set it as my goal and was sure to put away one week’s paycheck per month for my hike. For me, slow and steady saving was the key to financing a long-distance hike, and I did my first one at a transition point in my life, when I didn’t have a full-time job or many responsibilities.

We asked successful thru-hikers from diffe...