Some questions for people who have through-hiked the AT

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#1

My dad is leaving in a few weeks for his through hike attempt. A couple of questions: First, I will happen to be in ATL for the first week of his trek. I would like to possibly meet up with him somewhere along the trail pass along some trail magic and day hike with him for the day. How many days does it take to get to Neels Gap for the average hiker? Also, assuming he is still on the trail, I would like to meet up with him somewhere along the line during the summer. Obviously, a lot depends on his pace. But I would like some access points along the trail that are easy to get to if I fly into a major city and rent a car. Where would be some nice and accessible areas to meet up with him? I am thinking Harper’s Ferry isn’t far from DC. How is the hiking in that area? Are the White’s fairly accessible?

srsfsu

#2

Usually 3-4 days for most hikers to get to Neel’s. Hiking the Harper’s Ferry is easy going. Heat is the only problem. The Whites are very accessible.

lone wolf

#3

How old is your dad? Neel’s Gap is usually 3-4 (39.5 miles if he does the 8.8 mile approach trail). Some older hikers take 4-5 if they don’t have trail legs. I was 55 when I thru-hiked and did Neals in 4 with no problem. The year before we did a test hike and did it in 2.5 days, but Flame (my wife) said we were not going to hike it that fast the next time and guess what, we didn’t. We saw probably 50% of the hikers,no matter what the age, drop out early because they were doing too much, too fast, and too heavy. He will have time to pick up his miles later on. You might want to try meeting him in the Smokies. You can fly to Knoxville and rent a car and meet him in several areas. The airport is on the Alcoa Hwy so it is easy to get to Fontana Dam, or Newfound Gap. Then spend some time with him in the “Red-neck” Vagas (Gatlinburg). You might want to try the Shenandoah National Park. Easy access to the road and good trail. There are many areas to meet and hike. He will have trail legs by the time he gets to VA, so you had better get into good shape, or he will walk your but off!!! A girl we hiked with met her husband on the trail for a week. He was in the Military and by the 3rd day he was looking for a motel!! 18-20 mile days are very frequent by summer time. Best of luck to him. Happy trails!!

Papa Smurf

#4

another good area to meet up is on the trail near roanoke, VA. Dragon’s Tooth, Mcaffee Knob and Tinker cliffs are all within one 20-mile stretch, and are all gorgous. also, access to the trail in that area is fairly easy.

2 cents

#5

Couldn’t agree more with 2 cents! Those are some of my favorite places along the trail! Don’t forget to stop at the HomePlace in Catawba - some of the best fried chicken I ever ate! I had to waddle out of that place. And the owners are really nice folks. Don’t worry about trying to work out your dads pace - once he gets his trail legs, he can figure out an average (a good one is 88 miles per week) and he can always hop up or hang back to make sure he meets you in time. Its ok to hop around! Getting rides isn’t a problem.

The whites are also very beautiful and I highly recommend visiting him during this portion of the trail. It is quite rigorous though, so make sure you are working out or you won’t be able to keep up with your dad.

Happy hiking!
Butterfingers

Butterfingers

#6

The 100 mile wilderness (about the last 100 miles in Maine of the AT), is not very accessable, but it might be nice to meet up with your dad and hike the last leg of the trip to Katahdin. The 100 mile wilderness is pretty easy too. A lot of flats and a few spread out mountains. Not bad.

Virginia also gets my vote. NY and NJ both have very accessable points on the trail. The White’s are very accessable but are rather hard to someone who isn’t a regular mountain hiker. Lots of notches and gaps to meet at though.

Dave and Miranda

#7

The Shenandoahs are nice hiking and easy to get to, but most thruhikers are walking 20 miles a day through there, and that would be hard for you if you are not in really good shape. This can be an issue for most of the middle of the trail. If your dad has hiking partners and trail friends, it can be hard to lose them to hike with others for a few days who can’t keep up the pace. If you just meet him in towns that is less of a problem.

Other places with nice hiking and easy access - New York has interesting hiking through Harriman and Bear Mtn. The ridges in New Jersey were good too. From Boston you can get to the Whites pretty easily. Hard hiking but beautiful.

Ginny

#8

I would have to disagree with Dave and Miranda on that one. I’ve heard of people who had friends or family meet up with them to hike the last stretch, or even just to hike up Katahdin, and they kinda wished they hadn’t pass along the invite. It sounds like a good idea at the time, but once the hiker gets up to the end of Maine, they usually have a good idea of who they’re going to be finishing their thru-hike with. Hiking that last 115 miles with a thru-hiker can easily slow them down; it is NOT an easy section. I almost invited friends and family to hike Katahdin with me and was glad I decided not to. They are my family in my other life. I wanted to hike that mountain with the family I made out on the trail.

Leki-Less