WANTED Hiking Partner 2012 SOBO

imported
#1
									going sobo planing to start JUNE 1 at Katahdin. (possibly a bit later depending on trail/weather conditions) this will be my first long-distance hike. (but don't worry, i'll make it to Springer)

would love company! for safety/sanity reasons ya know 6 months is quite a long time with yourself.
get in touch :)-gypsy q

									_Gypsy Queen_
#2
									Gypsy, I won't rehash all the reasons for NOT trying to select a hiking partner out online or the realities of long distance hiking for newbies.  I'll just suggest you do some research here and perhaps at whiteblaze.net.  There are probably hundreds of threads that I think you'll find useful.  Do your due diligence and good luck to you.

									_B_
#3
									Congrats on your big plans to live large. I'm surprised you don't think you'll be with others. The AT is an Interstate of like minded dreamers wanting adventure and escape and natures beauty. Please read more journals to help with your frets. All who start have them, but as your "cityness" gives way to wilderness, you'll be strong and your few frets will drop from your heart like the weight from your body. Use the shelters as a distance strategy and you'll have conversation, community and an easier go of it...no need to be by yourself in the middle of the woods with a tent. The wacko's from town don't like hiking up to mountain ridgelines with backpacks. The biggest danger are the cars paying no right-away when you do your errands.

Best to you on your grand journey, may your dry sock days outnumber the wet ones. ~ Postcard

									_Postcard_
#4
									yeah I hear that since SOBO is a lot less popular there isnt such a trail family and as many people. just dont want to be hiking that 100 mi wilderness alone. but ya im not looking for a blind date. but also for preparation and training id be nice to have a partner. 

									_Gypsy Queen_
#5
									I agree with B and Postcard and even though you may show up alone, it won't take long before you find others to share the trail with, even southbound.  That said, I'm looking to begin my journey from ME on Memorial Day weekend.  Perhaps we will cross paths.  I'll be the out of breath newbie  from the Jersey pinebarrens region struggling to handle being above sea level. :tongue 

									_SoLow_
#6
									All of the SOBO's I've met tell horror stories of bad weather & black flies.... most started June 15 or thereabouts.... whatever you do, wear a headnet so the black flies don't bite your eyes closed & fill up your nose & ears & drive you completely crazy (headnets can be had at the dollar store sometimes up to $5 at the REI or EMS etc.... )   If you are able to do a reasonable 500 miles a month, (my average on my 1st hike which was AT) then you will finish in early November with plenty of extra time to get to thanksgiving if you start July 1.   German Tourist was an extremely seasoned hiker & she went thru hell on earth as a southbounder a couple years ago starting mid-June.... I started May 6 Northbound & finished mid-Sept; so if you can start a month early, go NB & pass up the other hikers like they are standing still as I did !!!  I did the Whites solo in the vacuum between the fast & slow hikers & got to stay free almost every night at the huts & eat massive quantities of leftovers for the price of about an hour easy work, gross though it may be !!!

									_inchworm plumber_
#7
									don't worry about it. There will be other hikers in the area and you'll be always in the company of others, even in the 100 mile wilderness.  June 1 is usually a bad time to start but with such a mild winter, the black flies could already be gone early this year.  Also agree with the headnet, very minimal weight that pays for itself in protection. 

									_Qatrick_
#8
									Sobo solo with my service dog. Maybe our paths will cross. Safe journeys.

									_Smokey and the Bandit_