Is it to early to hike the AT from NH to Maine in May? (I want to start at May 15)
John
New Hampshire - Appalachian Trail
system
#2
It is a little early to start NH northbound. You would be in mud up to your knees and the black flies would eat you alive. The 15th of June won’t be a cake walk, but the mud and flies will have eased a little.
Castiron
Class of 08
castiron 08
system
#3
the whites still have snow and winter conditions still exist.
things don’t really heat up here for another 6-8 weeks or so.
check the MWOBS website for updates on above treeline conditions.
leslie
system
#4
At elevation in the mountains in NH and ME it is still winter at this time. Once you get above three thousand feet you will be traveling on snow. In my opinion a hike north starting now is very doable if you are comfortable hiking on snow and ice (bring some kind of crampon like microspikes) and you realize that you will not be doing big miles. Camp low every night so you can sleep where it is a little bit warmer. Get an early start so you can hike on the snow before it warms up and you start to posthole. Be careful and mindful that water crossings may be difficult. Bring warm clothes as hypothermia is a very real concern. The bugs will get very annoying as May and June progress but I do not find them so overwhelming that I stop hiking during this time. The trail will be muddy but unlike Vermont NH and ME sit on very thin soil so the mud is not as deep or in as long stretched as Vermont but you will find plenty to walk through. If you go be careful and have a good hike. I live close to Hanover so if I can be of any help drop me a line.
Big B
system
#5
with the recent below freezing temps nh has had the past few nights i wonder if the bugs took a hit?
yes, snow above 3500>4000’ spring is here though, expect a mixed bag of temps and conditions
blue belly
system
#6
Thanks everybody…I decided do to extend my hike so I will start in south massachusetts and go all the way north to Maine so that will buy me some time to get to NH in mid June…My new question is about Vermont…Is it so horrible to go there at the beginning of June (mud and stuff like that)?
John
system
#7
John, hope you don’t mind me piggybacking on your topic. Can anyone give me advice? I will be leaving the CT/MA state line around the 4th of June and hiking north for about 3 weeks. Hopefully, I can reach Hanover. I would like info. on bugs, weather, must see places, hostels, etc.
John when are you thinking about leaving? I want to get to Great Barrington, MA about the 4th of June. I left off at the CT/MA state line last June. Section hiking.
Bilko
system
#8
I’m gonna be in Great Barrington this friday…I’m looking for a shuttle to take me from Lee to Great Barrington…Anybody?
John
system
#9
June will see buggy and muddy trails in VT. The VT trails are muddy under the best of conditions. In June black flies reach their peak and by the end the skeeters will be out but in my opinion neither are too bad with the exception of a few small stretches here and there. The recent conld spell may have reduced the population a little but it would have to get colder longer to have any real effect. On the plus side the temps will be nice and the new leaves make everything a nice shade of green.
Big B
system
#11
I just put up with them. I sweat so much that putting on bug dope while I walk is worthless. I take breaks and camp in places where bugs will be minimal such as dry open areas where breezes will keep the bugs at bay. Skeeters will stay out of bright sunlight. Breaking on summits or ridges are usually bug free.
Big B
system
#12
For the next few weeks hikers in the Whites will have to contend with Winter blow downs. The AMC trail crew should start their Spring patrol this week or next and it will continue for about three weeks.
My father, who is hiking from Kinsman Notch to Franconia Notch today, just checked in with me from near Eliza Brook Shelter (I’m his shuttle). He reported the blow downs on Mt Wolf slowed him down but said nothing about snow. He’ll probably encounter more as he heads over the Kinsmans.
celt