I’ll flip flop but don’t like crowds. I know the weekends will be busy no matter what. But is this a good idea to avoid the rush?
The other alternative is to begin at Carlise PA in May, to to Maine, then flip flop back to Carlise and go south.
Which way would I be mostly likely to get peace?
Thanks
nrkybill
It would be unfortunate to not finish your thru-hike on the summit of Katahdin, which is an incredible experience.
You can ovoid the crowds by camping away from the shelters. Most people who complain of the crowds are packed into shelters like sardines… go figure!
After mid-April the number of hikers starting thru-hikes rapidly diminishes. In '04 I started on April 23. I had two different week-long periods where I didn’t see another thru-hiker on the AT! There were a number of days where i didn’t see a single person.
Besides camping away from shelters, another strategy is to find ‘voids’ on the trail where there arn’t many hikers. Thru-hikers are like a ‘train’ of sorts, and there are almost always a few empty cars, especially in the back of the pack near the caboose, or up front near the engine.
That being said, you might find that the people you meet, including fellow thru-hikers, are just as important as the solitary ‘wilderness’ experiences. Its nice to have a balance. Sometimes i cook dinner at a shelter with others and then move on a couple miles to camp by myself. The friendships that form during a thru-hike are very deep - perhaps because of the shared experience and harships that everyone goes through. Thru-hikers and war veterans are quite similar in this respect.
I think that you could start in late April, avoid the crowds and still enjoy the wonderful finish atop Katahdin without rushing too much.
Happy Trails!
freebird
I’d say flip-flopping. Starting from Springer in early May you’d only be two weeks behind a big crowd, and eventually you’re going to have to catch up to them just to hit Katahdin in time. Plus the NOBOs at the very very end of the line, who you’d see a lot of, tend to be more the yellow-blazing/partying type, and it would see you’d prefer not be hiking in and around that group.
but either way you’re still going to see a lot of people. You’re not interested in the PCT? You’d get more solitude there. Otherwise if you don’t mind passing by people but just not stying in a big group for a night, just pass by all the shelters and tent out every night. If you just don’t want to see a soul for a week the AT is the wrong trail alltogether.
0101
I’ve done nearly 1000 of the PCT solo and with a partner.
I’ve done nearly 1000 of the AT in sections all solo but was glad to have company off and on and made friends I still coorespond with 30 years later. After 500+ on the Florida Trail solo except for about ten days I do not intend to ever hike again without some company. While solo I have stepped on an alligator in heavy brush and water, and had a water moccassin strike my hiking stick. Alone it was very real and made me think about my daughter losing her dad due to my determination to hike even if it was alone. No more. Too selfish. You can hike and meet at a shelter or camp site, catch up every hour or so, whatever feels right, but solo was just too solitary for me. I found I enjoyed the when I wanted some solitude just took off of lagged back for a few hours. It was wonderful.
Bare Bear
I started on April 18th and asside from the first couple of days, was not bothered too much by crowds.
Remeber that alot of people will drop out as you head towards Damascus. Depending on your speed, there’s alot you can do to avoid crowds.
I occasionally would come across a knot of hikers, but in those cases I would either speed up, slow down, or zero to get more solitude.
After a while you learn to enjoy the company and its nice to catch up on the trial grapevine every now and then.
jalanjalan
Assuming 5 to 5 1/2 months to complete, a start in early or mid May would be ideal for putting you in Maine during the peak of fall color season. Not to mention the nice fall temperatures in early October. So many seem to finish in August or September and don’t get a real taste of fall.
The downside is that you’d hit midsummer in the hottest sections of the trail, but going NOBO you’ll get that any way you cut it.
G.C.
May is a wonderful idea. Most who begin have no notion of how they’ll be with the miles. Since we all hear about “six months” most do start early in the cold. But most do find out that making miles is something they surprising can do (wake up early and get going seems to take any pressure off of you). In '04, I started May 1 and to my amazement, I got to Katahdin in 4 months 16 days and that was with 20 zero days. I never rushed, I just woke up at 6, ate and packed and got going by 7. It’s not the speed you walk, but the duration (length of time), which an easy pace helps avoid injury and unnecessary stress. If you want your hike to be a party, then you might get sucked into longer town stays. But from one hikers observation, May 1 is less crowded, but I still never had a shelter to myself in 2174.1 miles. Good luck and good fun to you - Postcard
postcard
You know, considering the ‘winter’ we’ve been having up here, you might want to consider a southbound hike in May. The park might not open the first of the month, but other than that . . . if solitude or lack of crowds is your thing . . .
Kineo Kid
I think this will get rid of the crowd rush also. Start at Harper’s Ferry or Carlise PA in May. Go NOBO Maine. Flip Flop back to Harper’s Ferry or Carlise and finish at Springer. It’s also much easier to get to Harper’s Ferry or Carlise then Springer.
I don’t mind some people but I don’t want to packed like sardines either.
Cheers to all.
nrkybill