Hardest hill - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

anybody know what the hardest hill on the trail is? (in your opinion) walking north or south.

doug

#2

The Final Exam, northnound. That near vertical mile or so section in the middle of the 5.2 miles from Katahdin Stream CG and Baxter Peak. The part that is almost all rock scramble, very little walking upright. Coincidentally, the one with the best reward at the top.

Skyline

#3

The hardest hills are always the unexpected ones: When your tired, in a bad mood, wet, cold or hot.

jalan

#4

Roan Mountain… I was a NOBO… It kicked my butt hardcore. Of course, if I were to have done it about two months later, I may have a different opinion of it. I thought Roan was gonna kill me.

windex

#5

My 3 hardest of the year were, Kelly knob right before Hiawassee I did this at the end of the day and it kicked my but. 2nd lions head-bear mountain -race mountain this little range kicked my butt it was so hot over 95 degrees and i was dehydrated just about puked. 3rd I think was south twin mountain in the whites, it goes straight up it was raining and i was burn out.

stick

#6

The second hardest was heading up springer because I was scared to death … what was I thinking … walking for 6 months! NO WAY!

But the hardest was heading up Katahdin … because I was scared to death … what was I thinking … leaving the trail for the real world … YIKES!

:cheers

boorah

#7

I will second the Roan Mtn nomination! NOBO as well and I was dragging myself by the end. Sucked. Of course I would like to try it now … I do remember the area being beautiful.

I also have to say Sassafras mtn/knob (?) - it was on day 2 or 3 it seems. Right in Georgia. I’ve heard others lament the memories of this one as well. Fresh legs did not favor it!

Minnie

#8

Oh lord, I thought I had blocked out all of the painful memories of Sassafras mountain in Georgia. It was raining (of course, it was 2003, it was raining every day) and the mountain just never seemed to stop going up. Everytime you thought you topped out, the trail turned and kept going up. I think I hit it towards the end of a day when I was tired as well.

I do think however, that most NOBOs who hit this one so early in the hike, before they are in trail shape, and wind up cursing this mountain like we all did in camp that night, would absolutely fly over it 2 months later while blessing the local maintainers for the gentle grade and nice trail.

Singe03

#9

From a non-thru:

Hardest for me was walking down Standing Indian after being injured. One, because the pain was incredible with a knee that wouldn’t bend more then 10 degrees, and two, because my heart was dragging on the ground behind me.

We sometimes get grumpy or irritable or miserable after endless days of rain, or snow, or sleet, or heat, but ultimately, the crappiest day hiking, be it AT or anywhere, beats nearly any day of work, or other things in life. I look forward to any time I have the chance to be back outdoors.

-xtn

airferret

#10

Katahdin has the most vertical and some of the steepest sections in places, but i tend to agree with jalan. The hardest peak can be quite easy when your mind is not on the physical hardship. A relatively ‘easy’ climb can be really annoying when your mind is in the dumps.

There have been many occasions when i’m walking for hours, completely oblivious to the difficulty of the terrain, because my thought is dwelling on something else.

freebird

#11

I got to the base of Roan Mtn. late on fall day with hopes of staying at the cabin on top. Stinger and I had walked since first light so it had been a long day when we started up the mountain. I felt that all the energy in my body was had drained out two hours earlier and this late vertical climb was ahead of me with more than my legs could take. I reached a point where I could barely stand up so we set up camp. I was so exausted I could not even chew a granola bar so I crashed. The next morning I got my legs back and realized we had come within a few hundred feet of the top.
Life is good on the trail…Swamp Dawg

Swamp Dawg

#12

To me Sassafras was nothing, except for the false summits, but I had been training near there before starting my section hikes nearby. Bly Gap on the other hand. 85 degrees, 85% humidity, and dehydrated, and it just went up and up, after a day of up and up, compared to Georgia, I hated my first day hiking into NC.

almost there

#13

Going SOBO through Mahoosuc Notch and making that final climb to the shelter in the dark almost finished me off, and it was 22*, what a day.

Oh, and having to climb out of Fontana to Shuckstacks twice in two days.

Cheers

Cheers

#14

As a SOBO, Roan Mtn wasn’t that bad. It sure was a long downhill though.
The hardest hill has to be the one with no view at the top. But it still comes back to perspective, like jalan and airferret said. DP

Goggles

#15

My hardest climb ever came on a day late in february. Goshen Prong trail heading up to double spring gap shelter in the smokeys. the trail itself is not that steep, on a nice summer day I could have done the 7.7 miles in probably 3 hours. But as it turns out, it wasnt a nice summer day, it was a horrible spring/winter day. the last 3 miles of the trail were covered in about 4 inches of ice. at points I was on my hands and knees trying to scuttle up that damn mountain. I didnt get to the shelter till around midnight. Lucky for me there was a group of boyscouts there who didnt believe in leave no trace, so they had a HUGE fire going. If it werent for them I dont know if I would have all my fingers and toes or not.

Hammock PhD

P.S. I wouldnt exchange that experience for anything in the world

Hammock PhD

#16

That short half mile coming northbound out of Stecoah is a doozer. No rocks to grab onto but amazingly steep to walk on. I was kissing my knees each step!

The switchbacks near the top have made it easier though. Sort of too bad!

Lobster

#17

I agree with jalan. The ones you here everyone talk about your ready for them, and they don’t seem as bad as what eveyone is saying. It’s when you think your going to have an easy day and then the up’s(or downs) seem like they are never going to end.

buckwheat

#18

The hardest hill may be yet to come because I have not hiked New Hampshire yet. The two times I was really exhausted was when I climbed late in the day: First was Roan Mt. northbound, 2nd was the Roller Coaster to Bear’s Den northbound. Both days I hiked about 20 miles including side trails. I recovered quickly once on top, especially at Bear’s Den with a pint of Ben and Jerry’s in my grasp. The scariest climb was most definitely going up Lehigh Gap in PA with a food-and-water-full backpack. Hanging on those rocks and looking straight down 1000 ft. at the highway I seriously thought I might die in a fall. Katahdin was awesome but easy and fun because I only carried a daypack. Gawd, I miss the trail!
-hitrailer

hitrailer

#19

Lehigh Gap was also my scariest climb, but that was because I was hiking with Bandicoot, a former Marine (those f*ckin’ loons!), who INSISTED we go forther…even in the middle of a Thunder and Lightening Storm.

People. Don’t do that. Even that map says, “Don’t be f*ckin’ stupid.”

Not blaming Bandicoot, or course. I’m my own person and could have turned around had I wanted to. But, I mean, come on. Hike the same hill twice?? I guess at that point I preferred taking my chances with the lightening.

Leki-Less

#20

Also from another non-thru

Stecoah

Hughes Gap to Roan High Bluff

Clingsman Dome can be tough north to south at the end of a long day!!

Fraser Fir