Another question. Anyone have an idea how many people are actually on the trail, beginning at Springer, during the month of Feb. I realize that there must be a lot more hikers than what shows up here on Trail Journals. Trying to figure out if we’re crazy for beginning in February. It won’t delay our start date, I’m just curious.
The Great Whazoo
Check Officer Taco’s 2004 Trail Journal. It is very interesting and informative. He started on February 1st, I think.
Ed Wright
I started last year on Feb. 22. There was probably around 10-15 hikers who started ahead of me, assuming everybody signed the registers. 4 people started the day I did.
Tell it like it is
I’ll probably be starting some time in February too (don’t tell anyone ; ) and I was asking myself the same question. Does anyone know if there is a lot of icy trail that time of year? (not so much afraid of cold anymore after this year’s hike but ice…).
Apple Pie
You can go to trailplace.com and click on “Starting Date”. There are currently 23 people signed up for February. Only 3 in January.
I recall reading Bill Bryson’s book and there’s a passage where someone tells him that ‘they’ve seen over a thousand hikers so far’, or something like that. Bryson began in early March I think. The year was 1996 or 97. Figuring that more people are hiking now that then, I’m guessing that you should expect to have plenty of company.
I’m planning to a two day hike on Decemeber 29th. I’ll hike up the approach trail and back down after spending the night.
Summer95
actually numbers are down in recent years. which is good. there will be some folks out there for sure. id expect you will spend some nights alone, and have some quiet days. closer you are to march first the more people you see. tons start march first.
yea you are crazy, but good news is you are not the only one.
and i am sure you are not as crazy as apple pie. you are going out again?!!! you go. congrats on the cdt. i think me and leprechaun were within 20 miles of you when you crossed I 10 in NM, we were on our crazy bike trip. it was frikkin cold out there. you crazy.
milo
I started February 15th in 2002 and four people also started that day. When I entered SMNP the first week of March the ridgerunner said I was the ninth NOB he had seen in the park. There was over a foot of snow in the park the week before I got there. But the snow all depends on the weather down here this winter. It was mild in 2002. But you will be cold. It will snow on you, at least a little.
I dislocated my shoulder in SMNP and was off trail for two weeks. When I got back on trail it was a different world with a lot more people. I missed the way it was when I started with so few people. If you read my journal in the first month or so you will see that I talk about people days ahead and behind me. There were so few we kept up with each other. Later the trail became more impersonal.
If I were to do it again I’d still leave in February. Just prepare yourself for the rain and the cold. Do not let your guard down due to a warm streak. It will not last long.
Two Scoops
Hey Two Scoops, how did you do your shoulder? I’ve been there, done that (see my journal) and I’m curious about the circumstances, if you’re willing to reveal them.
Tyger
Tyger I see you are starting late February. As far as my shoulder, I came down the north face of Clingmans in rain walking on an solidly iced trail. It looked alot like a Luge run the way the trail is dished out in the area. But I was using poles and I had the straps on the poles looped back over my wrist. I was trying to bypass an iced area and fell on my right side and as a result I slide a distance down the trail until my right pole caught something. When it did my arm was pushed up and over my head since I coudn’t let go of the pole. After I returned to the trail I stopped using the pole straps and started placing my thumb over the ends of the poles to keep them out of my chest. Honestly I no longer have a use for the wrist straps.
Two Scoops