6 weeks to hike. What should I do?

[gruntledpainter]

So. This completely sucks but my 3 months to hike the AT has been cut short by a lot. I now have, effectively, 5-6 weeks to hike, from mid-May to early July.

So I'm looking for the best 5-6 week hike around. I live in Texas, so the closer the better, but I'm willing to fly as well. I want to wait to do that AT when I can take my time a little and spend a lot of time out there.

I've looked at doing the Lone Star Trail outside Houston but it looks fairly short and...well....not exactly exhilarating. I also looked at the John Muir Trail, and maybe taking my time there, or section hiking the PCT. The Colorado Trail isn't in season.

Let me know your thoughts! :D

[bigmac_in]

Start at Springer, hike north until you run out of time. Easy Peasy.

[Hooch]

Start at Springer, hike north until you run out of time. Easy Peasy.
YOu forgot Japanesey. :D:rolleyes::p

[bigmac_in]

YOu forgot Japanesey. :D:rolleyes::p

Just waiting for your assistance kind sir.

[Lilred]

That's what I'd do, oh wait, that's what I did. Started at Springer and knock out a few more miles every year.

[Spirit Walker]

Starting in May is always a problem because so much of the west is still covered with snow and the rest is too hot. That pretty much leaves the eastern mountains or possibly something in the midwest.

On the AT, Springer to Pearisburg is one option. Or you could hike between Harpers Ferry and Damascus.

The JMT is out with a mid-May start unless you are comfortable with a lot of snow.

If you want to do a long hike that isn't on the AT, you might combine Pennsylvania's Midstate Trail with NY's Finger Lakes Trail. You might have to do a few miles of roadwalking between the two, but not much.

[Cookerhiker]

In case you want to save the AT for a thruhike, here's 2 other non-AT sugestions:

Allegheny Trail in West Virginia - about 330 miles through WV's highlands. It's less miles than you have time for but you can explore a myriad of side trails in Monangahela National Forest (http://fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gjAwhwtDDw9_AI8zPwhQ oY6IeDdGCqCPOBqwDLG-AAjgb6fh75uan6BdnZaY6OiooA1tkqlQ!!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfMjAwMDAwMDBBODBPSEhWTjBNMD AwMDAwMDA!/?ss=110921&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=FSE_003853&navid=091000000000000&pnavid=null&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&ttype=main&pname=Monongahela%20National%20Forest-%20Home/).

Similar to Spirit Walker's recommendation - combine the Tuscarora Trail (VA, WV, MD, PA) with the Standing Stone and Mid-state trail.

One feature the Allegheny and Tuscarora trails have in common is that both their southern terminuses are at junctions with the AT - the Allegheny on Peters Mountain and the Tuscarora in Shenandoah NP.

References: Allegheny Trail (http://wvscenictrails.org/)Tuscarora Trail (http://potomacappalachian.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=43)

[Wrangler88]

I'll second or third ... or fourth ..... whatever it is ...


Starting at Springer in mid May and heading north until you run out of time. If I make it out to the AT this year, that's probably what I'm going to do. But that's a big if.

We live pretty much in the worst spot in the country as far as good trails near us goes.

[JAK]

5-6 weeks is still alot.

The main thing is be completely ready to go before its time to go.
Don't waste any of the 5-6 weeks with last minute preparations.

You don't have to have definite plans, the plans can and should be flexible, but you should definitely bug out right away. Do a practice bug out the weekend before, and be on 15 minutes notice to move during your final week at work/school/whatever.

[lazy river road]

Did you ever consider the LT

http://www.greenmountainclub.org/

You could E2E the LT in 4 weeks (its 270 mi), then continue on the AT going SOBO. The southern terminis of the LT is also an AT junction. Just another Ideah. Happy Hikeing

[Red Hat]

I also live in Texas. I'll be heading to Damascus for Traildays in mid May, then heading up to Harpers Ferry to hike north. By July, I plan on being through NY, headed into New England.

[JAK]

The 3rd planet from solaris is your bivalve mollusk.

Not sure what that means.