I was just reading an AT book, where it mentioned how much gear you can find on the AT near Springer - how nobos, with too heavy a pack, will just leave gear they don’t want to lug anymore.
That got me to wondering if the reverse is true. Surely, with 100 miles to the nearest trail town, sobos must leave all kinds of gear behind on the trail.
Anybody got a good story like this to share? Love to hear it 
Kineo Kid
It probably doesn’t happen, at least not as much. First, a SOBO has to climb Mt Katahdin. That pretty much eliminates quite a few hikers. If they don’t quit then, they probably realize they need to get rid of gear before they start their hike south from Katahdin Steam Campground. Plus, one days hike is Abol Campground. The lady there said a lot of hikers send stuff home then. With Springer Mt, you have about three to four days before you hit Neels Gap.
When I climbed Mt Katahdin, I met about a dozen people who said they were thru hiking. Didn’t see a one of them on the trail for the next four days. I saw other hikers, just not the ones on the mountain. During the the four days I was on the trail, didn’t see any gear that had been left on the trail or in the Lean-tos.
Bear Bag Hanger
I didnt see any gear trash along the trail around Springer. I would hope I never will.
Virginian
Are you reading A Walk in the Woods? Remember that Bryson is writing to entertain and has a fondness for hyperbole. I may be naive, but I can’t imagine too many Stephen Katz’ hitting the trail!
Tumblina
Bryson was great…if you’re looking to be completely petrified of bears before ever hitting the trail.
Myshkin
Didn’t see a lot in GA. Most of it was weird stuff; quart size bottle of vitamins, 3 pair of painter’s jumpsuits made from Tvek type material, large video camera, large sack of MREs, 20 by 20 blue tarp and a nalgene bottle with a hole drilled in the top with a 2 ft rubber hose stuck in it.
At Neels Gap (Mountain Crossing), Porter had a huge list of items sent home.
The only thing we saw in the 100 Mile Wilderness that we thought was from a SOBO was a gallon ziploc hanging from the shelter was a bag full of protein and candy bars. I bet it weighted 10 lbs.
Virginian, did you run into the SOBO hiker with the walking sticks made from the large PVC pipe in '02. He was carring all of his food and most of his other items in them. He said he wasn’t carring it on his back and he thought it would change “the face of hiking.”
Papa Smurf
i can’t remeber if it was '01 or ‘03, but i found a brand spankin’ new pair of boots and an enourmous knife the size of a machete at rainbow brook shelter. i figured someone realized they weren’t gonna wear out their boots or have to bushwack in the 100 mile.
the goat
I went through the 100 mile last year around the 1st/2nd week of October and saw a lot of clothing - two pairs of socks; shorts; and a nice long-sleeve hiking shirt, slightly worn but in decent shape, that i picked up and wore the remainder of my hike. I still have it and wear it out on day trips sometimes - it gives me great memories of that last week in Maine.
minnie
My son and I were hiking up Springer in July, 2006. We found a tent/cot or cot/tent about halfway up. If we had been returning to Amicalola we would have taken it back, but we were headed to Testnatee. Glad I didn’t have to take that up AND DOWN Blood Mountain.
BCM