Looks like I have a go-ahead for early May. Since I have already missed the Hordes of Hundreds, I want to know more about numbers of people and potential hiking partners on the trail in May. Am I too late? Is it better just to wait until next Spring? Is it unwise (since I will be hiking alone)? My concern is that I won’t go if it is another 10 months before I start. Thanks for helpful/insightful feedback.
jennie
How about going SoBo and enjoy the fall colors and have more time to hike. Going North in May would mean some faster paced hiking in order to get over the Presidents and make K. before the weather gets cold. But starting in mid August, just after the blackflies have died down, would be an alt. There will still be plenty of hikers headed south and you may have a more close knit experience.
Bushwhack
jennie. Yes, early May has become a late starting time. However, it can be a beautiful time to hike the trail. The trail will not be crowded, shelters will be open, hostels will be welcoming, the temperatures are great and trail towns will have started to recover. The peace and quite offers many hikers a great time to be by themselves.
If you want the crowds skip up the trail to the NOC, Smokies, Hot Springs and start your hike. You will find plenty of hikers in those areas. You can start checking journals and find out where there are groups of hikers. At the end of April you should have a good idea where the last wave is located. You start your hike there and flip back later.
Good luck with your hike. As you said, if you put it off, who knows what might happen in 10 months. You may want to do it again.
Bilko
Hey jennie i am considering a start in may also. I know its late but this is when i have the time. what date are you thinking about starting?
Jess
I started hiking May 15th, and by the end of North Carolina I was catching up to hikers who started in early April. I finished hiking Oct. 2nd.
The trail was crowded the whole way too, not once did I find an empty shelter, and I met many thru-hikers.
Don’t listen to any advise telling you May is too late to start a thru hike, just do it!!
Arbo
Hey jennie. I started may 1st last year and I had a great nobo thru-hike. It was a little thinned out early on, but I started meeting up with the big crowds once I got to fontana and the smokies.
You could always flip flip if it gets too late. A lot of people last year started late and realized that baxter was going to be closed by the time they got there, so they simply flipped when they got to harpers ferry and hiked sobo for the second half. I can tell you that a may start will mean some hot days down in georgia though.
lakewood
Thanks to all for the encouraging and helpful comments.
jess- I was hoping to start no later than the first weekend of May, the second weekend if necessary. I have a family matter pending that needs to be cleared up, a good part of the reason for my delay, then I will be able to set a date or know I have to cancel. Another item just in today - I received a jury summons for June. Monday I will call to learn if my service can be postponed. Very interesting.
JENNIE
J, I got one of those in '01. Just told them I was going to be out of state then. They understood. Good luck and have fun. Will you have a journal?
BW
Jennie,
Check the 2002 AT journal for Bluebearee. She started on April 18, had your same concerns but quickly caught up with other hikers. You should have a similar experience.
She also encountered a bear on her first night out.
See you at Dot’s in Damascus.
Sidetrack
sidetrack
Yep, I always look at these “am I too late to start” threads, and echo that May is not too late. I had 9 days off trail in the middle of May that year due to T/Ds and a family death, left Hot Spgs on Memorial Day weekend (Sat) and by the time I got to Damascus was back in a pack, admittedly, the back of the pack the rest of the way. But no problems, NOBO all the way, finishing 10/13. You’ve got a little more than 5 months which is enough time, I say just go for it.
Sidetrack, do I know you? I’m flattered my now 6 year old journal was cited. God knows I was thinking about that night last week on the 18th again.
Bluebearee