Finishing Up

[Dad]

I injured my hip during last year's thru hike attempt and had to get off the trail at High Point State Park in NJ near the end of June 2017. I have around 850 miles to go and am thinking about going out to finish in 2018. Please give any advice you have related to when I should start. i'm thinking about best weather conditions starting in NJ and ending in Maine, things like best water availability, avoiding bugs (mosquitoes, black flies, etc), maybe having some company, especially in NH and ME sections, etc. I am retired so have no restrictions that way, and don't care much how long it takes. If you could go any time, when would you start. CBiscuit

[DownEaster]

I suggest you get to New Hampshire around the beginning of August. You'll avoid black fly season entirely, and have the lowest chance of snow in the White Mountains. I don't know how fast you hike, so you'd have to work backward from there to get your New Jersey start date.

[moldy]

I would start the first week of May and plan on reaching the Whites about 15 June. That's about a hundred miles per week for about 550 miles. That is about the point when the black flys start slacking off with a usual worst of it being between Mothers Day and Fathers Day. You will finish up at Baxter about July 15. The unknowable is the weather. If we have a late Spring with lots of rain could make Vermont a bit muddy. Late Winter storms could shut down the Whites in June. I hiked Vermont in May and the Whites in June with no real issues with bugs or weather.

[Christoph]

I'd almost (re)start around May as well. Take your time and you'll be ahead of any crowds, but still have people around for the most part. Weather could be tricky, but when isn't it? Any time you head out should be good, but I'd stay away from the normal times thru's start getting that far and before the SOBO's start heading South. Only because of you'll have better options on where to stay (less crowding at some certain spots) and all.

[Slo-go'en]

I would do NJ to VT starting sometime in May. Wait for spring to fully develop to avoid the spring rains, but before it starts to get too hot. Depending on conditions and when you get to VT, maybe take a few weeks or a month off during the peak of the summer to rest up a bit.

[Dad]

I was around Pearisburg in 2017 at the early part of May, so I am familiar with the weather and the clothing I carried at that time, having sent home a lot of the cold weather stuff. Being this far north of there this year and starting anywhere from May 1 to May 15, will I be able to leave the cold weather stuff home? Thanks for this (and all) replies.