WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Results 1 to 13 of 13
  1. #1
    Registered User rjhoffmann88's Avatar
    Join Date
    07-29-2010
    Location
    La Crosse, Wisconsin
    Age
    35
    Posts
    20

    Post May start Question

    I'm am hoping to start a thru-hike in the beginning of may but I'm not sure If a NOBO or SOBO would be best. I see that many people leave springer in march or april but because I'll be graduating I can't get on the trail until may. Any info, ideas, opinions would be appreciated.
    Be bold, say yes, and write your own story.

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    11-20-2002
    Location
    Damascus, Virginia
    Age
    65
    Posts
    31,349

    Default

    northbound for an early may start

  3. #3
    Registered User rjhoffmann88's Avatar
    Join Date
    07-29-2010
    Location
    La Crosse, Wisconsin
    Age
    35
    Posts
    20

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Lone Wolf View Post
    northbound for an early may start

    Thanks Lone Wolf! Any particular reasoning?
    Be bold, say yes, and write your own story.

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    11-20-2002
    Location
    Damascus, Virginia
    Age
    65
    Posts
    31,349

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by rjhoffmann88 View Post
    Thanks Lone Wolf! Any particular reasoning?
    would be a month before you could start in maine

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    09-11-2002
    Location
    Manchester Ctr, VT
    Posts
    2,367
    Images
    13

    Default

    I agree with LoneWolf...an early May start northbound would be doable. But, you must arrive at Springer fairly fit and ready to hike 11 or 12 miles per day right from the beginning. You have to limit your zero days and hope that the injury bug doesn't knock you off trail for a week or two.
    Order your copy of the Appalachian Trail Passport at www.ATPassport.com

    Green Mountain House Hostel
    Manchester Center, VT

    http://www.greenmountainhouse.net

  6. #6
    Registered User thestin's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-24-2002
    Location
    Front Royal, VA
    Posts
    384

    Default

    An early May start from Springer will give you over 5 months to get to Kathahdin. Just don't get crazy and try to do too much too fast. May is a beautiful time to be in the southern Appalachians.

    You can always flip-flop at Harpers Ferry if time is running out on you.

  7. #7

    Default

    I started 5/1, took a week off for vacation and illness, and finished with no problems. When you get to Delaware Water Gap you will know if you need to flip up to K.

  8. #8
    Registered User rjhoffmann88's Avatar
    Join Date
    07-29-2010
    Location
    La Crosse, Wisconsin
    Age
    35
    Posts
    20

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by max patch View Post
    I started 5/1, took a week off for vacation and illness, and finished with no problems. When you get to Delaware Water Gap you will know if you need to flip up to K.

    Thanks for the info. What do you mean by 'flip up to K?'
    Be bold, say yes, and write your own story.

  9. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    09-08-2006
    Location
    Wilton CT
    Age
    77
    Posts
    1,097

    Default

    He means get off the trail, travel to Maine, and hike southbound back to wherever you got off - for example DWG. You need to keep in mind that Baxter State Park closes Oct. 15.
    "It goes to show you never can tell." - Charles Edward Anderson Berry

  10. #10
    Registered User
    Join Date
    11-20-2002
    Location
    Damascus, Virginia
    Age
    65
    Posts
    31,349

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Old Grouse View Post
    You need to keep in mind that Baxter State Park closes Oct. 15.
    no. it closes to overnight camping. the park is still open after the 15th

  11. #11

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Old Grouse View Post
    He means get off the trail, travel to Maine, and hike southbound back to wherever you got off - for example DWG. You need to keep in mind that Baxter State Park closes Oct. 15.
    What Old Grouse says it correct for all practical purposes. Because the trail to Katahdin closes when it is unsafe to hike you should plan imo to arrive no later than 10/7. I suggested DWG as a point to decide if you need to flip up to Katahdin as by that point you should know if you will reach Katahdin by early October or not, and, if so, there is public transportation available.

    Quote Originally Posted by Lone Wolf View Post
    no. it closes to overnight camping. the park is still open after the 15th
    This is technically correct but is misleading to the question being asked. Since the park is closed to camping you must start start outside the park, hike up K, and then return hike to outside the park. That is a long day with short daylite hours. And even if the park is open after 10/15 I certainly wouldn't bet that the trail to K is still open -- it closes based on safety not on the calendar.

  12. #12
    Registered User rjhoffmann88's Avatar
    Join Date
    07-29-2010
    Location
    La Crosse, Wisconsin
    Age
    35
    Posts
    20

    Default

    Thank you for all of the great advice!
    Be bold, say yes, and write your own story.

  13. #13

    Default

    As others have said, you can certainly start in Georgia in early May and have plenty of time to get to Katahdin. This would be an accelerated trip but not wildly so. You'd have to hike further each day, or hike faster than most folks, and you'd have to be disciplined with your town time and days off, but you'd certainly have sufficient time to get to Maine.

    Most folks, however, take 24 to 27 weeks for a thru-hike, so if, for any reason, you're not sure you'd have enough time if you started in May in Georgia, there are two other alternatives, both of which would give you a great trip:

    *Hike Southbound from Maine, starting in early June anf finish up towards the end of the
    year in Georgia.

    *Start hiking North in May, but start from Harpers Ferry. You'd have plenty of good
    company. Then, after getting to Maine approx. three months later, return to Harpers
    and head Sout from there. Again, you'd have plenty of company, and would have more
    than sufficient time to complete your trip at a comfortable pace.

++ New Posts ++

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •