I am planning to thru hike the AT starting at the end of April and I expect it will take me about 5 months to complete. Is there any disadvantage to starting this late in the season? from what i have read, most people would have started their hike by this time. Are there still people setting off at the end of april? would i encounter hotter weather and more insects than those setting off in march?
NZ Marmoset
By in large, you will be at the back of the pack. Most thru-hikers start before April 15. The typical thru-hike takes 5 1/2 months. So, on that basis, you should finish around mid October, which is just fine. If you find yourself going later than the average, then you will need to pick up the pace some. One way to do this is to limit the number of zeros days. Take neros instead. It does make a difference.
As far as I am concerned, there are no disadvantages to starting late. Certainly the weather is better though the high mountains of the south. And you should be out of Virginia before mid summer heat.
If you go faster than average, you will be catching up with the pack, or what’s left of it. In any event, you will catch up with those going slower than you. Not a problem. Go for it.
Peaks
Hi ,
I don’t think the end of April is too late to start. I started on April 13th and had plenty of company. You should miss most of the snow by than and spring will just be starting in the mountains.
You will find that a lot of folks start late for one reason or another.
Happy trails,
Grampie-N->2001
Grampie
I think late April will get you out of some of the crappy colder weather but you may be in for some hotter weather. I prefer to hike in cold weather but sonner or later you’ll hit the heat. You will lose some views as leaves will be out but you might get to walk through the rhoddies when they are flowering in Georgia and Tenn/NC. There were places in NC where I wished I had been there when the trees were in bloom. Plus you will catch the slower hikers and have company but have the advantage to room in shelters in the beginning. I don’t care when you will leave, it will be a great trip!!
Big B
SHe did well. Maybe she’ll speak up about it. I know in the planing stages she was afraid that it was too late a start but I think it all worked out for her. HH:girl
Hammock Hanger
In 2002, I started April 13th and like Grampie, ( Hi Grampie ), it was the best thing i could have ever done. The shelters were no longer full, as I stayed in shelters 90% of the time. Georgia was vety nice and the weather great. There were still alot of people hiking then just not too many. April 1st start date, puts you in Damascus in time for Trail Days and other than that, I would do it the same time again.
Also this start date will allow you to avoid most of the Black flies I hear are in the north and gone by July.
God Speed, Rebel with a Cause
Rebel, with a Cause
I think late april to early may is the best time to start a thru-hike. Advantages of starting then. You miss of the real cold weather in the south. The trail and shelters are not nearly as crowded. You get to see the leaves change in the north. The only disadvantage I see is you don’t have as much time to hike. I started my thru-hike on may 5 and finished on oct.9. I took off 10 days to recover from a bad case of giardia and still was able to take off about 15 more in town. Other hikers complained of the heat but it didn’t bother me one bit because I was used to working outside at my job. When it hit the 90’s at lower elevations it is about 10-15 degrees cooler in the mountains. In 1990 I met over 30 hikers who started in late april and early and a number finished. I met 5 other hikers who started on may 5 and 4 finished. Howard and his loud small dog max started in june and they past me in New Hampshire. They were putting in high mileage. The only things that bothered me about my hike is that I was a little hurried after I got sick but had no problems finishing. The White mts were overrun with Dartmouth college students on there freshmen orientation. But the fall colors in Maine were great. If i was to hike the trail again I would start the first week in may again. Jim “Scaper” Ga-Me May 5- Oct 9, 1990
Scaper
Peaks and Big B are correct—no disadvantages at all; you’ll have much better weather at the outset, meaning you’ll make better time, hike later into the day, take fewer days off, fewer zero or town days, etc., you’ll have fewer “short” days beacuse of bad weather, soaked stuff, etc. You’ll probably be able to start out with a few pounds less of clothes and you’ll need to carry less food weight as you’ll make better time at the outset because you’ll be hiking “full” days right away; most February and March hikers have quite a few abbreviated hiking days due to late morning starts, 3PM finishes, etc.
You’ll also be well past the pack of Northbounders, meaning a better chance at a shelter or nice campsite as you’ll be travelling amongst fewer folks. Hostels with limited capacities will almost certainly have space for you if you want.
Statistics I saw at the ATC office yesterday said the average “completion” time for a full-thru hike was 170-175 days the last few years; even if you hike at an AVERAGE pace, you shouldn’t have a problem; if you do fall behind a bit, you’ll have ample oportunities to bump up your pace a bit and gain some time once you’re in Virginia.
Baltimore Jack
i also started on may 5 and had a blast. i recommend starting later. i finished on october 4 and i enjoyed every step. it got extremely hot in NJ, NY but i just took that time to visit with family and to go into NYC. i passed people all of the time and i dont consider myself an extremely fast hiker. you will find that there are people that take a week off here and there to do stuff with family and/or friends and that puts them right with you. just have fun.
WISE OWL
Absolutely nothing wrong w/ a late April start date in my humble opinion. Of course I might just be biased since that’s when I’ll be beginning my hike also…See you out there!
Lauren
Just one question, I’ve heard that water sources can dry up if there is a draught by starting late. Is this a problem? If I ever get a chance to thru-hike though, I would elect to start it in May also, less crowds, less weight.
Cheers,
Blake
GPSBlake
I started April 18, 2002, and had many of the inital fears/ questions too. However, fall in New England is well worth it. I finished on top of Mt. K on Oct. 12th. Perfect weather too! Also, let’s not forget the ample hiker boxes too!
M.G.:boy
M.G.
Thank you all so much for your excellent feedback, it put a lot of my pre-hike worries to rest. Now I’m extra excited about starting my hike. This is great. :happy
NZ Marmoset
I started my NOBO thru hike on May 21st and finished on Oct 11. The only time I was bothered by insects was the wood flies in New Jersey for a couple days. The hottest day was in Massachusetts. It was a wet spring the year I hiked so for the most part I didn’t have any problems finding water. Just try to limit your zero days and you should not have a problem finishing before mid October.
Jeff
JHC
I see my buddy MG signed in, he and I started the same day. I did the Approach Trail; he didn’t. When I walked into H.F. he was 17 days ahead of me. I caught him @ Galehead Hut in the Whites and we finished a day apart in Oct. I echo everything here, April rocks, I constantly say I don’t know why you’d start in early March. It was traditionally a “Walk With Spring”. You’ll be chasing folks through VA (where yes it will be hot, as will PA, NY, NJ, you get the picture) but by southern New England they start to slow down. I was still meeting new people my last day in the Wilderness!! I finished with March, April and May starters. You get Fall in Maine, no one should miss that. Go!!
Bluebearee
nothing wrong with a late start, just keep in mind that katahdin sometimes ices over early in october and they might close the trail. other than that, have a great time!
zero
Well MR. NZ Marmoset. Looks like you have got it sorted. I look forward to having one of these (:cheers ) with ya when you get back.
jimmyjack
jimmyjack