I was thinking of hiking the northern half, then taking the AT to the Cohos Trail trailhead, then hiking that trail north. Sort of a ‘horse-shoe’ hike.
Only question is . . . can you hike to the Cohos Trail from the AT, or other trail? Or would there be a roadwalk?
Kineo Kid
Kineo Kid (one of these days we’re going to meet up somewhere here in Maine I’m sure of it), The CT’s southern terminus starts at the Davis Path, just a short hop down from Crawford Notch, so yes a short roadwalk, maybe 4 miles tops.
http://www.cohostrail.org/images/SouthernWhites.jpg
Not far at all, and yes totally do-able. Wonder why I’ve never thought of this myself - a horseshoe hike is the best way to describe this. Now with the CT opening back up this summer, I have a friend who is thinking about a thru-hike himself.
Keep us posted on whether you do this…
Bluebearee
Bluebearee
I will let you know 
BTW, in case you can’t find me on the trail, look for me at the annual MATC meeting this April.
Kineo Kid
Depends upon how much of a purist you are… The Cohos trail crosses the AT right at Mt. Eisenhower. You could hike directly to the Cohos, missing only the first 20+ miles of it.
WoodBadge
The first 20 miles is very nice trail. When you get out of the Pemi Wilderness at the road crossing (I think it is Rte 202) Instead of crossing the road to head up to the Presidentials go right a few miles to the Davis Path trailhead.
Big B
I was going to mention that, but I figured it sounded like he wanted to connect the footprints. It’s Rte 302, not 202. Davis Path is nice. Mt Crawford awesome view and Stairs Mt is one of my secrets in the Whites. One of the best damn campsites up there just off the ledge.
Not sure about the MATC annual meeting KK, they hold it every year same Saturday as Reggae w/e @ Sugarloaf, which I have to say is a rite of spring for me.
Bluebearee
If you don’t mind missing the Southern few miles of the Cohos, you could take the AT until it crosses Cohos near Mt. Eishower.
pedxing