If you are set on the 2000 + mile hike, my vote would be the PCT or the CDT
Take a look at the 5 threads the Ekih has started.
+1Originally Posted by Rasty
I was thinking the exact same thing.
Alternative Thru-hikes
There's another option: a flip-flop or other alternative thru-hike. If you start your hike roughly in the middle, heading north, and time your hike to be ahead of the crowds, you can have the companionship of a few early northbounders (after you get your trail legs). Then you can hike south with a very small number of southbounders.
Some suggested itineraries here: www.appalachiantrail.org/hiking/thru-section-hiking/when-where-to-start.
Not long ago a father/son duo came through who had started in NY June 1, hiked north, and went back to NY heading south. They loved their hike in every respect--lack of crowds, chance to get their trail legs in moderate terrain, avoiding bad weather in both the North and South, and connecting with the early nobos and climbing Katahdin with them. The only bad thing was the negative attitudes from people who said they weren't "real" thru-hikers.
To do an alternative thru-hike, you must have the strength of character to be bothered by people who make up their definition of what constitutes a "real" thru-hike and tell you that your hike doesn't rate by their standards. My guess is both Benton MacKaye and Myron Avery would approve of alternative thru-hikers, and certainly ATC does. It's true that Earl Shaffer did not think flip-flop thru-hikes counted as "real" thru-hikes. But if he saw the northbound crowds today, I think he would be promoting any thru-hike that allowed for more solitude.
Southbounders have to walk through the crowd of northbounders, and actually see more of them (for a short period) than the northbounders themselves do.
Doing an alternative thru-hike is also a good way to show some love for the trail. It disperses both physical and social impacts.
Laurie P.
ATC
Yeah, it kinda reminds me of the hippies who all wanted to be different so they all had long hair, wore blue jeans and stopped using deodorant.
I'm not really a hiker, I just play one on White Blaze.
" TOO many encounters with throw hikers have convinced me I will never hike the AT"
You have a few options.
1) change your attitude and accept the trail for what it is.
2) be flexible with your plan and tailor it to maximize the solitude you seem to seek.
3) pick up your toys and go home.
Option 3 sounds like the best option. Someone with the "TOO" syndrome even before they hike is heading for misery.
ive always been a solo hiker, always worked weekends,so it was difficult to find a hiking "partner" who could take time off during the week. in any case this past spring i sectioned from springer to damscus from mar23 to may1 among the bubble, and i had a really god time. the sense of community on the trail was something very special.
next spring i had planned on attempting a complete thru hike.i decided i didnt want to hike with the bubble early on, so im starting on the bmt and will rejoin the trail after the smokies and continue north. this will give me the solitude i prefer early on, but i'll still have plenty of time on the at to enjoy the social aspect later on, and the crowd has thinned out considerably by then.
i dont really care what you call it, ive come to love being out on the trail for extended periods. throughout my 30+ yrs of backpacking, ive enjoyed solitude and directly experiencing my environment, still ,its the people ive met along the way that have made my trips so memorable.
i guess i'll always be a section hiker.
If you dont want to be involved with people, why make this post for the people to read? I smell BS.
A lot of hikers will be glad if he doesn't hike.
The trouble I have with campfires are the folks that carry a bottle in one hand and a Bible in the other.
You never know which one is talking.
OPtion #3 would be best for him and everybody else.
wait a minute, s it dale carnegie again?
Solitary confinement might be better, these trail also have people on them.
What about just using a blindfold and ear plugs?
Is this like showing the blind guy the Grand Canyon?
More attention needs to be paid to join dates and post counts... its a good indicator if you're not already checking under the local bridges.
igne et ferrum est potentas
"In the beginning, all America was Virginia." -William Byrd
well they do have a guidebook version available in BrailleIs this like showing the blind guy the Grand Canyon?
well at least he hasn't threatened to shoot wet dogs yetMore attention needs to be paid to join dates and post counts... its a good indicator if you're not already checking under the local bridges.
The AT is a social scene with all kinds of different people with different kinds of back grounds that hikes it, from noisy college students to basically homeless people, if you come across a group or someone you don't feel comfortable or want to be around HIKE ON you have that choice, I have completed three thru-Hikes on the AT and haven't regreted a minute of it, if you want to be alone go hike the PCT whoops that one has some people on it to or how about the CDT then again you might see some people on that one to, my advise to you is get some gear go cross country hiking in the Rockies find a nice campsite and stay their for 4 or 5 months then you wil,l be totally alone and you will have your solitude, Good Luck and GO HIKING.
I'm here 2 years with 6343 posts. What does that say about me?
you are an accomplished cyber hiker
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
