My northbound start day is quite flexible, and I am looking for the optimum time to launch. I want to over-crowded shelters and snow, but still run into people. After looking at daily temp averages It looks like Mid-feb, 14-20, looks applicable lows at 28. And after reading a few journals from years past it seemed that people who left in the first week of march ran into over-filled shelters. Balancing these two I feel like the 3rd week of feb, say the 17th, is the optimum date to start. Any opinions?
_Chris_Start Date - Appalachian Trail
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#1
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#2
I started my thru-hike on Jan. 30th last year and survived but it was wicked cold with lots of deep snow.
Starting in February will put you out in front of the main pack of thru-hikers, but be prepared for cold temperatures and snow. Last year the Smokies were holding snow into April.
_nature boy_
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#3
I started April 15th and found many full shelters and very rainy weather. My brother started the first week of May and had good weather and no full shelters. He did have his share of hot weather and had to average 14 miles per day but finished the first week in October to some unusually beautiful weather.
_Big B_
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#4
In addition to weather, you have to consider how many miles a day you can do and the ending date you want to finish by. If you're like me, 12.5 is about all I can do and so a Feb 1st start date worked for me. I did run into some really cold weather including a Apr 1st snow storm I had to wait out for about two or three days. I was able to finish on Sept 11th. When figuring out how many miles you can average, include the zero and nero days you're likely to have and the low mileage you'll have at the beginning of your hike.
_Bear Bag Hanger_
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#5
Thank you for your input. I think Jan would be too cold to be much fun. I plan on doing 15-ish miles a day. (fair shape, light pack). I think mid-feb will work best for me then. Some people, not too many, no (little) snow
_chris_
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#6
Starting anytime in mid February and you will be hiking in cold weather for 8-10 weeks. Starting in mid March you will be hiking with large crowds and cold weather for about 3-4 weeks. By the end of the 3rd week the crowds have gone home.
_Bilko_
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#7
Started on April 4, 2004. I made a point of doing a short mileage day the first day to get out of sync with the rest of the crowd. So, instead of camping at Hawk Mt I stayed at Hickory Flats Pavilion - turn left on longing road 1 mile after Long Creek Falls. That way I was 1 shelter behind or ahead of the Thundering Herd. After 2 or 3 weeks the crowd thins out anyway. I think you can easily avoid crowds in the south by "stealth camping" any time of year. As you go north it thins out anyway. Don't worry about crowds just enjoy your hike.
_Gabby Art_
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#8
The weather forecast for the Southern trail states for the remainder of the Winter is very bad. Lots of Snow and much colder than normal. If that proves correct, going will be very tough, epically in the Smokes. I would strongly consider the safety issues and consider a much later start (May), then doing a flip-flop from Harpers Ferry WV. That should avoid the crowds on both ends, but give you decent weather to hike in.
_Skip Sheldon_
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#9
I started on April 1 on my 2009 thru hike.
I would have enjoyed it just as much if I had started on Jan 1. Just have to adjust accordingly.
Reason why I started April 1st… my friends asked me if it was an April fools joke when I told them
_wishbone_
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#10
The weather in GA is erratic in late winter. We had 0 degrees near Franklin on Jan 20th, 2009. Got off the trail and came back March 2nd to 15 degrees. In a few days it warmed up to the high 60's thru NC and the Smokies. It all a crap shoot as far as the weather.
On our March 12, 2005 start, we had 72 degrees on March 13, then snow 3 days later.
_swamp fox_