I wana go south but not sure please help

imported
#1

I was wandering if any one had tips on doing a sobo. Is it worth doing vs going north… I attempted a nobo thru hike this year. I have 800 miles under my belt and many more miles from other trips… I liked going north but would like to have some more privacy. There was just a ton of people going north. On the other hand I don’t wanna be hiking alone for weeks at a time going south. I do like some company. So my questions are,

When are the popular start dates so I’m hiking with at least a couple other people?

Also do loose out by hiking through Katahdin, Maine, 100 mile wilderness, Whites, Greens, first and ending on lame mount springer? or do you still get the same experience?

Last question is it worth it just to see fall and the leaves change colors?..

I’m shooting for sometime 2015 (i’ll be 22yrs old). My feet ended my last thru hike from sesamoiditis and planters. That developed from high arches and not taking proper care of them. I’m going to take good care of my feet this time and I’m in shape so, I don’t think the starting on the hardest part will b a problem for me.
Thanks for any help
Caribou
MEGA

Caribou

#2

Huh? The achievement is completing 2,100+ miles, not hiking taller mountains first or last.

Jeff

#3

Also - you noted that you had issues the last time trying to hike.

By starting in ME and heading south, should anything unfortunately happen again, you’d have hiked a different section of the trail, perhaps even having completed the whole thing in two parts.

Where as if you do the NOBO again you could encounter difficulties and have simply hiked the same section a second time.

BillyGr

#4

Caribou, the conundrum you are up against is that you can’t have it both ways. You can’t have a traditional “walking with spring” type of nobo experience - which seems to be your preference - without also dealing with the crowds early on. Sobo is a completely different experience, but it also has its rewards. A frequent misconception though is that sobo has no crowds. It does, just not as bad, though you will see lots of nobos heading the other way. North or south, the crowds always dissipate as you continue beyond the initial weeks of the journey. It’s just that sobo, they dissipate more, because the trail has fewer non-ld hikers in addition to fewer thru-hikers by the time you’re in the heart of autumn.

Other than sobo, your options could include starting nobo a little later, say late April, and finishing in 5 months instead of 6. That will put you behind the initial throng, while still giving you the walking with spring vibe. Or you could do a Harpers Ferry flip-flop where you first do the northern half of the trail in spring-summer, and then return to HP and head south in summer-fall. That way you miss the early action near the termini, though at the expense of not forming the same kind of social bonds that come with going the whole distance in one direction.

I personally would try to decide whether the AT is the trail for me, or if I’d prefer one of the western trails with fewer people. If my heart is still set on the AT, then I would go north again from Springer, possibly starting a little later. (You don’t say when you started.) And I wouldn’t let the repeated miles feel like a liability whatsoever. They can also help you build momentum as you re-experience familiar territory with a new mindset and renewed resolve.

TR

#5

Springer is not lame… but Katahdin is cooler! Most people only remember the pain of GA but if you’re into plants, trees, and wildlife the south is much more diverse and full of nature. Reminds me of the desert. I hated the desert the first few years but now they are an amazing wilderness that is as diverse and intense as anything in the high Cascades, Sierra, or Rockies. You wanna talk about a real desert, get above 10,000.

…anyway back to the O.P. If you already did 800 miles down south then you ought to go SoBo from K. Three thru’s and I always liked the New England area the most.

hellkat

#6

Hey thanks for you help guys. Thats a lot to think about. Jeff your definitely right hahaha. Hellkat I do really enjoy nature and because I’m in the horticulture field. I think would really enjoy the nature of southbounding. TR you also have a good point. Thanks again for the input guy very helpful.

Caribou

#7

Going northbound you might skip some of the shelters and tent more. Try to avoid some of the more popular hostels.

Jimajax

#8

I flip floped on my thru so I was able to experience both the NOBO world and the SOBO world.
You definately will not see a lot of SOBO hikers. The trail in Maine is more undeveloped and traveles a lot along and thru wet areas. This would be especialy bad in early spring.
If you already have 800 miles of the AT hiked you may just want to end your hike without reaching Springer and still be a “2000 Miler.”

Grampie