Southbounders? - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

Who is heading southbound this year? I’d like to hear from the 'directionally challenged’MEGA class of '03 :O)

TJ

#2

Look at a map! It’s all downhill if you head South.

Grimace,
MEGA '01

Grimace

#3

Maybe next year or '05. Several advantages to SOBO:

  1. Less crowded, less pressure to match miles with the gang, easier to “hike your own hike”

  2. Get to see the Southern mountains in snow (if you don’t hotfoot it too much)

  3. Avoid the sweltering summer heat that follows NOBOers

  4. Almost no bugs from August onward (I’ll probably start in July)

  5. Don’t have to race to the finish line, Springer never closes

steve hiker

#4

I also like the lack of crowds after Labor day weekend.
Finally some who supports going Sobo.

Darth Pacman MEGA '99

Darth Pacman

#5

I’ll be in Maine in 30 days! :smiley:

LarsyParsy

#6

Two friends and I are leaving sobo at the end of june, probably around the 20th.

roberto

#7

I’m going to start at Katahdin on May 28th. (Yay! 3 weeks!)

Teddy Roosevelt

#8

I just talked with the Rangers at Baxter. Two northbound Ihikers summited Katahdin on Sunday! The Rangers say almost all the snow is gone (but it could snow again any day) and day hikers have reported the Hunt Trail is clear.
Hurd Brook the first stream crossing in the 100 mile is usually very tough this time of year but two MATC trail maintainers reported it was an easy rock hop yesterday. Rainbow lake still has plenty of ice.
I’ll be at Katahdin the 16th to 19th, and will be heading southbound June 7th on a section hike.
See you on the Trail!

TJ

#9

That should read “two northbound IAT hikers”,not “Ihikers”. They’re heading north to Canada.

TJ