Spring start date

imported
#1

When is the best spring start date for a AZT thruhike?
The AZT website is not very explicit on that topic. I had assumed that a start between mid-March and mid-April would be best, but studying trail journals I have seen that many hikers started way before that.
Thanks for any input.
German Tourist

German Tourist

#2

I started mid-March in 2009. Water sources were all very good and daytime temperatures were beautiful. I did get snow for three days and several nights were below freezing. Gute Reise!

bowlegs

#3

Hi, GT!

Coming over to do another one? Contact me–I’ll be in Scottsdale, AZ next spring.

I wouldn’t start any earlier than mid-March. At your hiking pace, you might find winter on the Mogollon Rim and in the central highlands if you start earlier. But you also want to get through the low desert north of Oracle as early as possible. That’s the only reason to leave earlier.

The AZT is a great trail. Gute Reise, too, whatever that means!

Garlic

#4

Gute Reise means “have a good trip”. And thanks Garlic, I will contact you with a private message.
Actually I am coming over to do 2 trails. I will start with the Florida Trail early January and then do the Arizona Trail. As I want to do some more outdoor stuff in Florida while I am there I would probably start the AZT later than mid-March. So my question is more:
What is the LATEST reasonable spring start date for a thruhike?
German Tourist

German Tourist

#5

I have a friend who is a very athletic PCT and AT completer, who has lived in the desert for years, who started the AZT in early May this year…and had a very bad time of it. It was already deathly hot. So, i can narrow it down for you that far: start before May.

markv

#6

My son and I hiked the Florida Trail several years ago. We started January 1 and finished about March 1. Weather was perfect. By March 1, the humidity and bugs will start to increase. If you can, finish Florida about mid-March then jump over to Arizona. Viel Spass!

bowlegs

#7

I would recommend starting around mid March as well. My start was much earlier (Jan) and I loved the temps in the lower elevations but there were a few days that were too hot for us already. There is not much shade in the grasslands and on the pipe line road after Oracle. Only reason I recommend starting later than we did is the amount of snow we had to deal with up north.

Apple Pie