Originally Posted by
ChrisChros
I already have decided to make a FlipFlop to avoid the Bubble. Starting date should be around end of March. What I still haven't understood is why all people seem to go north instead of south. Wy not start, let's say, in upper third of AT, go south, return to starting gpoint and go north to Kathadin? Noone seems to take into consideration this itinerary. Any reason for that?
Thanks for any advice.
ChrisChros,
Here are the reasons ATC particularly encourages starting the first half of a flip-flop northbound from Harpers Ferry late April to mid-May.
1) You start significantly ahead of the northbound bubble and stay ahead of it, at least until it thins out. That's good for the trail, because hikers are dispersed. If you walk southbound, you're adding to the bubble when you walk through it. One person isn't going to make a difference, but if it became a popular trend, it could.
2) You have the companionship and camaraderie of northbound thru-hikers. Almost all will be walking faster and further than you at the beginning, but you might bump into people a few nights in a row. After a while, as you get your trail legs, you will spend more successive nights together, or at least bump into hikers in town, or after they've gotten off for a wedding or something like that. If you go southbound, at first there will be almost no thru-hikers, and then there will be a big crush of hikers. You'll pass more than a thousand of them, but just with a hi or a brief chat at a view. At most, you'll spend a night at a shelter. Most hikers find it more satisfying to spend more time with fewer people.
3) There are a lot of advantages with the timing and succession doing the northbound first in the late April to mid-May time frame.
a) You get through some or most of the mid-Atlantic before it becomes really hot and humid.
b) You reach the White Mountains before there are tons of thru-hikers to compete for work-for-stay (though never guarantees that it's available--generally only 2 spots are offered, if help is needed), but your chances of getting it are better, and the hut crews won't have soured after a season of too many north bounders whom they perceive as acting entitled. The huts are as much as $149/night per person (including breakfast and dinner).
c) You hike Maine, which is really, really hard (the hardest state of all, with the most scrambling and climbing) when daylight hours are still relatively long, with more time to do those rugged miles.
d) You hike Maine, which is really, really hard (the hardest state of all) before your body starts to wear down. Some hikers are just worn out by the time they get there on a northbound hike, especially older hikers. The younger hikers sometimes are just bored with the trail by then and just want to get it over with, which is kind of a shame, because many consider Maine the wildest and most beautiful state.
e) Your accèss to Baxter State Park is much simpler when you arrive on foot a distance of more than 100 miles. Otherwise, you have to go through all the advance reservation system (this note is more for those flipping up to Katahdin).
Conversely, we've had two volunteers at ATC headquarters (a few years apart)--people whom I knew pretty well, who attempted flip-flop thru-hikes from Harpers Ferry southbound (against my advice, if they had asked or listened). They both ran out of steam and quit because it just wasn't fun enough to keep going (one in Pearisbug, VA and one in the Smokies). They just didn't seem to be as pulled into the experience, even though they planned for a long time and were really excited about it when they set out. I also think it wore on them psychologically to keep explaining what they were doing, not only something different, but going "the wrong way." Two people is a small sample, and only one 1 out of 4 north bounders makes it the whole way, but it still made an impression on me. That is in combination with two other people (one solo male and one couple) who also didn't like going through the crowds and a variety of other conditions they encountered.
Does everyone know about our 2,000-miler correspondence list for alternative thru-hikes? If not, it's a list of recent flip-floppers and other thru-hikers with alternative itineraries from recent years that you can contact, along with some quotes by them, and some tips from ATC. If you're interested, email [email protected] and request the Alternative 2,000-miler correspondence list.
Hikers have done many many different types of flip-flops, and there are many that people have been happy with. However, some work best only in a specific time/pace scenario, and some are more popular than other. Especially in an aspect of thru-hiking about which there is not a lot of information, I think it's most beneficial for ATC to promote the flip-flop version that has been tried the most (of the versions that benefit the Trail) and about which we have heard enough feedback to feel confident in sharing it.
I hope this helps!
Laurie P.
ATC
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