Great Eastern Trail vs. Ice Age Trail

The Differences             

Great Eastern Trail 1,600-ish miles, Alabama to New York Generally painted blazes of every color: red, orange, yellow, gold, green, blue, purple, white High point 4,300 ft Months of prep recommended to gather together the needed resources About 20 shelters A few outfitters on or near the trail Locals generally unaware of the GET 3-4 months needed to thruhike

Ice Age Trail 1,100-ish miles, Wisconsin to . . . Wisconsin! Yellow blazes that may be painted or plastic markers on trees, on stakes, may be different shapes High point 1,920 ft Thorough map and guidebook available for purchase, free updates and hiker notes from volunteers A few shelters I don't know of an outfitter along the trail; REI accessible by a long shuttle Locals more generally familiar with the IAT 2-3 months needed to thruhike The Similarities

• The Ice Age Trail and the GET have much more in common than I would have guessed.  Most importantly, with both trails, were the people.  I feel like each trail I hike brings wonderful lifelong friends into my life, and the IAT was no exception.  

• These trails are also both lonely.  While Devils Lake (IAT) may always be comparatively crowded and the Thousand Steps (GET) is a popular dayhike, neither of these trails boast many long-distance hikers.  I met 4 on the Ice Age Trail.

• Easy resupply due to frequent town visits - just one section on each trail that is dicey for resupply
  
• Challenging camping situations at times due to private land or public land where camping is not allowed
  
• Maps are a necessity - neither the GET nor the IAT is fully blazed (this mostly applies to connecting roadwalks but there are wooded sections that are unblazed or underblazed
  
• Both trails have an element of choose-your-own-adventure, as the connecting roadwalks are often unofficial and you can link the trail together by foot as you like.
  
• Both trails have a bifurcation!  East or west, which will you choose?
  
• They have similar ideal seasons for hiking: spring or autumn are your best bets to avoid ticks, heat, and mosquitoes.

• Both are routed through a large city (Chattanooga for the GET, Janesville & Madison for the IAT)