To Sobo or No? - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

How better are the chances for a succesful thru-hike - Northbound or Southbound?

Do Nobo’s make it the whole way more frequently than Sobo’s?

Kineo Kid

#2

I don’t think anyone knows. The numbers going Northbound are only a guess, based on how many sign in at Neels Gap and then sign in again in Baxter State Park. But, going southbound, there is no register at the start that anyone uses to approximate how many southbounders start there.

(Even Roland Muesser didn’t have an answer on this one?

Peaks

#3

I went to the following page at the ATC’s website and used the stats they’ve posted to calculate the percentage of starting hikers who finish a thru hike NOBO and SOBO:

http://www.appalachiantrail.org/hike/thru_hike/facts.html

It is only as accurate as the numbers gathering methods of the ATC that Peaks mentioned. Also I used the SOBO numbers from 2002 because 2003 SOBO’s are still finishing.

Northbound 2003 19.4%

Southbound 2002 18.2%

Pretty close, I’d say its the Hiker who determines a successfull thru hike more than the direction of travel.

Celt

#4

The sobo stats from Baxter are pretty accurate. Most all MEGAs stay at the trailhead campground and have to register with the Ranger. They also leave their packs at the Ranger’s cabin, borrow one of his daypacks, and sign the register on the Ranger’s porch, so he has a pretty good idea of who is there. Last year the ATC sent updated info gathering forms and even put in a scale to weigh sobo’s backpacks. I know lots of data is being collected about A.T. hikers by the Baxter Park Rangers- dunno what the ATC’s doing with it.

TJ aka Teej