What do people think about weather band radios on the AT? Are they helpful or just added weight. (Note: likely start date would be March 06)
Thanks
Ryan
Weather Band Radios on the AT
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#2
Hey Ryan.
I started March 6 this year. The radio could be useful to know if there’s a front coming so that you can decide if you want to be out in weather or not. By the Smokies I was using it to listen to music at night. I quit using it by Erwin.
I found that the specific area weather reports that NOAA broadcast seldom had any basis in reality for us hikers in the mountains. A couple of times I did know a front was coming ahead of time and could run for a gap and town by putting in a bigger day or so, but I was also out in it once when a cold front came through.
Sounded like locomotives coming through the woods, no joke. It’s something you’ve got to hear to believe. But that’s another story…
I’d say for accurate local weather the radio is uselsss, but for regional trends it could be marginally useful. I’d carry it again, a little 2-ounce job I found at wally world (wal-mart) for 20 bucks. Just carry a good tent and warm sleeping bag, take it as it comes and hike smart.
The night I was out when a cold front came through was at Woody Gap on my second night. First it poured rain, then it froze, then it snowed. Blood mountain in the snow and ice was the bomb! 
My stuff was still frozen when I arrived at Goose Creek Cabins the next afternoon.
Good luck!
Hogg
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#3
To answer your question, weather radios are needless added weight on the AT! For short term forecasts, you’ll quickly begin to feel what weather is about to blow in. For long-term forecasts, Hogg’s suggestion is a good one. Try a simple radio or just talk to day hikers and town folk. Either source will provide you all you need to know.
And understand this about a thru-hike. After a few weeks, you’re probably going to hike each day come hell or high water. A passing storm front isn’t going to alter your plans.
– BookBurner
BookBurner
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#4
I have to disagree with BookBurner. Unless you have a trick knee that tells you when a storm is coming, it is difficult to tell what the weather will be in the mountains. Giggles carried a walkman last year that also had weather band, & it was invaluable for planning. Of course it is difficult to predict the weather in the mountains, but the guys at NOAA are usually pretty good. Several times we heard that severe storms were expected in a few days, and decided to push a little harder to get into town before the storm. Granted, that makes us fair weather hikers but I’ll take that over the drowned rats we saw dragging ass into town in the 3rd tropical storm to come up the coast last year.
Her walkman weighed about 2 ounces & lasted about 30 hours on 2 AAAs. Assuming you don’t go the Luddite route, I recommend getting one that will autoscan & assign the 10 strongest stations to the presets. That feature adds about $20 to the cost but is worth every penny.
30-30
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#5
We walked until about Parisburg, PA (sp?) without radios. Then when we hit the Holy Hostel, we went to Wal-Mart and picked up two small AM/FM/TV/Weather Band radios. After months of listening to nature, music was… well… music to our ears. But, the topic, you can tell if weather is brewing, but you can’t tell WHAT kind of weather is brewing. Rain, snow, hail, sleet, hurricane? All VERY possible on the trail.
A story: One time in the Smokey’s, we were hiking with Camera Crew and we knew something was rolling in. I listened to the weather band and come to find out GOLF BALL sized hail was headed our way. Now, that can kill you. We found shelter VERY quickly and waited the hail out.
Technology is good in the woods as long as it doesn’t intefere with another’s hike (beyond it simply being technology). Use headphones and let everyone know the weather. 
Dave and Miranda