here is a nice simple question for everyone…where is the best hiking for the end of january to the end of feburary? 1 week hike or 4 week hike it doesnt matter. i have some time off comming up and i need some input from the community…thank you all, nitewalker
nitewalker
How much do you like snow? If yes - anyplace on the trail will do. If not - go to Florida or along the coast or southern Arizona.
Ginny
Just got back from PCT in southern cali and the weather was pretty darn nice. Sunny, warm, 60’s in the day – cool, clear, upper 30’s at nite.
The Duke
a friend and i might try and do the mid state trail through massachusetts. he lives a .25 mile from the southern terminus where we will finish up. about 92 miles unless we add in the wapack trail another 30 or so…this is part of a seris of prep hikes for our AT section hike in march[3 weeks] from newfound gap as far north as we get…cant wait till then…thanks for the input… nitewalker:cheers
nitewalker
Hey Nitewalker -
I actually live about a mile away from where the Midstate trail runs through Rutland in Massachusetts. I thru-hiked the entire trail this past June. I really can’t say enough about this trail. To say thats it’s amazing would be an understatement… at least I think so. Relatively flat terrain… goes through some cool little towns. In my opinion, hiking Southbound is a bit more difficult that hiking Northbound. Also - some of the best places on the trail are in the northern sections, (i.e. Wachusett Mt., Crow Hill, Mt. Watatic) so I prefer the walk from RI to NH, and not the other way around, but of course - hike your own hike. If you are really thinking about getting out there, I have the guide book for the trail, complete with my own personal notes from my hike - you are welcome to borrow it for your trip. Hell, I’d even love to meet up and do a day hike or two with you guys. A buddy of mine and myself just did a 2 day, 23 mile section hike from Redemption Rock to the NH state line last weekend. The trail is in great condition. A little icy and wet North of Westminster, but other than that, as good as ever. As you can tell, I’m excited that the Midstate trail is getting a little attention here on TJ.
Ghost
Start at the Camel Lake Campground on the western edge of Apalachicola National Forest and go east/south. Hike to Stephen Foster State Park in White Springs, Florida. Or the other way, doesn’t matter. The sections next to the Sopchoppy River (about a day of hiking) and the Suwannee River (about three or four days hiking) are the prettiest places you’ll ever see. You’ll probably get your feet wet in Bradwell Bay Cypress swamp, but you’ll be hard put to find a prettier more remote area. There’s not too much road walk in these sections. About two to three weeks of hiking, depending on your pace. Contact the FTA office in Gainsville, FL for maps, etc.
Bear Bag Hanger
I live about 12 miles from Bradwell. We had a really dry summer this year, but it’s been raining a good bit the past few weeks. I would definitely expect wet feet. Check out Paul Geyer’s journal regarding his dayhikes there in December:
http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=163862
He reported water at mid-thigh in the western portion, and it has rained a bunch since then. You can always bypass the swamp by using the forest roads, if you don’t want to get wet though.
Going from Camel Lake to the Aucilla River, you’ll see very little of civilization. I haven’t done the hike myself, but it’s on my list of things to do. I just have to get my kids to the point where they can hike it with me.
I’ll be doing the short stretch from Camel Lake to Porter Lake one weekend in Feb.
Ardsgaine
thanks for your input my fellow trail walkers. i may have figured out what i will be doing in the next few weeks as i prepare for my AT section hike in march…my friend dave[ s10] takes care of the trail maintenance at the southern end of the trail from the marker north till the 1st shelter and a short spell further, props to dave. well here is stage 1… pit dog and i will be geting droped off at the cow tunel on rte 20 and we are going to do a 24.5 mile day hike back to his door step today. this is the reason i am up so early. i did 20 miles last sat from my campground[hide away cove family camp]to pit dogs place with 35 lbs via the north south trail[R.I.] and boy o boy was i in some out of season pain after that[1 blister, eh and sore hip flexors]…i guess i went a little overboard for 1st time out since november[winding stair gap to fontana dam w/ pit dog]… stage 2 will be another section of the mid state next week aprox 25 miles or so. we are trying to get in some big mile days so we are able to have a few more gears to shift into when we go through the smokies to damascus[205mi] in march…if i do the march hike i will have from springer to damascus done…
i am off, got to go get ready for the 24.5 we are doing today. good greiff, i hope my hip flexors are fully recovered from the pounding they took last saturday...how about the great eastern trail hammock hanger mentioned. looks like it will be a nice adventure... good luck hammock hanger on the trail... peace to all im on the run... bye, nitewalker :cheers
nitewalker