Hi everyone. I was planning a NOBO thru-hike starting in Feb 05, but things at home have dramatically changed and I was wondering if it was even possible to start a NOBO within the next month or so? It could be a crazy thought. I was thinking that maybe I could go as far as I can and then stop in a town, get a job for a few months and then finish? Is that possible to just get any old job somewhere? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Trailblazer
well, i know at least one hiker who ended up doing a winter hike, but southbound. check out roni’s (from israel) trailjournal. he’s on the CDT now, but did the AT just a couple of years ago.
zero
It depends on your tolerance for cold, loneliness and very long nights. After the time change, it gets dark at 4:30 - 5:00, which means about 15 hours in the dark and probably in the shelter. Several people have done winter AT thruhikes. One I know of said, “I like winter hiking. You can carry steak.” You would have to take a couple of months off somewhere so as not to arrive in New England too soon. I think snow lingers in the Whites until May, but that may depend on the year. You wouldn’t want to be rock climbing in snow – that’s a good way to break a leg. You could avoid that by starting at Katahdin and hiking south. There are big enough towns near the trail you might be able to get a restaurant type job for a couple of months. Waynesboro or Harpers Ferry - Harrisburg or Stroudsburg.
Spirit Walker
I’d say doing it as a thru-hike is kinda unlikely though possible, just because of the unbearable amount of snow you’ll hit anytime you reach NH and Maine. Otherwise the trail anywhere else is doable at all times a year, just takes more patience, food, money, warm gear etc…
Personally, I’d start in Harpers Ferry or Waynesboro VA and hike south to Springer. You’ll have 2 solid months before Christmas/New Years. You’ll start on more gentle terrain and work up until you hit some more rugged stuff in TN/NC and you’ll have longer days (kinda) while your getting into shape. Hopefully by the time you hit the 9 hour days of sunlight, you’ll be in shape enough to get 15-20 miles done anyway. Then you can pick up a NOBO in the spring and finish up north after May when things will be more plesant (and possible).
Might wanna do a search and check out Flyin Brians journal from his Triple Crown hike. He ran into snow too deep in March in Massachussetts and had to bail. Of course he was also doing 25+ miles off the bat which is pretty amazing considering the short days and cold temps and snow etc.
Good luck whatever you decide
A-Train
so, the first time i set out to attempt a thru-hike, i left springer mountain on october 17th.
last year i left katahdin heading south on october 9th.
next week i’m leaving katahdin heading south on october 8th or 9th.
it is never too early or too late to start hiking. just know your limits and get used to some very long nights.
having the trail to yourself can be a great thing. or, it can be a very lonely thing. i love being on the AT in the fall and winter. it is absolutely beautiful.
i have to get back to planning now. let me know if you have any questions.
grizzly adam
Go for it. Remember the Big K “closes” in a couple weeks and won’t “open” again until the middle of May. May would be 7 months away from the middle of Oct. Not that you have to get caught up in those details, but it’s something to consider to “complete” the thru.
Remember that winter hiking is much less forgiving. The same mistake you make July might get you killed in December or January. Be prepared. You know yourself better than anyone else, listen to others but trust in yourself.
If you go for it, be sure to write about it and get it posted here. There won’t be much else going on here for a while.
GRIZZLY ADAM: I’m headed out to Maine the end of next week to pick up phat duda Andy “Rowboat” Brown. He is planning on summiting that pile of rocks on the 9th. Hope to see ya at camp. I’ll bring an extra cigar for ya.
Officer Taco
OT- it would be great to see you up there. it is always fun to meet someone from the journals.
it looks like i will be camping in either the roaring brook or chimney pond campground on friday. i’m hoping to summit the mountain by sunrise on saturday, hang up there for a while, and then make for abol pines that first night. as we both know, the first (or last) 5 miles can be a son of a gun, but after katahdin stream it is a cakewalk.
grizzly adam
Very interesting…
I think this is makeable as long as you go fast through the Smokies and the high mountains of VA before Xmas and then slow down enough to be in the Presidentials by late spring. Of course the proper cold weather gear would be needed.
Ed Burgin
Trailblazer,
I think it is totally possible to start a NOBO
hike in Oct. Especially if you take your time.
Doing ten miles (for me) in deep snow is akin to
doing a twenty-mile day. My legs felt it more.
Which means you can go nice and slow and hole up
in shelters and read lots of books. It’ll be
quiet out there, which I can imagie would be
beautiful, but I’m a people person so I know I
would get lonely. You’ll meet some SOBOS though.
I met one on a SNP hike in Dec. of 1999. If
you look to take your time and do 10-12 miles a day
that’ll give you some time to melt the snow up
North. I think you’ll be fine, just persevere and
keep warm.
-Snacks
Snack Attack
Thanks for the great advice everyone! It was very much appreciated. There’s a lot to think about - maybe I’ll try to start soon, but see what happens.
Trailblazer
I met a lady who said she started a Nobo thru in November and showed up at Baxter the first day it opened.
It can be done.
I myself am (once again) considering a January start from Springer. I certainly have both time and (sorta) the money, its just mostly getting enthusiastic about the COLD and SNOW because, lets face it, there’s no getting around it!
Kineo Kid