Can I be a shuttle driver for Dale's Basecamp on Wheels? Visit this page to find out more about being a shuttle driver and how to apply. Please note that the fall and early winter months of 2025 have full coverage, so if you are interested in being a shuttle driver it would be in the spring, summer or early fall months of 2026.
Is there something I can do if I’m not able to be a Base Camp on Wheels Shuttle Driver? We always appreciate volunteers. They're a great morale booster for Dale and a wonderful source for information on unusual adventures. In Dales’ case, hiking the AT again, volunteers are the only way he can pull this thing off. Sponsors are always welcome so if anyone knows a company or individual who likes to support incredible efforts then please let us know!
Can I hike with Dale? More than two hikers walking daily along side Dale is discouraged. As hikers say - “Everyone should hike their own hike” and it's much simpler and more enjoyable without having to worry about getting several people ready and off hiking at the same time each morning just so they can hike together for the day.
How will the Guinness World Record work? Dale has applied to Guinness World Records and they have approved this through-hike challenge. They require tons of documented evidence: Daily witnesses location certification, timekeeper letters, GPS documentation from at least one source, daily photo evidence, daily video evidence and daily log book witness signatures and contact Information evidence. All on site volunteers, specialized personally following Dale, as well as lay hikers, will have the opportunity to participate in the documentation process.
How is this trip being paid for? According to Backpacker Magazine, the average cost to thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail ranges from $5,000 to $7,000 for a 5 to 7-month hike which includes gear, trail resupply, and town expenses. Dale plans to pay all costs associated with purchase, maintenance and operating of the Basecamp on Wheels. He will also be paying most of his food cost, personal hiking expenses like travel, food, permits, mapping/GPS service, medical cost and all other all personal type expenses. He will not be asking for donations to cover these costs; the fundraiser is to enable the production of a documentary about the hike.
What is the Appalachian Trail? The AT is world class trail, with about 4,000 - 5,000 thru-hikers starting their well planned journey each year, most failing far short of the finish line: A Quote From the ATC website: “Each year, about a thousand people complete a thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail, walking the 2,192 miles that run from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. Millions more follow the trail for some shorter stretch, whether along the alpine ridge of New Hampshire’s Presidential Range, the towpath of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, or the downtown sidewalks of Damascus, Virginia, making the trail corridor one of the most well used and widely recognized recreational sites in the world.” Dale prays he will be a member of the roughly 1,000!