Really late start?

imported
#1

I’m a student (reasonably good shape, with a little experience with hiking) and can’t really afford to take time off from classes to complete the trail. I’ve been dreaming of doing it since high school, but things have just never worked out. The traditional start and end dates both fall during different semesters, so I doing the trail in a few long sections would fit better with my schedule.

Summer break for me is about 3.5 months off starting May ~18 or so and I want to do a long section of the trail. I’d probably mostly do buy-as-you-go except for a few gear/shoe drops. What do you guys think about starting from Springer at this late date and seeing how far I can get before fall term? I could finish the following summer. Are there any reasons besides being so far behind the herd that such a late start would be a really bad idea?

pebbles

#2

The major drawback to starting at Springer in May, is that it is going to be Hot, Hot, Hot and will stay that way for a long time.

You will probably be better off heading up to Maine and going Southbound around June 1. Or, if you don’t want to wait for Baxter to open up Katahdin, you could head south on May 18. Most SOBOs start between mid-May and mid-July. That way, you’ll have much better hiking weather and you’ll be starting with other SOBOs. It will very likely be a much more enjoyable experience.

Nature

#3

I can vouch for the HOT south starting this late. I started May 1st last year (and also only had about 3 1/2 months. While the smokies and around Roan mtn were cooler, Georgia was in the 80’s and 90’s every day. Very humid too. While it’s not unheard of to start that late, if you plan on splitting it up over two years anyway, you might consider going sobo like Nature said. If you really want to go north though (like I did), than prepare for the heat.

lakewood

#4

The Temp depends on the year… In '06 I started on May 23d and really didn’t have any heat issues until the Cumberland Valley in PA. That particular heat wave that I hit at that point was even worse up North in NJ, NY and CT - so the earlier hikers hit it as well.

If you head SOBO from Katahdin in late May, early June you might have to deal with BAD bugs - black flies and mossies.

So… it depends on what you want to deal with, but if the weather is like '06, a May start would be just fine…

Happy Trails!

freebird

#5

Yeah, people have suggested to me before that I consider doing a SOBO hike instead, but the idea of finishing at Katahdin is so much more exciting than a somewhat anticlimatic finish in GA. The heat concerns me, though; I’m originally from Florida with relatives in Georgia (and currently reside in MA), and I went through a couple of miserable 1990s summers in the Atlanta area. Right now I’m reluctantly leaning towards SOBO.

I’ve also toyed with the idea of the PCT since people typically start it a bit later than the AT, but having never been to the West a long distance hike seems a lot more daunting in that setting. I hope to complete both eventually.

pebbles

#6

This year may not be a good year to start SOBO in mid May. The north, Maine, has had the most snow in several years. This will make the trail very wet and you might still have snow at the higher elevations.
Because of your time frame you may want to start NOBO further north like Damaskas and hike from that point. because you are not doing a thru-hike you can go back and do the southern part at another time.

Grampie

#7

Starting May 18 is perfect! First off, you’ll be behind the herd, so there will be lots of space for you and the trail won’t seem crowded. Secondly, the spring down south is wonderful and many flowers will be peaking.

I did two long sections: Springer->Damascus starting May 9. There were just enough hikers to make things fun, and not so many to make the AT feel like a mall. Great flowers, much fun. I had the time of my life.

A couple of years later I went Damascus->Manchester, VT, also starting on May 9 (college summers). This time I was in the middle of the herd. Not nearly as much fun, though by the time I got into NY I had outpaced most of the herd and things were better.

It isn’t that hot in May in the South.

May 18 would be a great time to start the PCT also. You’d have to motor, though. I finished the PCT in a college summer, as have many of my friends. In either case, you won’t be in a crowd!

Suge

#8

Yeah Hot get up early hike take a nap then hike more. Ive seen ga have a hot day on new years and on july 4th in the smokies the high has been only 40

frog

#9

Think about the positive things… All those lonely shelters to yourself, not having twenty people a day ask you how much your pack weighs, plenty Hostel space, and no cold weather…
Good Luck

Bubble Boy

#10

Hi Pebbles,
SOBO this year is going to be a later start. I’m the ridgerunner in the Baxter area and just heard from the KS ranger who is spending his winter working in the Park (and this is no surprise given our winter) that Katahdin will likely not open up early this year, I would say with certainty not in May at all, and even early June. Too soon to know, but this is not the year for an early SOBO attempt. Just trying to give you some more information. Have fun no matter what you decide… I met several guys @ Abol last summer who had started in May and sandwiched a 3.5 month thru-hike during their summer off from school. It is possible. 84 days was the shortest, 9x days was more average.
BB

Bluebearee

#11

Hi Pebbles, my AT 2006 I’v started on May 14 2006, and sadly, was forsed get out from AT on August 29 near Zeland Hut New Hampshire after I broke my ankle. 1821 miles in 3.5 month. I’m 52 years old, so… I wish you good luck. Mother Nature does’t have bad weather, peoples often have not appropriate hiking gear. Go lite!

Arius

#12

It’ll be green, and lots of Roan flowers, delightful ridgetop days, bet you make it at least to the Berkshires, from Springer.

fishngame

#13

Wow, I’m starting a hike on May 18 (May 17 is my last day of work as a pastor - a wedding, before heading back to the teaching field in August, I was planning to start at the North End of Shenandoah National Park and head south until I finished Virginia and then flip flop and head North from SNP to Harper’s Ferry with my kids when they’re out of school. After the kids wear out (which may be before Harper’s Ferry) I was going to head as far north as I could get before I had to get back to the real world. Now you guys have me simply thinking about starting at Springer and seeing how far I can get.

lemniscate

#14

I’m really encouraged by everyone’s comments and support here. Now I just need to convince my parents that its a good idea and that I won’t die in the wilderness.

This might seem like kinda late in the game to start really planning, but I’ve been reading books and doing some general planning for quite some time now (on the order of years).

In reply to fishngame:
Right now my base pack weight (no food or water) is about 12.5 pounds… that’s what I haul around on weekend trips when I’m close to home. If I decide to go for it, I’ll probably upgrade a few pieces for weight savings. Right now I’m looking at lightweight bags to replace my inexpensive 3lb 20 degree bag, aquamira instead of katadyn hiker pro, platys instead of nalgenes, etc. I think I could get it down to 9+food/water without any sacrifice of comfort.

pebbles