late Feb start date: footwear?

[Dogwood]

I am starting in late feb as well and after pouring through old weather data, old posts and asking around, I just bringing my trail runners with decent socks. I may pick up some gaiters

I'm from northern Ohio, so not a stranger to snow. I think it will be rare, if any times that it snows. If there is ice, I'll take it slow and lean on my trekking poles.

What does "decent socks" mean? With the late Feb start date with low cut trail runners I'd 1) have shortie WP UL gaiters for the early rounds 2) be able to keep feet warm even though may be wet 3) know how to treat wet feet and prevent/address maceration and blister/sore feet/rash prone feet from LD hiking day after day after day in cold possibly wet conditions.

Snow, ice, cold, and wintry mixes will not likely be all that uncommon going forward through March. The Appalachian Mts can definitely experience late winter and early spring snow, ice storms, and wintery wet mixes.

[Dogwood]

Originally Posted by Options
Walked them dry every time they got wet.

more people should ditch the Goretex like you did. I'm amazed how quickly you can walk a pair of shoes dry even after stepping in a river and having them soaked inside and out.

Walking shoes dry is harder during the low sun angles, green shaded tunnel, overcast/clouded weather periods, and cold at elevation on the AT in late winter. Walking shoes dry as a matter of habit in the winter on a LD trek during the early going with an approach to not to ditch into town or hover at a lean-to's when experiencing snow, ice storms, precipitation, fluctuating temps wavering at or below freezing, with possible wind chill factors added in, and wintry mixes takes diligence and knowing how to roll with these conditions.

Sunny summer wet weather shoes can dry faster.

[-Rush-]

If I had to do those early sections over again, I'd pick up some good waterproof boots at resupply in Fontana Dam and send them back at Standing Bear where I return to wearing trail runners.

[Secondmouse]

If I had to do those early sections over again, I'd pick up some good waterproof boots at resupply in Fontana Dam and send them back at Standing Bear where I return to wearing trail runners.

that's sensible. a lot of discussions start with, "what do I need from March to June, or Georgia to VA?".

in reality, this trail offers easy opportunities to resupply every 3-5 days so changing gear to suit the situation should be not problem. a little foresight and use of the mail service would make it so much more enjoyable...

[Dogwood]

If I had to do those early sections over again, I'd pick up some good waterproof boots at resupply in Fontana Dam and send them back at Standing Bear where I return to wearing trail runners.

that's sensible. a lot of discussions start with, "what do I need from March to June, or Georgia to VA?".

in reality, this trail offers easy opportunities to resupply every 3-5 days so changing gear to suit the situation should be not problem. a little foresight and use of the mail service would make it so much more enjoyable...

Yup and yup. makes sense.

[Dogwood]

What does "decent socks" mean? With the late Feb start date with low cut trail runners I'd have two pr socks. one pr would be a thicker wt merino calf height that can be scrunched down on days not needed to be pulled up. Another pr would be a calf height HANZ Chillblocker Waterproof pair. Switch out as needed. Have convertibles. When wearing long pants version possibly with silk wt Patagonia thermal bottoms under I'd have event or Neoshell WP gaiters for all of Feb- mid April. All can also be uses for sleep wear.