AT in winter - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

Hi guys, I’m planning to start the Appalachian Trail at the end of November, I wanted to know if someone will travel in that period, or if someone has done and what are your feelings and advice. Thanks from Italy :wink:

Abhinava

#2

The AT will be a darker, colder, more dangerous and lonely place in winter than during the standard hiking season. Unless these are the conditions you are looking to hike in waiting until early March might yield a hike with a bit more comfort and companionship.:cheers

stealthblew

#3

If you start in Georgia, you will likely meet some southbound thruhikers, finishing their long journey. It will be cold, snowy and icy at times. It gets dark around 4:30 in mid-winter so days will be short and nights very long.

Ginny

#4

On Jan. 1, 2009, we started a second AT thru hike. We encountered an extreme in weather. From 9 degrees on the morning of Jan 1 to T-shirt and shorts weather by the end of the day. It was the extreme cold that finally chased us off the trail on Jan 20. Zero degrees and snow at Wayah bald. We got back on the trail on March 2 in 15 degree weather. It got better after that. Surprisingly we met many other hikers during our January hiking. The short days made for short mileage. By 3 pm it was time to call it a day to have day light left. It didn’t get light until 8 am, which meant late starts and long nights in the sleeping bag. It was an interesting experience for those 20 days in January, but we wouldn’t do it again.

rocky and swampfox

#5

Met a guy on Katahdin on June 19, I was starting, he was finishing…I just remember him saying snowshoes. So it’s not the alps, but…

Farsang

#6

Thanks guys for all the answers.
I know it will be a hard journey, but it’s the only time I can do it, so instead of regretting, I want to try, and since i’m alone, is an adventure that I’m just trying to organize in order to be ready for most of the problems I’ll meet. I wanted to know if there is somewhere a list of communities for travelers open all year, so not to find even in a city where everything is closed :D.
It is true that there will be snow and cold, but looking positive there will be no dangerous animals and mosquitoes. :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
greetings from Italy

Abhinava

#7

As long as your not prone to depression,being lonely or freezing,you should be fine. You will have to carry more weight than normal. clothes,4 season tent,heavier sleeping bag probably a 10 below etc… the firewood at camp sights that you find may be frozen and wet and there will be hunters out. So you want to hike with a blaze orange vest. You will have good sunny days as well but the wind will be howling.some towns will be good but others will suck. Kinda like being in the “twilite zone”. Good luck!! Id rather be in Italy

Virginian