New SOBO - Appalachian Trail

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#1

I need some advice. I was planning a march 1st 2005 thru-hike NOBO and now im going to have to change that. I wont be able to leave until May 20th so that I can graduate from college. This means I will have to hike SOBO. To me this is not as motivating. I still want to thru the AT but now I have some different concerns. Im hiking solo and concerned that it will be harder to make trail friends heading my way, since the majority is hike north. Plus Springer isn’t as much as a grand finishing point as Katahdin. Will I have enough time to hike if I leave Maine May 20th? Any words of wisdom? Thanks

Anthony

#2

you will have way more time than you need starting south that early, so you could take your time and really enjoy what the trail is. you are right about fewer hikers going south. i only saw 7 or 8 different hikers that i hiked with more than just a few times going south. i hiked around and got to know more than a hundred hikers going north. i loved the trail in both directions. when i went south, there were parts of the trail that i didn’t remember. i could remember who i hiked that part of the trail with when i was going north, but because we would be talking while hiking, i realized that i didn’t pay that much attention to my surroundings at those times. even though it is the same trail, the experience is completely different depending on the way you are heading. to me, going south was a little bit harder…you are starting out with a tough climb when you are not in that great of shape. when i climbed katahdin going north, it was a piece of cake, but when i started off on my sobo hike, katahdin was quite a challenge. have fun and “go slow”

STUMPKNOCKER

#3

If you can’t start until late May, then I’d suggest considering starting at Harper’s Ferry and going north. Then, go back and do the southern half. That way, you will be with the head of the pack all the way north. Plus you will feel the excitement of Katahdin building all the way through Maine.

Maine in May is black fly season and the streams are high with cold spring runoff.

Peaks

#4

I am going SOBO on June 1st, 2004. This is my second time… I did the same thing in 2002. The experience was incredible. Sure, you won’t spend much time with other hikers but then again, during the hiking portion of any day- you spend most of your time hiking alone anyways.

You will have great conversations though, when you come into shelter areas! For some reason- SOBO’s and NOBO’s spend an awful lot of time seeing who can make up the biggest fish stories! :slight_smile:

I remember running into a bunch of NOBO’s at hexacube shelter. The conversation went something like this:

NOBO: All you SOBO’s think your really BAD…
SOBO: And your point?
NOBO: We NOBO’s have already done over 2,000 miles of the A.T.! What’s your story!
SOBO: We HIKED SOBO… You WALKED NOBO!

It was a great memory! Hey! Baltimore Jack!!!

Spanky

#5

Anthony I am very disappointed that considering a SOBO hike is unmotivating for you. Why is the idea of meeting people one of your biggest concerns? Also, it isnt Katadhin that makes the end great, however it is the 2,173 grueling miles you hiked prior to the Big K that makes the end so rewarding. Springer can be a great place to finish a thru hike. I believe your concerns should be placed on being with nature, and adapting to life without common occurances and needs … i hope your view of a SOBO hike changes, because in my opinion a SOBO hike can be very rewarding in ways a NOBO hike cannot be … and vice versa

Waldo ME-GA '03 “SOBO 4 Life”

Waldo

#6

Hi, I would love to do a sobo hike ! We hiked the At and Pct Nb but then when out on the Pct again in 2000 and hiked 1000 miles sb. What a cool trip. I loved that there wasn’t anyone out. To me that made the experience even more rewarding.We thru hiked the At in 89 and it was just kinda crazy ! Then went out again in 94 for about 1700 miles and it was heading towards crowds. The Pct, of course, is way different either direction… not nearly as many folks. I loved being out in 2002. Heck, I could pee anywhere !..:)Enjoy the trail either direction. You can’t lose my friend. I hope to be Sb in 2005.

yappy