can any of the hikers out there tell me how crowded the trail and shelters will be in the beginning of october for a weekend hike?

You can be fairly confident of getting space in an AT shelter in October.

thank you. i was not sure if to go south from rte 89 tigertown road ,or go north from cold river road eventually ending up at my cabin on quimby mt. about 30 miles either way.

On a weekend? Hit or miss. All depends on what other groups and people happen to be out there at that time.

Might see you out there. Looking forward to cool weather and awesome Fall foliage