I want to do a 3-5 day section of Virgina as I have scattered family there and a very inexperienced friend wants to go and try hiking for the first time. I found Georgia and North Carolina tough and too much for this person.
What would be a “easy” section to start them off in.
Thanks,
pete
Pete
The Shenandoahs has nice smooth trail but immediately going into or out of the park has steep climbs or descents (in either direction of travel). If you want a cushy hike just don’t enter at either end but instead, enter at the first Skyline road crossing. There still is climbing involved but it is nicely graded. There is a definite change when you get out of the park especially for a less conditioned hiker. The trail crosses Skyline drive like 28 times or something so if this person is having trouble or you get into unpleasant weather, you’ve got an easy bail. There are also places (little stores) to resupply or just take a milkshake break!
PA humm…we didn’t like it too much but we had to do the whole thing and overall it is rocky and hard on the feet. However, for just 3-5 days it’s probably ok. PA is fairly flat it’s just those darn ROCKS! We would choose VA but it’s your hike! Keep on the sunny side. 
LB&F
I know you didn’t mention MD, but did you consider this? We just finished this section, and I wish it had been one of the first instead of one of the latter sections we’d done. It was pretty decent terrain and I believe a novice might find it not too difficult.
gumball
Unless the past five years have clouded my brain, I remember the first part of PA being really easy walking. No rocks to speak of and very pretty. Not spectacular, but pleasant. I don’t remember how many days of this there were, but from the Mason-Dixon line at Pen-Mar Park it felt like a stroll for a while. So maybe Maryland into Pennsylvania would be a good choice.
But I just love the section from Damascus through the Grayson Highlands. It’s not without climbing, but it’s SO beautiful, I’d think that if someone is going to get hooked on backpacking, that section would do it.
ramkitten
Thanks to you all for your comments.
We may try an overnight in the Grayson Highlands then skip up to MA/PA. Maybe even work in Gettysburg as this friend and I both love Civil War history.
Hope to see you on the trail one day.
Pete56
:cheers
Pete
If you enjoy Civil War history, you might consider hiking north from Harper’s Ferry. Those first few days’ hikes are full of various civil war monuments and markers. And Harper’s Ferry is, as you know, quite historic. I was there on the 4th of July weekend last year when people were in costume doing re-enactments. Enjoy!
Rainbow