Just finished at 7 day section hike in central VA (Dragon’s Tooth to Pearisburg) and I’ve got to tell you I about went crazy. From Sunday afternoon until Friday noon I saw nobody! I had planned on going another three days but I bailed. I couldn’t stand the lack of interaction with others.
Should I forget about a thru-hike?
Shuda
i am sure this thread will light up quickly…
You will meet plenty of others in a NOBO hike, be them thru-hikers, sectioners, day trippers, etc…maybe not until farther north will you have an occasional night alone, and by then, you will probably welcome the respite…
During the day there were times in GA and NC I hiked alone, and the solitude, nature, etc were a welcome respite…each night, many of us camped in the same spots at shelters or other places, and I welcomed the intereaction as well… if you want to be alone, you can be alone, if you want to be sociable, that is available too… as they say, it is YOUR hike, HYOH…
-xtn
PS and yes, I did fail in my own thru hike attempt, after blowing out my knee, and I left a part of me behind on the trail… I will, someday, return to reclaim it, in the meantime, sections and other hikes abound… :cheers
airferret
Don’t give up. I had done a fair amount of section hiking on the AT before my thru-hike. The two are VERY different. Plus you were hiking off-season. Realize the AT is not a popular place for backpackers in november. The SOBO group is already south of there for the most part and even so it’s hard for a section hiker to become “part of the group”.
I quit on a section hike that was supposed to last two weeks. After 3 days I had enough, wasn’t seeing any hikers (or they were flying by) and hated the heat and bugs and the AT in general! Luckily I kept coming back, for now I can’t get enough.
Leaving Springer Mtn was like no other section hiking day for me. It was a total different experience. I left knowing I had the momentum and support from home and friends and family. I also met a ton of great people the first day out, some I stuck with for hundreds of miles, some who were great to get to know for the first 30 miles.
If you start any day between 1 March and 15 April, you’ll be amongst tons of great people. Some people love the solitude and alone time, but others thrive on the great people of the Trail. I liked both. Having people around is the easiest way to get aclimated to trail life since everyone is in the same boat, trying to figure out gear, routine, comfort etc.
Don’t give up! A thru-hike is a magical journey and a week in virginia in november is just not the same.
A-Train
Oh for the love of choclate gimmi some o’ that. I have ten dogs 100’ from my house that I didn’t ask for, a job I hate and I can’t drink caffiene and beer makes me fat.
You’ll find a ton of people to thru hike with-maybe too many. The quiet times are the ones to reflect on your inner self. I like interaction too but after a life time of working with the public I hate crowds.
You didn’t exactly hike a popular stretch at a busy time of the year, November? There isn’t a whole lot out there in that area, maybe some hunters.
If you want to meet a fair amount of folks gear up for a March 1-15th thru hike. Hike into Trail Days, lots of cool hiker trash to meet and greet.
Bushwhack
very well put, AT. its going to be lonely if you go off-peak. go during peak season, and youll be wishing for some of that solitude. on my thru-hike this year, i often opted for the best of both worlds: tenting at shelter or popular group tent-sites. that way i could have the socialization, but still have my own private space inside the tent:pimp
Crash! Bang!
When i start nobo on may 15th will it be off peak or will i have some interation and a chance to form a some nobo friends?
Anthony
Oh man are there scads of other people hiking. You’ll be around people for breakfast, lunch and dinner and will run into one or two groups of day/section hikers each day. You’ll make a million friends and you’ll have a blast with your fellow hikers during town stops. There are also a few hikers who like to travel in groups, and you may have the opportunity to hook up with them.
But thru-hikers aren’t casual, so nobody will be hitting the shelter by 4 just to hang out, or you may make some good friends and then not see them for a week. But if you just want company, any company, you’ll have it.
0101
May 15 will be past peak for thru-hiker starts but like 101 sayd, you’ll be around scads of hikers that time of year. Also you’ll have a fair number of late starting thrus at that time, but the fat crowds of march-april will be N of you.
Professor
The most important person I’ve found while hiking the AT is me. It gives me time to be with me, to think about who I am, to rely on only me, and so on.
Having said that, man is a social animal. Some crave being social a lot more than others. If that is you, then hike NOBO in season, and you will not have ocassion to be lonely. You might not be able to find shelter space at night, but lonely you will not be.
See you out there. :cheers
Maintain
It’s cold and dark and everything is closed now. You got to get up early to rise and early to bed. unless you not afraid of the dark.
hikerdude
I spent over six months on the trail and I saw nobody for three days once. And I started in Feb. You may find yourself trying to avoid people, atitudes change. Don’t worry about it…have fun. Had just me and a lost bear dog for two days once.
Two Scoops
I did a SOBO last year. I have yet to do a complete NOBO (I’ll take care of that shortly).
It is indeed lonelier on a SOBO for these reasons:
What a difference with my partial NOBO - groups galore, towns aplenty and a lot of friends made.
Loneliness is to each as it is to another. There were times SOBO when I got very lonely; and periods of WEEKS not seeing anyone. BUT, loneliness should be something that challenges you - and something you can “beat”. There is always something that requires your “beating” it on the trail.
Of course, someone suffering from depression or having gone through a serious mid-life crisis should think about it.
All my opinion - which makes it totally useless to anyone else 
JAWS