What’s the latest you can start SOBO and still make it through the Whites without hitting serious winter weather? Thanks, Joel
Joel
Southbound late start?
system
#2
Depends on the year probably. It can snow in August, but serious snow probably isn’t until late October or November. I know there have been September starters who made it through the Whites all right. Trouble is, there are a lot of short days and long cold nights in a winter hike. I know of several winter hikers who got lonely and bored and gave it up in PA or VA. One of the blessing of an AT hike is the people along the way. They help you through the hard times and provide a note of interest and cheer when the long green (or brown) tunnel gets to you. Winter hikers are usually alone except on weekends. It is different.
Ginny
system
#3
Ginny’s right. You’ll also run into closed hostels, no trail magic, no slackpacks, etc. After three decades of hiking in NH and ME, I’d say you’d best plan to get over Mt Washington by early October if you want to start at Katahdin. There’s a sobo named Grizzly on Trail Journals right now who was in Caratunk a few days ago. You can follow his hike and see what a really late starter runs into.
TJ aka Teej
system
#4
Let’s see, no hostels, no trail magic, no slackpacks, sounds like a person could be alone! Hmmm… Fewer people, no crowding at shelters, solitude. I don’t know, sounds good to me.
It’s not a brown tunnel. You can actually see past the trees. In fact, the views are significantly more plentiful.
But no trail magic? Nothing presents a needier sight than a lonely hiker in the winter. You’re much likelier to get “true” trail magic in the classic sense than “manufactured” trail magic.
Without doubt however, great fortitude is needed!
Alligator
system
#5
I was one of the earlybird NOBOs this year- I started on January 2nd. On the contrary to a couple of the previous posts, I got tons of trail magic. In fact I think I got more than most. If you have the time, read my journal, you will see that I GOT HOOKED UP! The people are still awesome during the winter. There are, as stated above, less people out there, but that is nice also. I got to stay in any shelter that I wanted to. And alligators comment about seeing past the trees was dead on. I love that part of winter backpacking. One of my fondest memories on the trail was snowshoeing in the smokies under a full moon. As we traversed the ridges without headlamps (no need for them), we could see out into the valleys with the little towns below. It was awesome. Truely inspiring. Anyhow, especially if you keep a journal here, you will still get trail magic.
Peace
Rocket
GA->WV Winter 03
Rocket 03
system
#6
You done your thing, Dawg! We did that same Smoky winter frozen cold died hike in the moon glow too. It was awesome…tenting in the privy before Mountain Mamas wasn’t.
And who found a bag-o-goodies in the middle of nowhere?
BW
system
#7
Check out Grizzly Adam’s journal from this year. He started SOBO in October and just updated yesterday. Crazy?? Maybe…HYOH
Tribes
system
#8
well, what everyone has said is true to some extent or another. i started on katahdin on october 9th. at first i met plenty of nobo’s that were just finishing up. the pie lady wasn’t really expecting anymore hikers for the year and had pretty much shut down, but was still nice enough to take me in and feed me a fabulous breakfast. i got to see the leaves in all their fall glory. now, i can see past the trees to the mountains in the distance. so far my trip has been pretty insane. some hiking, some hitching, but incredible to say the least. i’m in gorham, nh, right now and heading out tonight to tackle the dreaded white mountains. after that, it’s all downhill. rocket had a good point about getting the true trail magic. just today i met a woman at the laundry mat who proceeded to hook me up with a bivy sack and a sleeping bag liner. go figure. so, i continue south into the snow and ice and wind and winter, which is just around the corner. with me luck. keep me in your thoughts and prayers. follow my adventure.
grizzly adam www.trailjournals.com/grizzlyadam
grizzly adam
