over 600 hikers already on trail?

[Goatgas]

I just talked to a ranger in Great smoky mountain National park back office about bear container requirement( none needed). During the conversation he said he got an e-mail claiming over 600 registered hikers have already started... really? That seems like way too many so early on. And I thought I was starting early in February... hope he was wrong.

[dudeijuststarted]

I think that ranger got into some bath salts...

[Gambit McCrae]

The warm weather purt we had for 2 weeks could have gotten people buck fever and they started early, if they can get thru the smokies without incident they should be fine, just cold for a month or 3 lol

[Goatgas]

I think that ranger got into some bath salts...

LOL!! yea those numbers seemed too high but I wasn't going to question his info. Thought someone here would have more factual info.

[Sarcasm the elf]

Are you sure he wasn't referring to people who were just registered to hike in GSMNP?

[Goatgas]

No, he said registered AT hikers. thought he was off... way off.

[daddytwosticks]

That comes out to 46 hikers a day started since the 1st. That doesn't seem to pass the smell test to me.

[Slo-go'en]

The ATC has 338 hikers registered to start at Springer and 321 registered as starting at Amicacola SP, which adds up to 659, so that's over 600 The bulk of which say they will start in March.

Hard to say if any or many registered twice, confusing the approach trail and the actual summit as the starting point. I suppose they can be evenly split between doing and not doing the approach trail.

[Malto]

That is how many registered not started. You can register to start months later.

[colorado_rob]

I didn't even know one registered for the AT; I didn't, except at the sign-in on springer, and I checked in at the ATC in Harpers... I wonder what the percentage of AT wannabe hikers even know about this "registration"?

[skater]

I saw the email. It refers to how many people are registered, and mentioned that a FEW had started already.

[Nukids2]

I'm registered to start on the 21st of March and switched to the 20th due to flight issues getting down to Atlanta. It's going to be pretty busy out there but at least we can share the pain.

[rocketsocks]

Wow, I didn't think Redford and Nolte were all that!

[aruthenb]

I didn't even know one registered for the AT; I didn't, except at the sign-in on springer, and I checked in at the ATC in Harpers... I wonder what the percentage of AT wannabe hikers even know about this "registration"?

It is voluntary registration, here is the link.
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/home...r-registration

[aruthenb]

If anyone is interested in the numbers, here is a link to the charts.
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/home...tration-charts

[MockingJay]

Go to Mountain Crossings' FB page. https://www.facebook.com/MountainCrossings. If there were that many thru hikers on the trail already (at least starting from Springer) they would post something about it. So far, there are pics of 3 NOBO thru hikers. Not saying they see and take pics of EVERY hiker that comes through Neal's Gap but if there were that many I think you'd see much more on there.

[Coffee]

I don't think that there is any way that 600 NOBO thru hikers are already on trail as of January 14.

[The Cleaner]

Check out Trail Journals.com.Only 4 or 5 posting there(currently hiking) and they are not seeing many hikers yet according to their posts.I've been out every month for a few days each and in very cold temps the last thing I wanted to do was take off my gloves or mittens to play with my iPhone.

[FatMan]

Nonsense...7 started on Jan 1 and less than a handful since, if any. I am out nearly everyday and I have not seen any. Weather has been quite cold so it is unlikely anyone waiting at home to start have talked themselves into setting out with lows in the teens with strong winds. Temps will be moderate the next couple of days but cold is returning early next week.

As others have stated that number is likely how many have already registered, not started.

[colorado_rob]

If anyone is interested in the numbers, here is a link to the charts.
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/home...tration-charts

thanks for this link! I'd like plan a section hike in NC/TN this spring (Roan highlands area) and I'd sure like to be ahead of the peak of the throngs, so I'll use this data to plan my timing.