Springer to Maine Northbound

[molboll82]

Hi there,

I'm looking to start hiking the AT in mid March but am a little weary about starting this hike by myself. I hear that most hiking partners seperate (if planned ahead) but that's okay. I'm a single, 26 year old, female, experienced backpacker, Wilderness first Responder, and would feel way more comfortable hiking with others throughout the entire time up until Maine. Can I expect to meet others to hike with that would be cool with me tagging along? How many people show up to solo hike this thing? Any interested folks, give a shout out for sure!

Thanks,
Molly

[thestin]

Molly, you will find many people starting on the trail as the same time as you. Most likely you will also soon fall into a group that you are comfortable with and hike around the same pace as you. As time goes by you may end up with a different set of hiking buddies as people speed up, slow down, or leave the trail.

[Lone Wolf]

Hi there,

I'm looking to start hiking the AT in mid March but am a little weary about starting this hike by myself. I hear that most hiking partners seperate (if planned ahead) but that's okay. I'm a single, 26 year old, female, experienced backpacker, Wilderness first Responder, and would feel way more comfortable hiking with others throughout the entire time up until Maine. Can I expect to meet others to hike with that would be cool with me tagging along? How many people show up to solo hike this thing? Any interested folks, give a shout out for sure!

Thanks,
Molly

mid-march you will be around lots of hikers. you will be safe. don't fret

[Low Impact]

Hey Molly -

No worries - if you are starting in Mid-March you are going to have PLENTY of opportunities to meet and travel with other backpackers.

The truth is - there is a natural flow to The Trail that you just have to see to understand. You will pass people during the day and they in turn will pass you. You will see them eatting lunch, at the shelters, in the trail towns - eventually you will get to know the people around you and develope awesome friendships.

On the very first day of my Thru this past April, I met a young married couple from TX. Very cool people, and we ended up hiking from Springer to Daleville together before I got ahead of them.

Starting solo can be a bit scary, but don't stress - it'll all work out. You'll see.

Good Luck on your Journey. :D

[bigcranky]

Can I expect to meet others to hike with that would be cool with me tagging along?

Yes. Many of the starting thru-hikers will be solo. You'll be fine.

[sticks&stones]

there will be so much trail activity that you'll soon wish there was less. I finished a sobo thru hike on march 4th. After not seeing hardly anyone thru most of the winter I suddenly counted 387 thru hikers in 3 days before hitting springer. It was awesome. One shelter had 58 nobos present for the night.

[Grumpy]

Molly,

You can always go to the spreadsheet on departures to see who is leaving the same time as you and then contact them. I am leaving Feb 22nd which I suspect is a little earlier than you plan. Good luck and who knows, perhaps you will pass me up.

Grumpy

["Cat"]

Hi there,

I'm looking to start hiking the AT in mid March but am a little weary about starting this hike by myself. I hear that most hiking partners seperate (if planned ahead) but that's okay. I'm a single, 26 year old, female, experienced backpacker, Wilderness first Responder, and would feel way more comfortable hiking with others throughout the entire time up until Maine. Can I expect to meet others to hike with that would be cool with me tagging along? How many people show up to solo hike this thing? Any interested folks, give a shout out for sure!

Thanks,
Molly

Hi:

My trail name is "Cat" I will be starting in March 5th or 6th? I am aslow hiker , I too amlooking for someone too hike with that I can keep up with? My last two section hikes 6 day's and another for 16 days I endedup hiking alone quite a lot and had several shelter's, at nite all too myself.

I am 50, female and just started hiking again in 2008, for excersise, to try toolose weight. Looking for someone too hike with for saftey also. Anyhow good luck on your hike maybe I will see you on the "AT"!:)

"Cat"

[Christopher Robin]

I'm starting around Murch 17/18 also. I did some of the SOBO, this year and like other have said, you meet others passing you goingboth ways I liked walking alogn but enjoy being w/others at the shelters.