Any comments on a section hike from Harpers Ferry to Sheffield? Both cities have easy on and off points from the trail, and I was looking for about a 500 mile section of the AT. I've been reading a lot of complaints about PA and NY though. So, would you all recommend this hike?

Wouldn't be my first choice, but if thats what you want to do then go for it. Each section is unique in its own way. Don't worry about others complaints; Pennsylvania has a lot of rocks in the trailbed, but is relatively flat so the hiking is easier compared to other states.

Depending upon your time frame, my first choice would be Katahdin south until you have to leave (best scenery on the trail easily imo). My second choice would be Springer north.

Springer to Damascus is about 450 miles. From Damascus, it is an easy hitch into Abingdon, where there is a Greyhound station. Getting to Springer is pretty easy, also. If you can go in late April/early May, you can catch the mountain laurel and azalea in bloom and miss the main horde of hikers. Weather is stable but not too hot yet.

Here are a few other alternatives:

(a) Start at Delaware Water Gap and walk to the start of the Whites at Glencliff, New Hampshire -- New Jersey and New York are surprisingly nice

(b) Start at Arden, New York (NY-17 and the New York State Thruway) and walk through the Whites to Gorham, New Hampshire

(c) Start at Damascus, Virginia and walk to Harpers Ferry (or just try to cover all of Virginia to knock off the entire state) -- a lot of nice scenery and hiking

Having completed most of these sections at different times of the year, I would suggest options (b) or (c), depending on the season you'll be hiking. Given the length of time you'll be out, I'd worry less about the extra day it might take to get to/from any trailhead than which section you want to hike which time of year. There are a lot of shuttle drivers out there who can pick you up at an airport, in addition to trains, buses and even taxicabs.

Take a look at the AT Mileage Database (http://www.thebackpacker.com/trails/at.php) for help with researching Trail distances. You can find a list of shuttle drivers here (http://www.appalachiantrail.org/hike/plan/cars.html#sub1).

All the suggestions are good. I found that every section of the trail has it's good points. So, if you want to do Harpers to Sheffield, then go for it. The terrain is probably easier than elsewhere. And I think that part of the reason why Pennsylvania gets the bad rap is that North bounders haven't had too much to complain about for a while.
It will certainly give you a new perspective on New Jersey.