Early start - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

Anyone know what the earliest date has been for a NOBO’er leaving from Springer who actually completed the thru hike. Thinking with global warming, might be a challenge to hit the trail January 1, 2008. Beat the rush and think of all the empty shelters. No tent needed at least until March. We started last march 3rd and shelters were not that crowded. Know someone got going early last winter but dropped out. I am prepared to be alone, cold, and wet and to hold up in case of bad weather. We have completed probably over 1000 miles of the trail in the past two summers. Need to go early and get done so we can get the crops planted in the spring on the farm. No Kidding! traildust

Traildust

#2

If you start Jan 1, I would plan on a tent the shelters may not be crowded but they aren’t heated either. A tent gives you a better rest and saves energy when the weather get bad. Just a thought. :happy

cowboy

#3

Always a couple people start January 1st each year and it seems to be a growing trend that people are starting earlier, even in Jan. Some have journaled here about it (Flying Scottsman, Flyin Brian, Hellcat, Bono, Rocket, etc)and I hear Stumpknocker is starting 1/1/08.

Some have finished the entire trail as early as early June, though I don’t know why you’d wanna. Consider this. How early do you have to get done? Why not just hiking till Hanover/Glencliff and come back next year? You’ll be hitting the Whites with lingering snow and bad storm possibilities and Maine will be bug hell with swollen streams. Plus you’ll be hitting arguably the prettiest sections of the trail at the end of spring when it tends to rain a lot.

Something to think about

A-Train

#4

boy, even if i had plans to yo-yo the entire thing in a summer, i still wouldn’t start that early.

from what i’ve gathered about people leaving that early, it’s hugely expensive to thru since so often you end up holed up in a motel for days during some awful weather.

0101

#5

A few of my friends headed out in JAN this yr ((Zero)) and Early is right you tend to spend alot of money waiting for the weather to break .If you want alone time thought the trail is Def less packed even when I headed out the 3rd of March I had snow the first night out so there are thiings to think about… Have a Great hike though it is Your hike…Tambourine

Tambourine

#6

Read Hydro Heidi’s 2005 AT journal - she started January 1.

tNGirl

#7

I think the short days would make an early start difficult. I’ve done some February backpacking in the Pacific NW. I got tired of being stuck in a tent for over 12 hours.

MikeU

#8

I think Bookworm started in October last year and finished in June. Ghost, Toothpick and Trek Started in early January and finished in June.

Elf