if you had the choice to either leave for a thru-hike the last week in may or the first week in july which would you prefer?
scott
outdoorjunkie
If you had the choice
system
#2
Well, late May. Southbound, of course. 
Late May means either a real quick pace to hit K before mid-October, or a more leisurely pace headed south.
Early July means a breakneck pace headed north, or some wintery weather as you hit Georgia on a sobo hike.
BTW, my planned departure from Maine is late May, and I’m anticipating a mid-November arrival in Georgia.
–TR
Teddy Roosevelt
system
#3
Sorry, Scott. Didn’t even notice that this was a Colorado Trail discussion. Mea culpa. :oh
--TR
TR
system
#4
I would leave in early july because you would have less snow to deal with. If you didn’t mind the snow… the end of May would be better to avoid more of the summer thunder and lightning storms.
Leif
system
#5
that was my main concern. last year i left the last week of june and snow was definately an issue trying to get over the pass into coppor mountain. i couldn’t do it! i was postholing up to my stomach and almost lost a shoe! not fun in tennies and no change of clothes! also lost the trail a few times due to snow, but it was never an issue of getting lost.
outdoorjunkie
system
#6
July , I think. We did’nt have any snow to speak of… but water can be an issue. The flowers were spectacular as well… Yahoo !!
yappy
system
#7
or you could leave, say august 18th, as the monsoon season is dieing down. and take your chances with the early season snow… that’s what i did, mostly because i happened to get laid off then. the big storm which dumped 1/2 foot around I70 in sept. of 2001 left only a dusting in the foot hills of the sawatch. other than that i saw a dusting of snow a few times. i was luck though, it could started and not stoped… you take your chances if you leave this late but the monsoon will be over.
d-low