Few questions about section hiking the AT

[JohnThe Snail]

Just a few notes for you. I used to just use a single hiking stick all the time, but once I tried the poles I was hooked and have only used then since.
As to hanging your food, in NJ it depends on where you are staying. In NJ, I believe all the shelters, plus the camp ground by Sunfish Pond, have bear boxes, eliminating the need to hang. Of course if using a tent site, then you will want to hang.

[johnacraft]

I'm glad to hear that there's usually always someone on the trail, almost all of the youtube videos I have seen so far of people on the trail is from thru-hikers and I guess I was under the false impression that no one ever used the trail during the off seasons when people weren't thru-hiking.

Millions of people hike at least a few miles on the Appalachian Trail every year. Only a few thousand are attempting a thru hike, and most of those attempts aren't successful.

I don't think it would be possible to hike a full day through any of the more popular areas of the trail and not see another person.

[DaveOTN]

I tend to just use a stick myself too, don't worry about it. The trekking poles are lighter and you get a little better balance with two poles than one stick. But on the other hand, they have a tendency to snap if you put the end down in a hole between two rocks and keep moving. If you snap a stick then you find another one in a mile or two

[Another Kevin]

If I had to pick I would go during the fall as you suggested, particularly on a week that there was no rain anywhere near jersey. I'm glad to hear that there's usually always someone on the trail, almost all of the youtube videos I have seen so far of people on the trail is from thru-hikers and I guess I was under the false impression that no one ever used the trail during the off seasons when people weren't thru-hiking.

That's the only time you'll see me on the AT. When the thru-hiker bubble is coming through, I hike elsewhere.

[GaryM]

Everyone is a section hiker until they make it to the end. Through hikers are not celebrities, they are the same as everyone else. As for shelters I can't say. I avoid them. I prefer a nice hand right off the trail.
If you really feel the need just declare yourself a through hiker. Who will know, the only folk who will care have their priorities mixed up anyway.