I want to do a thru hike but dont have the time. I was wondering what the best one month portion would be. I understand that it could be different for each person but I am just looking for some suggestions. I have done a 3 week hike through the Andes Mts in Peru so difficulty is not a factor. Any suggestions are appreciated. Kearb
Kearb
People frequently ask what’s your favorite part of the AT. My reply is that it’s like asking a mother which child she likes best. Every state has it’s highlights. So, the answer depends on what type of a hike you are looking for. Viriginia is great for some. North Carolina and Tennessee are great for others. New England can be nice. Most thru-hikers agree that Maine is truely magical.
Peaks
i’m a section hiker so I haven’t done the whole thing so far. i’ve completed form Ga. up to Delaware. With that caveat in mind, if i was gonna go out for a month, i think i would start at Newfound Gap and head north
:cheers
mooneman
Have you thought of the Long Trail? At 270 miles, it is easily a comfortable hike for one month. You get to do 100 miles of the AT in southern Vermont, then once you get past the Maine Junction you are in for a treat.
The terrain does get more difficult, but you’ll have 100 miles of hiking under your shoes by then. The northern LT is less crowded, has above treeline sections, a bit more remote and is (in my opinion) more beautiful.
I think the LT is a great way to sample many different aspsects of New England hiking. Even has a mini-Mahoosuc notch called the “Devil’s Gulch”.
Re-supply is pretty easy as well.
For more info go to:
http://www.greenmountainclub.org/EndtoEnd.htm
Mags
Big D I live in north Alabama and will be hiking the month of June. Thanks for ya’lls replies.
Kearb
i remembe there was a really pretty stretch of land, i think it was around damascus maybe right after it. hopefully someone can help me out with it, there were wild ponies there and open areas on top of the mountains.
danny
I asked the same question just a little while ago. Two of the better responses I received as the Colorado trail and hiking the PCT portion of Washington. I’m thinking of either doing the hike through Washington or the Long Trail. I’m probably going to head out in mid-July so if anyone is interested in doing the same type of hike just let me know.
Crockett
danny,
The spot you are thinking of is Mount Rogers and the Grayson Highlands State Park just north of Damascus, VA. I liked the area even better than Max Patch, which was awesome!
Lost & Found
GA-VA 04
Lost & Found
I’d do the High Sierra from Horseshoe Meadows to perhaps the Mammouth area, and back. Get off the PCT into the isolated back country. In the southern Sierra, Big 5 / Little 5 Lakes, Elizabeth Pass, Roaring River, Colby Pass, the Upper Kern, Wright Lakes, Wallace Lake. There’s a zillion side trips if you aren’t concerned in thru-hilker mles.
booger
Kearb, you mentioned that you don’t have time for a thru-hike but does that mean you want to eventually complete the trail? We met many section hikers who started in Georgia and have been connecting and continuing their hike north. They say it’s the closest they can get to a thru-hike and it’s much easier to plan than bouncing around the trail. - In June, it’ll definately be cooler up north. But if you want to stay close to home, I agree with the Greyson Highlands and the area after Erwin, TN (around the balds and Overmountain Shelter). You might also want to consider finding out where the northbounders are. It could get lonely out there. Last June there were a lot of us between Harpers Ferry, WV and Dalton, PA.
Up and Down (Big D)
If you are not totaly commited on doing a month on the AT I also would highly recommand Vermont’s LT. A month is more then enough time to do the trail and after you leave the AT (the first 100 miles)the LT keeps getting better with evey mile. You can hit a town every 4-5 days. The best thing about the LT is you will have a sense of completion.
gone Walkabout
Gone Walkabout