I am going NOBO on the AT in 2013. I don’t have a concrete start date yet, but I want to start with as many people as possible. I am looking for the physical challenge and social experience of the AT, not solitude. What is the best start date for this type of hike? I am leaning toward April 1, 2013. What are your thoughts?
Railman
Starting April 1 will give you many opportunities to experiment with you social graces among the moving society of NOBO hikers.
drdick
Well Mr. werdigo you could always start anytime that suits you and not stay exactly at the leantos, maybe walk past a ways and you have your solitude and near enough to interact when you want to.
jima59
jima59, I guess what I was really inquiring about was the probable weather and temperature, and likelihood of finding significant snow, that early in March. The “pretty slow” was to explain why I’m looking at an early start date.
werdigo
Werdigo, it’s a crap shoot. You may get snow, you may not. We got snow in the Smokies in April 2005, but we had beautiful weather in March thru the Smokies. Best be prepared for extremes.
swamp fox