Starting in mid-Jan

imported
#1

I loved following the journals of Rocket, Bono, and the FlyingScotsman. All of them started quite early in the year - in January. I, too, would like to start a thru-hike in mid-January 2004. Is this considered foolish or just plain stupid? I have precious little cold-weather hiking experience, but I figure I can learn all the necessary information and gear requirements before then.

Who here has begun a hike (whether a thru-hike or not) in snowy January? Is it worth it? What words of advice would you give?

Nathan

#2

I realize it’s to each their own. I’d say that a January start is both foolish and stupid. Both ends of the trail are high and rugged. Even people who start in late February and March tell tales of a snow storm a week, and post holing through the snow.

Peaks

#3

It’s only stupid if you don’t know what you’re doing and haven’t the equipment for the weather that you should expect.

Georgia winters aren’t like Alaska’s, but neither are they like Florida’s like some who’ve never experienced them believe. Expect sub zero conditions, icy footbeds, snow, and isolation. Also, watch out for those icicles that fall off of the trees and bomb you on the head…

I’ve done some winter hiking in and around those parts and while I wouldn’t actually want to start MY thruhike in those conditions…to each his own. If you’re going to have trouble on the trail, I’ll bet it’ll be in the Smokies and in the Roans, late winter and early spring snow storms seem to frequent these areas.

If you want isolation in a northbound thruhike, or just plain chilly exhilaration, it’s definately an option. But please do try out a few small winter nights before you buy your plane ticket…

-Howie

Hungry Howie

#4

If I were you, I would spend as much time this fall as possible outside. Find out if you like cold weather. I like to hike in the winter, but I’m not crazy about camping when it’s really cold. I find it difficult to cope with a lot of the aspects of winter backpacking, except on short trips. It is hard to get up in the morning, my hands don’t work, my boots are frozen, the stove is slow, packing up is excrutiatingly cold . . . and that’s if the weather is good. But I have Reynauds, so cold temperatures mean my fingers get extremely painful when the temp drops and I have been hypothermic a couple of times, and know how my body handles cold, especially when it’s damp. You may be different.

Other things to consider - short hiking days. Remember, in January it gets dark about 5:00 and doesn’t get light until 6:30 or so – that’s a long time in your sleeping bag. You will catch up on your sleep, or go through a lot of batteries and books. Also, snow and ice on the trail can be a hazard because icy rocks are slippery, and you will have to deal with that, off and on, for the first five months of your hike. It snowed in New York this week, remember? I have seen snow on the AT in Virginia in May.

Solitude is a plus, to my mind, in many ways - but the greatest blessing of the AT is the people, which you won’t be able to experience. You may well have a terrific hike, but it will be missing something truly terrific. Like climbing a mountain and not reaching the top – your climb may be good, but not as good as if you had reached the summit.

Hiking so early, you would miss most of the beauty of spring and summer in the mountains. There is very little green on the ridges in the winter. In April and May you would be in New England, and wouldn’t even be seeing the mountain laurel and trillium and spring beauty and iris and dogwood and redbud etc. No blueberries or raspberries or wild strawberries. No autumn color. You would miss a lot.
Plus you would be hiking in Maine during mud and black fly season when the streams are at their fullest.

So, think carefully about whether what you would be gaining is worth what you would be missing.

Ginny

#5

but don’t have alot of winter and snowhiking experience, (like me), why not do what I’m gonna do … start in Maine in early July and enter winter gradually going southbound. You’ll be in top shape by the time late fall comes down South, in tune with your gear and you’ll know your physical limits, and the first snows will melt away soon enough. Then if it really gets too hairy later on, at least you’ll have had a good month or two in the snow and pushed it to the limit.

steve hiker

#6

I can get your hand on a copy of the December 2001 copy of Appalachia, there is a great story by Old Swampy a cool old guy who hiked the whole AT in Winter. Please do not listen to Peaks on this one he is the most boring and sensible hiker on the planet.

Blue Jay