I did my thru hike in 2005(SB), then in 2014 did from Harper’s Ferry to Lambert’s Meadow Shelter south of Troutville VA, where sickness forced me off the trail and into the hospital for 2 weeks.
I’m very hopeful to be starting this year sometime in March going NB.
I have thru-hiked the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal(C&O Towpath) in Maryland 6 times, and biked it twice. It’s only 184.5 miles long, but I only had limited time to hike, so I chose that trail. Flat and easy.