Hello,
A couple friends and I wanted to hike on the AT for about 5 nights at the end August. We’re driving from Ann Arbor, Mi (willing to drive 10 hours or so). Any suggestions on places we should start from/go? We’ll be looking to do about 10-12 miles/day. Thanks
alex
I don’t know the distance from where you are, but my girl friends and I started section hiking in the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Excelent start to a continuing adventure. We have just finished hiking some in all 14 states of the AT.
H
The section from Vermont Rt 11 near Manchester to Vt Rt4 near Rutland has great scenery, ponds, stream crossings, great vistas from Bromley Mt, Baker peak, Killington. Easy access from where you are via Albany NY,availability of shuttles and possibly bus service back to Manchester. Lots of shelters as AT and Long trail run together here. Bears here are still afraid of humans.
Aesop
Alex - I am doing a 100 mile section of the A.T. in Virginia at the end of Sept with a friend. We are hiking from where the AT crosses US 220/I-81 near Daleville, VA to the Tye River on Route 56 (Page 75-78 of the AT Thru Hikers Companion Book). You could start at the same place but bail at the James River Foot Bridge near Glasgow, VA (Route 501/130), distance about 56.5 miles. I have done bits and pieces of this section, beautiful!!
Online Version of the AT Thru Hikers Companion:
wwwaldhaorg/comp_pdfhtm
Good luck
blueridgetreks
I have always liked the section from Kincora on Dennis Cove Rd in Tennessee to Damascus, VA. You have a safe spot to leave your car at either end. The waterfall on day one is really nice. The dam on day 2 has a beach and a place to swim. You get a couple of good climbs. It is a 50 mile hike and meeting Bob People’s at Kincora can only make the trip that much better. He’ll pick you up when you’re done and bring to back to the hostel. Damascus is a great hiker town. I don’t believe that water will be an issue in this section.
Pyro the Wise