After 13 years of section hiking the AT I had to have total knee replacement. I want to get back hiking but still don't have all the mobility that I once had so would like to do a shakedown hike nearer to home in the MidWest. I have the Ice Age Trail Guidebook which rates different sections by 1-5 for hilliness and ruggedness. I can't imagine that a 5 on the IAT is the same as the White Mountains on the AT but wonder how rugged that might actually be? Can anyone comment on how those compare to conditions on the AT? Thanks.