hoping to finish in september/october
thoughts?
_kAT_Is June too late to start a NOBO thru-hike?
system
#2
It depends on how strong a hiker you are and whether you enjoy pushing yourself all the time. To do 2100 miles on the AT in 4 months is possible, but it isn't easy. Some hikers discover that they enjoy pushing themselves to their limits, doing 25-30 mile days and others decide that it isn't what they went out for and end up deciding to just do half the trail at a more leisurely pace. It usually means that you will take very little time off, which means a much cheaper hike.
_Ginny_
system
#4
If you are a young, fit, experienced and motivated hiker you can do it. Otherwise the odds on finishing are very poor. 2% at best.
_Francis_
system
#5
Push it back by 2 weeks and you've got 5 months. May 15 - October 15. Super doable, and you'll miss the throngs in the south and maybe some of the heat (though there will be that).
_Klutz Factor_
system
#7
The difference between a four vs five month thru-hike is ~110 miles per month or about 4 miles per day (15 mpd vs 19 mpd). Doesn't seem like a lot, but the trail is a harsh taskmaster. And then every partial or zero day you take adds to the average daily mileage needed to make it up going forward. The good news is that if you start early enough to finish at Katahdin by the Oct 15 closure date within 5 months, then you can decide based on fitness and motivation during the hike just how close to cut it. Whereas giving yourself 4 months from day one forces your hand. I for one would rather finish the trail except for Katahdin or some portion of Maine than feel rushed out of the starting gates and quitting much earlier as a result.
_Klutz Factor_
system
#8
June is not too late to start but does require consistent big miles and very few low/zero days. You always have the flip flop option if things aren't going well. The October 15th date just means that the park is closed to overnight use. You can still hike to the park then day hike up Big K weather permitting.
_Big B_
system
#9
I started a thru-hike in mid June 1995. Met a few fellow northbounders in the Smokies. Met one of the first southbounders for that year at Quarry Gap shelter in PA.I got as far Mt. Washington in late September before I left the trail. One of my hiking buddies made it to Baxter and climbed Katahdin in November. That was a very dry, hot year and I took quite a few zero days. I'd say go for it and if time starts running out, jump north and finish New England first and then backtrack to the sections you skipped. The weather in the mid Atlantic/VA region is more mild and the terrain is less harsh than NH and ME.
_JMT2015_